Many students are jetting off to exotic destinations for spring break or traveling home to see family but for one group, spring break is all business. On March 9, 13 students from Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences will travel to New York City to participate in the ninth annual Winston Fisher Seminar. The seminar is funded through the generosity of Winston Fisher ’96, who majored in philosophy while a student at SU and is now a partner at Fisher Brothers, one of New York’s pre-eminent builders, owners and managers of commercial real estate. It is an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about the ties between a liberal arts degree and successful careers in the business sector post-graduation. Through intimate discussions with various alumni, classes, readings, and culminating with a business plan competition, the seminar seeks to better prepare liberal arts students in defining career goals and translating these goals to the current job market and global economic environment.

“College graduates today are entering one of the toughest, most competitive economic climates we’ve seen in years,” said Fisher. “What gives those grads an edge when pursuing that “first job” out of college or advancement in the work place is a solid liberal arts education. Not only are liberal arts grads educated in a broad range of academic studies but they’re also taught critical thinking and given the tools to succeed in a variety of professional settings. As a successful businessman with a philosophy degree, I can honestly say that without my liberal arts education, I may not be where I am today.”

The variety of students attending speaks to the mission of the seminar. Rather than catering solely to students with business majors such as finance and marketing management, there are also participants with majors in psychology, French, anthropology, physics, biology, and international relations, among others. While the background of the students may be very varied, the seminar exposes them all to the same immersive experience. Not only are the students staying and learning in Manhattan, the international hub for business and commerce, but the offices of Fisher Brothers and other SU alumni will serve as the seminar’s “classrooms.”

“Each year for the last nine years, many students apply the Winston Fisher Seminar, and 12 to 15 are selected to participate in this one-week intensive learning experience,” said George M. Langford, Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences. “This is a tremendous opportunity for participants to learn about the process of writing a business plan and network with successful alumni in the world of business. I am grateful to Winston for sponsoring this unique program and for providing our students with a truly once in a lifetime opportunity to see firsthand what the business world entails.”

Participating students will be eligible to earn one credit hour (pass/fail) if they meet all requirements. Requirements include three on-campus mandatory classes, required readings, written response papers, and, while in NYC, development and presentation of a business plan to a small panel of “friendly” judges. The student deemed to have created the most compelling business plan will be awarded $500 by Fisher personally.

This year’s Winston Fisher Seminar participants include:

-Maryann Akinboyewa, Marketing Management/Writing and Rhetoric

-Amanda Canavatcel, Psychology/Biology

-Bryce Davis, International Relations/Television, Radio and Film/Russian Language Literature and Culture

-Cayes Delpheche, Economics

-Matt Fernandez, English and Textual Studies/Television, Radio and Film

-Wilson Ho, French and Francophone Studies/International Relations

-Michael Hu, Biochemistry

-Elizabeth Kinnealey, International Relations 

-Timothy Larach, Economics/Writing and Rhetoric

-Samuel Lee, Psychology

-Dylan Lustig, International Relations 

-Andrea Mencia, International Relations/Public Relations

-Dijja Tamen, International Relations/Economics

The Winston Fisher Seminar is generously supported by Fisher in partnership with The College of Arts and Sciences. More information is available at http://thecollege.syr.edu.