Eccles Newsroom

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Eccles School Newsroom

Opportunity Scholars take the classroom to the Aloha state

Lisa Collins2024-03-25T18:07:38-06:00March 25th, 2024|

During Spring Break, the Opportunity Scholars Program took students from the Tourism and Hospitality class to the Aloha State. They were immersed in Oahu's tourism culture through company visits and a service project at the He'eia Fishponds. "My journey in Hawaii was an invaluable addition to my academic trajectory, seamlessly blending classroom knowledge with real-life experiences that have profoundly shaped my learning journey. From [...]

First Ascent celebrates the end of Fall Semester

Lisa Collins2024-01-05T15:40:47-07:00December 28th, 2023|

First Ascent Scholars recently held their 2023 Winter Celebration. Students, board members, and mentors all came together to celebrate a successful end to Fall Semester. The evening featured Secret Santa and an ugly sweater/pajamas contest. Always a fun event, this year brought the community together to recharge after a challenging semester. "I really enjoyed getting the chance to do more research on my [...]

First Ascent Scholars share gratitude in community

Lisa Collins2024-01-05T16:32:01-07:00November 25th, 2023|

First Ascent Scholars recently came together for their Annual Fall Harvest celebration. This annual event features a focus on gratitude. Students and mentors took this time to reconnect over a traditional Congolese dinner. "It is so enjoyable to come together as a family to celebrate each other and find community in sharing gratitude activities to remind us of what is important," remarked junior [...]

First Ascent Scholars bond on the river

Lisa Collins2023-09-28T12:48:41-06:00September 28th, 2023|

Earlier in the semester, first-year First Ascent Scholars program students took a rafting trip to the Gates of Lodore in Dinosaur, Colorado. They spent three days and two nights camping and floating down the Green River. While on the river, students were engaged in team building, connecting with their fellow First Ascent Scholars, and gaining insights into the principles of BUS 3800. BUS [...]

Did Someone Say BBQ? 2023 Annual First-Ascent Scholars Family Event

Lisa Collins2023-09-28T13:41:46-06:00September 28th, 2023|

Earlier this month First Ascent grilled out with friends and family at Sugarhouse Park to celebrate the annual First Ascent Family BBQ. This fun community event provided a great opportunity for the First Ascent family to socialize, play games, and eat delicious food from food trucks namely Food Almighty and Aunty’s Hawaiian Kitchen. The family BBQ is an event designed for First Ascent [...]

First Ascent scholars and mentors mix it up in inaugural networking event

Lisa Collins2023-03-18T21:27:51-06:00March 18th, 2023|

The First Ascent Scholars program at the David Eccles School of Business recently hosted its inaugural Ascending Mixer. First Ascent alums play a crucial role in the experiences of these first-generation students. Their unique shared experiences allow them to provide mentorship on everything from academics to career choices. They also serve as advocates and role models, showing current students what is possible with [...]

First Ascent Scholars reconnect during spring retreats

Lisa Collins2023-03-17T11:56:15-06:00March 17th, 2023|

Spring Semester brings specialized retreats for the junior and senior cohorts in the First Ascent Scholar Program. These annual events allow students to connect with each other, board members, and mentors. Senior Retreat - Adulting 101 This January, seniors headed up to Park City, Utah. They spent the weekend participating in workshops and activities on financial wellness, self-care, and job placement to help [...]

First Ascent Scholars Celebrate Fall Semester

Lisa Collins2023-01-10T13:16:06-07:00January 10th, 2023|

The First Ascent Scholars Program at the David Eccles School of Business finished off the Fall 2022 Semester with two annual events — Fall Harvest and Winter Celebration. These events unite students and mentors to bond and celebrate their work and accomplishments, and both feature networking, bonding over a meal, and activities focusing on gratitude. "It was great being able to connect with [...]

