25 Under 25 Program

Although his family struggled financially growing up – his family of six lived in a two-bedroom apartment – Duane Driskell says he was determined  to overcome the adversity that comes with poverty.  And, thanks to his mother’s strong emphasis on school, he knew that it started with college.  So he worked hard in high school and was able to come to USF as part of the invitation-only Bulls Business Community.  He was also able to gain early admission to the business school and be part of the Business Honors Program, which means he will take extra research courses and requires him to earn high grades and complete as honors thesis.  The work is hard, but Driskell is determined to succeed.  

Driskell says that the choice to be part of these two groups has lead him to dream, introducing him to things he was completely naïve to before, such as  internships, study abroad opportunities, and the importance of networking.   Continue reading “Duane Driskell, Accounting”

The University of South Florida was the final stop on Michael Friedman’s schedule of college tours as a senior in high school. Coming in undecided, he instantly felt at home in the Bulls Business Community and never looked back. Friedman became a mentor and active member in the living learning community, an experience that helped him leave his comfort zone and grow into a more confident and professional version of himself. During his freshman and sophomore years he networked with local business leaders in the Corporate Mentor Program.

He is a member of both the Honors College and Business Honors Program, through which he completed a thesis on Uber regulation and the sharing economy. He also volunteered as treasurer for the Serve for Children volleyball tournament, a student-led event raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Continue reading “Michael Friedman, Business Economics”

By the time she was 18, Jenna Ghibaudy had founded two community service organizations.        

After years of volunteering in homeless shelters in her hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Ghibaudy noticed that most shelters were lacking in intellectual stimulation for its residents. In 2011 she founded ‘Zines from Teens, a community service organization that promotes education and literacy among the homeless through the collection and monthly distribution of books and magazines to local homeless shelters. More than 2,500 books were delivered, and two homeless shelters constructed libraries from the donations she initiated. Continue reading “Jenna Ghibaudy, Finance”

A member of the Provost Scholars Program, Kaylee Griskie made a commitment to graduate from USF in three years and has wasted no time participating in research, leadership, and global experience activities.

Understanding the importance of networking, Griskie participated in several Provost Scholars community events and was fortunate enough to be introduced to Richard Gonzmart, owner of the Columbia Restaurant Group. She shared her dream of building a career in the food industry with him.  Soon, she landed an internship in the Columbia’s marketing department, where she learned about developing new restaurants. Continue reading “Kaylee Griskie, Marketing and Supply Chain Management”

Born in Guyana, De Sica Harry had to overcome many cultural obstacles when coming to America. She recalls struggling with things that seemed simple for everyone else in her elementary school classes – even things like ordering school lunches.  She overcame those obstacles, of course, but says that she felt much the same way when she first became a student at USF.  Harry says that this challenge – and the fact that she is one of the first people in her family to pursue a college degree is something that she is proud of but, again, it meant that she was in unfamiliar territory and things that seemed easy to others were challenging to her.  She cites an example that, like in elementary school, involves lunch, describing a business meal where she did not recognize her lunch options and the requisite business dining etiquette. Continue reading “De Sica Harry, Accounting”

Originally from the Netherlands, Ralph Herz and his family immigrated to the United States and made Tampa their home. He began attending USF in the fall of 2013 as a Provost scholar, allowing him to take an accelerated path to his degree. He is expecting to graduate a semester early with degrees in finance and accounting.  

At USF, Herz has been involved in Greek life through his fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon, where he previously served as the vice president of finance and currently serves as president. He has also been a member of the Interfraternity Council executive board as the vice president of operations and acting president for a period of time. Continue reading “Ralph Herz, Finance”

Kalen Hess came to USF with one main goal: take advantage of every opportunity. She has been highly involved and credits the Bulls Business Community and the marching band for helping her find her fit at USF early.  

As section leader in the USF Herd of Thunder, Hess leads and plays alongside 33 saxophonists. Although this requires 15+ hours of practice and instruction weekly, Hess says the role has provided her with experiences and friendships that she will cherish forever.

Hess is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, an international accounting honors organization that provides networking and professional opportunities for accounting students. Continue reading “Kalen Hess, Accounting”

After just three years at USF, Honors College student Zoe Knapke has already accepted a position as a commercial banking analyst with JPMorgan after graduation. She will travel to Chicago this summer to begin training for her two-year job commitment with JPMorgan.  She says this is is the first step to attaining her goal of being a successful business woman in finance.

