Future Forward
Bauer Graduates Share Advice Ahead of May 10 Commencement
Graduation is just around the corner for the students at the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. After years of hard work, long hours and countless extracurriculars, students are ready to walk the stage and enter the next chapter of their life.
Throughout each student's time at Bauer, a unique story is crafted. Through organizations, programs, courses, extracurriculars or everything else the college has to offer, each journey is unique. However, everyone has the same goal upon graduation: moving the future forward.
Below, you will find a few stories of the thousands of students graduating from Bauer College on May 10.
Diana Maldonado
BBA, Finance
Maldonado is one of the many students who was unsure of the route she wanted to take once she arrived at Bauer in 2021. Being a part of the Bauer Business Honors Program helped guide her into the world of finance.
She is most proud of her accomplishments outside of the classroom, specifically her participation in the Bauer Honors Student Advisory Board. As a member of the organization, Maldonado served in two different officer positions including president during the spring of 2023.
While enrolled in Bauer, Maldonado also completed the UH Pre-Law Pipeline program during the Summer 2023 semester. Upon her graduation, she will enroll at the UH Law Center.
“Bauer students should always push themselves to gain new experiences and learn as much as possible. You can always look back and see all the opportunities that you could have taken," she said. "Bauer provides so many experiential learning opportunities that all students should make the most out of their experience.”
Jasmine Saenz
BBA, Finance
After seeing her mom graduate from UH-Clear Lake as a kid, Saenz knew she wanted to follow in her footsteps.
Saenz enrolled at Bauer and immediately got involved, joining Bauer Honors and the Bauer Honors Student Advisory Board. She served two separate terms as an officer, one as their community engagement director and one as their vice president. She also acted as a Bauer Honors mentor.
Away from Bauer, Saenz was an active member in the UH Chapter of the Deeds Not Words organization. The student organization works to develop skills and provide motivation toward advocating for changes they believe in such as legislation.
After graduation, she will attend the UH Law Center.
“Definitely get involved. I think some of my favorite memories were made during events and gatherings for my organizations," she said. "I had so much fun being a part of something bigger that came from being at Bauer.”
Aaron Maurer
BBA, Management
From north to south, Maurer’s college journey has taken quite the journey. He originally enrolled to the University of Connecticut to study business in 2019, but began to find interest in the medical field during 2020.
Bauer was the perfect middle-ground for him to continue gaining knowledge in the world of business while staying close to the medical epicenter in Houston. He transferred to Bauer in 2021, joining Bauer Honors in the process.
He plans on attending the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine after graduation with the long-term goal of obtaining an MBA along with an MD degree.
“Take advantage of being a student and get to know your professors by asking questions. Also try and connect with industry professionals by means of events or even reaching out on sources like LinkedIn," he said. "They will give you knowledge and it is such a great opportunity to network to help yourself in the future.”
Ronak Agarwal
BBA, Finance & Marketing
Agarwal has always lived his life by one motto: Challenge mediocrity.
Joining Bauer Honors was just the start of Agarwal’s journey. Shortly after, he joined the Bauer Ambassadors with the goal of being an example for other students as the organization's marketing director. He also joined the Bauer Honors Student Advisory Board.
However, he is most proud of his “Challenging Mediocrity” night, a TED Talk-like event where people ranging from large donors, real estate agents and a paraplegic putt-putt champion spoke on how to challenge mediocrity. The event brought in over 300 spectators from UH and Bauer.
His challenge to mediocrity is not stopping post-graduation as he takes on three different career opportunities. He will continue working on his real estate investment firm which focuses on buying hotels and multifamily assets, AARO Real Estate, working on the advisory board for tech startup READYTYCH, and also working on the marketing and business strategy team for his father's cardiovascular business Modern Heart and Vascular.
“Remember to challenge mediocrity. Aim to stand out and be the best person you can be," he said. "No matter what challenges stand in front of you, know that there is always a solution that can be found.”
Tiffany Bui
BBA, Finance & Supply Chain Management
Being the daughter of a small business owner herself, Bui had a lot of encouragement about what to pursue in college. Her mom owns a hair salon in the greater Houston area whose customer base heavily involves business industry professionals. After consulting with many of them, Bui landed on business.
She got involved right away, joining the Bauer Honors program in her first semester. This organization was the perfect fit for her as she was looking for a tight-knit group similar to what she had in high school as a part of the band.
Throughout her time at Bauer, she has excelled at experiential learning opportunities like the Ted Bauer Leadership Certificate Program and the Stimulating Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship (SURE℠) program, and even traveled to Athens, Greece during Spring Break 2024 to study the different business from around the world.
She has also served as a student mentor and tutor for middle school students residing in the Third Ward while gaining experience in data analytics as a Bonner Leader.
Upon graduation, Bui will follow closely in her mother’s footsteps working as a supply chain consultant for the boutique consulting firm Protiviti.
“If you are ever on the fence about doing something, ask yourself why not instead of why," she said. "If you do not have a solid reason as to why not, go for it.”
