Each FIRE group consists of around 20 students who meet weekly with their peer advisor.  Having a peer advisor throughout my first year was great because she had so much firsthand experience with what we all were going through, whether it was picking classes or getting involved in clubs on campus.  The FIRE program encouraged all of us to get involved in numerous ways, taught us the ins and outs of being a successful professional, and gave us so many opportunities we wouldn’t have otherwise had.  For example, my FIRE group was fortunate enough to win tickets to a Red Sox game where we got a VIP tour of the park and got to talk to UNH alumni who work at Fenway.  This was an awesome experience which helped us to bond as a class, and is one of the highlights of my first year at UNH.

Arguably the biggest highlight of my freshman year was working alongside my FIRE team on our Grand Challenge Project.  At the end of the year, every FIRE team competed against one another in the Undergraduate Research Conference.  Each team had to create a unique product that addressed one of the five following real-world issues: ‘Water is Life’, ‘Food?’, ‘Threats from Cyberspace’, ‘Medical Breakthroughs’, and ‘Addictive Society’.  My team addressed the growing issue of having an addictive society, and developed a product to help reduce the amount of people who relapse after going through alcohol rehabilitation.

After weeks of preparation, all our efforts culminated at the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC).  Myself and my fellow four presenters earned us a spot in the final round of the conference, where we competed against the top team from each of the other Grand Challenge categories.  We were so proud of ourselves for even moving on to the final round, especially after seeing how impressive the presentations of the other teams were. We were so overcome with pride when we were ultimately announced as the overall first place team at the URC!

Even almost a month later, the amazing feeling of having my team’s hard work pay off has not subsided.  If it wasn’t for my group’s determination and incredible teamwork, we would not have been able to accomplish everything we did.  It took countless hours outside of class perfecting the concept of our product and practicing our presentation, and each of us, including our awesome peer advisor Hayley, was always willing to put in the extra time to create an end product we were all proud of.

At the end of the day, being able to say that I was a winning presenter in the URC is an accomplishment that is so humbling and one that provided me with so much growth.  However, I gained much more than just an achievement from my experience at the URC.  The lessons I took away from my experience will be instrumental in my future as a student at UNH, and ultimately as a business professional.  I learned the value of taking every opportunity given to you as well as the true importance of the contributions of each individual in the success of an entire team.  I am so glad to have had the privilege to partake in this program; there truly is no replacement for the hands-on, experiential learning that FIRE has provided my peers and me.  After such an incredible first year, I cannot wait to see what is to come in my next three years as a Paul College student!

About Samantha Carlen ’20:

Samantha Carlen is a member of the class of 2020 at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at The University of New Hampshire earning her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.  Throughout her first year at UNH, she became a brother of the coed business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, and will begin as an associate in the Rines Student Angel Investing Fund this coming fall semester.  Samantha was named to the Dean’s List and received the FIRE Luminary award.  She is from Amherst, New Hampshire.

I was one of the few students who had never visited Washington D.C. before. Therefore, the ability to travel to D.C. and see some of the breathtaking monuments and landmarks was already exciting enough. Yet, luckily, this trip was meant for more than just sightseeing. It’s sole purpose was to give students the unique opportunity to network and gain insight from some of UNH’s most successful alumni.

As a Hospitality Management Major at UNH’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, I was in shock that I was given the ability to partake in this networking trip. This was due to the fact that three out of the seven alumni were also Hospitality Management Majors during their time at UNH, and have worked in the incredible industry ever since. Being able to talk to them was a unique privilege I was grateful to have.

My first memorable experience occurred on our second day in D.C. We shuttled over to the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center to meet with Doug Ridge, an alumni of the Class of ’85 who is the Area General Manger of the resort. We began by sitting down with Doug and his wonderful management team for breakfast in the atrium of the building. Students spoke to managers in charge of areas such as event planning, finance and revenue management, food and beverage, and more; the purpose of which was to show that the hospitality industry encompasses every facet of business. I, however, was fortunate enough to sit next to Doug Ridge and talk about the hospitality program at UNH then and now, discuss internships and job opportunities, and the steps I can take during my time at UNH to one day be as successful as he is. Already blown away by the fact that I was able to network with such a prominent UNH alumni in the hospitality industry, we were given a tour of the amazing property. We were shown the stunning 19-story glass atrium with the breathtaking view of the Potomac River, the over 500,000 square foot convention center, a guest room as well as a suite with a view of the Potomac, their backstage operations such as kitchens, laundry facilities, and employee dining halls, and their rooftop lounge, Pose. Learning about the operations of such as massive resort and convention center combined with the incredible facilities and views left me absolutely speechless.

From there we walked along National Harbor to meet with Stu Damon, a Class of ’78 alumni, and enjoyed lunch at The Walrus, a successful restaurant startup through STAR Restaurant Group. All the appetizers and entrées were incredible, having been made in their scratch kitchen with all fresh seafood. Coincidentally, I had met Stu Damon a week prior to the trip when he gave a presentation in one of my Food and Beverage Hospitality classes. Along with being involved with food and beverage, Stu Damon has been incredibly successful in the hospitality industry, having worked many jobs in many departments through Marriott International. Therefore the ability to discuss about the food and beverage industry even further with him in a personal manner was an incredible opportunity. However, stepping away from hospitality, he also catered to those interested in entrepreneurship by giving a wonderful presentation about how to manage a startup.

The last alumni we met to have graduated with a degree in Hospitality was Anne Marie Wemmlinger who graduated with the Class of ’87 and works at the Marriott International Headquarters in Washington D.C. This experience was much different, as meeting with Doug and Stu involved learning about the operational and managerial side of the hospitality industry. Instead, meeting with Anne Marie gave me a wonderful introduction to the corporate side of the industry. However, her expertise of the corporate side is derived from her years of experience in operations, making her an extremely successful individual. Even though it was one of the last stops on our trip after a very busy three days, the non-hospitality students were just as amazed with the corporate side of Marriott International as I was. We visited the test kitchens and discussed new food and beverage concepts that are to be introduced on Marriott properties as well as room design concepts for brands such as Westin, Courtyard, The W, and many more. Essentially, we got to see room prototypes before they are built and are available to the public. Being able to talk about the corporate side of the industry with Anne Marie was yet another incredibly opportunity given to me during the trip.

I am so fortunate to have been a part of this incredible trip with eleven other incredible people. The sights, the people, and the opportunities truly turned a seemingly short trip into the experience of a lifetime. Every student understands the importance of networking and creating professional relationships, especially with professionals in their desired industry. To be successful after college, one must do more than strive for good grades; making connections is equally as important. When it comes to success: who you know will get you there, and what you know will keep you there. Aside from the great progress I have made in my professional career, the ability to travel to Washington D.C. for the first time made this trip even more incredible. Seeing the monuments for the first time, especially at sunset, was a jaw-dropping view. That, combined with the city life, made me excited to pursue potential careers in the D.C area in the future. I am grateful to have been chosen to partake in this fantastic experience and would like to thank my classmates and new friends, all the generous alumni, and Undergraduate Program Coordinators Sean Stewart and Tamara Rury for making my freshmen Spring Break an unforgettable memory.

About Jacob Easter ’20:

Jacob Easter is currently studying Hospitality Management at the University of New Hampshire. As a freshman here at UNH, he has focused on becoming very involved on campus and especially within the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. Currently, Jacob is involved in Men’s Volleyball, Ski Club, the Peter T. Paul Gourmet Dinner, and the FIRE Program.

Throughout high school, I held several leadership positions. Secretary of this, historian of that, and even student council president my senior year. Although I held all of these positions and people told me I was a qualified leader, I always felt like something was missing. When I got to college, I knew I wanted to become a better leader. I was nominated as FIRE Igniter to represent my first-year academic experience class, which was a good start, but I didn’t know how to go forward with my goal. When I heard about Leadership Camp through my FIRE class, I thought that this might be the chance to find that missing “something.” And that’s just what it did.

From low-ropes courses to small team-building activities, everything we did at Leadership Camp allowed us to truly see who we were as a leaders. By the last day of Leadership Camp (sadly cut short due to inclement weather), these 43 strangers had all created a bond. We knew each other’s values, passions, personalities, interests, strengths, and even vulnerabilities. We understood how each other worked as leaders. We made friendships with people we would have never spoken to otherwise, as well as strengthened friendships with people we wouldn’t have given a second thought. All of this occurred in the four short days we were there.

Leadership Camp will impact me going forward at UNH. It forced me to think deeply about my core values—the things that I now know that I want to implement in my school work, group work, clubs, as well as relationships. It made me realize that, in the past, I have tried to be this extroverted leader that I simply am not. Leadership Camp made me more aware of my capabilities as a leader so I know exactly what I can bring to the table when it comes to working with others. This camp accentuated all of the things we have focused on in our FIRE classes by emphasizing the importance of working together, staying organized, getting involved, and not losing sight of goals. I know that “camp” can sometimes come with a negative connotation, but I encourage everyone to be open-minded to it and give it a shot. You won’t be disappointed.

About Ali Lipinski ’20:

Ali Lipinski is a first-year student at the Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics. She is majoring in Business Administration and is hoping to minor in Health Management and Policy as well as Psychology. Ali is on the Dean’s List and was offered to join the Honors pro
gram. She graduated from Dover High School (Dover, NH) in 2016 in the top 10% of her class. In high school, she was a three-sport athlete and held several leadership positions.

Aside from academia, Ali is a FIRE Igniter, a tour guide for UNH, and is involved in several intramural sports on campus. She hopes to get more involved in the semesters to come. Ali works at UNH Phonathon and also holds a waitressing position in Dover. She has a passion for helping others, loves to laugh, and enjoys staying active. Some day in the future, she hopes to become a teacher.

One class that I didn’t know much about was FIRE. I had heard about it in brochures and at Accepted Students Day, but didn’t really know what it was. After a few classes I figured out what it really stood for: to make the transition to college easier and to start the process of developing us into business professionals. We were assigned to a group of 20 strangers all in the same position. We asked questions with our peer advisor and were given some fantastic opportunities that other majors aren’t given. And boy did I take some of these for granted!

