Twenty Knox College sophomores and juniors further developed their abilities to analyze, collaborate, and communicate when they were immersed in a professional-style working environment through the Fullbridge program.

As part of the program, students learned to interpret corporate financial statements and collaborated on projects designed to emphasize skills in business, finance, marketing, and innovation.

Students capped off their Fullbridge experience by working in teams to create final presentations about specific companies. Several Knox alumni with business expertise helped evaluate the final presentations.

The Fullbridge program, which took place September 6-10, aims to equip students for long-term success in the 21st century global marketplace. The program builds on Knox's core focus on critical thinking skills to prepare students for the professional business world.

The 2016 program at Knox was led by Fullbridge coach Ray Griffin, a former senior vice president at GE Capital who has spent much of his career in corporate finance and management consulting.

"This is a strong group of students," he said. "They clearly have the academic horsepower and strength to get through the material and do well."

The most important takeaway for students in the program "is the ability to stand and deliver ideas and do so in a manner that is compelling, that people will want to listen to," Griffin said. He added that it's also important for students to "have a view and opinion they can support with facts." Such skills are critical for any industry, regardless of whether a student ends up in the business world, he noted.

Students said they benefited by participating in the Fullbridge program.

"The biggest thing is learning to do collaborative work and being an effective member of a team," said Eric Stevens '18, a biology major who is considering attending medical school.

Adeline Gomez '19 said she gained an understanding of how to engage with teammates "so that we can create the best environment and so that everyone can feel heard and valued—and so we can also get all the work done efficiently and effectively."

"I think I've also definitely gained more of an understanding of what it's like to be in the business world," added Gomez, who hasn't yet declared a major but is planning on a career in diplomacy. "It's really helpful to get this snapshot view of the sorts of things that we can expect from working in various companies."

"I'm grateful to Knox for providing (this opportunity)," she said. "It's really valuable, and I think I'm getting a head start in some ways."

(Photos below: Students work on projects during the Fullbridge program; coach Ray Griffin leads discussion; alumni evaluate students' final presentations.)

Alumni who evaluated the final presentations praised the students' work.

"I was hugely impressed by the level of confidence that these young people brought to the job of, in a very short period of time, taking information of a business nature—which none of them are trained in—and bringing together a very well-done set of presentations that impressed an audience of business professionals," said Steve Kaszynski '76, director, president, and CEO of Homestead Funds in Arlington, Virginia.

Chanda Harrell '15, a tax associate at KPMG in Chicago, Illinois, said she was impressed with the way the students interacted together.

"They supported each other," she said. "If someone was struggling with a question, someone else would jump in and help. That was good to see."

Other alumni panelists who evaluated the students' final presentations were:

• Jim Foley '78, director of the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Bradley University.
• Jordi Prats '85, director of global solutions development for Maritz Inc. in Fenton, Missouri.
• Scott Westerman '84, president of Glazer's of Missouri in St. Charles, Missouri.
• Fiore D'Orazio '92, information technology manager of Collision Revision in Aurora, Illinois.