Knapke serves as a research analyst for the USF Student Management Investment Fund, where she and a team of 11 students manage a portfolio of equities in excess of $400,000. Continue reading “Zoe Knapke, Finance”

Andres Kofman says that deciding to pursue a college degree in America was a life-changing moment. Coming from a small town on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, he says that facing this new stage in life knowing his closest relatives were 4,500 miles away was terrifying.  He also says it has been incredibly rewarding.

Kofman says that being an international student has forced him to take risks and step outside of hiscomfort zone.  One of the first times he did so was when he joined ENACTUS in his freshman year.   Continue reading “Andres Kofman, Management Information Systems”

A student who puts high importance on community service, Julia Krems has dedicated a significant amount of time improving the lives of children in the Tampa Bay community.

One of Krems’ biggest achievements has been her involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. After serving as the director of events in 2015, she was promoted to president of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Club at USF. She now leads the club in directing fundraisers, recruiting volunteers, planning events, and increasing membership in the program. She is currently in charge of USF’s Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraiser, aiming to help raise $10,000 to contribute to Big Brothers Big Sister of Tampa Bay’s fundraising goal. Continue reading “Julia Krems, Accounting and Finance”

When Quan Nguyen’s family emigrated from Vietnam to the U.S. in 2008, he had trouble adjusting. Knowing little to no English, Nguyen developed a fear of public speaking and was hesitant to take on challenges. The strong student leader and young professional worked hard to overcome this hesitation when he arrived at USF.

Nguyen joined Pi Delta Psi Fraternity, a Greek organization that emphasizes academic achievement. His leadership as academic chair led to Pi Delta Psi being recognized as the fraternity with the highest GPA among USF fraternities for two consecutive semesters. He now serves as the fraternity’s vice president. Continue reading “Quan Nguyen, Finance”

After months of uncertainty, Robyn Oliveri found a way to integrate her marketing studies with a field she is truly passionate about: sports.

Two weeks after moving to Tampa, Oliveri decided to get out of her comfort zone by joining the Women’s Rugby Team on campus. She was elected treasurer of the club her sophomore and junior year, and now serves as the president. By leading her team on and off the field, Oliveri fundraised enough to move her team from Division II to Division I, and helped her team win Sport Club of the Year her first year on the executive board. Continue reading “Robyn Oliveri, Marketing”

When Gabriel Patil was invited to join USF’s Bulls Business Community and Business Honors Program, the Pennsylvania resident jumped at the chance to study in Florida.  Just three years later, he has excelled in the classroom, served as an intern, held a part-time job, led service projects, mentored his peers, and landed a co-op.  

Patil worked as a student assistant while attending school and, more recently, served as an intern with Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners.  Many students work while attending school, but Patil doesn’t forgo campus involvement activities just because he has a busy schedule.   Continue reading “Gabe Patil, Marketing and Supply Chain Management”

Shelby Povtakcomes from a working class family that puts great value on education, self-reliance, and community service.  Povtak was selected for the USF Provost’s Scholars program and also lived in the Bulls Business Community her freshman year. She says that these and other opportunities that USF has provided have given her the opportunity to discover what she loves, what she is good at, and how she can contribute to the community.

Balancing multiple part-time jobs, playing competitive soccer, and achieving honor roll throughout high school, Povtak quickly learned that at the core of every successful team Continue reading “Shelby Povtak, General Business”

Jacoobi Rodriguez kicked off his first semester at USF by becoming a part of the Bulls Business Community – and he immediately emerged himself into the business atmosphere. He was later selected to become a mentor in the BBC during his second year in the program.

A tour of one of the big four accounting firms was all it took for Rodriguez to know he wanted to pursue an accounting career. He visited Deloitte in Tampa his freshman year and networked with professionals who gave him insight into an accounting career, which motivated him to be the involved and motivated student he is today. Continue reading “Jacoobi Rodriguez, Accounting”

Alexandria Scarpiello knows that hard work and community involvement are important factors in becoming a successful leader and student. She’s juggled jobs, leadership positions, and community service activities — and is on track to graduate a semester early with two degrees. Scarpiello attributes much of her success to the Bulls Business Community where later served as BBC mentor, residence hall association mayor, and social committee co-chair.

