Greetings from Sewanee! We have wrapped up a semester full of enriching programming on campus and impactful experiences off the Domain. Our seniors have graduated, and students have recently returned to the Mountain for summer school and research opportunities. We hope you enjoy our spring highlights!

In early April, the Babson Center welcomed Dr. Mike Waldrum, C’84, CEO of ECU Health to deliver a lecture entitled “A Career of Caring: The Business of Healthcare, Lessons Learned Navigating Uncertainty.” Waldrum spoke about his background in medicine while emphasizing the importance of his liberal arts education throughout his career journey. This event was presented in collaboration with the Departments of Biology and Pre-Health. 

Mike Waldrum, C'84, speaks to Sewanee students and community members in the Torian Room.

Abigail French, C'26, Julianna Cannon, C'27, and Sam Goodwin, C'26, with Dr. Mike Waldrum, C'84.

Myles Elledge, C'85, Mike Waldrum, C'84, and Jack Riggs, C'26.

C'29 Carey Fellows Jackson Pullman, Mary Blair Tankard, Elizabeth Bowman, and Josey King enjoying the spring weather.

Carey Fellows will participate in a number of professional programs and conferences throughout the summer.

Two Sewanee students have been awarded Beecken Scholarships to attend summer programs at the London School of Economics. These immersive programs give liberal arts undergraduates a competitive edge as they enter the world of business. Savannah Gann, C'27, an international and global studies major from Hoover, Alabama, will attend the July session and study industrial policy. Meran Paul, C'28, an economics and creative writing major from Budgam, Kashmir, will attend an August session focused on alternative investment strategy.

The Beecken Scholarships are funded by a gift from Kitty and David Beecken, C’68.

Savannah Gann, C'27.

Meran Paul, C'28.

Additionally, Allison Haworth, C'26, attended the Annual Export Conference hosted by the National Association of District Export Councils (NADEC). This conference brought together trade professionals, manufacturers, policy leaders, and other stakeholders to network, share strategies, and advocate for international trade. The May 2026 NADEC gathering devoted sessions to topics such as American AI exports, logistics modernization, tourism opportunities, and workforce development.

A cohort of 12 Sewanee students recently completed a three-week study-away program in southeast Asia led by Myles Elledge, director of the Babson Center for Global Commerce. The trip extended Elledge's Easter term course, Dynamics of International Business, by bringing students into direct contact with the rapidly developing business ecosystems of Singapore and Vietnam. 

In Singapore, Hanoi, and Saigon, students met with finance professionals, global consulting firms, startup founders, and executives across technology, private equity, environmental management, and hospitality. Between engagements, they explored the region's historic and natural landscapes — highlights included the Singapore Botanical Gardens, an executive tour of the historic Raffles Hotel, a two-night cruise through Hạ Long Bay, and a visit to the Hanoi Sofitel Metropole. The group was also joined by Scarlett Pham, C'22, who has been working in Hanoi and Saigon, Vietnam, since graduating from Sewanee.  

The Dynamics of International Business program has drawn strong student interest since launching in 2022. For more information about the program, visit here. Additionally, you can read about their meeting with the AI software development company SmartDev by clicking here. 

Sewanee students having a great time at Singapore's historic Raffles Hotel. 

Nora Quinn, C'28, Sarah Grace Powell, C'28,  and Campbell Smith, C'28, shopping the Old Quarter in Hanoi.

 The group enjoying a scenic boat tour of Hạ Long Bay.

A view overlooking the riverfront in Saigon, Vietnam. 

Senior students presented their research during Scholarship Sewanee, a day-long event that highlighted students' distinct academic and professional interests. Congratulations to all who presented their work.

