Patrick Cole
BBA in accounting, 2019
MBA, 2020
Staff Accountant, Mengel, Metzger, Barr & CO., Athens, Pa.
Cole first visited St. Bonaventure as a sophomore in high school, then at least two more times after that..
“The people here are amazing," he said. "The interaction with students and professors during tours was like no other college. You could just sense the pride for this school, and I knew I had to be a part of it.
“You will do your fair share of rigorous work, but at the end of the day, your professors want to see you succeed. Professors are always willing to help you, inside and outside of the classroom, providing valuable knowledge as well as real-world experience.
“The bonds you form here will be a greater memory than any activity or event you could ever go to. The connections and friendships you will make will last a lifetime. Being part of the global Bonaventure community is really something unique."
Student Internships
- Guthrie Clinic, Sayre, Pa., finance treasury intern
- Insero & Co, Ithaca, N.Y., audit intern
Abigail O'Connell
BBA in Accounting, 2019
MBA, 2020
Assurance Staff Member, Plante Moran, Columbus, Ohio
O’Connell chose St. Bonaventure because the business school has a great reputation and she loved the idea of being able to interact closely with the professors and truly get to know them.
"What makes St. Bonaventure so special is how the Franciscan core values are interwoven into the curriculum and student activities, which makes us a close-knit, caring student body," she said. "There is always a door held open or a kind hello exchanged wherever students go on campus.”
She helped plan business student retreats to Mt. Irenaeus, a hilltop Franciscan community of university-affiliated friars, located near campus. "It's a very relaxed setting for students, professors, alumni and friars to reflect on our Franciscan values and discuss in depth how we will implement them in the business world," she said.
O'Connell was a volunteer cook at the Warming House, the student-run soup kitchen in Olean, a volunteer income tax preparer, and a peer mentor.
Student Internships
- SBU McQuade intern, tax research
- Bober Markey Fedorovich, Akron, Ohio, audit intern
- Plante Moran, Columbus, Ohio, assurance intern
Ryan O'Connor
BBA, 2018
MBA, 2019
Assurance Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Carlotte, N.C.
O’Connor intended to major in finance at St. Bonaventure, but he found his accounting classes so interesting that he declared a second major in his sophomore year. “I enjoy working with numbers and having to constantly think critically is always a fun challenge."
And if a double-major isn't challenging enough, O'Connor was also a member of the university's Division I baseball team.
“One of the reasons I love Bonaventure so much is that the professors care about us as students and take the time to get to know us. This makes traveling so much in the spring for baseball and missing classes a whole lot easier because professors are willing to work with you and are always understanding of your situation," he said.
His advice to incoming freshmen: Don't be afraid to ask for help.
"The accounting professors are all great and very passionate,not only about the material but also their students. They are always available to help if you are struggling with something in class or if you have questions about the profession of accounting itself."
Student Internships
- SBU McQuade intern, research assistant
- PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rochester, N.Y., assurance intern