Being able to hold a conversation with someone you just met...that's a very Bonaventure thing.
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 Chris Ekimoff was named the Ideal Bonaventure Man and Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Student-Athlete of the Year in 2007, his senior year. Ekimoff completed his education by earning his MBA in 2008, before taking a job at Deloitte in the Washington, D.C., area.
How did you find St. Bonaventure?
“It was one of the best sets of five years that I could have had. Every day was something different and it definitely felt like a progression. From year one to year four, and then the graduate year, I never felt lost in the fray or muddled into a nameless group of people.
"It was very directed and guided along the way. You always knew what you were working towards and what step you were on. I think that is a function of the faculty always looking out for you. They really drive you to get to that graduation point and beyond."
How did your experience at St. Bonaventure help you start your career in accounting?
“I applied for a Deloitte internship through a St. Bonaventure connection who was looking to bring more St. Bonaventure people down to the D.C. area. I ended up working with Deloitte in Georgetown for the summer, and decided to take a full time position with the company after graduating.
“My experience at SBU ensured I was ready to handle the dynamics of the real world. What's really valued by the people I work for, apart from the technical knowledge that helped me land a position with the Big Four accounting firm, is the open-mindedness and collaborative approach that I gathered through group projects at school. Having open discussions in class, intelligent discourse on different things, fosters open-mindedness and a readiness to work with other people.
"That attitude is rooted in the Franciscan heritage of the school. St. Bonaventure prepares you academically, but also gives you a worldly view and a social consciousness."
How does St. Bonaventure prepare its students for a career in Washington, D.C.?
“I think the environment down here really fits the Bonaventure student. You hear the stories about Washington, and lobbying, and politics, and while that is particularly related to one industry, the entire town is very similar. A lot of business gets done outside of the boardroom, outside of the office, so being able to hold a conversation with someone you just met, or network with a group of people who are in a similar industry to you, that’s a very Bonaventure thing. That’s definitely something that I would stress to someone looking to live and work in this area. It is part of what makes Washington run. Bonaventure brings that out of its students." |
If you meet another St. Bonaventure graduate, you have this instant connection...
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 Pat Harnisch came to St. Bonaventure after graduating from Georgetown Prep in 2004. A finance major and captain of the rugby team, he graduated in 2008 and returned to his home in northern Virginia to work for Allpoint Network, a financial services firm in Bethesda, Md.
How did St. Bonaventure provide you with the traditional college experience?
“I was exposed to St. Bonaventure through my family, and visited my brother (Will Harnisch ’05) several times while I was in high school. I absolutely fell in love with the place.
"One thing that really attracted me to Bonaventure was the overall campus feel. I knew I wanted something with a true college experience, where you didn’t have roads cutting through, or a huge spread-out campus. Everyone was really friendly, so right away I got a good vibe.
How was St. Bonaventure different than your experience growing up near the federal capital?
“Living in the D.C. area has a lot to offer, but honestly, I got sick of the hustle and bustle, the traffic, the extra stress of living in the area.
"As for going away, it was only a five hour drive, and I actually enjoyed that opportunity to get away from home and create a new life at St. Bonaventure. I enjoyed getting to meet new people in a region that I wasn’t originally very familiar with.
How does your time at SBU influence you today?
“St. Bonaventure provided a great base of knowledge that allowed me to succeed to this point in my career.
"Because of the close-knit community, you form friendships that you will have through life. Especially because of the rugby team, I created bonds like no other that I have in my life. It really is a family at SBU. If you meet another St. Bonaventure graduate, you have this instant connection, a bond that I don’t think you get at most other schools. It’s unique, and that’s one thing I really love about St. Bonaventure.” |
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