Several Carey Fellows completed Scholarship Sewanee projects. Finance major William Coley, C'26, presented a poster that explored factor-based stock portfolio assembly as strategy to mediate sector-based risk. Nicole Radford, C'26, an economics major, exhibited her research examining the influence of foreign students upon STEM degree completion within domestic student populations. Ally McCasland, C'26, also an economics major, delivered an oral honors presentation focused on global institutional gender equality and economic growth. Music major Kourtni Hamilton, C'26, drew upon her singing background when displaying a poster that examined the repertoire of songwriter Amy Winehouse as a pedagogical tool for teaching contemporary vocalization styles. 

Student abstracts are available here.

Clockwise from top left: C'26 Carey Fellows Nicole Radford, Ally McCasland, William Coley, and Kourtni Hamilton at Scholarship Sewanee.

As the culminating assignment for their senior Carey Fellow seminar, the Class of 2026 Carey Fellows each delivered a TED Talk-style presentation responding to the prompt "How can business be a force for good?" Students explored themes including AI, pro bono legal services, and sustainable development. Congratulations to these students for reaching another academic milestone.

The C'26 Carey Fellows following their senior presentations. 

The Babson Center congratulated our cohort of 10 senior Carey Fellows with a Friday brunch celebration during graduation weekend. Fellows were recognized for their dedication during a short ceremony for family and friends. We extended best wishes to all of our recent graduates! Read reflections from their time as Carey Fellows here.

The C'26 Carey Fellow graduates with Julie Powell, C'97, and Myles Elledge, C'85.

Carey Fellow Senior Sendoff:

Collage 1, clockwise: Jack Riggs & family, Allison Haworth & family, C'26 Carey Fellows group photo, Kourtni Hamilton and her mother, Sher Shah Mir & family, and Ally McCasland & family.

Collage 2, clockwise: Nicole Radford & family, Ben Pollock & family, Sher Shah Mir, C'26, Carey Fellow Senior Sendoff, Will Brookby & family, William Coley & family, and Clay Hershey & family.

The University honored many Carey Fellows during its May 10 commencement ceremony.

Judy Running Memorial Music Prize: Kourtni Hamilton

Leroy Environmental Service Award: Allison Haworth

Phi Beta Kappa members: Clay Hershey, Ally McCasland, and Jack Riggs

Omicron Delta Kappa members: Allison Haworth, Clay Hershey, and Ally McCasland

Sigma Alpha Alpha: William Brookby

Sustainability Fellow: Allison Haworth

Additionally, business students Lexi Barbee, cofounder & former president of Sewanee Consulting Club and Luka Stojkovish, former president of Green’s View Capital, were given the Award for Excellence in Finance.  

Green's View Capital (GVC) completed its spring pitch nights with team presentations from eight sectors on their respective stock research. GVC will continue to focus on educating all students by facilitating an open atmosphere for any student interested in learning to invest and allocate a stock portfolio.

GVC Executive Board from left to right: Henry Thornton, C’28, Alex Kelly, C’27, Holden Phillips, C’28, and Frances Barnett, C’28.

SCC Executive Board from left to right: Bivor Hada, C’28, Elizabeth Colgan, C’29, Brayden Petras, C’28, Savannah Gann, C’27, Mariella Congeni, C’27, and Holden Phillips, C’28.

The Sewanee Consulting Club (SCC) wrapped up another great semester with final pitches for local event venue The Caverns.Throughout the semester, teams developed ideas for improving sales and increasing traffic within the venue's bar and gift shop, The Caverns Tavern. Congratulations to all of the teams, and thank you to The Caverns for giving Sewanee students the opportunity to work with you!

We look forward to highlighting all of our student organizations, including Tiger Student Ventures and Sewanee Women in Finance, Business, and Economics, in our September newsletter. For more information, visit the Babson Center's webpage for student business organizations.

Thank You for Answering the Call on #TigerTuesday!

We thank our current students, alumni, parents, and friends of the Babson Center. Seventy-six donors gave $140,814 to support our programs. Thank you for investing in the Babson Center and our students during Sewanee's #TigerTuesday campaign!