Here’s a quick glimpse at one of many impressive outcomes HPU graduates achieve.
Name: Graham Wesel, Class of 2025
Hometown: Concord, Massachusetts
Major: Finance, minor in Data Analytics
Post-graduation plans: Graham will begin his career at Stephens Inc. as an Equity Research Associate – Reconstitutions & Index Rebalancing in Little Rock, Arkansas. Graham will be focusing on the rebalancing of the Russell indices (R1K, R2K, R3K etc.). Based on the market capitalization, the amount of outstanding shares, the names that make up the index get re-ranked, or even added or dropped from the index. With these changes, Graham’s team predicts what happens to the individual stocks and sells that research.
How HPU helped you get there: “I understand that High Point prides itself as being the ‘life skills university’, but that is truly what allowed me to separate myself. As I was able to take on leadership initiatives and learn how to best navigate them, I was set up well for taking on a razor-thin job market in high finance. Further, the hands-on projects have allowed me to excel in my internship experiences, which translates into references for my new full-time role.”
How you used the Office Career & Professional Development: “I used it early on, they tailored my initial resume and taught me the basic tools, I took it from there and made everything my own.”
Did any portion of your job interview process include a dining component? If so, did you feel HPU prepared you for this type of setting? “Yes, there was. I was flown to Little Rock and dined with a few employees. The fine dining experiences taught me proper etiquette, appropriate dress, as well as minute table manners that others might overlook.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “Larry Quinn, Director of the Professional Selling Program and Chair of the Department of Sales – Even though I am a finance major, I was President of the Professional Selling Club and heavily involved in the Selling Program. Professor Quinn is the perfect epitome of striking a balance between serious and fun. He always greets everyone with a smile and his famous whole-hearted laugh. He taught me the ethics of business practices. Professor Quinn understands that each student is a person first, and their well-being matters above all else. Having the care for others that he does has gotten him where he is today, and the stellar reputation that he has today. His charisma is second to none, and everyone needs to take a page out of Professor Quinn’s bright and loving book of life.”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “Scheduling and sitting in a meeting with HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein. Even though it was 15 minutes, I shared my two cents on the finance program and the direction it needs to go in for the program to succeed. This shows that not only is the university willing to change, but it is also willing to do so with the students at the helm. Having an impact on an organization, especially one of the caliber of High Point, is truly exciting and something that is not replicated elsewhere.”
How has HPU’s inspiring environment contributed to your success? “Having an environment of other driven and like-minded students not only motivates me to be the best version of myself, but it also enhances the holistic environment. Each day, there is someone in professional dress walking around campus; these people are always walking with a sense of confidence. This infectious mindset lays the precedent of excellence. The campus further motivates me to produce my best product on projects, applications, and assignments to mirror the environment around me.”
What are the life skills HPU helped you develop that prepared you for long-term success? “All finance professors are ‘professors of the practice’ and understand the way the finance world ticks. However, the professors always give us students the initiative to challenge the status quo or the ideas presented in each class. This allows students to have a voice, produce direction, and results for the class. This experience is invaluable as this allows students to garner their own brand as a student, and produce their own brand as a new hire, allowing managers to see the effort and prowess of the new employee.”
What are the values and virtues HPU’s campus helped you develop that you’ll take with you after graduation? “High Point is a caring and inclusive culture – you just have to take the first step to find it. A lot of students believe that college will serve everything on a silver platter, but that is not true. However, what is different at High Point is that you just have to show interest and the support will come. Now, that might not be the case in the corporate world, but I will be that initial support that the High Point community was for me.”
Advice for underclassmen: “Start early and often. It is never to early to start looking. The worst thing that happens is the organization says, “we aren’t hiring now, but we will reach back out when the role opens up”, This shows initiative! Then, be sure the stay in contact with the firm to pounce on the role when it opens.”
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