Connections count. MSU senior Aliona Kabaikina already feels connected in her field. A College of Business e-mentoring program introduced her to a Minneapolis executive has been there to answer questions, to offer advice, and to introduce her to successful professionals. MSU also strives to connect its students to the world. Exchange programs send business students to study overseas each semester, and the College of Business attracts a large contingent of international students like Aliona, a native of Russia.
Aliona Kabaikina knows drive is what matters. The MSU senior traveled a long way for her education, and she plans to go far. After an internship with one of Minnesota’s leading financial institutions, she will depart the College of Business with a finance degree, a belief in her preparation, and the determination to reach her goals.
Aliona already feels connected to her post-graduation world. She credits that to a popular College of Business program that makes networking easy. E-mentoring pairs students with established, successful professionals, and since their relationships are largely Web-based, geography becomes meaningless. For two years, Aliona’s mentor, a Minneapolis executive, has been there to answer questions, to offer academic and career advice, and to introduce her to other working professionals.
MSU also connects to the global market. The College of Business links students to opportunities around the world, sending people each semester on exchanges to study overseas. It also draws students from beyond the region. A native of Russia , Aliona is among a large contingent of international students seeking business degrees.
A vital, committed faculty makes a difference. Aliona found MSU instructors challenged her in the classroom and supported her pursuit of her dreams, which include graduate school and a career in financial planning. She studied finance to learn "the language of business," she says, and "because it gives you an opportunity to be creative, to think, to look at things and imagine how they could be better."
At MSU, Aliona has become a success story. She has won honors for her academic achievements. She has won scholarships supporting her coursework. She has even won the crown of homecoming queen. But her definition of success hinges on what happens next, when she can use her education to help others strengthen their financial position, prepare for the challenges life brings, and make a better future.
