Where real business starts and student success takes flight.

At the Lacy School of Business, our students don’t just study business – they live it. From launching real ventures to competing in the Top Dawg Business Plan Competition, these stories highlight how our students turn classroom lessons into real-world success.

Enjoy the journeys of driven students who are already a step ahead: building skills, creating impact, and preparing to lead.

  • A Global Learning Experience: Gregor von Rohr’s Exchange Semester

    Gregor von Rohr didn’t arrive at the Lacy School of Business looking for a pause in his academic journey. He came looking for a place where he could expand it. Originally from Switzerland, Gregor studies political science with a strong business focus, moving between disciplines that rarely stay in separate lanes. His academic path has…

  • A Competitive Spirit in All Aspects: Kate Parisi’s Ventures Into Entrepreneurship, Academia, and Athletics

    In a world full of labels, it is easy to be boxed into one area of expertise. For Kate Parisi, her competitive drive does not allow for this. From a foray into the allergy-free food business through Lacy’s entrepreneurship program to competing on Butler’s club swim team, the finance and marketing double major is elevating…

  • Designed for the CPA and Beyond: Kitty Reddy ’25 on Her MPAcc Experience

    For Kitty Reddy, accounting isn’t just about numbers – it’s about purpose. When Kitty arrived at the Lacy School of Business from Peoria, Illinois, she wasn’t simply searching for a degree. She was looking for a place that would prepare her for the rigor of the CPA exams while helping her build a career aligned…

  • AI Ethicality: How Two Butler University Students Used Predictive Analytics to Help Reduce Misinformation in the Classroom

    Written by Brad SeehausenMarketing and Communications Intern, Lacy School of Business ’26 After being named Regional Champions, Lacy School of Business students Jack Maier and Mariah Richardson advanced to the national Data4Good Competition at Johns Hopkins University, showcasing their predictive models on AI use in the classroom to a panel of expert judges. Competing against…

  • More than a Degree: How Butler’s First-Generation Students Overcome the Odds to Find Success

    Pursuing a higher education is no easy task. Intense workloads, late-night studying, and balancing a tight schedule require an immense amount of skill and discipline. For first-generation college students, one could add “graduating on time” and “figuring out how to apply for financial aid” to that list among many others. Despite the added challenges, these…

  • Trusting the Detours: Lindsey Brooks ’24 and Her Path to Operations Leadership

    When you meet Lindsey Brooks, you immediately sense someone who is both grounded and in motion – a person who thrives by doing, learning, stretching, and stepping into whatever the moment demands. Lindsey graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Lacy School of Business in May 2023, and today, she’s the Operations…

  • Excel-ling! Seth Raymond’s Unexpected Journey to the Microsoft Excel National Championship

    Becoming the state champion of anything doesn’t just fall into someone’s lap – but for Seth Raymond, becoming the Indiana State Champion in Microsoft Excel wasn’t the goal. Instead, it was the byproduct of hours of hard work spent watching tutorials and taking practice exams in pursuit of his Excel certification. As a result, Seth…

  • A Day That Changes How Students See Their Future: Inside the Lacy Business Scholars Experience

    The Lacy School of Business prides itself on creating moments where students can see their potential more clearly than ever before. Each year, the Lacy Business Scholars Program becomes one of those moments – a day when high‑achieving prospective students step onto campus and, often for the first time, begin to picture what their future…

  • The Power of “Let’s Go”: Jenna Burd’s Path to Launching Yalla Solutions

    Jenna Burd didn’t just grow up around business – she lived it. From her earliest memories, she watched her mother build an advertising agency from scratch while caring for her as a newborn. “I grew up absorbing everything my mom was doing – her drive, creativity, and resilience,” Jenna recalled. “That entrepreneurial spirit stuck with…

  • Passion, Purpose, and Play: Manolo Ferreres’ Journey in Business and Soccer

    When Manolo Ferreres first stepped onto Butler’s campus, he carried more than a suitcase and a soccer ball – he carried a dream. Growing up in Deltebre, Catalonia, Spain, he had already built a life steeped in discipline and ambition, balancing his studies in economics with his passion for soccer. Moving to the United States…