5 things Warrington students are thankful for this year, despite COVID-19 disruption

The holidays are a time of giving thanks and expressing gratitude for all we have in life. While the COVID-19 pandemic has clouded our ability to see all we have to be thankful for, here at the Warrington College of Business, we still believe there is a silver lining to every challenge. To shed light on what we have to be thankful for, despite the disruption the pandemic has brought to our lives, we asked current students to share what they are grateful for this year. Read what students from across our Ph.D., MBA, specialized master’s and undergraduate programs are thankful for at Warrington.

Faculty 

“The finance faculty at UF are not only top scholars in their respective fields, but also excellent mentors and advisors. I had numerous offers from Ph.D. programs, but what drew me to UF was how open, friendly, and caring the faculty were despite their stature in academia. Most professors have an open-door policy and offer advice on demand, which is very valuable when it can avoid weeks or months of going in the wrong direction on a project. I have also been treated as a colleague rather than just a student, which has helped me build confidence. I want to give a special mention of my advisors, Drs. Andy Naranjo and Mahendrarajah Nimalendran, who have met with me weekly or more often, giving invaluable advice and direction on projects and my career. I have heard from Ph.D. students at other top universities that meeting with advisors once a month or quarter is more typical, so I have a special appreciation for the care and attention that my advisors and the department as a whole provide to their students. I owe much of my success in research to this close relationship with my advisors and am very thankful to be a part of UF.”

– Nick DeRobertis, Ph.D. ‘21, Eugene F. Brigham Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

Business Career Services 

“As I reflect on my MBA during this Thanksgiving season, I am extremely thankful for the incredible support the Business Career Services team has provided me with. From the time I initially met BCS and thereafter during mock interviews and meetings, I always felt welcomed and well prepared. BCS’s personalized approach in understanding my background, strengths, and areas for improvement, provided me with great confidence as I prepared for high-level interviews. My career coaches and advisors were always only a call or email away and were often available for last-minute mock interviews. BCS’ support has without a doubt been crucial in my attaining a full-time offer and in my professional development. The MBA BCS team at the University of Florida is comprised of exceptional professionals, and incredible individuals who truly have a passion for supporting students. I am blessed to be a part of the UF MBA family and to have the support of the best BCS team in the world. Go Gators!”

– Sebastian Ramirez, MBA ’21

“I’ve been so impressed with and grateful for the amazing resources available to us through the Business Career Services office. I know this sounds cliche, but we truly are more than another statistic to the BCS team. They genuinely care about our unique stories and career goals, and they equip us with the resources we need to achieve those goals. They recognize that there’s no ‘one size fits all’ formula for recruiting, so they work with each student one-on-one to determine what that ‘formula’ looks like based on background, skillset, focus areas, and future aspirations. They’re not afraid to push us outside of our comfort zones, knowing the entire time that the moments we’re stretched are the pivotal moments that set us up for success, even when we can’t see it yet. They know what they’re doing – everything they recommend has a strategic purpose, which I got to experience firsthand last recruiting season, which ultimately led to a successful internship and a full-time offer. So much of the credit goes to my amazing career coach, Carly Escue, and her team at BCS!”

– Natalie Tanner, MBA ’21

Community

“The community that makes up the Heavener School of Business is welcoming, inspiring, professional and helpful. I am extremely thankful for this community because it has led me to improve professionally, academically and individually. As a transfer student, I have visited with the Business Career Services team many times. I would like to specifically express my thanks to Diana Saiz (career coach), who has assisted me in career and company research, resume editing and interview preparation. The passion she has shown and still shows for my success has made my transition to UF smooth and has made me feel at home. I would also like to thank the facilitators and participants of Heavener Leadership Challenge (HLC). As a participant in the Rho class, I have connected with inspiring individuals, learned valuable skills, completed beneficial activities and developed wonderful relationships. The sense of community I have found through this program is shaping me as a leader and person. The community at Heavener has impacted me greatly in such a short amount of time. I could not be more thankful!”

– Brianna Gregorio, BSBA ‘22

Online Learning

“Having the option for online learning has been tremendously helpful for me, especially as someone who is going to school and running my business, Luke’s New York Bagel Shop. Thanks to online classes at Warrington I can work around my business’ schedule, which requires me to be in my shop every day for at least 10 hours a day. I wouldn’t be able to do that if I needed to be in class in person. The changes during this time of COVID have actually worked out in my favor. I’m able to watch my class lectures and do schoolwork when I have the time, even if I start at 8 o’clock at night and go until midnight, the flexibility of online classes has made it manageable. I’m thankful that because of Warrington’s online learning capabilities, I can go to school and run my business at the same time.”

– Luke Vescovi, MSM ‘21

Resources

“I am extremely grateful for the resources and the programming offered at the college of Warrington. Through my experiences under the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program I have received academic and emotional support from my directors and professors. Though mental health issues to even help with my business, my advisors have been kind and have helped me get accommodated to the program. Each class, workshop and Zoom session has aided me in expanding my perspective of what it means to be an entrepreneur. They have also equipped me with tools of balancing work, school, and my personal health. They encourage us all the time to follow our passions and luckily through that, I was able to create a cupcake bakery named Sweet Variety that offers a product that is all around gluten-free, soy free, nut free, dairy free, egg free and vegan/vegetarian friendly. I am proud to say that I was able to launch Sweet Variety this past summer through the work done in my practicum course. My experience as a business owner has only grown and they continually lift me up to new heights so I may excel. Now through my business I can offer something joyfully sweet to those who can rarely find a product that meets their dietary needs and preferences. I owe the MSE program and the Gator Hatchery a huge thank you for helping me this far and for how much further I know I will go with them.”

– Nancy LaGuerre, MSE ‘21