Five students from the College of Business Honors Academy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln traveled to Minneapolis in April to gain business insight during three industry visits. The two-day trip allowed students to interact with professionals from Target, Valspar and Land O’ Lakes while learning about the business environment in the city.
Patrick Smith, graduate assistant for the Honors Academy, attended the trip as well. He explained introducing the students to a new region and exposing them to larger corporations served as the main motives of the experience.
“At each location, the students met with a wide range of employees from new hires to seasoned directors. This allowed them to attain knowledge about the culture of the companies and introduced them to a new view of business,” Smith said.
From Left to Right: Jennifer Pitsch, Emily Murphy, Michaela Mapes and Tommie Brechbill at their visit to Target.
At Valspar, an international manufacturer of paint and coatings, students toured the facility and listened to a panel of employees from different departments. Their trip to Target highlighted different internship opportunities for college students and at Land O’Lakes, students learned about improving their résumés and applying for jobs. They also received information about volunteer opportunities Land O’Lakes offers and assisted with packing personal hygiene bags for charity.
Emily Murphy, a sophomore economics major from Lawrence, Kansas, appreciated how each business catered to the group’s varying majors by bringing in people from different areas. She said the trip helped narrow down the type of company she wants to work for after graduation.
“As someone who wants to live in a big city, it was great to see the many unique opportunities in Minneapolis. Learning about three very different companies provided more information about what could be a good fit for me and their advice about what they look for in employees was very beneficial,” Murphy said.
Murphy credited the Honors Academystaff for presenting students with opportunities outside the classroom. She said such visits allow students to enter the job search with a more informed perspective.
Honors Academy members toured the Valspar facility and spoke with employees from the company.
“The academy staff do a great job providing professional experiences and extra mentoring. These opportunities help us stand out as candidates for jobs both on our résumés and with our interpersonal skills,” she said.
The Honors Academy students who attended include:
Eastin Allgood, junior economics major, Lincoln, Nebraska,
Tommie Brechbill, sophomore supply chain management and economics major, Stanton, Nebraska
Michaela Mapes, sophomore finance and economics major, Omaha, Nebraska
Emily Murphy, sophomore economics major, Lawrence, Kansas
Jennifer Pitsch, economics major, Lincoln, Nebraska
To learn more about the Business Honors Academy at Nebraska, visit:
business.unl.edu/honors.
Published: June 8, 2017