Nathan Chen
BBA, Finance & Management Information Systems
Chen began his Bauer journey in 2020 virtually, just as every student at that time was experiencing. He knew he wanted more out of his college education and worked to get involved as soon as he could, joining both the Bauer Ambassadors and the Bauer Honors Student Advisory Board.
Throughout his time at Bauer, Chen has always had the driving force of his family to help motivate him. Whether that meant stopping by home after school or grabbing lunch with his family, Chen always had a strong support system by his side.
Thanks to the support system and education provided by his family and Bauer, Chen will start his career at Ernst & Young as a business valuation consultant.
“Get involved as soon as you can," he said. "Meeting people who are like minded and continuously pushing you to do better can only help better yourself for now and in the future.”
Valerie Ramos
BBA, Marketing & Entrepreneurship
As a Houston local, Ramos knew she wanted to stay in the city she grew up in. Bauer fit her needs perfectly for the future she planned on beginning.
She arrived in the Fall 2022 after attending community college for two years and wanted to make the most out of her time at Bauer. The A.R. "Tony" and Maria J. Sanchez Program for Excellence in Selling (PES) was exactly what she wanted out of her college experience as she gained lifelong friendships and hands-on experiences .
The challenging but rewarding task that came from PES has led her to accept a full-time position as a sales representative at Chevron Phillips Chemical after her graduation.
“Make the most out of every experience. I went to every career fair, I joined other clubs and was always hands-on. Making the most out of all the opportunities we have and putting yourself out there," she said. "You can always find a place that will make Bauer feel a lot smaller.”
Xavier Esquivel
BBA, Entrepreneurship & Management & Leadership
Before arriving to Bauer, Galveston native Esquivel began his entrepreneurial business where he helped his mother grow her cleaning business, Galveston 7 Day Cleaning, to be valued at nearly $2 million today. He knew this would be his long-term goal when it came to his professional career and by luck found Bauer.
Attending Bauer was a tough choice for Esquivel as he had just begun running his mother's business that was rapidly taking off. Their client base grew larger than they ever could have imagined, taking in the likes of the Moody Garden Hotel, but he knew that he needed to gain the experience Bauer could provide.
Esquivel was looking for guidance on how to grow his business when he stumbled upon the annual Wolffest competition hosted by the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship. From there, his educational experience took off as he joined the Wolff Center and became an active member in every project and event he could.
He plans to continue growing his entrepreneurial business post-graduation with a long-term goal of starting his own technology company in the realm of artificial intelligence.
“Make sure to explore and look for what you can be a part of. If I had just stayed in my dorm room and only gone to class, I would have never been presented with the opportunity to join the Wolff Center," he said. "I am not sure where I would have ended up without that experience, but I am glad to be where I am today.”
Jayli Samnaneveth
BBA, Marketing & Entrepreneurship
Samnaneveth has been around entrepreneurship her entire life with her parents owning Edojin, a sushi restaurant in Cypress, Texas. Being around this environment for so long, Samnaneveth knew she wanted to continue that trend and study entrepreneurship.
Her father began as a sushi chef at the restaurant before taking full ownership when she was just 10 years old. Since then, her whole family has taken the reigns of running every aspect of the business. However, she first wanted to polish her skills to make sure she is ready for the task at hand.
Coming to Bauer through the Bauer Business Pathway program, Samnaneveth wanted to hit the ground running with the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship. She joined the program and stayed heavily involved, which included being a team lead for the Intellectual Property project. Through the project, UH and Bauer partnered with NASA to look through their intellectual property patents and figure out how to create business plans.
Upon graduation, Samnaneveth will continue her role as the digital marketer and social media manager for her family’s business with the long-term plan of running the restaurant in the future.
“Put yourself out of your comfort zone," she said. "It is hard to put yourself into opportunities that will challenge yourself, but it is worth it in the end.”
Toshani Viswanathan
BBA, Marketing
Although Viswanathan began her college education studying computer science, the world of business slowly began calling her name. After one year at UH, she knew her true passion was in business.
Since joining Bauer in 2021, she has climbed the ranks with the Program for Excellence in Selling, earning her minor in sales while also becoming the assistant program manager for the corporate relations side of the organization. This growth has been important to her for growing connections within the industry and improving her overall business knowledge.
She also has been an active member in the UH chapter of the American Marketing Association.
With this newly gained expertise, Viswanathan plans to travel north to Austin, Texas to begin her career as a non-profit account representative for Amazon Web Services.
“Take advantage of the opportunities that Bauer and Rockwell Career Center offer. There are a lot of top programs, networking opportunities and professional development," she said. "Whether that is through the Career Fair, Résumé Roundup, or through joining these programs. They really do build up your professional skills and build you to be the best leader you can be.”
Karenina Urquieta
BBA, Finance & Management
Urquieta has been as involved at Bauer as any student could be. From acting as Bauer’s Student Government Association Senator representative, to being a Bauer in D.C. Fellow to even being a banner bearer for Bauer’s second graduation ceremony this May, she has truly been everywhere.