I always thought, “I’m only a freshman, I still have plenty of time”. Then the first semester was over in the blink of an eye. Second semester started and I knew I wanted to get more involved. There were all these opportunities I missed first semester and to my luck there were even more this time around. Through the FIRE Program, I was given the opportunity to be an Igniter, which lets me represent my class, help plan events, and give feedback on the program. Since the start of the new semester I’ve attended many networking events, the FIRE Career & Internship Fair Bootcamp, and the UNH Career & Internship Fair. I’ve met incredible people from my FIRE alumni advisor, Todd Boucher, to many employers that work with UNH. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone, which FIRE really motivated me to do.

I attended a networking event before the Career & Internship Fair, which helped me build the confidence to talk with complete strangers and expand my network. Additionally, at the FIRE Career & Internship Fair Bootcamp I worked on my resume, practiced my elevator pitch, and how to nail an interview; all with faculty, alumni, and employers. This was one afternoon I will always remember because it gave me more confidence, which carried over into the following week. At the Career & Internship Fair, I felt more motivated and comfortable to talk with employers. I talked with many of them about future positions and internships. Not only did I make several connections on LinkedIn, I have learned what it takes to be a desired applicant in a competitive marketplace.

If it weren’t for the FIRE Program, I wouldn’t be as involved as I currently am on campus. It has allowed me to make my first-year experience more enjoyable and fulfilled. I have absolute confidence, even as a freshman, that I will be able to secure multiple internships and a job post-graduation throughout my career at UNH and Paul College.

About Charles Lamplough ’20:

Charles is a first-year Paul College student from Stow, MA. He is a Business Administration major, planning to concentrate in Finance and Marketing. Currently, he serves as an Igniter in the FIRE Program, and is interested in working for a professional sports team or as a stock broker after graduation.

On campus I have the pleasure of being a Peer Advisor for the First-year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE), the President of the Atkins Investment Group, and an Ambassador to Dean Merrill-Sands. My involvement in these organizations has allowed me, and continues to allow me, the opportunity to not only receive a stellar business education, but also to gain experience that reaches far beyond the classroom.

The Dean’s Ambassador Program unites 12 Paul College students from a variety of backgrounds and academic interests to act as liaisons between the student body and the Dean while working to enrich Paul College, as well as, carryout the college’s goals. The program has not only allowed me to meet like-minded and caring students, but it has also paired me with two mentors who I cherish, and overall has provided me with unparalleled experiences. I was fortunate enough to join Dean Deborah Merrill-Sands and her colleagues, Tamara Rury and Sean Stewart, as well as the other 11 Dean’s Ambassadors on a 4-day trip to San Francisco, CA to meet with Paul/WSBE Alumni who helped us explore the business ecosystem on the West Coast.

Before I begin sharing the amazing experiences and lessons learned, here is a small disclaimer:

It is incredibly difficult  for me to share details about this trip without sounding as though everything about it was sunshine and rainbows, because for me, it really was! After all, we did see a rainbow every day that we were there!

While my primary educational focus is accounting and psychology, I have received a great deal of exposure to the equity markets and finance as a member of the Atkins Investment Group. Prior to the San Francisco trip, however, I had little to no exposure to Venture Capital and Angel Investing. The Dean’s Ambassadors were fortunate to visit Andy Pelletier at Silicon Valley Bank, and John Demaio at Bridge Bank. There we learned about the Venture Capital Ecosystem, the changes that this Ecosystem has undergone in previous years, and what it may endure in the future. My knowledge was later expanded when we met Rick Marini, co-founder of Dragonfly Partners, serial entrepreneur, and active angel investor in over 45 start-ups. It was truly remarkable for me to be given the tools to piece together the process that companies go through before the equity markets are even introduced. Understanding the underpinnings of a business and the entrepreneurial thought that goes into building the foundation of a company has allowed me to add additional depth to my research and has encouraged me to think about business facets that I had no previous knowledge of.  I am so grateful that we have engaged alumni who shared their knowledge and time to allow us to experience this in person. Without them I may not have been exposed to this space.

Another area that I had almost no exposure to is the food and beverage industry; thanks to the generosity alumni Chris Fehrnstorm and Peter T. Paul, I was able to gain a understanding of the wine industry from farm to table. We were hosted at different wineries as a part of a Napa Valley tour. Throughout the day we were introduced to the wine production process, including the fermentation process in both stainless steel and oak barrels. We were also exposed to the marketing and sales side of the business. This experience made me appreciate the science behind winemaking and the expertise that the industry requires.

The knowledge expansion that the trip brought the Dean’s Ambassadors was equally matched with advice and life lessons:

• John DeMaio shared the importance of working towards a core competency in our careers. He emphasized that it is equally as important to align what you love to do and what you’re good at, with that core competency which will enable success. He told us that it is important to be vulnerable, ask questions, identify areas for growth, and to always, and I repeat always, wave your UNH flag.
• Jeff Moore at Google taught us to give more than we ever receive, and discussed the importance of building our network before we need it, so that it is there when we need it most.
• Rick Marini reminded us of the value of people and the importance of acknowledging that a company’s most important and treasured asset walks out the door at 5:00pm every night.
• Kristen Schultz Markworth at GoPro advised that we be humble and grateful in our careers; that it is ever important to understand the impact that we have on others.

I am excited to share this knowledge and advice with my peers, and I know that I will carry it with me as I finish my degree and start my professional career.

Beyond the knowledge gained, and the lessons learned, I will never forget the feeling that I had every day that I woke up in San Francisco. The culture made me feel as though not even the sky was the limit. I found myself energized (even while jet lagged), curious, and unwilling to stop learning. People don’t stop in California. They use their lunch breaks to bike 10+ miles, attend launch parties to celebrate innovative products on Tuesday nights, and if they work at Go-Pro, they might use their weekly 2 hour break to jump out of a plane! To put it simply, in my eyes, our Bay Area alumni are practically superheros!

I am incredibly grateful for everyone who made this trip possible, and am truly touched by the generosity of our alumni. To Dean Merrill-Sands, Peter T. Paul, Tamara Rury, Sean Stewart, and our esteemed alumni on the West Coast, thank you so very much for a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

About Alexys Gilcreast ’18:

Alexys Gilcreast, from Hudson, NH, majors in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and a minor in Psychology, and will graduate in 2018. At UNH, Alexys is the President of the Atkins Investment Group, a Peer Advisor for the FIRE Program, and a Dean’s Ambassador. During the summer of 2017 she will intern at Pricewaterhouse Coopers on their Transaction Services: Valuation team. Outside of the classroom she enjoys reading, hiking with her dog, spending time at Lake Winnipesaukee, and running half marathons. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexysgilcreast

My first impression of FIRE was that it was a neat idea, but it didn’t work in reality. Man, was I wrong. I started to realize how many people I was meeting through FIRE. My FIRE group (W1LDF1RE) started to become more closely knit and everything started to turn out how I had hoped it would. Once my group discovered how friendly everyone one is and once we realized our potential, we really became a team. Anytime somebody is going to an event on campus, we encourage others to join by extending an invitation to the entire group.

While UNH does not have an official actuarial program, there is a path to help students get a job as an actuary. I thought the best path to take was through Paul College, but it turns out Statistics is a better option. When I learned this, I was reluctant to leave Paul College, I anticipated I would be ineligible for FIRE during the spring semester. I considered staying in Paul College for one more semester so I can finish what I started with my team. Paul College offers the only program like this at UNH and I definitely did not want to miss out on this, especially when I’ve been lucky enough to be placed on such a great team. Luckily, the FIRE Coordinators made an exception for me, allowing me to transfer to a different major while continuing to take advantage of the great program.

I don’t think I would have been as active on campus as much as I am if it wasn’t for FIRE. The greatest aspect of going to events, is no matter where I go I’m almost guaranteed to see somebody I know. FIRE helped me to meet so many people that I even became friends with members of other FIRE groups. Once groups start to know each other is when the rivalries start to form and the competition become serious. My RA Kevin Johnson is the peer advisor for F1R3 GOODELL (Team 13) and I’m starting to see a little bit of a rivalry brewing. Now that I know I’m with my team for the long run, I believe we have what it takes to win it all while also having the best semester yet!

About Joshua Jasneski ’20:

• Spaulding High School Class of 2016
• UNH Class of 2020
• UNH Upward Bound Alumni
• Plans to graduate with a bachelor degree in Statistics and to pursue a career as an actuary

I had made the decision to stay at home and commute to UNH when I first received my acceptance letter. I lived only one town over and did not think it would be practical to spend so much more money just to live on campus. I was definitely aware that this may make it harder for me to make friends but I decided to at least give it a try.

My first day of my FIRE class, I met my amazing and super friendly peer advisor Samantha. I felt like I could ask her anything and she would help me. I also met other people in my major, and immediately we all became friends. We had many classes together and I found myself opening up to them more, hanging out between classes, and studying together. We encouraged each other to go to events around campus together too. FIRE reduced any fears I had of not being included on campus; the program encouraged participation in everything happening at UNH, which I took advantage of to the fullest.

Now, a few months into my first year here at UNH and I feel like I’m still meeting new people every day. I go to all sorts of campus events, ranging from cultural nights to sports games to even seeing the President. I’m the Public Relations chair of the Middle Eastern Cultural Association and I recently joined Student Senate. I find myself constantly busy and I love it. For my next four years here at UNH, I hope to accomplish many things, such as traveling abroad, learning a new language, getting an internship in the city, and continuing to stay active in student organizations on campus.

The FIRE program made it easy for me to meet other fellow PAUL students, but it also helped me gain the confidence to try other new things on campus. I don’t even feel like I commute anymore; I am on campus all the time, and I’ve come to realize that UNH feels like a second home. I am so excited for the next four years here and cannot wait to see what the future has in store.

About Nooran Alhamdan:

Nooran is a first year student in the Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics. She is majoring in economics and hopes to additionally double major in political science. Nooran hopes to use the education she receives at UNH to dedicate her life to humanitarian work, and is looking to law school for the future. She is chair of Public Relations for the Middle Eastern Cultural Association and a member of the UNH Student Senate.

