by Neely Borger | Jan 22, 2014 | Current Students, Faith Infusion
After a week in Brisbane, the group headed to a small town called Moree in the Australian Outback. In Moree, students planned to work with native Aboriginal children with different forms of technology, including the iPad, Microsoft Office programs, and other programs on both the Mac and PC systems. The team was excited to partner with missionary Brad Johnson and expand upon the principles they had learned concerning global poverty and lack of education in class the previous week. Working with these less fortunate kids was a great way to broaden students’ perspectives with global mission work, focusing on education in an impoverished area. Unfortunately, Dr. Ian Shepherd was not able to come to Moree due to an illness he came down with in Brisbane. Dr. Phil Vardiman along with his wife, Jackie, and the 22 students stayed at a private school in Moree.
“I was not sure what to expect coming into Moree. By the end of our visit, I had built strong relationships with many of the Aboriginal children. It was neat knowing that I had planted a seed for the continuing of their education,” says Alex Cotton, a sophomore Accounting major.
Every day, around 25 students from the local community came to the private school. Each ACU student was partnered with one of the local kids from the neighborhood. For most of the day, ACU students would work with the kids using different technological programs, teaching them various functions on Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, iMovie, and other general applications on the iPad. After a couple of days, many of the local kids felt more comfortable using these programs. The kids were fast learners, quickly applying the new skills they had learned to projects they worked on throughout the week. The children did learn many new computer skills; however, seeing strong relationships form between ACU students and the kids was also a highlight of the trip.
For the final project, groups of students acted out and filmed parts of Bible stories with the kids. The Bible stories included Jonah and the whale, Moses and the 10 plagues, and David and Goliath. Using the iMovie program, students edited the videos and then showed them to the entire group at an “awards” ceremony the last day. Working with the Aboriginal kids allowed ACU’s students to take concepts learned in the classroom and apply those principles in a real life situation. ACU students walked away with a greater understanding of poverty and lack of education in a different culture. They also left Moree truly feeling how God’s presence had blessed both them and these children over the past four days.
by Neely Borger | Jan 17, 2014 | Current Students
On December 26th, 22 students along with Dr. Phil Vardiman and Australian native Dr. Ian Shepherd boarded a plane heading to Australia. 16 hours later, the group arrived in Brisbane. Unlike the cold Texas winter, Brisbane offered sunny skies and a beautiful beach in walking distance of the Mantra hotel. Students were eager to explore the amazing coast, do some sight seeing, and learn about the business environment in the Australian context. The perfect combination of a relaxing vacation, learning about business operations in a different culture, making lifelong friendships, and experiencing God in an entirely new way…what better way could students spend a winter break?!
A major theme throughout the trip focused on poverty and its effect on business opportunities throughout the global marketplace. In Brisbane, students met twice for class to watch videos and discuss the challanges associated with businesses in countries that struggle with poverty. Students were able to share opinions and ideas about how to decrease these poverty rates, integrating Christian values and perspectives with a mission to aid entrepreneurs in developing countries with starting new businesses across the globe.
Also in Brisbane, students were able to tour two local businesses, Industrial Tool Service and Carba-tec. Both companies allowed students to see how business operations differered in Australia from the United States. Industrial Steel Company is a smaller, family run business with only four employees. The company caters mainly to local businesses, specializing in bike pedals and other custom made steel products. Carba-tec is a company that specializes in wood making machines, offering a variety of products specifically designed for the creative handyman. At Carba-tec, students were able to visit with the company’s CFO, CMO, and head of operations. They also toured the facility, including the calling center, the distribution center, and the retail store. Despite the differences, both businesses shared the common theme that honesty, integrity, and customer satisfaction are critical factors in running a successful organization anywhere in the world.
“Touring Industrial Tool Service and Carba-tec allowed us to see the business environment in a new culture. It is always refreshing to get new perspectives on how operations are done differently in different settings,” said Libby Sinclair, a senior marketing major.
So were students allowed to participate in any other activites besides touring businesses and meeting for class? Oh yes! Students had plenty of free time to hang out by the beach, explore and shop in Surfer’s Paradise, go snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, and a couple of crazy students even went skydiving! On New Year’s Eve, many students went to the beach to watch an amazing fireworks show. On one of the days, students went on a four-wheeling tour up the mountain, learning how to throw a boomerang, seeing kangaroos and koalas, and hiking into a rainforest to see numerous forms of wildlife and plant life.
After long days on the beach, wildlife adventures, and visiting local Australian businesses, it was time to say goodbye to Brisbane and head to the Outback! Next stop: Moree!
by Neely Borger | Jan 5, 2014 | Current Students
On December 26, 25 COBA students along with Dr. Phil Vardiman and Dr. Ian Shepperd left Abilene to escape the cold winter weather and head down under to a much warmer climate…Australia! After an 18 hour flight, the group landed in Brisbane where they plan to stay for one week until heading to Moree in the Outback to train and teach Aboriginals some various technological applications used on the iPad. The group will then travel on to Sydney for a couple of days before coming back to the states. In Australia, students will have the opportunity to meet with the Johnson and Johnson Company as well as the Brisbane Business Company. Both of these experiences will allow students to see and experience business in the global context.
