A Spindletop Year Indeed

Friends of UBC,

Wow! What an incredible year it has been for the Undergraduate Business Council. As this academic year comes to a close, our members certainly have a lot to be proud of, and I thought I’d take a few minutes to share with you just a few of their many successes.

Over the past twelve months, our 101 members have taken ownership of this organization and done incredible work to better the McCombs School of Business and The University of Texas as a whole. Because of their passion and dedication, our programs and events have never been stronger. This year alone, our members organized the college’s most successful McCombs Kickoff ever; hosted VIP Speakers like ESPN President George Bodenheimer and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly; planned an astonishing FOUR company field trips, including two out-of-state adventures; and orchestrated our largest and most engaging McCombs Executive Summit ever.

In addition to our extensive programming, UBC has been hard at work collaborating with the McCombs and University administrations this year. Since last May, we’ve worked closely with Dean Gilligan, Associate Dean Murray, and Assistant Dean Allert to reform the undergraduate curriculum and streamline the registration process. We’ve collaborated with Dean Gilligan and Associate Dean Newman to ensure that college-level budget cuts are done in a thoughtful and strategic way. We’ve partnered with the Career Services Department to increase opportunities for professional development. We’ve joined forces with the McCombs Alumni Relations Office to revamp and improve the BBA Legacy Campaign, resulting in the campaign’s most successful year ever. And we’ve worked with the University Provost to tackle issues like four-year graduation rates, alumni engagement, and academic integrity on the Forty Acres.

In recognition of these efforts and countless other successes, the University’s Leadership and Ethics Institute’s Swing Out Awards Committee recently named the Undergraduate Business Council the Best Academic/Departmental Organization AND the Most Improved Organization at The University of Texas at Austin! These well-deserved honors are a tribute to the great passion and dedication not only of our active membership, but also of our many alumni, corporate sponsors, and myriad other supporters. I cannot thank you enough for all you have done and continue to do for UBC and the McCombs School of Business.

I think it’s safe to say that this year has been one of UBC’s best ever, but I’m confident that we have an even brighter future ahead. I’m unbelievably excited to see what the new UBC Executive Board – UZ Zhan, Michelle Moon, Fernanda Alvarez, Nancy Bonds, Pranitha Patil, Todd Storm, Chandler Nunez, Spencer Davis, and Kayla Messamore – will do in 2012-2013 and beyond. Go UBC Go!

Hook ‘em,

Michael Daehne

UBC President, 2011-2012

Congratulations to the new BC exec team!

Congratulations to the 2011-2012 Undergraduate Business Council Executive Board:

Michael Daehne
President

Yuezhi Zhan
Vice-President

Connie Tao
Academics Director

Leanna Swain
Administrative Director

Alex Hodges
Careers Director

Taylor Ragsdale
Financial Director

Stephanie Nash
Promotions Director

Cameron Clawson
Internal Controls Director

Eugene Chou
Technology Director

Emily Benigno: First Year At Large

“Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald

Everything these days feels like starting over. Moving in, joining new organizations, meeting new people. Everything is a fresh start. All these new beginnings could be overwhelming and intimidating but I feel like I’m ready.

I was thrilled when I learned that I was selected to be an At-Large member of the Business Council. I can’t wait to participate in the Company Field Trip, attend VIP, and volunteer with other UBC members throughout the year. The passion that drives UBC members also brings them closer together. With programs like Toast To The Turkey at Thanksgiving and Lunch Buddies, I feel like BC members are more than just members of an organization.

The bond that I share with Business Council members was formed immediately. Meeting other BC members at Informal Retreat was so easy because everyone was so friendly and energetic. Any older BC members that I met immediately offered advice about classes and organizations. They were genuinely wanted to make sure that I was aware of all the opportunities that UT and BC offers. The week before Informal Retreat I found out that I was selected to be a Texas Spirit. So many members of BC offered their congratulations upon meeting me that I felt at home with people who I had met only moments ago.

When I arrived on campus I was excited to get involved with UBC. As I sat in the informational meeting during the first week of school, I was struck by the passion that each one of the UBC members held for their positions on council and for the school of business. I wanted to find that same confidence, passion sense of purpose that each of the members of UBC hold. I decided to apply for an At-Large position and was impressed by the first question on the application. It simply read “Was it worth it?” I looked back on my short time at UT and forward into the future and decided that I wanted to make my time at UT worth it. I know I should work as hard as I can but at the same time not hold any regrets. By doing this, I can fully appreciate the present while not dwelling in the past, have faith in my judgment, realize my potential and know that yes, it’s going to be worth it.