One of the aspects of FIRE is your team. Every first-year Paul College student is placed on a FIRE team and I was fortunate enough to be placed on team thirteen, also known as F1R3 Goodell. We are a team of twenty-two students who are all united around our leader, Kevin Johnson (KJ). KJ told us on day one that this program is what you make of it and that he was going to help us realize that along the way. Personally I believe he has done more than that. KJ has opened our eyes, and my eyes especially, to what there is to do around this campus. He has pushed us since our first class to get out of our rooms and go to events. He wants to see us benefit from the different activities around campus.

I have always enjoyed watching sports since I was a little kid. I knew that wherever I decided to go to college, that the sport aspect of the school was big. I knew I was going to go to the sporting events, but I thought that would be it. The FIRE competition between teams has pushed me to branch out and try going to different kinds of events that I wouldn’t have normally gone to. KJ is always inviting us to go to events when he goes because he wants to see us try new things. One event he invited us to is a performance by Improv Anonymous. For starters, I didn’t even know improv existed on campus. On top of that, I didn’t know I would enjoy it. I’ve gone to their performances the past two weeks with members of my team and we plan on going as much as we can.

Everyone has a different experience with this program. I truly believe that if I was on a different team, or not on a team at all, my first semester would be drastically different. Having similar schedules with members of my team has allowed myself, as well as others, to build friendships with one another. If the FIRE Program wasn’t available for me, I believe I wouldn’t have been this successful through the first semester. This program has provided me with friendships that have introduced me to even more people across campus. I have had multiple non-Paul college students tell me how much they wish they had the FIRE Program when adjusting to college life. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to be a part of this program. I am proud to be a member of team F1R3 Goodell!

About Justin O’Donnell ’20:

• York High School Class of 2016

• UNH Class of 2020

• Majoring in Business Administration with a focus in Management

• FIRE Igniter

The FIRE program is something that I personally connected with because I was the founding member of something very similar in Nashua. My program was called Titan Connections, a freshmen mentorship program created to ease the transition from middle school to high school. The inspiration for the program came from Nashua North students that mentored me throughout my years as an underclassman and they were my role models. I wanted to pay it forward. Every freshman deserved to have someone that they could ask for help. After a summer of meetings with teachers, principals, the superintendent, and the board of education, Titan Connections was born. The 400 freshmen were split into 40 groups of ten and assigned a senior mentor with whom they would meet with on a bi-weekly basis. Throughout the school year, the program had many ups and downs. Often times it was difficult to motivate kids to participate and mentors were frustrated. These issues were discussed in “mentors only” meetings and the plan for a charity fundraiser was created. The kids were asked to vote on a charity as a group and then raise money towards it. Whatever group raised the most money was given a pizza party. In the end, the program raised over $500 dollars for “Cure for Hope”. At the end of the year, a survey was given to the freshman asking about their Titan Connections experience and the majority of kids said they had benefited in some way from the program. The program continues to run and grow this year.

After being so involved in my high school, having no extracurricular commitments in college was a foreign feeling and I felt lost. However, the FIRE program has helped me fit in at UNH. By going to events for points, I’ve become much more comfortable with the campus and have met so many new people and have made friends because of it. My mentor, Jon Tamposi, has assisted me with assignments, provided exam tips, suggested groups to join and worked with me on my resume and cover letter, which helped me receive a job at People’s United Bank. He also provided me with the opportunity to become an Igniter which has allowed me to become more involved within the FIRE program. I get to share my ideas with my peers and work to improve the program. I now have something I can be passionate about at UNH and it has improved my college experience tremendously. Paul FIRE has made everyday a good day to be a Wildcat for me. One day, I hope to be a Peer Advisor and be able to do for a freshman all that Jon has done for me. I want to get everyone FIREd up about UNH.

About Hanzla Sheikh ’20:

• Nashua High School North Class of 2016
• UNH Class of 2020
• Majoring in Business Administration with a focus in Finance
• Teller at Peoples United Bank in Durham
• FIRE Igniter

I enjoyed my freshman peer advising class back when I was a first year student, as it allowed me to have close friendships with students that I had multiple classes with and it connected me with an
upperclassman. However, I did not find myself closely connected with the peer advisor since he was just another teacher in my eyes. The new program allows peer advisors and first year students to form closer relationships since there is a stronger push to be involved outside of the classroom. Most of the time, outside of classes is where the strongest connections are made.

Last year, I found my students were very comfortable reaching out to me and we spent a lot of time together. I would meet them for coffee, get dinner at Hoco with them, or even hangout with them at meetings for various clubs we were both members of. There was a much higher degree of outside-the-classroom interaction which really helped me get to know each one of the students. My group loved going to the sporting events offered as point opportunities, for example, the dodgeball tournament. I saw a completely different, and very competitive side of some of my team members at that tournament that I never would have seen in the classroom. Last November, a few of my students signed up to do the UNH Serves volunteer day and it ended up being terrible weather. I was really impressed by the fact that my students still showed up and made the best of the day of service with me. We had some great laughs and I really got to know the students better. Getting to know the students’ characters was key in deciding what each student’s role would be at the FIRE Undergraduate Research Conference at the end of the year and honestly, I think it’s the reason why we ended up coming in first place! By the end of the year I knew them each so well that we were able to give each student a role that best fit their personality and talents.

It wasn’t always so simple to connect with the students, however. In fact, the first few weeks of the program were a bit shaky. The introduction of a game structure, in addition to related coursework was complex and difficult to explain to the students at first. The ultimate goal was to have students earn points based on their involvement throughout the year and their research assignments culminated in a presentation at the URC in the spring – simple right?

Well originally, when we developed a “game structure” we intended that it be rather covert in order to build suspense and also establish a sense of urgency. We realized quickly that this wasn’t the case after meeting with the first year student respondent group, referred to as “the Igniters”. Many students became frustrated since they were unable to plan for spontaneous events and peer advisors had a hard time effectively communicating with students about the tasks ahead. Some students lost interest because they felt their efforts were not productively working towards an end goal. We considered this when structuring the second semester FIRE plan. The Igniter group provided critical feedback to help shape the program.

As I look back on last year’s program, I realized the students who were on board and trying to improve the program were very talented. Thanks to the efforts of these students, peer advisors and faculty members across campus, the year concluded with a first-year URC performance level equivalent to graduate student projects and thesis presentations.

Returning as a second year peer advisor and senior, I can confidently say that the uncertainty we faced last year has been eliminated. This year we have experienced a greater number of students “buying into” the goals of the program. Early this year we hosted a dodgeball tournament that 280 students attended which is impressive for an activity that occurred within the second week of the school year. This is a time when schedules are full and many students find themselves overwhelmed simply adjusting to the demands of college.

I am excited to see where this year’s journey takes us based on the success of last year’s program. The teamwork between the faculty, alumni, peer advisors and freshmen participants has certainly helped Paul College pioneer an amazing program that is peeking student curiosity and interests, keeping them engaged, and is catching on like wild[cat] FIRE!

About Catherine (Catie) Wolstromer:

Catie is a senior majoring in Business Administration with a dual option in Finance & Marketing. She has held several internships including: International Finance Intern at Kronos in Chelmsford, MA; and Operations/Research Analyst at Technology Business Research Inc. in Hampton, NH. Additionally, Catie is involved on campus in the following roles: PCBE Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, UNH Honors in Major, UNH Women in Business, Wildcat’s Ski Racing Club Team, UNH Intramural Sports and Peer Advising. Catie is originally from North Andover, MA.

Welcome to the Paul College family! You’re only days away from moving into your home away from home – a scary but unbelievably exciting adventure! Paul College is a fantastic college to be a part of, recently ranking in the top 100 best undergraduate business schools. You’ll come to love the building and many of the people inside of it, if you have not begun to already. As a former FIRE Igniter and current student on the Sophomore Shadow Committee, I’d like to welcome you to the FIRE Program as well. Within this first-year program, you’ll develop friendships, academic and professional skills and important connections, AS LONG AS you take advantage of what FIRE and UNH has to offer.

As an incoming freshman, I’m sure you’ve researched and found blogs that describe extra tips or things you wouldn’t necessarily know going into your first year of college; I certainly did. Below, I’ve listed some UNH specific points that I think you can benefit from as you begin your wildcat journey:

• Represent yourself well – As a business student, you’ll be introduced to many alumni, potential employers, and other great connections that may help you pursue your goals in the future. Be careful what you post on social media and how you act in a public setting. You’re going to be given so many opportunities throughout your four years here, one mistake or bad choice may affect those opportunities and outcomes.
• Get involved, fast! – UNH has this awesome website called Wildcat Link where you can scroll through the 300+ organizations here on campus. If you happen to find nothing you’re interested in but have a club/organization idea, you have the ability to create it yourself! Aside from meeting new people who share similar interests, your experience here at UNH may be a lot more rewarding and fun by getting involved.
• Get to know your professors/TA’s – Never hesitate to attend office hours held by your professors and TA’s. Students at UNH are highly encouraged to get to know their professors and TA’s early in the semester so that by finals week they are comfortable asking questions and receiving help outside of class. Not only will your professors serve as great learning aids, but they may also serve as networking tools for future job opportunities. Introduce yourself during the first week and throughout the year give them a positive reason to remember you.
• What’s On Wednesdays – Every Wednesday in the MUB (Memorial Union Building) an activity is held, whether it be free mug making, local singers, comedians, etc. Check your UNH Mobile app to stay updated on each week’s events!
• Dining Dollars – Most of you will have a meal plan that includes dining dollars! Just like a debit card, a swipe of your ID will allow you to purchase food and drink at many locations on campus: Wildcatessen, vending machines, the Dairy Bar, Union Court, Zeke’s, Albert’s, and CornerStone, as well as any dining halls on campus. Take advantage of your dining dollars each semester rather than spending your own money from your bank account.
• FIRE Events/Career Center Workshops – Although FIRE events and Career Center workshops aren’t mandatory, take advantage of them throughout the year. Events geared towards networking, interview prep, resume reviews, cover letter writing and LinkedIn will really help you prepare for summer internships and future job opportunities. There are plenty of activities on campus that are geared towards setting you up for success, but it is up to you to find them and participate in them.
• Late Night – Philbrook Dining Hall, or “Philly” is open until 11pm Sunday-Wednesday whereas other dining halls close around 9pm. If you’re coming back from a late class, an intramural game, or just have a rumbling stomach, stop in and grab a bite to eat!
• Weeknight Activities – There is always something going on, whether it be improv, a capella, yoga, intramurals, varsity sports, club meetings, bingo, Greek life events, comedians, movies, dorm hall activities, etc. Become user friendly with the MUB’s weekly calendar and attend a few events each week! Not only will you receive FIRE points, but you will also meet a lot of people and enjoy a night out of your dorm room.

