As students learn about aspects of business, it is important to reinforce that knowledge with experiences outside of the classroom. Honors in Business Association (HiBA) creates those experiences for students at the University of Connecticut. Members of HiBA spent a day in New York City learning about the financial industry and connecting with alumni.
For the second year, HiBA sponsored a completely student planned and led trip. Last year’s trip was to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Members left Storrs early in the morning to arrive at Wall Street by the Opening Bell Ceremony. Students were able to see trades being made on the floor as well as media outlets broadcasting live from the trading floor such as CNBC.
Staff of the New York Stock Exchange gave an overview of how trading on the floor works and revealed little known information about the Stock Exchange. Of course, there was time for students to take selfies!
Following the tour of the New York Stock Exchange, students headed down the street to the Museum of American Finance to gain an in depth view of the financial history of the United States. Students visited exhibits such as the gold gallery consisting of many artifacts made of gold. Recalling his time at the Museum of American Finance, Dan Glucksman (BUS ’18) stated, “I gained a better understanding of finance history that is never fully addressed in class.”
To close out the day, student connected with a few New York City area alumni over hors d’oeuvres. The alumni event was part of the Honors Program 50th Anniversary. For many students, connecting with alumni was their favorite aspect of the trip. Sidney Tomko (BUS ’19) stated, “My favorite part of the day was the alumni dinner because it was really interesting to hear what former UConn students, who were once in our position, are doing now. It really opened my eyes to all the opportunities we huskies have out there. ”
Special thanks to: Olivia of the New York Stock Exchange and Ellen of the UConn Honors Program.
If you or your company is interested in hosting members of Honors in Business Association, email us at uconnhiba@gmail.com
About Honors in Business Association: Honors in Business Association (HiBA) is a student organization formed between the Honors Program and School of Business. HiBA strives to create a sense of community for students in both Honors and the School of Business and those with an interest in business. HiBA’s programming provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate and develop skills necessary to succeed in today’s business world all while building a strong alumni network. Contact information: uconnhiba@gmail.com or visit hiba.business.uconn.edu