Heading into college, Urquieta had a lot of connections to the city growing up and even had her sister also attend Bauer. These all played a part in her final decision to attend UH and Bauer.
In her time at Bauer, she has been a part of Bauer Ambassadors with two officer terms, completed the Ted Bauer Leadership Certificate Program, was named to Poets&Quants 2024 Best & Brightest Business Majors list and the résumé goes on and on.
With all the experience and knowledge Bauer has provided to her over the years, Urquieta will attend law school to earn her Juris Doctorate degree.
“There are so many opportunities at Bauer. It is not just the people you can connect with but the opportunities you have," she said. "Try to get your foot in the door and take advantage of all the resources that Bauer has to offer.”
Eduardo Benavides
BBA, Finance
Since high school, Benavides has always been a student that excelled outside of the classroom. He originally came to UH to study kinesiology but soon learned that he would find his niche better at Bauer.
Benavides transferred to Bauer after just one semester and immediately hit the ground running. He joined the Bauer Ambassadors in his second year, eventually becoming president of the organization this year, participated in the Ted Bauer Leadership Certificate Program and graduated from the Program for Excellence in Selling.
Benavides knew that the experience he wanted to gain out of college would have to come from himself and made sure to be involved with as much as he could. That experience is allowing him to enter the next chapter in his life as he will head to Dallas to begin his career with JPMorgan Chase on the financial advisor development track.
“Take advantage of all the opportunities and resources that Bauer provides for you. Bauer College is incredible, but it is only what you make it. There are plenty of opportunities at your doorstep, but you have to go to them," he said. "Join organizations, clubs, programs and just meet people. That will benefit you in many ways professionally and personally.”
Maryam Amini
Master of Business Administration
Coming all the way from Iran with a background in industrial engineering, Amini thought she had her future plans figured out. Then came Bauer and found the Cougar Investment Fund.
Amini was not completely unfamiliar with the world of business, having an MBA in supply chain management, but was not sure where she fit when it came to the industry. She joined Bauer through the international student program and landed in finance, where she truly fell in love with the subject.
Working with the Cougar Investment Fund also played a large part in her growth into the world of finance. Since joining in early 2023, she has fulfilled the roles of portfolio manager, operations assistant and equity analyst.
With her experience, she will be taking her talents to Charlotte, North Carolina to accept a full-time position with Wells Fargo Corporate as a Risk Analyst.
“Be active and ask questions. Everyone at Bauer is really kind and will help you. If you need anything or have any questions, so many of the faculty and staff will be there for you," she said. "And of course, be active and enjoy your journey.”
Collins Nwalih
Master of Business Administration
The Texas heat could not keep Nwalih away from the excellent MBA programs at Bauer. Coming from Toronto as an international student has been an adjustment for him, but his time at the college has made it easier.
As an international student, Nwalih faced challenges trying to find internship opportunities. He continued to look for any opportunity he could find until he found one just walking down the street. While heading to the National Black MBA Association Conference, he was approached by an executive at PPG, a manufacturing company based in Pittsburgh, and was offered an internship after a brief conversation.
Upon his graduation, Nwalih will move to Pittsburgh for a full-time position with PPG through his internship.
“Build relationships. Be open to learning new things regardless of what it is, whether that be courses, environments and even something like food," he said. "Work hard and always keep an open mind.”
Veena Vinod
BBA, Finance
Having an older brother attend UH to study public health, Vinod knew she wanted to follow in his footsteps. However, she wanted to first learn about the business side of health before venturing into that field. That is where Bauer stepped in.
Vinod knew she was going to come to Bauer even before enrolling in the college after meeting Bauer in D.C. Fellowship Director and Bauer Honors Advisor Colleen Davies through her brother and his friends. After speaking with her, she knew that earning a degree in finance would be perfect for her long-term goals.
Outside of the classroom, she joined Bauer Honors and the Stimulating Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship (SURE℠) programs where she aimed to gain entrepreneurial and business operations knowledge.
After graduation, Vinod plans to take a step away from business and earn a Doctorate in Dental Surgery at the UTHealth School of Dentistry.
Thai Tran
BBA, Supply Chain Management
Going into college, Tran had his mind set on taking the premedical track with a degree in biology to eventually study medicine. While that is still his long-term goal, he realized early on that he wanted to learn more interpersonal skills that would come with earning a business degree. Enter Bauer College.
Tran changed degree plans to become a supply chain management student in hopes to build on skills like interviewing and communication. After conducting some research, he understood that the best route to go for his education was to join Bauer Honors.
Through the organization and courses offered through Bauer Honors, Tran built a supporting cast that has constantly pushed and motivated him to be the best version of himself.
Tran plans to get back on track with his original plan and will attend medical school.
“Don’t be afraid to talk. Many of my opportunities came from saying hi, introducing myself and talking about what I'm interested in. The biggest barriers students have is saying it is too crowded, and I am scared to say hi," he said. "Speaking up and allowing you network to grow is vital for your career.”
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