Becoming a college student may seem intimidating for some and more exciting for others. Just remember that there are hundreds, even thousands of kids on campus who are in the same position that you are in. Meet new people, try new things, have fun and enjoy your time here! Just as high school did, the next four years will fly by. Take advantage of everything UNH has to offer and set yourself up for success!

Go Wildcats!

About Alexis Gray ’19:

Alexis Gray is a determined second-year student at the University of New Hampshire where she studies Economics and Psychology. Alexis completed her education at Somersworth High School as the salutatorian of her class. She was the treasurer for class council, secretary for National Honor Society, historian for student council and a three-sport athlete, holding four school records in track and field.

At UNH, Alexis is an Igniter within the FIRE Program, a volunteer for Aspiring Hands, a student on the Sophomore Shadow Committee, an active intramural player and a new member of the UNH Track and Field team. She looks forward to making a difference amongst the communities she interacts with this year.

Once I got into the swing of starting classes and meeting new people, I decided to join a few clubs. I joined Women in Business, Friends of Jaclyn, and Project Sunshine.  I really enjoyed being in each of these clubs this year and strongly recommend every freshman to try to join at least one club.  It is awesome being a part of a group of people who share similar interests and passions.

Another big way I got involved was through the FIRE (First-Year Innovation and Research Experience) Program through the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics here at UNH.  FIRE is a peer advising program, where first-year students are a part of a team of 20-25 students and are matched with an upperclassmen student. With the help of this peer mentor and an alumni advisor, students in FIRE learn important communication and professional development skills needed to succeed at UNH and post-grad. The first semester focused primarily on transitioning from high school to college, while the second semester focused more on career-building events such as a “Mocktail” networking event and a Career Fair Bootcamp. Additionally, each team developed a product related to a topic prevalent in today’s society.  At the end of April, each team presented their product to a panel of judges at the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC).

One of the biggest components of FIRE this year, was the game aspect. The game encouraged students to get involved on campus. Students received points for participating in events on campus each week, and at the end of the year, the top three teams and top five individuals were recognized.  Each member of the winning team and the top five individuals received an Academic Achievement Prize. Once all of the points were added up, the results were revealed in the beginning of May at the FIRE Awards Ceremony.  Individually, I came in third place for points in the FIRE Program, and my team, The FIRE Fighters, pulled out the win to finish first overall!  Hearing our team name called for first place was a very fulfilling moment for my team and myself.  Throughout the entire year, I was committed to my goal of being involved.  FIRE made that extremely easy, by providing weekly events I could attend. I would go to these events mainly with other FIRE students on my team, but sometimes I went with some of my friends from different schools at UNH as well.  My team really came together the last month of school.  We communicated more than we ever had, all with the goal of winning that prize. In this last month we all grew a lot closer together.  We could not have done it without the support of our peer mentor, Samantha Raymond.  Sam pushed us every week to try to participate as much as we could.  We would not have won this if it wasn’t for her.  You could tell she truly wanted us all to succeed and helped us immensely along the way.

Besides winning the game part of FIRE, I was also able to go on a trip to Washington, D.C. with other Paul first-year students, and meet with distinguished alumni in the area.  Not only did I get to expand my professional network, but I was able to make connections with other Paul students who had similar academic goals as myself.  This trip was definitely a highlight of my freshman year.

It’s hard to believe that my freshman year has come and gone in a blink of an eye.  I wouldn’t change anything from my experience. I met so many great friends, and made great connections with my peers, Paul College faculty, and alumni.  I took advantage of all of the amazing opportunities I was offered through FIRE and the Paul College, and I’m so happy I did!  My advice to every freshman is to get involved and say yes to many (if not all) of the opportunities presented to you.  These experiences just may end up having a big influence on your life.

About Caitlin Coxen:

Caitlin Coxen is a motivated first-year student in the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire.  She is considering pursuing a major in Business Administration with an option in Marketing, and a minor in Hospitality.  Caitlin graduated in the top 10% of her class at Oyster River High School located in her hometown of Durham, NH. In high school she was the treasurer of the National Honor Society, a member of the French National Honor Society, community service club, and Interact Club. Upon graduation she received the Red Sox Foundation Scholarship, Shirley Thompson Service Award, and John R. and Virginia R. Cooper Scholarship.

At UNH, Caitlin is very dedicated to her academics.  She is a member of the Women in Business Club, Project Sunshine, and Friends of Jaclyn.  In her first year, Caitlin received the Paul College Academic Excellence Award, the FIRE Luminary Award, and the FIRE Unsung Hero Award.  She looks forward to continue being involved at UNH and at Paul College. She hopes to study abroad her junior year.

The FIRE curriculum begins with teaching us three skill sets: problem solving, professionalism, and appreciating group dynamics. By the end of our first year, we pull it all together in the Undergraduate Research Conference. Before I share my experience on the final day of the conference, I want to note an external conversation I had with an outside business leader. He could not stress enough the importance of strong business teams being far more important than any one individual: “If it’s about the company, then it’s about the team”.

Our team, first place winners in the Undergraduate Research Conference, was a mix of different personalities and skills, some analytical, some creative, and some great presenters. All members of the team demonstrated problem solving, professionalism, and the ability to recognize group dynamics. Each member contributed to our success, much like colleagues would in a successful business.

The year-long FIRE curriculum culminates in a one-day Undergraduate Research Conference designed to simulate companies competing to provide solutions to real world problems. All of the teams in the first round did a good job presenting new products and services. The finalists truly captured the spirit of the conference. From a mobile app that filters social media, to an emergency water filtration system, the presentations were so well thought out. Problem solving, professionalism, and teamwork clearly shined. Presenters not only communicated their team’s product, but were asked many questions from judges and other students that helped distinguish the company’s competencies and the team’s preparedness.

Our group challenge was to create a product or service that could help those affected by extreme weather. After a review of real problems facing the world today, our team decided that fresh water will play an even more critical role globally. Our product, “Oasis”, is a compact water purifier specifically designed for natural and environmental disasters (e.g. floods, hurricanes, contaminants).

I enjoyed the opportunity to be one of our team’s five presenters. I recognized the importance of the detailed preparation that went into our business plan. Each of the members of my team played a critical role. No one person can be credited with our team/company success. As previously mentioned, “If it’s about the company, then it’s about the team”.

We made it through the first round with a very relevant product combined with an impactful presentation.  I believe we won in the final round because judges found our team to be professional and our presentation well-designed. Winning the URC for FIRE was so satisfying because it was at that point I recognized the true value of the UNH curriculum.

When I began freshman year I, like so many others had that anxious feeling. Have I chosen the right school? Have I chosen the right major? As the year progressed I valued the real life business experiences of the faculty and the many clubs and organizations that compliment the academics (e.g. Women in Business Club and Student Council Honors Program). FIRE gave me the opportunity to pull it all together. The FIRE program coordinators Tamara and Sean, and my team’s peer advisor Catie, put so much time and effort into helping us develop our skills. I’ve enjoyed my freshman year at UNH. FIRE has only furthered my desire to gain business experience as I continue my education.

The Conference was one of the highlights of my freshman year. I will gain from this experience for many years to come. While companies are different, the fundamentals we’ve learned remain the same. Thanks to the Paul College staff for creating such a valuable program.

About Melissa Schwartz:

Melissa Schwartz is a freshman Honors student at the Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics at the University of New Hampshire planning to major in finance and marketing. She is secretary of the Honors Program Student Council, a member of Women in Business, and as a member of her sorority Chi Omega, she volunteers her time with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Melissa will be a Peer Academic Leader this summer during Paul Freshman Orientation. In her first year, received the Paul College Academic Excellence Award, the FIRE Luminary Award, and the Pursuit of Pi Award. She is from Bedford, New Hampshire.

I had a dream when I was younger that involved me going to college and becoming successful. It wasn’t until I held my acceptance letter from UNH that I truly saw my dream becoming a reality. Throughout high school, I was not a stand-out student or athlete. I was just your average Joe who was a quiet leader. I preferred to lead by example and let my actions speak for themselves. College was offering me the opportunity to learn and grow as a person. Words cannot describe how excited yet nervous I was to start the school year.

My first few days were not as hectic as I thought. The first-year students were given the weekend to acclimate to their new surroundings and make some friends. After the first few weeks of classes, I received an email from Tamara Rury and Sean Stewart about receiving a nomination to represent my FIRE team on FIRE’s (First-year Innovation Research Experience) student-advisory board.  Members of FIRE’s student-advisory board are called Igniters and we were nominated by our peer advisors due to our discussion in the classroom and commitment to get involved on campus.  That is exactly what I did. I went to events and submitted them for “points”. The point system was intended to make some friendly competition and encourage kids to get involved in all the amazing things this campus has to offer. I was honored to accept the role, but skeptical about the opportunities I would receive.

My first opportunity that I received as an Igniter was to present the FIRE Program to the UNH Foundation and Alumni Boards. I was blown away at this chance and accepted immediately. I had never been so nervous in my life for that presentation. After my peers and I presented, we were invited to network and talk with those board members at President Huddleston’s home. It was completely uplifting to hear how excited they were about the future generation and it was special to see how much they genuinely cared about our education and progression. I met several amazing people that I will never forget and that was only the beginning.

Second semester was just as fulfilling as the first. I got the chance to go to Washington, D.C. with other first-year Paul students. We met with alumni like Stu Damon, Kevin Blafkin, Anne Marie Wemmlinger and Sylvie Balenger that were all seasoned veterans in their fields. I learned a lot about their experiences and about the hospitality management industry. We also met Senator Jeanne Shaheen to discuss college graduate debt and Ashley Rennebu about The Washington Center. We even had the opportunity to explore the city! I met a lot of great people on that trip and it would not have been possible without Paul College and FIRE.