But she didn’t stop there. She has been involved with campus organizations such as Golden Key Honors Society, Delta Epsilon Iota Honors Society, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, an Acapella group, and USF’s American Marketing Association. Continue reading “Alexandria Scarpiello, Marketing and Management”

Born and raised in Norway, Thea Tobiassen was submerged in a slightly different learning environment than Americans – one that focused on rigorous academics and work experience. But during the USF application process, she noticed an emphasis on serving the community. While Tobiassen said her Norwegian upbringing and working part-time during school gave her a maturity for which she is grateful, Tobiassen was excited about an opportunity to not only develop herself academically and professionally, but also to serve others.

She began her mission to become more involved within the community by pursuing a leadership certificate through the Center for Leadership and Civil Engagement at USF. Continue reading “Thea Kleive Tobiassen, Finance”

Tristen Utterback came into college with a solid academic foundation that helped pave her way for success at USF. Her hard work in high school earned her the USF Green and Gold Scholar Award, and she has continually made the dean’s list each semester. At the closing of her freshman year, she received the Exceptional Ethical Scholar Award, which is one of the most prestigious awards for business honors students and recognizes academic excellence, leadership accomplishments, and societal achievements.

Utterback is finishing her first of three years as an intern at the USF Federal Credit Union. This internship allows her to learn the teller, member service representative, and loan aspects of the credit union. Continue reading “Tristen Utterback, International Business”

Originally from Hungary, a country that only recently became democratic, Mark Zakota grew up with limited opportunities.

After visiting Florida with his family in 2006, he realized the immense opportunities that the U.S. had to offer. Since that moment, his goal was to move to Florida. He saw academics as the tool to accomplish it.

Zakota completed his IB Diploma in Hungary and scored above the 99th percentile worldwide. His countless efforts and rigorous study schedule paid off as he was accepted to the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, one of the top 10 business schools in Europe. Continue reading “Mark Zakota, Accounting”

Nearly every 25 Under 25 honoree has learned how to balance work, school, and life responsibilities. Alexandra Bogovic is no an exception. She has earned a 3.80 GPA as a full-time student who works part-time and juggles internships and increasingly responsible campus leadership roles.

Bogovic, who help led USF’s American Marketing Association to silver chapter status, is a well of energy. As a freshman, she helped plan the chapter’s case event with Chevrolet. She later co-directed an AMA campaign to increase awareness of the importance of organ donation amongst college students. Bogovic learned how to lead a project, start to finish, and was later AMAs lead on a partnership to create an awareness campaign for USF Botanical Gardens. Bogovic is now president of AMA, which was named a Top 15 chapter in 2015, besting more than 353 chapters nationally. Continue reading “Alexandra Bogovic, Marketing”

An international student from the African nation of Cameroon, Amanda Atanga has worked tirelessly to get the most out of her American college education.

Contrary to what Atanga says is the perception of education in Africa, she realized university education in the U.S. was about more than getting good grades: being involved outside of the classroom also mattered. Atanga originally attended a small private university in Virginia, where she worked as a student assistant for the school’s International Student Services office and served as treasurer for the international student organization. However, she had always dreamed of earning a degree from a large institution with a well-recognized accounting program. She transferred to USF in 2013, where she joined Alpha Kappa Psi and became a business calculus tutor at USF’s Academic Success Center. Continue reading “Amanda Atanga, Accounting”

Throughout her life, Amber West has filled her time with organizations such as 4-H and the Tampa Bay Children’s Chorus. Looking back, she can see she wasn’t only learning about dog shows or proper singing techniques — she was developing  skills in leadership and communication that continue to serve her well.

A servant-leader at heart, West continues to volunteer with those same organizations, hoping to impart some of those same learning opportunities that were so meaningful to her. She is a member of the Hillsborough County 4-H Dog Project Committee and helps plan events, judge dog shows, and lead training seminars. Working with the Tampa Bay Children’s Chorus, she used her business acumen to organize nearly three decades’ worth of sheet music into a searchable database. She has also been a worship team leader at Southside Baptist Church for the past three years. Continue reading “Amber West, Accounting”

Coming from a society where the expectation of women is to get married and have a family, Anika Hasan aspired to make a name for herself outside of “Mr. Hasan’s daughter.” At USF, as a senator, an honors student, a committee vice chairwoman, a mentor, and a teaching assistant, she has achieved that goal and many more.

