Lights, camera, action! BLinc recently held its annual Eccles Gala. This event brought students, faculty, and alumni together to connect over dinner from Olive Garden and Thirst. There was also an opportunity drawing – Cotopaxi backpacks and two Amazon Echo Dots!

We would like to recognize our traditions team who made Eccles Gala happen; Julie Paredes-Pozas (Director of Eccles Traditions), Sally Tran (Associate Director of Eccles Traditions), and Cassie Haupt (Chief Programming Officer). These three individuals continue to set the bar regarding professionalism, dedication, and care!

“I truly loved and enjoyed seeing the Eccles community come together in one space,” said Julie.

Adam Campbell, a double graduate of the David Eccles School of Business (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting), was our guest speaker. He spoke about following your own path, carving out your niche, and finding joy in the journey. Campbell has been a committed member of the David Eccles Alumni Network Board since 2015 and now serves on the Executive Cabinet as the Chair of the Undergraduate Engagement Committee.

Several University of Utah alumni attended the event, allowing for an excellent introduction to the Forever Utah Network. Forever Utah is a new platform exclusively for University of Utah alumni, students, faculty, and staff that brings the global U community together for personal and professional networking. You can view a directory of students and alums, the U event calendar, and find a mentor through the platform.

“The ability to meet with professors and alumni outside of a classroom setting allows students to foster greater relationships with the mentors and leaders of our community,” said Cassie.

It is a great way to meet a mentor and build relationships beyond the Eccles School, leading to referrals and career opportunities. If you haven’t already made your account, you can do so here. In addition, you can easily sync your Forever Utah Network account with LinkedIn, so your account always stays up to date!

“You could just feel the energy from the event, and it was great to see students connect with alumni,” said Sally. We cannot wait to plan the next one.

Jhareil Hutchinson acts as the Director of Communications for BLinc, the Business Student Government. He is a marketing major and also pursuing a media studies and entrepreneurship minor.

Josh Flickinger