On top of all of this, I served as the treasurer of my hall council, participated in community service, and I am a member of SCOPE. My involvement on campus gave me the confidence I needed to land a co-op position at Cisco Systems as a software engineer this summer. I am very excited to start my job and learn as much as I can. UNH gave me the skills I needed to make a great resume and push myself outside of my comfort zones.

FIRE has pushed me to become a much more hardworking and dedicated person. I believe FIRE pushed me to be successful. I don’t think I would have landed this Cisco job without the help of FIRE and my campus involvement. Coming to UNH was the best decision of my life and overall I would not change my first-year experience for anything. I hope to one day inspire kids to work hard to achieve any goals they set for themselves.

About Derek Steele:

Derek Steele is a motivated first-year, Business Administration student at the University of New Hampshire. He graduated from Bedford High School in Bedford, New Hampshire. He recently accepted a job offer at Cisco systems and is very excited to learn as much as he can.

At UNH, Derek is an Igniter within the FIRE program in the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. He also is a member of SCOPE and is the treasurer of his hall council. The Student Committee on Popular Entertainment plays a role in concert planning where they manage a large budget and assist with the setup and breakdown at the event. He is very excited about the future and can’t wait for more opportunities like he has received so far.

Two years later, I got my chance. As a newcomer, I was not quite sure how to manage a class of my own, but I was forced to learn quickly. Wildcat Day, when peer advisors meet their students for the first time, immediately indicated the personal skills I needed to improve upon. I was able to comfortably speak with students, but it was difficult getting them to participate in open dialogue. Following Wildcat Day, I was eager to improve the dynamic of my class environment. By participating in weekly meetings with other advisors, I learned a plethora of tips and tricks to enhance engagement within my class. Additionally, all of the peer advisors had the opportunity to bond and work on team-building skills at the Browne Center. At the Browne Center, we participated in a variety of mini-games and activities that forced us to work as a team. I quickly learned more about the peer advisors that worked alongside me, and I had fun while doing it! Also, I learned more effective communication styles that could be used to strengthen relationships with my advisees.

Following the Browne Center, I felt more prepared to be a mentor. As the weeks went on, I developed professional relationships with the students in my class. Communication improved, and students felt more comfortable asking important questions. This led to meaningful conversations pertaining to: landing internships, resume development, studying for finals, etc. As a result of the improved communication within class, students felt more comfortable getting out of their comfort zones. Many of them joined clubs that I had previously been involved with, while others told me about their participation in new student organizations here at UNH. By the end of the semester, I was constantly answering text messages and emails from my advisees. It was very rewarding. Not only did they see me as a useful resource, but I was able to watch them grow exponentially during their time with me.

Due to this rewarding and educational experience, I accepted an offer to be the “Head Peer Advisor” for the new and improved FIRE program. Not only have I been responsible for managing a new class of 22 students, but I have more administrative duties, such as overseeing the other 30 advisors. Additionally, this role has provided me with more development opportunities. I was able to present information regarding FIRE to the Alumni Foundation Board. I strengthened my public speaking skills by delivering a speech on internship experiences to approximately 1,000 students during Accepted Students Visit Day (ASVD). I have strengthened my project management skills by overseeing my team’s Undergraduate Research Project. And lastly, I have become a more effective teacher through the additional hours spent in front of a class. It has been a fantastic experience so far, and I am excited to see how all of the teams perform at the Undergraduate Research Conference.

To conclude, my experience as a peer advisor has been very rewarding. Not only have I facilitated student growth and development, but I have learned and fine-tuned many skills of my own. Additionally, I have expanded my network to include a variety of interesting alumni, teachers, students, and advisors who have provided me with valuable insights and lessons. Lastly, being a peer advisor has been very enjoyable! Whether it be joking around with the advisors in the office or participating in team events, I have had a great time. Paul College has some tremendous people, and meeting them has been both eye-opening and fun. Without the experiences obtained as a peer advisor, I would not be the person I am today.

About Brian Finney:

Brian Finney is a driven senior at the University of New Hampshire, where he studies Business Administration with a dual concentration in Accounting and Finance. Finney is also very involved on campus. He is currently the head peer advisor for FIRE, a teaching assistant for financial accounting, a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, and an active participant in the UNH Pathway’s Program. Finney is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Golden Key International Honour Society, the Accounting Students Association, and will be one of the Class Marshals for his graduating class.

Professionally, Finney has multiple internship experiences at firms such as Multiplan, Inc. and Ernst & Young, LLP. Following graduation, he will be working in Ernst & Young’s Advisory Practice in Boston, Massachusetts. Additionally, Finney aspires to become a Certified Public Accountant. His favorite leisure activities include: participating in various sports, going to the gym, and playing poker. He looks forward to the future and is thankful for everything he has learned at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

We flew into D.C. on the first Sunday of spring break, and left for home late that following Wednesday; and in those few days we managed to meet a plethora of alumni, learn about what they do, and channel into the real world for a little while.  I have to say that meeting with the alumni was most definitely the highlight of the trip for me.  Each one had their own approach to their career, and all of them gave us great insight to what we would be stepping into three years from now. The opportunity to peek into some of their worlds for even a few hours was beyond generous; for example, being at the Ritz-Carlton headquarters and witnessing their daily  morning reviews with the entire work team, and dining at The Walrus Oyster & Ale House, a newly opened restaurant at National Harbor, hosted by an alum who is a partial owner and runs a restaurant management group.

In addition to more established alums, we were also able to meet and connect with recent graduates over dinner on our first night in the city – a real treat!  It was great to see what directions they took and what their careers looked like only a few years out of college.  It made our futures seem a lot easier to grasp, and in ways, much less intimidating.  From speaking with all of these interesting and unique alumni, I have taken away a much more open mindset.  Each of them, in their own way, expressed how being open to change and new concepts, or even career paths is key; whether it be choosing to studying abroad when you’re not 100% sold on the idea, or changing your entire career path midway through life, or just deciding to start your own business after years of working within a larger company.  Change is good, and in today’s day and age almost inevitable; our UNH alumni expressed that while outlining the great possibilities that come from new job offerings, different internships, and potential majors.

The last great aspect of the trip to Washington, D.C. that I will highlight was the people that surrounded me.  I never would have thought that traveling with eleven other Paul College freshmen and our two advisors would have such an impact on me.  With the guidance of our two advisors I believe each of us grew professionally; and from my peers I can say that they each had their own influence on me.  Every one of us had something to bring to the table, and being surrounded by such like-minded individuals who were motivated and interested, made this trip a tremendous experience.  Coming back to UNH, I now have a group of people whom I didn’t know before, who all have a new outlook that we can take into Paul College together.

The FIRE trip to Washington, D.C. showed me that the University of New Hampshire has even more to offer than I had previously thought, and I intend to take full advantage of these resources and opportunities.  I believe that this has not only benefited me personally, and my colleagues who attended, but all of Paul College.  We were able to spread the word to our alumni about the FIRE Program and now we get to take all of the knowledge and experience we gained, and bring it back to UNH.

About Francesca Molinari:

Francesca Molinari is a motivated first-year student at the University of New Hampshire, majoring in Business Administration, Spanish, and International Affairs. She graduated from Queensbury High School, in New York, where she was involved in various clubs including National Honors Society, Spanish Club, and the Madrigal Singers.

At UNH, Francesca is an Igniter for the FIRE Program within the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, where she contributes to the betterment of the FIRE Program and helps with student involvement. She is also a member of The Campus Activities board, which organizes free events for students; and she works in the Center for International Education and Global Engagement, as an administrative assistant.

Sean O’Connell: “Sometimes I don’t. If I like a moment, I mean, ME, personally. I don’t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay…in it.”

This is an exchange between Walter Mitty and Sean O’Connell, played by Ben Stiller (Walter) and Sean Penn (Sean) from the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. For those who have not seen
 the motion picture, here’s a little explanation behind the scene. Sean O’Connell is a photographer for LIFE magazine and is waiting on a ridge to capture the snow leopard a.k.a the “Ghost Cat” when Walter finds him, completing his movie-long journey. Sean does not take the picture when the snow leopard appears and Walter asks why, in which Sean answers with his reply from the dialogue above.

This exchange perfectly describes my philosophy on photography which I’ve followed ever since I started shooting pictures with my iPhone 4 back in 2012. I believe that there are moments in life that are too pure, too amazing, too remarkable to capture with a camera or any other mean of recording. As a first-year student in the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, I have had so many of these moments from opportunities to network and get my name out into the professional world, to meeting incredible individuals who are always willing to assist me in developing my skills to making sure I am ready for anything that gets thrown at me.

The saying goes: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. However, I like to believe some moments are worth a thousand pictures, in that all of the emotions that can be felt from just one picture cannot fully express some of the moments we’ve all experienced or will experience. It is in these moments that the camera is a distraction. It is in these moments that no words, no pictures, no form of recording from any perspective other than your own eyes and mind, can fully capture the emotion in that moment. These moments and experiences are the “Ghost Cats” in photography.

I have had plenty of these moments in my first year here at UNH, so many in fact that I could not physically take advantage of all of them. Because of this I am extremely thankful and grateful of the plethora of opportunities I have been presented with. Most of which have been through Paul College’s FIRE Program.

As Ruth brought up in her post a couple of weeks ago, students who came to UNH from small high schools with small graduate classes, like myself, might feel overwhelmed by the size of UNH and find it hard to stick out from the crowd. I graduated from Lowell Catholic High School with a senior class of 96 students and a total school population of roughly 400, so coming to a university that is almost 40 times larger is definitely overwhelming. My first semester was tough because I got too involved (yes that’s a thing) and couldn’t handle the work load. However, through the FIRE Program it helped me realize the things that were really important and how to work to make sure I was moving in the right direction while also helping the transition into college smoother. On top of that, I was selected to be a FIRE Igniter.

As an Igniter, my role is to act as an active member on the FIRE Program’s student-advisory board. I, along with the rest of the FIRE Igniters, act as program designers to help mold the FIRE Program to fit the needs of first-year, Paul College students to get them on track and get ahead of the game. To be selected out of the 650 other freshman means so much to me and helped raise my confidence to go out and be more proactive in my studies and personal interests, such as my photography.