Amanda Peters: Sophomore Class Representative

What are you expecting this year from UBC?

Absolutely nothing….’that is un-fun’. Already having gone to formal orientation, informal retreat, and meetings I see that this is an awesome group of people; ’people love this stuff!’ As a 2nd year class rep for BC, I am anticipating a lot for the students of McCombs. The group of reps already shows a strong passion for listening to students and trying to implement new programs in response to what students want from our organization. We just recently discussed the possibility of having a table set up in McCombs once a month to give students the chance to come up to their rep and give their suggestions….so excited!

So now I will start writing like my name is Amanda Peters. So…expectations…hmmm the only expectations I have for BC this year, personally, are that it is going to be AWESOME and I will learn a lot! I honestly, still, cannot fathom that I am in such an awesome organization with such amazing members. Throughout the upcoming year I anticipate many friendships and relationships forming that will last a lifetime. Already from the informal retreat I met so many people and know that I will be able to recall stories with them for a lifetime. For example, the first night of informal was awesome. As all of us made our way back to the cabin area around 2 30 am suddenly Scott introduced us to a secret weapon he had packed and brought with him to retreat. This instrument was one of the most amazing creations I have ever laid eyes on; a marshmallow shooter complete with marshmallows for amo. Seeing this, Matt got the idea that we should try to shoot Thomas and Hunter back at the main building. So the three of us put on our dark gear and headed out into the night. As we made our way closer to the building we got lower to the ground and whispered as to not attract Thomas or Hunter’s attention. The whole time, we are laughing though because we all looked ridiculous and it seemed that the property owner’s Dalmatian thought we were predators so every time that we would crouch down the dog would try to bite our booty and attack us, well mostly the dog attacked me… Any who, we were behind a wall and so Scott knew this was his chance and as he shot the marshmallow we heard the chairs move and we knew that Hunter and Thomas were going to try to get us. Remember, it is dark , and the guys take off running and so do I… but somehow I got all turned around and I needed to get back with my ‘platoon’ …so, in the dark, I sprinted across the garden and before I knew it I was laying in a raised rock flower bed from falling in the dark… only to hear immediate laughter at my misfortune. I am going to have a scar on my leg, but I am totally fine with that…it was an awesome time that I will remember forever. Thanks UBC…I expect more crazy stuff like this.

Matt Barry: UBC President 2007-2008

There are several things I took for granted until last night’s Exec Meeting. Because Sung was on call with his RA job, he was not allowed to leave the premises of Jester and we had to meet there. Also – because this university is overcrowded, all of the study space in the entire complex was taken up with supplemental housing. We had to meet in an open room with different groups coming in and out and someone constantly “playing” the piano. I realized last night that I am incredibly subconsciously grateful for the quiet, piano-less, brightly lit conference room in the Frito with thousands of electrical outlets for our laptops where we usually meet.

Somehow we withstood the noise, lack of power, light, and privacy to knock out the meeting in a very short five hours. Last night was the first round of committee selections, which ran long because we received more applications for more committees than I’d ever seen during my two years on Exec.

Hopefully I don’t sound like I’m complaining because that couldn’t be further from the truth. Don’t get me wrong, I wish we could get the work we have to put into this organization done in one short hour every week, but I truly have yet to reach a point where I’m tired of working so hard, so often, or so long for UBC. Pouring over the dozens of applications on the plane to and from Vegas this weekend was not a chore. In fact, going through the committee selection process is one of the most reenergizing things for me and all of Exec.

We joked this week that the top ring in our logo has a gap in it simply because we are literally never done reading applications, but the truth is that it reminds us that Council members (both new and old) are still with us. For me, it reminds me that members don’t take their spot on Council for granted. It displays the incredibly colorful and vibrant passion that some members have for one, two, several, or all of our programs. It shows the diverse interests, perspectives, and goals of Council, and most of all it brings us back to the mission of serving McCombs.

I’m looking forward to the next round, even though it looks to take just as long on OU weekend. We are opening our first McCombs-wide committee this week, so I can’t wait to see the applications we get for that too. I love it. I love empowering people and ensuring that the UBC programs I love are well taken care of. Keep ‘em coming!

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