Taina Davis’ drive for success doesn’t come with an off switch.
“I’m definitely the type that wants to go, go, go,” said Davis, a junior marketing major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business.
Davis grew up in Columbus, Nebraska, and was the first in her family to consider pursuing higher education. Her first experience with the university came before her senior year of high school, when she attended Discover Business: DREAMBIG Academy at the College of Business.
The free, three-day summer camp invites high school students like Davis to explore business and career opportunities while previewing college life on campus. She connected with faculty, staff, business professionals and peers while visiting local businesses, learning about their strengths and working in teams to develop and pitch a business idea.
That experience — and the orange chicken from the Cather Dining Center — convinced Davis that Nebraska and College of Business were the right place to pursue her dreams.
“That experience was really special because it felt like I had a place here,” Davis said.
As a high school senior, Davis became one of the inaugural recipients of the college’s Future of Nebraska Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes Nebraska students who demonstrate the potential to become future leaders and make an impact in the state.
Davis said this support gave her the confidence to take her first step toward a college education. Since then, she hasn’t looked back.
“If I didn’t have those scholarships, I definitely would not have gone to college at all,” Davis said. “These scholarships helped me immensely and were one of the reasons I got through my first year of college.”
As a high school senior, Davis also applied and was selected for the Integrity in Business Leadership program, which she joined during her first year at Nebraska. She returned as a sophomore to serve as a student mentor.
The program provided her with the opportunity to travel to Atlanta with other IBL students last year to connect with alumni and employers.
“Traveling to Atlanta with IBL was one of my favorite experiences ever,” Davis said. “The College of Business does a really great job of helping students envision their future careers.”
Donor support through the N Fund – Business Start Something helps make experiences like these possible. The fund provides much-needed general support to the college and allows it to meet priority needs as they arise.
As Davis begins her junior year, she can’t help but look back and feel proud of the growth she’s experienced thanks to the opportunities provided through the College of Business.
“I don’t want to graduate,” Davis said. “I love it here so much. The experiences I’ve had here are completely unmatched.”
To donors who have supported Davis through gifts to the N Fund – Business Start Something, she said a simple thank you isn’t enough.
“As a first-generation college student, it means so much just to have the opportunity to be here,” she said. “Their support has helped me gain a better understanding of what I want to do with my future.”