The FIRE Program has been a large provider for what I now call “Ghost Cat” moments for and for everyone I know in the business school here at UNH. The FIRE Program moves me to give back and encourages me to do my best as an Igniter to provide more of these moments, opportunities, and experiences for present and future FIRE students. I want to pass on the opportunities I have been given and watch others discover their own “Ghost Cat” moments. Maybe by doing so, I can give someone the experiences they need to show them their purpose or their ultimate goal in life. Maybe, because of my role as an Igniter, I can give someone the thing they need that will allow them to figure out a way to capture these “Ghost Cat” moments. But until that happens, I’m going to stick to taking pictures.

About Matthew Santangelo:

Matthew is an excited first year student in the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics studying Business Administration and looking to focus on Entrepreneurial Studies. He is a graduate of Lowell Catholic High School and grew up in Pelham, NH. While in high school, he was on the varsity soccer team and was recognized by his coach to receive the Unsung Hero Award. He was also the President of the National Art Honors Society and an active member of the school organization S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions).

However, the highlight of his high school experience was becoming a published author at age 17 for a piece that was featured in a book titled “Little by Little We Fill the Cup”. The book was a fundraiser to build a clean water well on the school grounds of the Margret Okari Children’s School for orphan children in Kisii, Kenya and features written works by authors from the United States, United Kingdom, and even children from the Margret Okari School in Africa.

Currently, he is a member of the Residents Hall Association as the McLaughlin Hall rep, as well as being the R.H.A. rep of his hall council. Matt also participates in UNH intramurals and is an active member of the FIRE Igniters student-advisory board.

Many first-year students are coming from high schools that had rather small graduating class sizes and for them to step into a university population of 15,000 students can be somewhat overwhelming. As a Paul College freshman, I have been fortunate to be a part of the FIRE Program that allows for smaller group discussion. It is relaxing to know that while we have the overall UNH class of 2019, we also have the freshmen class in Paul College of 650, which again gets narrowed down into our FIRE groups of 20-25 students.

The benefits one gains from being part of a team change over time. It is important to start with a strong foundation and the FIRE program at Paul College is here to provide a stable starting place. My FIRE team’s name is District Twelve and is made up primarily of hospitality management majors. Our peer advisor is Jessica Hill, who is minoring in hospitality management. She is the backbone of the team and provides leadership and a central guide. There are only two FIRE teams made up of hospitality students which allows us for more connections and recognizable faces. There are around 20 people in my fire group and we all have almost identical schedules. To most, this is definitely a benefit. While we have classes with other business students it is always nice to see a familiar face sprinkled in, or someone to relate to. It is nice to be able to meet with the small group once a week to vent or ask questions. Students in my group frequently discuss common assignments, frustration with a teacher, or confusion regarding upcoming events. The small group atmosphere allows students who are shy, or like the majority are insecure about talking into a microphone in a class of 200 people, to ask clarifying questions and speak up.

I have friends in other colleges, such as liberal arts, here at UNH who feel disconnected from their peers by not meeting people in their classes or major. They were not provided with the unique opportunity to connect with students with common interests, thus left feeling disassociated from others in their program of study. The primary thing that ties us all together is our major which allows for a variety of personalities, interest, and stories.

In my FIRE team we have a frequently used group chat, we have hosted study groups together, and I have enjoyed meeting for coffee with various people from my FIRE group. I feel more confident knowing I have friends within my major, and can rely on them for support. The point of the FIRE group is not to force us together and make everyone best friends, but if each individual gains the ability to say hi to one more person, or even make a friend, on campus the social goal of FIRE has been met. Since the selection process was random rather than hand selected the teams are not all perfect. Some teams get along and truly clicked, inspiring other teams, while others have chosen to not embrace the team aspect FIRE provides.

For many students, as well as myself, the FIRE teams have made the transition into college more secure allowing for greater self-assurance. Being both an Igniter and a member of a FIRE team has allowed me to do so much networking right from the start. I am already gaining and practicing the essentials skills I will need to present myself professionally in the future. I have connected with several people in my particular field of study, event management, and have been able to hear about their experiences and pick their brains to uncover the secrets of the industry. Personally, these opportunities excite me and give me the drive to work harder and keep my eyes open to all the possibilities coming my way. I did not think it was possible to be noticed or to stand out in a school of 15,000 students, especially as a freshman. However, FIRE has allowed just that. If you truly apply yourself and keep an open mind it is possible to establish yourself early and make some profound connections right out of the gate. The FIRE Program has opened many doors that were once not available to freshmen in the past, allowing the freshman of Paul College to strive for the utmost academic and professional success.

About Ruth Smith:

Ruth Smith is an enthusiastic first year, hospitality management and ego-gastronomy dual-major student at the University of New Hampshire. She grew up in Franklin, TN and moved to Maine when she was 12. Ruth completed her education at Falmouth High School located in Falmouth, ME. There she was an involved member of the executive board for the National Honors Society, received a fine arts endorsement upon graduation, participated in varsity field hockey for three years, and 4-H for a total of 7 years. Throughout high school she was very involved, volunteering much of her time to her church and community.

Currently, Ruth is truly dedicated to her studies and is fully immersing herself in the culture here at UNH. Ruth is a member of Project Sunshine, PCMA (Professional Convention Management Associations), and was selected to be in Paul’s FIRE Igniters group. She is very excited to explore the opportunities here at Paul College, including the opportunities to go abroad. She attributes the majority of her success to her family and all of their encouragement.

Unlike the passive flower, we can create change within others and ourselves. However, sometimes we need a little guidance.  A person, event, or in this case a camp, to really make us look at who we are and what our purpose is; how to properly serve, support, and lead others.

How does one have such a transformative experience you might ask? The answer: go to Leadership Camp. I, along with 57 other leaders, took 5 days out of my winter break and disconnected from the world at Camp Merrowvista. Although it may seem intimidating at first to enter a place where opening up to others is almost contagious, the atmosphere is unlike anything I’ve experienced before.

At the end of the first day it was as though hours were days and strangers were high school friends.  After 9 hours of meeting new friends, we accomplished far more than I would have imagined. Of course the day was filled with icebreakers within the whole group, as well as in our smaller action packs, but more importantly we looked at who we are as leaders and who we want to be.  This was the start to a week filled with self-reflection.

Day two festivities started almost immediately after lifting our heads and filling our stomachs. Divided into small groups, we headed to the ropes course. Like many other students I’ve done ropes courses before, but never has there been this much chemistry between a groups of people. We untied our human knot in a matter of minutes, navigated through a spider web of ropes, completing the task without setting off any bells, and successfully lifted 12 people over a 13-foot wall. Upon reaching the wall we all had the same reaction of disbelief, they are having us do what? This isn’t going to happen! We all thought it but no one said it. Instead, each member of the team listened, planned, and acted to efficiently make this doubt a reality.

We learn how incredibly true Helen Keller’s quote, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much” is. Without that team of people, we as individuals would not have been able to get over the wall that once seemed like a daunting task.  As soon as the last person made it over, we all felt so empowered. If we could conquer the wall, what couldn’t we conquer?

It wouldn’t take much longer for us to approach past walls unclimbed. We all have events, emotions, and thoughts that we’ve hidden from the world for various reasons.  However, this was about to change.  Sitting around a circle with five random people, we each spent a few minutes spilling our deepest secrets saying, “If you really knew me you would know that…” Speaking as someone who likes to shelter these things, there was something about sitting around that circle that made me feel comfortable.  By the end of the activity the air was heavy, but our minds were lightened.

Leaving those burdens behind, we were able to clearly think about what kind of change we wanted to see in the world as we made our way into working on our leadership action plans. These are our visions for the future and how we will reach that kind of world through specific goals. The task seemed daunting but we spent a large part of the rest of the week working on establishing a solid set of steps towards reaching those goals. The next three nights we were left thinking about these plans and the future.

To help us with our future, on the third day, we had the opportunity to speak to community members and alumni of UNH about their roles as leaders in their fields.  We spent a good part of the
morning with them, and the afternoon was spent building stronger relationships with fellow campers.

The fourth and final full day was spent primarily working on our action plans some more and reviewing everyone else’s. It was a great opportunity to see what the others were passionate about and to help them with their potentially impactful pursuit.

The seriousness of that day quickly changed once night rolled around.  As an action pack we created a skit about one of the lessons taught throughout the week. My group got, enabling others to act. We created the “cornbread clique”, a very closed-minded cornbread-loving group. However, through some eye-opening conversations, the clique quickly became inclusive to those who loved whole-wheat toast and other varieties of bread.  Though this skit contained much laughter, behind it all was a serious message about how to positively influence others to stand up for what is right.

Leadership camp shined some light on our blossoms. Even though it was only five days, by the end of the week it was easy to tell that we, as people and leaders, had changed. We felt empowered, like our voices could have an impact on the world because our voices could lead an army, and our actions could start a movement. We were all ready to get back to UNH to start a movement within the community. Personally, with my new found confident voice I was ready to be heard in my Igniter group (a subcommittee in the FIRE program) because there was a presentation in front of the Foundation and Alumni board just a few days later. Further more I was eager to start a moment in my FIRE class and my peers were ready to do the same in their organizations.

Not like the passive movement flowers have when they sway in the wind; we are more than that. We are the focuses of wind moving the flower and helping blossoms develop. If leadership camp has taught me anything, it is that our voices and actions can have more of a positive impact than we realize, we just need to learn how to use them to their fullest potential. We as leaders need find what makes us blossom.

About Emily Grone:

Emily Grone is a motivated first-year student at the University of New Hampshire where she studies Business Administration, hoping to focus on marketing and management.  She graduated from Gorham High School as salutatorian with the presidential scholarship to UNH. Grone was very involved in her high school as president of her class and National Honor Society along with being vice president of student council and chief editor of the yearbook.  In the summers, she owns her own ice cream shack called Scoggins Cool Shack and will return this summer as her 4^th year operating the business.

Currently at UNH, Emily is involved in student senate, women in business, and net impact. She is also part of the Igniters group. As a first-year business student she was part of a FIRE class and was recognized as a leader in her class, so she was chosen as an Igniter. These are the students who act an advisory board to help improve the program and motive more students. She is excited to see what the future has in store for FIRE.