First Ascent Scholars find adventure and community

Lisa Collins2022-11-09T15:27:53-07:00November 9th, 2022|

The First Ascent Program has been busy with its scholars! They recently took their first-year students to Moab to camp over fall break. This trip allows students to disconnect with the world, be one with nature, and make stronger connections with their fellow First Ascent peers. Students got the chance to engage in different curricular activities that focused on social change, leadership, citizenship, [...]

Eccles School’s First Ascent community bonds over kickball and BBQ

Lisa Collins2022-09-27T11:45:39-06:00September 27th, 2022|

The First Ascent Scholars program at the David Eccles School of Business kicked off the new semester with their annual First Ascent Family BBQ. Students, families, mentors, and program leaders gathered to get to know each other, build community, and have some fun. This year's event was held at Poplar Grove Park and featured activities such as ring toss, corn hole, soccer, and [...]

First Ascent Scholars celebrate 2021-22 graduates with red-carpet event

Lisa Collins2022-11-07T15:34:44-07:00May 18th, 2022|

First Ascent Scholars celebrated this year's graduates in red carpet style, complete with a formal dinner, unique stoles, and even a mini-gold statue. Surrounded by a community of peers, family, mentors, donors, and staff, each spoke words of gratitude and offered advice to their fellow scholars. Graduate Salmoon Masih offered the following advice to his fellow cohorts: Freshman "Welcome, you have been given a [...]

5 lessons from First Ascent alumna Anfissa Silva Smith

Lisa Collins2022-04-14T17:49:50-06:00April 14th, 2022|

The David Eccles School of Business recently invited alumna Anfissa Silva Smith, CPA and former Senior Audit Manager of KPMG, to speak to First Ascent Scholars as part of their Alumni Dinner. This annual event allows students, faculty, and mentors to connect over dinner and shared experiences. Silva Smith shared her international journey — from Italy to Brazil to Utah — as she [...]

First Ascent Scholars connect at Arches National Park

Lisa Collins2021-11-05T07:29:25-06:00November 5th, 2021|

Fall Break was a busy time for our First Ascent Scholars program. First-year and sophomore scholars headed up to Moab and Arches National Park for camping, canyoneering, rock climbing, and hiking. They also engaged in curricular activities focusing on leadership, identity, citizenship, and team-building. Disconnected from their phones, social media, and texting, students were able to connect not only with nature but with [...]

First Ascent brings students, families, mentors together for annual Family BBQ

Lisa Collins2021-09-29T15:57:10-06:00September 29th, 2021|

Students in the First Ascent Scholars program gathered earlier this month for their annual family BBQ. This event allows scholars, families, and mentors to reconnect and celebrate the start of a new year. This year's event was held outside on the GARFF patio and featured southern barbeque, lawn and table games, and great conversation. “I enjoyed sitting with my friends and eating dinner [...]

First Ascent Scholars hosts annual Fall Celebration

Lisa Collins2020-12-07T11:08:36-07:00December 7th, 2020|

The First Ascent Scholars program at the David Eccles School of Business recently held its annual Fall Celebration. Like many other events this year, their traditional feast transitioned to a virtual celebration. Scholars, mentors, and staff were able to share their gratitude and catch-up after a long semester. The online event was paired with a socially distanced outdoor meet-and-greet where students could say [...]

First Ascent Scholars hold sophomore retreat

Lisa Collins2020-10-12T09:54:58-06:00October 12th, 2020|

Recently, our First Ascent Sophomore Scholars held their annual Fall Retreat on campus. While this year’s socially distanced event may have looked a little different compared to the cozy cabin retreat in years past, students still were able to reconnect in person, learn more about each other, and expand their leadership development skills through the Social Change Model introduced to them Freshman year. [...]

First Ascent Scholars gives their annual family BBQ a non-traditional makeover

Lisa Collins2020-09-30T19:14:22-06:00September 30th, 2020|

With 51 current students and 14 alumni, the First Ascent Scholars Program has created a supportive, safe environment for 65 students at the David Eccles School of Business. Currently entering its sixth year, the program always has emphasized the important role that familial and community support plays in each student's academic journey. "The journey is not always easy," said Victoria Cabal, director of [...]