Hasan, a native of Bangladesh, has pursued opportunities at the Muma College of Business that have helped her develop professionally, academically, and personally. She is a teaching assistant for a required business and economic statistics course, where she helps grade papers, deliver lectures, and proctor exams. As a USF Student Government Senator, Hasan is also vice chair of the senate committee for appropriations and audit and a primary voting member of another committee. Both are responsible for budgeting $14.6 million of student funds. She attended USF Day at the Capitol in 2014, when students went to Tallahassee to lobby for USF. Continue reading “Anika Hasan, Finance and Economics”

Ashley Pierson is only a sophomore, but she has already achieved higher levels of involvement than many students do in four years.

As part of her Business Honors Program service project her freshman year, she decided to volunteer with Junior Achievement, a Tampa nonprofit that helps low-income children reach their potential and teaches them economic principles and planning skills. She enjoyed working with the organization so much that she continued even after completing her service requirement. This fall, she recruited more than 70 students from USF to volunteer for Junior Achievement. Pierson says Junior Achievement opened her eyes to the fact that many children don’t see going to college — or even graduating from high school — as a reality. She says she has seen how three hours of time from a college student can change a child’s life. In addition, Pierson recently served as a site leader for a Bulls Service Break to New Orleans. Continue reading “Ashley Pierson, Accounting”

Bethany Dawson works hard to empower others. The Muma Scholar mentors first year students and encourages them to attend professional development events hosted by the highly selective Bulls Business Community. She says the BBC gave her opportunities such as a corporate tour at Deloitte, where she spoke with recruiters who gave her valuable career advice. Additionally, as a member of the Business Honors Program, Dawson was part of a committee to create a Casino Night charity event that raised more than $500 for the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

Dawson has always been passionate about community service. After her father conquered cancer, she participated in Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society several times. Through her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, she volunteered at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K, handing out medals and pink ribbons to survivors who crossed the finish line. Dawson contributed to her sorority’s annual “Stepping for a Cure” philanthropy event that helped raise more than $20,000 for breast cancer education and awareness. Continue reading “Bethany Dawson, Accounting”

A teenager working at his family’s handbag and diamond stores in Hong Kong might seem like a plot line from an exotic movie, but it was Bharat Tejwani’s life growing up.

The junior finance major, who was born and raised in Hong Kong, was provided with a strong foundation in sales and operations. That foundation has served him well in his business education. After high school, he worked at an import-export firm with operations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but realized he was capable of achieving more. Hence, Tejwani decided to study at Pasco-Hernando State College and transferred to USF after earning his associate’s degree. Continue reading “Bharat Tejwani, Finance”

One of the most important aspects of college life is what students do beyond the classroom, particularly as it relates to self discovery. That is especially true for economics major Carl “Trey” Steinhoff.  At USF, he began to discover new disciplines. He connected with people who thought differently.  He enjoyed challenging discourses that caused him to rethink his position on hot topics. He joined Free Thinkers at USF, a society that promotes reason and understanding through dialogue. Soon, he found himself exploring the arts and learning to paint.  He joined a student organization that aims to educate people about renewable energy sources. He began to play intramural athletics.

It might sound as if Steinhoff was “trying to find himself” — and perhaps he was. It all came together when he took a creativity and innovation course. He realized he could blend the foundational knowledge that start-ups need with the arts and a free thinkers mindset. He connected with faculty who explained what it takes to turn creative ideas into scalable ventures. Continue reading “Carl “Trey” Steinhoff, Business economics”

Dakota Whaley is naturally inclined to get involved and give back. When she came to USF, Whaley jumped into professional development organizations that helped her develop leadership skills.

As a freshman, Whaley was accepted into the Bulls Business Community and the Business Honors Program. She says the BBC professional development programs helped her think on her feet, be more outgoing, and think analytically. This year, she returned to the BBC as a lead mentor to help motivate this year’s freshman to get involved. She has remained committed to service, co-founding the Random Acts of Kindness student service group in the Business Honors Service Association, part of the Business Honors Program, and helping to lead the soup kitchen volunteer group within the organization. Continue reading “Dakota Whaley, Accounting”

As a student leader helping international students acclimate to USF, Duy Nguyen understands how tough the transition process can be for students coming from other countries, as this is an experience he is very familiar with.