I am intrigued by new challenges, therefore when Dean Merrill-Sands came to my office to ask if I was interested in helping with the Dean’s Ambassador Program I was excited.  What I didn’t know is that it would be one of the best decisions I’ve made at UNH.

The Dean’s Ambassadors are a group of 14 students nominated by faculty and selected by the Dean to serve as her student advisory board.  This year the Dean decided to take the group to visit Alumni in Silicon Valley with the common theme of innovation.

Three days on the ground, five Alumni site visits, two social innovation incubators, one makers’ tour and a redeye later I am still tired.  I am also am eager to share what I observed and learned!

I am a firm believer that success is a combination of working hard, taking risks (calculated risks for my type A personality), staying positive and enjoying what you do.  I have always tried to direct students toward their interests.  I learned I am right!

What I heard: In Silicon Valley we met with Alumni who are all very successful in both conventional financial terms, but also in terms of personal satisfaction.  They all had different yet similar stories of failure and success.  None of them experienced immediate success, many of them were miserable in their early jobs.  What each one of them shared was the classic tale of working hard, overcoming disappointments, taking advantage of opportunities and staying positive.

What I experienced: In my office we talk a lot about goals, attainable, measurable goals.  The Alumni we met with lived by their goals.  I need to raise X dollars by X day.  I need to reach out to X customers per day. They also talked about how their goals changed as they moved along their path. In our planning for student success we talk about skills.  The Alumni we met with ALL talked about the ability to network, to talk with others, to think critically, to be understood.  Basic, simple concepts that all of us can employ.

What I saw:  Everyone “works” somewhere, be it an office on the 30^th floor, a classroom, a rented table or a converted garage.   Success is not determined by where you physically work.  We saw every kind of office space (Google is as amazing as you’ve heard!)  What does matter?  Passion, perspective, perseverance and personality.  Cheesy?  Perhaps.  Attainable?  Definitely!

The current generation of students has somewhat of a bad reputation of considering themselves “special” and having the belief that by being their wonderful self they will stand out and be successful (for more information see Bright Side article).  I am now more confident than ever that the FIRE Program is right on track (even though the current participants may not yet see it.)  Why am I confident?

FIRE encourages team work and collaboration.  The students are forming their UNH network now and working together on grand challenges.  They will share successes and failures.  We hope they will encourage and support each other.  The business world relies on teamwork.  No one we met with experienced success without the support of mentors, teams and partners.    “Your network is everything in life.  You will get back what you give in when you need it.”  Jeff Moore, ’96, Google Staffing Manager

FIRE is introducing research early in the students’ academic careers.  I believe this will help us to create students who can be problem-solvers, thinkers and entrepreneurs.  “Ideas are easy, execution is hard.” Rick Marini, ’94, Entrepreneur & Angel Investor.  

FIRE aims to find a balance between recognizing hard work and helping those who need support.  There are competitions and awards for people who are working hard the traditional way (earning high grades), but also those who excel in specific areas like writing, professional development and communication.  We are challenging students to work hard.  “I think of challenges as an opportunity.  Am I learning something to move my career forward?” Rick Marini,’94.  For those who need support we schedule private conferences because we know most can succeed when guided in the right direction.  We can encourage students to use their resources.  Among the successful innovators, those who used the network and resources had a chance at success.  “We have to be thoughtful about what we know and don’t know.”  Edward Aten ’03, Merchbar Founder. 

FIRE wants students to set goals for their academic career.  FIRE encourages students to look beyond the classroom toward skill development and experience through involvement on campus.  We can encourage students to find their passion.  The FIRE program wants to produce the kinds of students that companies want on their teams!  “I recruit people I believe in.” Brian Lamb, ’99 Swivl Founder.

There is no doubt that today’s students are different than “my generation”.  FIRE will keep working to help our students find passion, encouraging dreamers, but introducing reality as well.  While everyone can’t be “special” your path is one of a kind; enjoy the journey and learn from each step.

I am hopeful.  I am inspired.  I am excited.  I am ready.

About Tamara Rury:

Tamara Rury is currently the Associate Director of Undergraduate Advising for Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics.  Tamara began working as an Advisor in the Undergraduate Programs and Advising Office in Paul College 10 years ago.  She has worked with the Peer Advising Program since she began at UNH and is excited to help craft a revision of the program through the FIRE Program.  Prior to working at UNH Tamara worked at the Center for Enhanced Performance at the United States Military Academy.  Tamara graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Intercultural Communications and James Madison University with an M.Ed in Counseling Psychology/Student College Personnel.

Outside of UNH Tamara is a proud mom to Amelia (8 years old) and an avid reader and crafter.  During the summer Tamara spends as much time as possible at Lake Winnipesaukee.

As fall semester ends at UNH and 2016 begins, it is a natural time for reflection. 2015 was a crazy year for myself filled with many highs. I started an exciting new job, jumped out of a plane, went on an incredible family vacation to Europe and ran my first half marathon. However, 2015 also brought one of the lowest lows in my life: watching my mother battle lymphoma. Like most others, I have set high goals for 2016. To help achieve these ambitions I am thinking like a first-year college student and I encourage everyone to try as well…seriously! 

In my new role at UNH as the Paul College FIRE Program Coordinator, my daily routine involves working with Paul freshmen on anything from class selection to extracurricular involvement to planning out a four year plan for their time at UNH and everything in between. As part of the college’s Freshmen Academic Experience class, the students’ first assignment was to write an academic autobiography. This essay was meant for the first-year student to reflect upon their experience in high school and how they would attack their college career knowing their strengths and weaknesses in high school. After going through over 650 essays, it was clear that freshmen wanted to make significant changes in their study habits and become more active participants in the community.

I’m sure many of us, myself included, would like to make changes this year; possibly to a healthier eating and/or exercising regiment.  Maybe we want to join a club or do more community service? Most of us make these resolutions individually and have to hold ourselves accountable, which can be tough when our lives get in the way. This is very similar to a freshmen’s first semester at college. For many, it’s their first time being on their own and having to hold themselves accountable for getting homework done, eating right, staying active, etc. and there are no parents or teachers providing oversight. A lot of the time, this is very difficult to do on our own. Sure the first couple of weeks, we are motivated and it goes well, but as time moves on we get comfortable and tired and lose sight of the goal.

This is why I think the Paul FIRE Program has done so well in its first semester: no one is on their own. Each student is placed on a team with another 15-20 first-year students in the exact same situation as them. Also, each team is paired with an upperclass peer advisor that was in their position just a couple years prior. The Freshman Experience Course syllabus encourages freshmen to evaluate their study skills in order to achieve academic success. Finally, each team is matched with an alumni advisor that can provide real-world support for becoming successful post-graduation. Each student sets his or her own goals, but has a support system that meets weekly to keep him or her on track. This builds a community that promotes academic and professional success for the impressionable first-semester, first-year college student.

As professionals, we need that same support system. Like first-year college students, there are so many distractions in our lives that can derail us from our goals. For example, I ran my first half-marathon a few weeks ago after being inspired by the students’ academic autobiographies and the need to drop some weight. I trained for almost three months and thankfully I had my coworkers and supervisor that would check in on my progress and provide encouragement as I made my way through the training. Without their support, I’m pretty sure I would have stopped training, especially since I hate running. Even skydiving earlier in the summer; if my friend did not go with me, I wouldn’t have done it myself and missed out on the experience. Lastly, changing jobs this past year was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make. I felt like I was making a name for myself in college athletics and even won a national award for some of the projects my team and I had spearhead in the department. Leaving that career path was very scary. But with the encouragement from my friends and family and a little faith, I took that next step forward in my journey.

Making lasting changes in your daily routine is very difficult. There are many theories on the best way to stick to resolutions. As we head into 2016, my advice is to find a community that can support your goals and can keep you on track. It has worked for me and I see it work with first-year college students every day. If 2015 has taught me anything, it is that life can change on a dime for better or worse. You may not have control over all of these changes, but for the ones you can control: work hard, find your team and have a little faith that it will work out.

Have a wonderful and healthy 2016!

About Sean Stewart:

Sean Stewart is currently the FIRE Program Coordinator for Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics. Sean is a 2013 graduate of Paul College and UNH. While a student at UNH, Sean was a member of the UNH Men’s Club Volleyball program and was part of the 2011 national championship team. He was also part of the ‘Cat Crew Marketing & Promotions internship program, the Honors Program and a peer advisor for Paul College. Prior to returning to Paul College, Sean spent three years working in college sports marketing at Harvard University and the University of New Hampshire.

Beyond his full-time role with UNH, Sean coaches the UNH Women’s Club Volleyball team and was named the 2015 National Division 2 Coach of the Year during NCVF National Championships in Kansas City, MO. Sean also coaches for Great Bay Volleyball Club out of Hampton, NH and Great Bay Community College.

When I told my friends and family that I had joined a sorority only a month into my freshman year of college, at first they didn’t believe me. To be honest,  if you had asked me if I wanted to be involved in Greek life when I was in high school I probably would’ve laughed and said “no”. However looking back at these past three months, reminiscing on the events that I have been involved in, and the lives that I’ve impacted, I wouldn’t have wanted my freshman year to have started any differently.

I have to attribute some of my willingness to rush a sorority to my involvement in high school. As a self-proclaimed overachiever at Goffstown High School, I immersed myself in clubs and community service – staying busy was my norm. So when the first few weeks of college had come and gone I had noticed that as the days went by, my boredom had grown. I was so used to being involved that I felt out of place and lonely, and although I was attending the freshman orientation activities, I wanted to do more. So before I knew it, I was signed up for Fall Recruitment and was counting down the days until I would meet the sorority that would forever change my life.

It sounds stereotypical, but the moment I stepped foot into Chi Omega’s house, I knew that it was where I was supposed to be. The girls were welcoming and I had felt like I had known them my whole life. It helped that our conversations flowed, making the decision to choose Chi Omega an easy one; I never wanted to leave! On the third day of recruitment, Chi Omega introduced their philanthropy, Make-A-Wish; there was a tug on my heart – my closest friend had been diagnosed with cancer only four months prior.

I think it’s pretty rare that a single person can have such a big impact on your life in such a short time. My friend, 16 year-old Maddie Carlson, a junior at Goffstown High School was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in May of 2015. Before arriving at UNH, Maddie and I would hang out almost everyday, and when move-in day rolled around it was one of my hardest goodbyes.

