News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Schools

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
July 12, 2012

Indiana State scholars learn about finances, businesses in San Francisco

Students meet with Yahoo execs, volunteer

Austin Arceo Indiana State University

TERRE HAUTE — Jessica Weesner knew the planned itinerary of her group trip to San Francisco. Still, she was surprised and humbled by a visit to a longtime city landmark: St. Anthony’s Dining Room.

Weesner was one of 29 Indiana State University business students who, along with two staff members, visited San Francisco as part of a trip sponsored by Networks Financial Institute’s Networks Professional Development Program. They planned industry stops for students to learn more about financial services and other businesses, including the Federal Reserve.

For several students, including Weesner, one of the most significant moments came when the group volunteered for St. Anthony Foundation, which operates a dining facility and provides other social services in the city’s Tenderloin district.

“I can honestly say I have never in my life been in any experience similar to that in any way, and it definitely affected all of us,” said Weesner, a junior accounting major from Cambridge City who helped plan the trip. “I think it was a mutual experience between all the scholars that we were all out of our element, and we all saw something there that you don’t see around Terre Haute, Indianapolis or southern Indiana.”

Scholars who attended the trip spent most of the 2011-12 academic year planning various aspects of the voyage, which included stops at the headquarters of Wells Fargo and Yahoo.

Several weeks before the trip, the students learned that they would have a rare opportunity to meet with three of Yahoo’s top financial executives, including chief financial officer Tim Morse, and hear their candid perspectives on leadership.

“I think the industry visits were beneficial, Yahoo in particular,” said Michael Hickox, a senior finance and management double major from Casey, Ill. “Speaking with Tim Morse was really helpful.” Morese told them to embrace difficult challenges, rather than shy away from them, Hickox said.

During the trip to Wells Fargo headquarters, the students toured a museum featuring artifacts spanning the organization’s history and they listened to an intern discuss his background and experience working with the company. Students also had an opportunity to learn about the role that the Federal Reserve plays in the nation’s economy.

The students also toured the site where the Federal Reserve shreds millions of dollars. “It was really neat to see where they keep so much money, and they shred this massive amount of money every day,” Weesner said. “Just to see that was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as well.”

The students decided to visit San Francisco over any other city in the U.S. While they considered New York City, several scholars had visited that city on a different trip a few years ago, so they decided to head west.

Several students attending the trip had never traveled outside of the Midwest, which was another reason they opted for the west coast.

“I think a lot of people are from small towns, and so any city in general is just a completely different culture,” said Brittany Kirk, a junior marketing major from Casey, Ill., who helped plan the trip. “But I have been to several cities, and San Francisco has the most character of any city that I have ever been to.”

The service trip to St. Anthony had arguably the biggest impact on the students. They learned about the history of the Tenderloin district, along with the challenges of poverty and homelessness many of the district’s residents face.

“Just to hear it put in that way was something that you don’t always think about. I think a lot of times we think it’s people’s own fault if they’re homeless, and it’s usually not,” Kirk said. “There are usually circumstances that are beyond their control.”

The students separated into several groups and worked in different areas with various St. Anthony services. Some students volunteered in the dining hall, while another group worked at a clothing center and others worked at a senior center.

“We do a lot of service events around the Terre Haute area, and … we’re helping someone in need, but it’s hard to really see where that help is going to,” Hickox said. “By helping at St. Anthony, we were able to see the people we were helping, and we were able to understand the need for that help.”

Senior Miguel de la Rosa was one of the students who worked at the senior center. The St. Anthony Foundation emphasizes treating people with dignity; de la Rosa and the other students spoke with a St. Anthony Foundation worker, who emphasized talking with people of all different backgrounds, including those who may be homeless, rather than avoiding or ignoring them.

“I have volunteered and I’ve done fundraisers, but never really to the extent to engage firsthand with a community like that, and it was an awesome experience,” said de la Rosa, a marketing major from Greenwood. “Honestly, I thought it beat out any of the other activities that we did while we were there.”

Students in the Networks Professional Development Program plan a variety of events, including the annual ethics and social responsibility conference at Indiana State. Still, the students had to plan the nearly weeklong trip for more than 30 people, which included a stay at a hostel and navigating the city largely via public transportation.

“I think it was a very successful trip in that the students learned a lot in planning and executing a complex trip like this,” said Priscilla Wolfe, director of education for NFI.

Though students planned the different stops during the trip, they also built in plenty of free time in the city. Students visited the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf, among other stops. Several scholars went to an Oakland Athletics baseball game.

“When we talked about the return on the investment after the trip, we talked about how you can’t really put a price tag on a trip like this because we don’t know how many more chances we’re going to have to go on a trip like this with that many of our friends and also being able to go on the visits that we did,” Hickox said. “It was really beneficial.”

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Schools
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse American Held in Grisly Czech Murders Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer Today in History May 25 High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine Britain Braces for Possible Copycat Attacks Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
NDN Video
Massive Flooding in San Antonio Area; Rescue Efforts Underway Hope For The Boy Who Can't Smile Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k Young protestor goes viral on Youtube High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria Toronto Mayor says he's not a crack head Maine island offers lighthouse getaway Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell Should We Prepare for Quakes? Lynn Kindergarten Class Rescues Ducklings Congressional gold medal awarded to civil rights heroes Charles Ramsey visits Kentucky Unique Display Greets Guests At Revel Casino Cape Cod Train Service Worries Residents BASE jumper rides snowmobile off cliff to honor dead friend Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day' SHOCKING: School Guard Throws Girl Down Stairs Star Wars X-Wing Star Fighter Made of Legos Actress Amanda Bynes Arrested in New York Singer Psy Has An Imposter
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News