Inaugural Back to School Bash connects thousands of students with Fisher resources

Group of students gathered around table under a tent

By Vicki Christian
Fisher College of Business

As the academic year kicked off, a carnival-style festival on the Alutto Quad welcomed Fisher students to campus with music, games, food and community building.

Despite temperatures rising into the 90s during one of summer’s final days, Business Buckeyes enjoyed engaging with fellow classmates, meeting faculty and staff and sharing their Buckeye pride.

Group of tents set up on the quad with students visiting tables from various college departments
Students enjoy learning about the various organizations and resources available at Fisher.

“This event was a fun way to meet people and get to know more about Fisher and all the services it provides,” said Isabella Glinoga, a first-year accounting student.

Sponsored by the Office of Career Management, the Office of ACCESS and the Undergraduate Experience and Engagement Team, “Ready. Set. Fisher: A Back to School Bash” gave students the opportunity to discover Fisher resources and connect with the people, offices and student organizations they can turn to for academic, professional and personal support.

The day gave students like Jadyn Chu, a fourth-year operations management student, an opportunity to learn more about how the Office of Career Management can help her career search.

Students also had a chance to network with representatives from leading Fortune 500 companies like Deloitte, Dearfoams, Abercrombie & Fitch and Honda. They were on hand to discuss internship and career opportunities available at their organizations and pass out product samples and company swag.

students interacting with two employees dressed in Deloitte t-shirts
Fisher students talk with Deloitte representatives about internship and career opportunities at the company.

Derek Davis, operations manager for the Honda–Ohio State Partnership at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., was excited to be on campus to start recruiting top business students for the company’s Honda Launchpad. This unique partnership with Fisher and the College of Engineering helps students explore career pathways in the automotive industry while experiencing the company’s culture firsthand.

“It was a fun, casual environment to meet employers,” said first-year MBA student Callie Kleinke, after visiting with representatives from Honda.

Her fellow first-year MBA classmate Zach Halffield agreed.

“It was helpful to have the opportunity to meet the employers here in a more intimate, personal space, rather than having to find them online,” said Halffield.

Other activities for students included learning about Fisher Homebase, a new effort designed to connect students with classmates who share similar geographic backgrounds. The Homebase tent provided students with the opportunity to collect raffle tickets, meet fellow Business Buckeyes and pin their hometowns on an oversized map.

Group of students mingling on the quad and sitting at tables
Students take a break from the heat during Ready. Set. Fisher.

A DJ filled the quad with music, while students enjoyed sponsored food trucks and challenged each other to lawn games and friendly competitions on sport-themed inflatables. A 360 Spin Cam captured the day’s activities and the enthusiasm generated by a special appearance by Brutus Buckeye.

“My favorite thing about today was having the opportunity to connect with the different businesses, get to know their employees and talk about possible internships,” said third-year logistics student Emma Hamilton.

“My favorite thing about today was having the opportunity to connect with the different businesses, get to know their employees and talk about possible internships.”

Emma Hamilton Third-year Logistics Student