Reflections from the Class of 2014
This month The Robins School bids farewell to the graduates of 2014. A few seniors were asked to share their reflections on their time at the University of Richmond.
Annie Geckle came to Richmond from Berwyn, Pa. “Richmond has great programs for my interests, and the beautiful campus was a huge draw for me. The people at Richmond are unlike anywhere else. We’re so lucky to have the opportunity to develop relationships with all of our professors. The accounting students in my class were very close, and without the students and faculty I work with every day, my experience could not have been the same.”
Geckle, a Student Advisory Council member, aided in the planning for Senior Dinner. “It was such a great opportunity to spend time with the professors and peers who have played an integral role in my college experience. I sat with Professor Phil Rohrbach who influenced me to major in accounting. I also had the chance to reconnect with my professors from freshman year, and I was surprised and happy to see they all remembered me. I’ve had such a great experience here.” This fall she will be working as an assurance associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Tony Tomassetti, a fellow Pennsylvanian, added, “I knew one person when I came to Richmond, which forced me to make new friends. Because of that I gained a stronger understanding of the cultural landscape within Richmond’s diverse student body. Due to the University’s size I’ve been able to develop very strong relationships with a variety of professors, administrators and peers throughout my time here. I look forward to maintaining these relationships once I leave Richmond.” Tomassetti will be working with Bloomberg in the fall.
Stephanie Hepp traveled to Richmond from Clearwater, Fl. “The University allows its students to personalize their education through the liberal arts curriculum, and that drew me here. I came to Richmond as a French major but ultimately found my home at the Robins School.”
Hepp described her involvement with Q-Camp as her most fulfilling experience. “As a sophomore I was one of the first to register. Every seminar and real-world exercise motivated me to pursue a challenging career; I learned the skills I needed to become a successful woman in finance and couldn’t have been more thankful for the opportunity. This year I was invited to be a Q-Camp ambassador to help sophomores find their own paths in the Robins School. It was amazing to be able to help younger students the same way I had been helped two years prior.” Next month Hepp will begin working in investment banking at Wells Fargo Securities.
Kellyn Campbell, who will begin her career in assurance at EY, looked back at her four years. “I’ve been given so many opportunities that I never thought possible. I feel completely at home here. The classes were challenging, but the professors always gave us the confidence to tackle those challenges. With the help of advisors and mentors at the Robins School, I got to study abroad in Vienna, Austria and was still able to finish my accounting major within four years while accruing over 150 credit hours so that I can take the CPA exam this summer. I’ve grown immeasurably, and my experience here has been absolutely amazing.
Tomassetti also reflected on Commencement Weekend. “Graduation was a great weekend filled with family, friends, perfect weather and probably too many pictures. Although quite surreal, graduation was one of the most relieving moments of my life, and I fully realized how exciting it is to continue moving forward.”
Best of luck Class of 2014!
View Senior Dinner 2014 Photo Album
View Senior Wine and Cheese 2014 Photo Album
Photo: Seniors take a look at the 2014 Senior Class Gift, Professor Joe Ben Hoyle's Stack the Odds in Your Favor