After receiving a bid from Chi Omega, I called everyone I knew to tell them the news, including Maddie. I felt so proud to be part of an organization that contributed to something that meant so much to me. A few weeks later I was initiated as a new member, and Chi Omega held their annual “Mr. UNH” pageant, with all proceeds going towards Make-A-Wish. After the event was over, and all the girls were cleaning up, I introduced myself to the current Miss New Hampshire, Holly Blanchard. I wanted to know how I could get more involved and make more of an impact at Make-A-Wish at the state level. Holly told me about an internship that Make-A-Wish offers in their state office, and I eagerly applied that week. At the beginning of my college experience I don’t think that I would have taken the initiative to apply for the internship, but through the sorority, I have gained confidence in myself and my work.

Being immersed in a university full of ambitious, bright students has helped me so much, and joining Chi Omega had given me the push that I needed to set me on the track towards success. I have been handed so many great opportunities at the University of New Hampshire and can’t wait to see where the next four years take me.

About Lauren Gross:

Lauren Gross is a driven first-year student at Peter T. Paul College where she studies Business Administration. She graduated in the top 15% of her class at Goffstown High School and was involved in Student Council, the Leo Club, and National Honor Society. During her time in high school, Lauren was awarded Volunteer of the Year along with other members of an anti-bullying club that she was involved in, and upon graduation she received the Cumberland Farms “Believe and Achieve” scholarship along with the Lion’s Club Community Service scholarship.

At UNH, Lauren is involved in the FIRE Program as an Igniter where she motivates her classmates to get involved in the Paul College and UNH. She is also a member of Chi Omega and has enjoyed getting involved and contributing to Make-A-Wish. In her free time she loves to paint and be as creative as possible, as well as hang out with friends and volunteer her time to the community.

Starting school at UNH was an entirely different experience. Most students entering freshman year have never been forced to introduce themselves to hundreds of strangers.  Throughout high school there was not a single day that passed without the comfort of a team or organization. For this reason the first weeks of college, without a “group”, were daunting. The Freshman Innovation and Research Experience or FIRE was my catalyst.

Knowing that I would stumble upon a club eventually I was hesitant to seek one out. Despite this, and the fact that I only went to U-Day to earn FIRE points, there were numerous groups that I wanted to learn more about. Unsure of my course load, I was afraid to make a commitment to an organization. Speaking with my peer advisor who had taken the same courses gave me the confidence to take on the challenge. FIRE has allowed the peer advisors the opportunity to mentor freshmen in this capacity and I truly believe that I would not have taken advantage of the opportunities I did without this guidance.

Capitalizing on an opportunity, I rushed Alpha Kappa Psi, the coed professional business fraternity at UNH. After interviewing I was fortunately accepted into the fall pledge class. In just eight weeks pledging Alpha Kappa Psi I developed a professional resume, established crucial interview skills, and fostered extraordinary relationships to create some of the closest friendships I’ve ever experienced. It was one of the most demanding periods of my life, despite the difficulty I would not trade a single minute of it.

While AKPsi is a remarkable organization, other groups also peaked my interest. Following up on years of experience volunteering with both children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Best Buddies UNH was my next step. Best Buddies is an organization that matches an adult with disabilities with a UNH student. Whether it is attending a UNH volleyball game, bowling a couple of frames, or enjoying an ice cream cone at the Dairy Bar, the friendship with my buddy Scott has been unbelievable. Learning an entirely new sort of responsibility and patience, our bond has been transformative.

From an early age I knew I needed to choose a profession that can make a positive impact on someone’s life. For me, I believed education was that field. However, when college application season arrived I had second thoughts. After being bombarded with comments such as the classic “you are never going to make any money in education,” I left that ambition behind for what many perceive to be greener pastures. After arriving on campus, through Alpha Kappa Psi and Best Buddies I realize that working hard at something I am passionate about makes everything else in my life better. For that reason, I am now pursuing a degree in education as well as my studies in business.

UNH is full of opportunities; the beauty of FIRE is that we are being rewarded for taking advantage of these opportunities. It is not another obligation but rather an opportunity in itself. I was able to win the first semester of FIRE because I was not afraid to listen to advice from people who knew more and got involved. FIRE allowed me to see what I wanted to get involved in at UNH and through that what I want to do for the rest of my life.  The future of FIRE is an exciting one. We, as the class of 2019, have the chance to help shape what it will look like for business students of the future and that is something we should all make the most of.

About Brian Dezurick:

Brian Dezurick is a diligent, focused individual. He is a first year student at the University of New Hampshire where he is studying Economics and History, and plans to pursue a master’s degree in Education. He has been inspired to be a teacher by his amazing mentors through the years; specifically of the social studies department at Nashua High School North.

He graduated from Nashua North in 2015 as his class’ secretary, and was fortunate enough to be granted the school’s Economics achievement award upon graduation. He was a member of the student body senate and the student Activity Coordination Team. He was a two year captain of the swim team, and a one year captain of the cross country team. He is excited to pursue leadership opportunities on campus.

At UNH, Brian is involved in the professional business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. He served as his pledge class’ secretary. He is a part of UNH’s chapter of Best Buddies as a peer buddy, and was selected to be an Igniter for the Freshman Innovative Research Experience or “FIRE” program. In his free time he enjoys watching sports, playing tennis and golf, as well as tinkering with his fantasy football lineup.

Unfortunately, I also found children with protruding, malnourished stomachs. I met grown men and women who had never been to school. I saw wives with more children than they could care for. And I heard children following behind me, asking for nothing but a pen for school.

It never really hit me until I got back home that those children following me only asked for a pen. Not money, not food… they just wanted a pen. Because school in Ethiopia is not a promise for children, as it is here in the United States. Because without a pen, you can’t go to class or do work or get an education. Something so small, that to me was trivial, could change those children’s lives. That’s when I decided to do something.
Two years, three months, and one week ago I brought together nine friends and siblings to start a nonprofit that would support education in developing countries. The group was formed because we all had one thing in common: we wanted to find a way to impact the lives of young people just like us, but who did not have access to an adequate education. We wanted to make a difference.

Now, I could get into the story of our charity Your Eyes Wide Open, how we started it, what we’ve accomplished and why and how we do what we do. Instead, I’ll let you learn that on your own so I can go ahead and share the impact that Paul College, and specifically the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program, has had on my organization. So check out youreyeswideopen.org for more information on the work that we do.

One of the biggest challenges I have faced in running my nonprofit is that I have no experience in founding and running a company, and neither do any of my siblings and friends.

Paul College has changed that for me. Since starting this semester, I have learned how to market a company, how to create the brand for a company, how to manage a business, and much more. The FIRE program has made me aware of ways in which I can put those skills to use, and reach out to professionals who can help me take Your Eyes Wide Open to the next level.

I have learned about pitch competitions that I can enter. I have learned the importance of networking with UNH alum. I have learned how to put together a stand-out presentation that is both professional and personable. The University of New Hampshire Paul College of Business and Economics, and its FIRE program, has given me more than just one semester’s worth of knowledge. It has provided me with the skills and resources necessary to benefit my nonprofit and the lives of students from around the world. And for that, I am very grateful.

One semester in, and I’ve gained more than I ever imagined I would. With the base that the FIRE program is providing me with, the sky really is the limit, and I’m excited to see where it helps me get to down the road.

About Devin McMahon:

Devin McMahon is the oldest of five children, and a driven first year Business Administration student at the University of New Hampshire. She graduated from Pinkerton Academy as Student Council President and Future Business Leaders of America Community Service Coordinator. McMahon was chosen to represent the state of New Hampshire as a delegate for the United States Senate Youth Program March 2015, and placed fourth at the national FBLA conference June 2015.

McMahon is currently the founder of Your Eyes Wide Open, and attributes her success to her work with Student Council and FBLA, her family, and the opportunities that she has had to travel and understand different cultures.

FIRE is an expansion of the peer advising program which helps address impending gaps in school and social curriculum, with focus on the transition from high school to college, time management, study skills and more. The experience includes key components of points, class time, and research. The system of points and prizes is used to encourage Paul freshmen to get involved on campus. Classes with qualified upperclassmen peer advisors teach us essential academic and professional skills. And finally, a competitive project called, “The Grand Challenge” introduces us to UNH as a research institution. By gaining this widespread exposure through FIRE our freshman class is made significantly stronger.

FIRE improves our individual brand by heightening the professional identity of our entire Paul graduating class. When you get out into the real world and someone sees Paul College-UNH, you want them to think you are one of many intelligent and qualified individuals. But this only holds true if every UNH student achieves this high standard. As one of 670 Paul freshmen you could get lost and underachieve. This would affect all of us negatively. This program makes us 670 strong because we are only as successful as our weakest representative. A better student body reflects well on our school and makes our degrees worth more. We all have to take advantage of FIRE to achieve these results.

FIRE is essentially an awareness program. We are learning, hands on, all of the skills we need to be successful students and therefore successful professionals. We’re taught about UNH so we can utilize our resources. We are motivated to get involved to access every opportunity. Most importantly, we focus on professional and personal development so we can excel beyond schooling. FIRE is valuable. The Paul freshmen class is given incredible opportunities through it. I’m here to absorb what I can to be a better student for Paul and I hope my classmates can develop in the same way.

For more information on the Paul College FIRE Program, click here or contact Sean Stewart at sean.stewart@unh.edu.

About Kate Aiken:

Kate Aiken is an ambitious first-year student at the University of New Hampshire where she studies Business Administration. Aiken completed her education at Manchester Central High School in the top fifth percent of her class as a New Hampshire scholar and received the prestigious Mayor’s Award upon her graduation. After an extensive high school career in DECA, she boasts several leadership and competitive awards for her business and professional skills. Kate also served as managing editor of the Little Green school newspaper and chaired the Manchester Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council.

Kate presently serves as CEO of Project PLAY NH, a non-profit organization she help found that sponsors children to play sports in Manchester, NH. Aiken attributes her success to and continues to support Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership as a seminar speaker and facilitator. In college, she enjoys being a part of the business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi where she serves on her class executive board.