When he started his American journey three years ago, Nguyen says the experience was filled with awe. As a student leader with INTO, the pathway into USF for international students, he recalls that one of his favorite moments was planning a field day for the international students, getting to see remarkable teamwork as citizens from more than seven nationalities worked together to win a race. In over two years as a student leader, Nguyen has mentored more than 50 international students. Continue reading “Duy Nguyen, Management and Marketing with Supply Chain Concentration”

An active member of the invitation only Bulls Business Community and the Business Honors Program, Gabriela Garcia says she did not come to USF to simply get a degree, she came to transform herself into a professional who leaves her mark on the university, and make life better for herself and others in the process.

Garcia credits the BBC’s frequent networking opportunities and improve sessions for her understanding on how to work in a team and what it means to be a professional. A summer abroad experience with the Business Honors Program helped her better understand cultural differences and the importance of cultural literacy in international businesses. But the most important lesson she has learned, she says, is to say “yes” more often. Doing so has led her to leadership positions she never expected to hold. For the USF Residence Hall Association, she was a senator, director of programming, and then president, a position she currently holds. Garcia became a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and now serves as a member of its leadership team. These leadership roles have allowed her to meet the goal she set before she got here: to leave her mark on USF. Continue reading “Gabriela Garcia Ortega, International Business”

Harmelle Davis did not always want to become an accountant. However, when the Bahamian student took business classes in high school and excelled, her teacher encouraged her to enter a competition. As a result, Deloitte named her “Accounting Student of the Year” her senior year.

At USF, the 19-year-old double major has a 4.0 GPA, and she has already been a collegiate intern with Deloitte, serving as junior analyst for an audit of the Social Services Department in Nassau, Bahamas. She says working with the audit team taught her the importance of systems and processes. Davis plans to intern with the Big Four firm again this coming summer and eventually hopes to work in its financial analysis area. Continue reading “Harmelle Davis, Accounting and International Business”

Provost Scholars Program participant John Lindsey likes to challenge himself. Lindsey not only committed to graduate in three years, but plans to do so with honors and as an active and engaged student who does more than just study.

The USF Honors College student and Bulls Business Community resident is part of the Business Honors Program and studied abroad with the honors program in Florence, Italy. Additionally, he is involved in Beta Alpha Psi and four honor societies.

Lindsey, who has a 3.93 USF GPA, will graduate in December with two internships under his belt.  He recently finished an internship with Ernst & Young, working in the Big Four accounting firm’s assurance unit, where he helped with audit procedures, prepared client communications, and tested controls. Last summer, Lindsey served as an intern for Kawasumi Laboratories America, a medical device provider. There, he helped the firm’s controller with accounts receivable, prepared expense statements, and handled cash receipts. Continue reading “John Lindsey, Accounting”

Venezuelan native José Alvarez is determined to become an international investment banker. That decision led him to USF even though, he admits, he knew that it would not be an easy journey.

Alvarez understood the difficulty of becoming an investment banker, so he actively pursued internships each summer. In 2012, he interned with Linio.com.ve, a start-up retailer. In 2013, he participated in a rotational program at Banco Venezolano de Credito. And in 2014, he served as a campus ambassador for Bloomberg LP, introducing the Bloomberg Aptitude Test to USF. Continue reading “José Alvarez, Finance”

While he is proud that he will graduate from USF magna cum laude in just three years, Joseph Marquis wishes he had another year at USF because of the extracurricular opportunities. Marquis has lived in the Bulls Business Community, studied abroad twice, conducted several undergraduate research projects, participated in two internships, co-founded a student organization, led efforts to raise money for cancer research, and served as treasurer of two different student organizations.

The USF Honors College student interned for Kelly Ford’s finance team for a semester in 2012, verifying customer and vehicle data in the firm’s system. A year later, he spent a semester as an intern with Barndollar Financial Services, where he researched investments in asset classes and promoted financial planning seminars. Continue reading “Joseph Marquis, Finance”