"My main goal is to live a happy life and to make a positive impact on those around me and our world." That is what guides Salmaan Ayaz, a recent economics graduate. Ayaz just completed his senior year at the University of Richmond and is already making an impact.

Before leaving the University, Ayaz was part of a team of undergraduate students that built Hoongle, an internet search page created through social entrepreneurship that aimed to donate food to underdeveloped countries every time someone used their site (20 grains of rice per search). "It was an amazing experience on several levels. First, it provides me with a great base of experience to build upon as I enter the real world. Secondly, I had the honor of being part of a team that put an idea to make our world a better place into practice. This itself was a victory, as well as a lot of fun! It was great to witness our product take hold, receive acclaim from our professors and friends, and get attention from the New York Times and several other national publications. On top of all these things, it taught me a great deal about getting a project started, dealing with successes and setbacks, as well as about the cause of world hunger," says Ayaz.

With such an amazing experience already "in his pocket," Ayaz now moves forward into a position with the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in Washington, D.C. The largest of the US Navy's five systems commands, NAVSEA engineers, builds, and supports America's fleet of ships and combat systems. Pending security clearance, Ayaz will be a Contact Negotiator. In this role, he will be part of a team responsible for the multi-billion dollar design, acquisition, and modernization of current and future surface ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, and related leading-edge defense technologies. When asked what aspect of his new job he was most excited about, Ayaz responded, "Having the opportunity to serve in a specialized field vital to our nation's security and to the support of its Navy is extremely exciting. Since NAVSEA does business globally, I am looking forward to traveling to cities across the country and around the world." If he had to pick just one place (anywhere in the world) that he'd love to be, he adds, "It would have to be Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. I grew up in both Pakistan and the United States (my family moved here when I was 12), and so Dubai offers a cultural mix of East and West that I find hard to resist."

With one entrepreneurial venture and a great new job on his resume, some might think that Ayaz should be content to just carry on as is. Not Salmaan Ayaz. He is motivated and focused on the future. Within the next few years he hopes to attend graduate school. "I am exploring enrolling in a master's program in a public policy-related area (such as applied economics) while working at NAVSEA and would like to move on to further study in a related area. I have interests that span across law, public policy, and business, so I am not exactly sure what path I will pursue long-term, but I am hoping to chart one that will blend all three into something fulfilling," he states.

It's not all about the work, though. On the lighter side, Ayaz says, "I love adventure, whether that means solving a puzzle, traveling to a city I have never been to, or implementing a new idea. I also enjoy playing cricket and writing."

An adventurer, writer, entrepreneur and dedicated business professional, Salmaan Ayaz is making his mark and making the world a better place in the process.

Last fall the Center for Active Business Education selected four finance students to participate in the CFA Virginia Investment Research Challenge (CFA Challenge) which is a team competition that includes colleges around the state of Virginia. The competition included an 8-10 page research report and presentation on a regional company, which this year Norfolk Southern was selected. The Robins School's team included seniors John Bonner of East Islip, NY, Alaina Melichar of Manhasset, NY, Bryan Pendleton of New Orleans, LA, and Michael John Rubbelke of Franklin, TN. They were coached by finance professor, Dr. David North and were mentored by 1999 Robins School alum and Associate Director for Investment for Spider Management Company, Chris Dion. "As an alum, this presented a wonderful opportunity for me to stay involved and give back to the Robins School. It was a great experience and I hope to continue in the same role next year," relayed Dion.

In February the Robins team presented their research as they were practicing analysts to a CFA panel of judges. They topped five other competing Virginia colleges, among them the University of Virginia, College of William and Mary, Hampden-Sydney College, James Madison University and Virginia Commonwealth University. In March, the team was invited to participate in the Americas Regional Competition in New York but was eliminated by the eventual regional champion Fundacao Getulio Vargas of Sao Paulo, Brazil. "What these four students experienced cannot be replicated in the classroom," relayed team coach, Dr. David North.

On March 27-28, 2009, thirty sophomore and junior business majors packed their bags for a weekend of business camp. Q Camp, named for Paul B. Queally, exemplifies his desire for Robins School of Business students to professionally differentiate themselves in the 21st century workforce. Held off campus at the Wyndham Virginia Crossings Resort, students participated in a simulated business conference, beginning with individual hotel room check-in and use of credit cards to cover incidentals above and beyond the covered room expense. Topics for the hands-on conference included: personality and your likability factor, first impressions, dining etiquette, the future of work (environments and technology), internship and summer employment, networking and presentation skills, recruiting strategies in turbulent times, E-etiquette, and a panel discussion with executives. Hands-on interactive sessions where students refined their elevator speech and exchanged business cards with one another proved both informative and fun. Students were invited to introduce a speaker for each of the sessions and several wowed their peers and presenters with their courage, poise and self-awareness (nervous about public speaking). The last two sessions included the opportunity to practice newly acquired professional skills during a networking reception and dinner with faculty, alumni and employers.

