Pace Setters find success by enjoying the journey

By Vicki Christian
Fisher College of Business

For many students, college is a journey of self-discovery, community and establishing a career of a lifetime. While everyone’s academic path is unique, for more than 100 Fisher students, being named a Pace Setter is a highlight of their campus experience.

Several such students reflected on their experiences and this prestigious honor during the college’s 2026 Pace Setters Award ceremony. They spoke of personal growth, giving back and taking stock.

Cara Santos, a fourth-year accounting student, advised her peers to slow down and enjoy every collegiate moment, no matter how busy they are.

“Time is always ticking,” said Santos, who received the Jack W. Stephenson Award, one of five special awards presented each year. “Time is always there. It’s a competitor running ahead, constantly putting pressure on what we can and cannot do. How much can one achieve in the race against time?”

When she was a member of Ohio State’s fencing team, a normal day for Santos started at 5:30 a.m. and ended at midnight. It was filled with fencing practice, classes, eating, meetings, studying and work. Her days were full, but she still felt like time was always running away.

“The early mornings and late nights were not the problem,” said Santos. “It was the dissatisfaction because I wasn’t taking a pause to appreciate what was in front of me. I was so focused on what I hadn’t achieved yet, where I still needed to improve, how much farther I had to go. I rarely let myself feel proud of how far I’d already come. Every accomplishment was treated like a checkpoint instead of a milestone. Growth was something waiting in the future instead of recognized in the present.”

She began to shift her mindset after her younger sister, Nina, asked Santos about her favorite part of college. Unsure how to answer, she took notice of what she’d been rushing past: the small victories, laughter during a study session and the reminders that she was capable, even when she doubted herself.

“It was only when I slowed down that I realized success isn’t just measured by how much we accomplish but by how fully we experience the journey.”

Held annually since 1961, the Pace Setters Awards celebrate third- and fourth-year students who excel both in and out of the classroom and who exemplify scholarship, leadership and service to Fisher and the community. Since its beginning, more than 3,300 business students have earned Pace Setters recognition.

“The individuals we honor today join an elite group of high-achieving students, successful and principled leaders, and humble servants,” said Interim Dean Aravind Chandrasekaran.

For fourth-year finance student Caleb Wooddell, his success has been a journey of growth and overcoming a fear of public speaking.

From his time with the Integrated Business and Engineering Honors Program, where improvements in practice presentations mattered more than perfection, to Fisher’s Ambassador program, which helped him build confidence, to his time with professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, he’s learned it is easier to tackle fears when you have people to support you along the way.

“Don’t let fear hold you back, because tackling the things that scare you is where you grow the most,” said Wooddell, the S. Maurice Bostic and Birch S.M. Bostic Memorial Award winner.

Themes of paying forward, forging one’s own legacy and finding community were shared by the other three recipients of special Pace Setters Awards: Jack Drake, Kylah Kittelberger and Safa Mohamed.

“Our Pace Setters, no matter where they go or what careers they choose, are among the very best ambassadors for our college, and for all that we represent,” said Chandrasekaran.

The ceremony also honored alumnus Dwight Smith (BSBA ’78, MBA ’79) for his professional success, innovation and impact in the community. As the founder of two foundations dedicated to service, supporting children and philanthropy, giving back is central to Smith’s life’s work.

Inspired by the poem, “A Glass of Milk,” Smith, a former student Pace Setter himself, encouraged this year’s honorees to embrace kindness, understand hard work and commitment brings rewards and to enjoy and cherish the people that have supported them along the way.

“Dwight’s journey truly embodies what it means to be a Buckeye, a Pace Setter and a leader,” said Chandrasekaran. “Dwight’s connection to Fisher began as a student, when he was recognized as a Pace Setter, an early signal of the drive and character that would define his career. Dwight shows all of us that success is not just about achievement — it’s about impact.”

Hover over the photo below to view the 2026 Pace Setters photo gallery.

2026 Pace Setters Awards

Special Pace Setters Awards

Pace Setters

Pace Setters Executive Award