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Innocent Adebiyi has one of the more inspiring ����AV’s School of Business stories. A first-generation graduate student and a 2021 Virginia State University graduate, Adebiyi is pursuing his master’s in finance (MSF) while also serving our country as an active-duty Logistics Officer and Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Active-Duty Component.

Hailey Behrman, a senior marketing student graduating this May, always wanted to explore her Jewish identity, but didn’t know where to start. Behrman sought out Mason Hillel, a nonprofit organization affiliated with ����AV where students can discover their relationship with Judaism through educational and social programming, including trips to Israel.

During her time at the School of Business, Nancy Sydnor, BS Marketing ’99, formed lasting friendships among her classmates and instructors. “Starting at Mason in my 40s and further along in my career, I was nervous about fitting in,” she says. “But everyone was so welcoming and helpful. My Mason experience was immensely positive.”

At Mason, Student Ambassadors create a link from prospective students to new freshman, answering questions, calming nerves, and sharing lots of advice.

The Montano Student Investment Fund (SMIF) recently hosted the Alpha Challenge, the group’s first stock pitch competition on ����AV’s Fairfax Campus. More than $3,000 in cash prizes were awarded to student participants.

After graduating from the School of Business with her BS in accounting, Melissa Perera returned to complete her masters and get another leg up on her competition. Perera’s hard work was rewarded with the 2021 Graduate Division Emerging Business Leader Award.

Mason graduating senior Alex Lee devoted hours upon hours to attending networking events hosted by the School of Business. He talked to potential employers, asked questions, put himself out there.

Earlier this month, ten ����AV School of Business Finance students competed in the CFA Washington Ethics Challenge, with one team taking first prize.

Celia Miranda, now a senior majoring in information systems and operations management, attended a bootcamp for aspiring entrepreneurs when she was a high school senior. The bootcamp took place on the Fairfax campus of ����AV. It was then and there that she learned what she wanted to do and where she was comfortable studying.

His sights set on the music industry, Daniel Cooper, a senior double majoring in marketing and management, has the drive, talent, and brains to make it big, but there was one more thing he needed–a little extra money to help him continue advancing his studies. Not coming from a family of means, Cooper realized he would have to find extra funds elsewhere to help finance his education. Thankfully for Cooper, generous people like Michael (MBA ’83) and Jane Anzilotti are part of his ����AV School of Business extended family.