OS Students Blazing Trails!

On January 25, 2006, OS student representatives attended a special Trailblazer Dinner where students, faculty and staff participated in conversations concerning the future development of the OS program. During the dinner, Rick Price and Suzanne Jones led them through an appreciative inquiry exercise identifying the existing strengths of the OS program.

OS junior Jana Bek put one trailblazer idea into action aimed at fostering greater community between students. Interest groups will meet to discuss topics related to their concentration pathways and career aspirations. Jana organized a panel session of two graduating seniors and a practicing consultant to help de-bunk myths about consulting careers and to help students prepare for the consulting job search. Jana has begun preliminary steps to launch the next interest group focusing on globalization in the fall of 2006.

OS seniors Lier Wong, Rebecca Eisen, Brett Lavery, and Lorea Barturen collaborated with other students in LSA and the Ross School of Business to launch a Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CoRe) on March 31, 2006. The day of events included keynote speeches by Scott Walsh of Environmental Defense, and Norbert Otten, Director of Policy Issues in the External Affairs and Public Policy office of Daimler Chrysler in Stuttgart, Germany. Two panel sessions brought together senior industry and non-profit professionals with academics to address corporate social responsibility in practice and leading change through partnerships.

Finally, OS peer mentors Shanna Goldenberg and Mikell Hyman initiated what is sure to be a new tradition on the 7th floor of Dennison, a senior brunch during graduation week. The brunch provided a chance to connect one last time as a community of students before joining family and friends on graduation day.

We have always valued the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of our OS students and are eager to see other Trailblazer ideas implemented in the future. These OS Initiatives motivate others to continue the OS entrepreneurial spirit. We salute the creativity and energy of our OS students and welcome their continued inspirations to improve our program.