Hattie Wilkinson, '15

Hattie Wilkinson, '15, is a Business Administration major concentrating in Management with a minor in Dance. Despite only spending a semester and a half at the University of Richmond, Wilkinson believes she has learned more in this time than she would have in all four years at her previous school, where she did not feel challenged.

Since her transfer to UR, Wilkinson shares, “I have been pushed to work my hardest and push myself to the limit. Although that sounds somewhat  terrifying, it is all easier when I know I have such amazing professors who care about me and my future.” 

This coming summer, Hattie will be interning for Slade Gorton, one of America’s largest importers, distributors and manufacturers of fresh, frozen and premium value-added seafood products. Hattie was inspired to apply for this internship by her professors and her advisor in the Office of Alumni and Career Services.

She says: “I made an appointment with Career Services to prepare my résumé before I attended Q-Camp and they motivated me to start considering my professional career."

An additional influence in Hattie's career path has been her mentor, Shelley Burns, in the Robins School of Business.

Wilkinson is grateful and amazed by the endless opportunities available to UR students. “I wish more students took advantage of everything that is offered here. I walk through the Commons multiple times a day and see so many opportunities that are available just by looking at the TV screens.”  For example, over spring break, Wilkinson traveled to France with the Office of the Chaplaincy on a pilgrimage. The chaplaincy sponsors three pilgrimages every year. Such experiences have shaped Wilkinson's view of herself and her future.

Wilkinson concludes: "Spider Pride is so important to me. I worked so hard to get here and it was certainly a challenge to get to where I am now, a sophomore at the University of Richmond. Spider Pride is the bond that keeps us all here and makes us all want to work harder today than we did yesterday. We want to achieve more this week than we did last week and we want to be greater this year than we were last year. Spider Pride will not commence at graduation, I believe it will live in all students forever."