Some other activities students will be able to participate in include Surfer’s Paradise, theme parks, and Movie World on the Gold Coast, Bridge Climb, the Sydney Transportation System, tour to the Blue Mountains, and a visit to the Featherdale Wildlife Park.
So the countdown begins! With all of amazing activities and visits planned, this trip is sure to be an experience of a lifetime!
by Neely Borger | Dec 9, 2013 | Careers In..., Current Students
COBA’s Amy Morris had the opportunity to shadow COBA alum Chad Baker, Executive Vice President and Regional Director of Jones Lang La Salle, for two weeks this past summer. She was able to gain hands on experience by attending meetings, conference calls, and strategic development sessions with Chad. Amy learned several things about the commercial real estate business, but more valuable than that, she learned how to conduct herself humbly and honorably in tough business positions. She explains how true character truly reveals itself in those hard circumstances dealing with different people and that until you are actually out in the world and experiencing this hands on, you do not have a good feel for how to handle certain situations.
Chad Baker strongly believes in the shadowing concept and how it can give students a vision for their career choice. “I believe young adults can utilize the shadowing concept to obtain a vision (or glimpse) of various professions/professionals and to begin internalizing the path to pursue in their lives today which would lead to fulfilling their respective vision…with God’s blessing and favor.” As students begin to start their journey in the workplace, shadowing older and mature believers and leaders in the business world is the perfect way to see how students can start to discover and utilize their God-given gifts in whichever career path they choose.
“I was so blessed by my experience with Chad, and I would encourage others to find an opportunity to find and shadow a mentor. I have discovered that many professionals are eager to share their knowledge with college students; all we have to do is ask! There are few substitutes for real life experience.”
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by Neely Borger | Nov 21, 2013 | Current Students
Earlier this month, students from Assistant Professor Jennifer Golden’s Principles of Marketing honors class filled up gas tanks for customers at three different locations around Abilene. The purpose of the project was to research the question of whether service makes a difference in a commodity driven marketplace, specifically the gas industry. The students collected the research and interacted with consumers at the gas station, focusing on selling techniques and customer service. Using the Texaco Five-Star Service model which includes checking tire pressure, pumping gasoline, washing windows, and friendly service, students conducted a survey to analyze whether or not genuine customer service affects consumer attitudes. After conducting the experiment, Mandy Stratton, a sophomore marketing major, says, “We learned that many people are so focused on quickly getting things done that they have lost interest in the face-to-face interactions and service.” Many customers seemed to be confused by others wanting to offer them full customer service when they are so used to filling up their own tanks. Overall, the marketing survey allowed students to see how customer service goes hand in hand with selling a product or service.
“In this project, I learned how crucial it is to be kind and respectful to everyone you meet, because you never know who you could run into. Our group ended up running into First Financial Bank’s CEO, president, and chairman,” states Tracy Richardson.
by Neely Borger | Nov 19, 2013 | Careers In..., Current Students, Placement stories
Allie Rostron, a senior marketing major from Llano, had the opportunity to intern with Dell last summer in Austin. She worked as an undergrad senior analyst within the finance department but mainly worked on projects heavily rooted in marketing and communications. One of her projects included working with people from around the globe, including Ireland, Malaysia, China, and Brazil. The aim of the project was to completely revamp all of the recruiting for the CFO’s development programs, ranging from the Finance Internship Program, the Finance and Accounting Development Programs, and the Finance Rotation Program. She also worked with a team to produce a video that would be cued by Michael Dell at his global All Hands on Deck Meeting. This project included interviewing 40 plus employees asking questions regarding Dell’s future, Dell’s innovation, and how going private would affect Dell’s interaction with customers. Allie also worked with Dell’s internal blog, One Dell Way. She performed research on Big Data, Big Analytics, the evolving workforce, and virtual desktop infrastructure.
Allie landed the internship by researching and emailing contacts in the professional marketplace. She asked for advice and feedback about her resume and the interviewing process and recommendations regarding fields and companies to look for. Her resume was forwarded to various employees within Dell and eventually to the hiring team. She advises students seeking internships to start early! If students are wanting to work in a larger company, she suggests that they start doing research now and contacting people to gain knowledge through the entire process. Secondly, she highly believes in the power of networking and that by using contacts made through networking, students are using a tool that is at everyone’s disposal.
Allie will begin working for Dell after she graduates in May. Allie is a great example of someone who used the power of networking and seeking advice from other professionals to land an incredible internship opportunity. If you are searching for an internship or job, schedule an appointment with Samantha Matta in the COBA Connections office. Congratulations Allie and good luck with your new position at Dell!
“Never underestimate the power of networking. Networking is not working the system but is utilizing a tool that is open to your disposal. You never know what can come from emailing someone and asking them advice.”
