With another successful commencement behind us, recent High Point University graduates are preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary senior from the Class of 2016:
Name: Alexa Burger
Hometown: Coventry, Connecticut
Major: Burger graduated with a B.S.B.A. in Business Administration, with minors in Finance and Global Commerce, on May 7.
Post-graduation plans: Burger accepted a position as a Client Relationship Specialist with The Vanguard Group in Charlotte, North Carolina. In her position, Burger will assist investors with meeting their financial goals using mutual funds, IRAs, Exchange Traded Funds and 401Ks. She will also develop relationships with clients to assess their investment needs and provide products to reach those investment goals.
How HPU helped you get there: “HPU has provided me not only with countless opportunities to learn and develop as a student, but also to grow into a confident leader and young business professional. I have been able to interact with a vast array of people who have both individually and collectively helped me and supported me in all aspects of my life. My college experience here at HPU has allowed me to become an independent, well-rounded person and provided me with the connections to land my dream job.
I primarily used the Career & Professional Development services in terms of utilizing the Career Fair that they organize each spring. I first connected with The Vanguard Group at this past career fair, which then went on to me completing the interview process and accepting a full-time position with them.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “Dr. Steven Lifland has by far been one of the most influential mentors I have had here at HPU. Being my advisor for the past four years, Dr. Lifland has provided me with adequate advice each time I found myself facing confusion within my major as well as my career aspirations. He helped me narrow down my career path and eliminated any skepticism I may have had in going on to pursue a career in finance. Aside from being my advisor, Dr. Lifland has taught the majority of the finance courses I have taken here at HPU. His innate passion for finance and dedication to helping students was always evident in the classroom, which proved useful when difficult or foreign financial concepts created challenges. With Dr. Lifland’s assistance, I was introduced to real-life financial simulations and scenarios, which will ultimately be beneficial in my transition into working with investors.”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “My sophomore year Financial Management class with Dr. David Rodriguez was where I first realized I had a strong interest in finance. In this class, both the professor and course material led to me developing aspirations to pursue a career in the financial sector. This class initially provided me with some of the most conceptually challenging material, but also showed me that hard work and a willingness to learn will ultimately lead to success. Now, two years later I am taking all the knowledge I have learned in my finance courses over the years and using them to start my career.“
Advice for underclassmen: “Do not give up or alter your career goals simply because they seem challenging at the time. While it is difficult in the moment to grasp the lesson you are learning, it is always important to keep in mind long-term success does not come easy. No goal or career path is unattainable if you are willing to persevere through the challenges that come with it.”