Student feedback suggests that attendees found Q-Camp a worthwhile experience. When asked if students would encourage their friends and classmates to attend Q-Camp, 100% (66% response rate) said yes. Furthermore, when asked the three most important things you learned from Q- Camp, students noted the following: take initiative, networking skills, start early to find an internship, and consequently a job; how to prepare for an interview and the importance of good communication skills, among others. Individual feedback from sophomore, Kelly Padden, reflected an overall desired outcome for the Q-Camp experience, "Thank you so much for a fabulous weekend at Q-Camp! It was a tremendous success, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience - every speaker was personable, engaging, interesting, and provided very useful advice and information. I think that all aspects of the weekend ran very smoothly.

I was nervous that Q-Camp was going to be very regimented and stressful. I was pleasantly surprised that the experience was professional yet relaxed. I met some really wonderful people including classmates, professionals and faculty members. I think that Q-Camp has strengthened my ties with other Business School students who I may not have otherwise met. This was not only a networking event in terms of future employers; it was a networking event among students. I bonded with other Robins School of Business students."

Although Q Camp is held, in general, once a year, the foundation of the skills learned are intended to be reinforced through additional career programs within the Robins School of Business throughout the year.

At the Robins School Honors Convocation on April 14, many students were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments. Over 50 merit scholarships were awarded, and 27 students (including one MBA student) were inducted into the business honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma. Greg Rogowski, then President of Performance Fibers (recently named President of Mueller Co.) was honored as Executive of the Year and delivered the keynote address.

At the top of their class were Lauren Pryor and Joseph Harrison. Lauren Pryor, an accounting major, was awarded the Charles Norman Award, given to the best overall graduating senior, as chosen by the faculty. At the Senior Dinner the following evening, Harrison was awarded the Alumni Association Outstanding Senior Award. During the Senior Dinner, which was hosted by Altria and AXA Advisors held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, guests were treated to a keynote address by Dave Beran, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Altria.

A Collegian Web Update, written by Andrew Prezioso

In the second annual UR Business Pitch Competition, the Sniff-Stick, presented by senior Dan Brunt and Christopher Genualdi, won first place and the $2,000 prize.

Brunt and Genualdi pitched the Sniff-Stick, a "breath mint for your nose," to a panel of five judges from outside the school.

"This is the first time we've pitched the idea to potential investors," Genualdi said. "It's a learning opportunity and a financial opportunity."

The Sniff-Stick is a chapstick-like container with an opening on each end. The top screws off, allowing the user to sniff the fragrant oils inside the stick. The bottom is a cap where a person can get a dab of the oil to put under the nose, on the temples to reduce headaches, or even on bug bites to help stop the itch.

The two stressed that their product was not just for medicinal purposes. Brunt got the idea when he was studying abroad in Thailand and saw people on the street with a similar product.

Seniors David Whitehead and Salmaan Ayaz won the second place prize of $500 for their idea of Hoongle.org, a search engine that donates 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program for every search conducted on the site. The Web site has been getting publicity over the past few weeks, including an article in the New York Times on April 14.

"The publicity has been amazing," Whitehead said. "Everybody knows about us."

The four finalists advanced from a group of 26 teams on April 16.

One of the other finalists, pitched by senior Tripp Person, was Social-Addiction.com, a Web site that allows social venues to take pictures of people at the venue and post those photos on the Internet. It also allows for the venues to advertise coming events.

"There was a group of us studying abroad in Australia," Person said. "It was hard to get everybody to go out together. One night we were able to get everybody to go out together. Because of this type of service we have the lone group photo. Because of this photo, this venue sticks out in my mind."

The other finalist, Swaboo.com, is an on-campus textbook selling Web site that allows sellers to deliver the book in-person to the buyer, eliminating the need of shipping.

Each project was graded by the judges based on their concept, clarity of the presentation, comprehensiveness, realistic implementation and potential value of the good.

Last year's competition was the first one and included 15 teams. Doug Bosse, assistant professor and management at the Robins Schools, headed the competition. He said he expects the competition, which is open to all students, to grow next year.

"I'd love to see 35 [teams] next year," he said.

The Career Development Center launched the Senior Cap & Gown survey March 23 and is continuing to collect responses from this year's graduating class about their post graduation plans. Responses will be collected up to six months after graduation and will be shared with the university community in January 2010. All students are encouraged to take the survey regardless of their plans, and students who confirm their plans after taking the survey can update their information with the CDC. If you know about a student's plans, please let the CDC know by emailing cdc@richmond.edu and please encourage seniors you know to take the survey on the CDC's homepage at cdc.richmond.edu.

Read recent issues of the Career Development Center's e-newsletters here.