Check out the first episode of the Office for Student Inclusion Podcast

Lisa Collins2020-08-17T10:54:53-06:00August 17th, 2020|

The Office for Student Inclusion at the David Eccles School of Business recently launched the first episode of its student podcast. The Office for Student Inclusion Podcast highlights First Ascent and Opportunity Scholars alumni and their stories. This episode features First Ascent Scholar Eric Jara as he sits down for a friendly discussion with recent alum James Mordue. In this 30-minute podcast, Mordue [...]

First Ascent Scholars surprised with a graduation parade

Lisa Collins2020-05-14T16:43:44-06:00May 14th, 2020|

With convocations postponed until December, First Ascent Scholars created a new tradition to celebrate graduates. Several Eccles school staff, mentors, and directors visited the homes of the program's eight graduates with a surprise graduation parade. "It was so great to see our community gather to celebrate our graduates' achievements," said Victoria Cabal, Director of the Office for Student Inclusion and the First Ascent Scholar [...]

First Ascent Scholars learn through play at Cultural Celebration

Alyssa Ritzel2020-03-17T09:08:17-06:00March 16th, 2020|

On Feb. 22, our First Ascent Scholars held their annual Cultural Celebration. This event fosters discussion and broader perspectives as students come together from different cultural backgrounds to learn and share. Using board games as a conduit, students discussed their favorite cultural traditions, the roles these traditions and gender roles played in their families, and how they helped them connect to their culture. "The [...]

Strategic Space: First Ascent Scholars focus on career strategy at Junior Retreat

Alyssa Ritzel2020-02-21T09:18:31-07:00February 20th, 2020|

Earlier this month, First Ascent Scholars embarked their annual Junior Leadership Retreat to Midway, Utah. With a focus on career strategy, students heard from faculty and staff from Business Career Services and the Office for Student Inclusion on topics including networking, effective relationship building, mental health, self-care, and imposter syndrome. Presentations were paired with a variety of team-building activities that addressed common barriers such [...]

Alum DJ Joune talks passion, gratitude, and grit with First Ascent Scholars

Alyssa Ritzel2020-01-28T13:36:30-07:00January 28th, 2020|

Each year the David Eccles School of Business invites First Ascent scholars, faculty, and mentors to connect over dinner and listen to an alumni guest speaker. This year, DJ Joune, the official home DJ of the Utah Jazz, spoke at the event and shared how he lives a life of passion and service. Joune began his inspirational talk with a snapshot of his [...]

First Ascent Scholars celebrate with gratitude

Alyssa Ritzel2019-12-03T09:43:07-07:00November 26th, 2019|

First Ascent Scholars recently came together for their Annual Fall Harvest event. No celebration is complete without a feast, and as students shared a harvest meal, they had the opportunity to hear David Stirling, the founder, CEO, and chairman of doTERRA, share his start-up story. Program director, Victoria Cabal, started off the evening with a reflection on the origins of harvest festivals. Traditionally, the [...]

First Ascent Scholars travel to Moab for a 3-day outdoor adventure

Dale Frost2023-03-16T18:32:00-06:00October 28th, 2019|

Earlier this month, first-year students from the First Ascent Scholars group traveled to Moab, Utah. In addition to evening lessons and a closing ceremony, students spent four days camping, hiking, and canyoneering to iconic destinations such as Delicate Arch, Wall Street, and Medieval Dome. This trip is the culminating event of the BUS 3800 course on Leadership for a Better World. Following the social [...]

First Ascent sophomores reconnect and recharge at cabin retreat

Lisa Collins2019-11-27T16:58:13-07:00October 4th, 2019|

In late September, our sophomore First Ascent Scholars traveled to Morgan, Utah, for their annual cabin retreat. Javante Watson-Hall and program director, Victoria Cabal, led students through activities designed to develop leadership skills and explore the personal identity curriculum. The weekend also gave students a chance to reconnect after a summer away from campus and moving from the First Security House to Lassonde Studios. [...]