The Business Scholars program sent their Transfer Scholars class to Washington, D.C. for company visits, professionalism practice and fun.

On Friday, Sept. 30, the class went to Freddie Mac and Marriott headquarters. Freddie Mac, a company specializing in home mortgages held a Q&A session with the students answering questions ranging from the mortgage crisis of 2008 to life advice.

Following Freddie Mac, the students were transported to Marriott Headquarters where they were given a tour and allotted another Q&A session with David Marriott, one of the Chief Operating Officers for the company and the grandson of the company’s founder. Marriott, a U alum, was more than happy to talk about the company, including its recent of acquisition of Starwood Hotels, making Marriott the largest hospitality brand in the world.

After the tour and interview at Marriott, the students practiced their networking at a University of Utah alumni event. They were able to mingle with former Utes and practice their “elevator pitches” and increase their comfort level surrounding networking. David Marriott was present once again, and many students had the opportunity to talk with him one-on-one. After a long day of touring and chatting, the students were bussed back to the hotel (a Marriott of course) and given free time to explore the city or, in many cases, sleep.

Overall, the trip was an amazing experience for both the students and staff. A steady combination of learning and fun made for an incredibly enjoyable weekend.