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ESU Provides Personal Connections and Global Perspectives

One might wonder how a Japanese student from a city of 36 million people, Tokyo, would come to study at a university in Emporia, KS, a town of just 24,000. For Yui Sato, it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. Through a partnership that Emporia State University has with the Sakae Institute of Study Abroad (SISA), Sato was introduced to ESU and participated in a Success Seminar hosted on campus each summer for new Japanese students. Sato believes the 2018 seminar was pivotal to her successful entry into American culture and academic life.

The ESU advantage has followed Sato throughout her time as a student in Emporia. With a double major in accounting and data analytics, she makes the most of every opportunity afforded her for career success. For example, on campus, Sato has been involved in Kappa Delta Chi Sorority; Beta Alpha Psi, an accounting honor organization; and the Japanese association, Sakura. Each of these has given her valuable experience and relationships that have improved her professional and social skills.

Sato’s academic excellence helped her garner ESU scholarships that offset some of her tuition costs: the Deloitte Accounting Scholarship, the Accounting Alumni Endowed Scholarship and the FORVIS Accounting Scholarship. “These scholarships allowed me to concentrate on my studies instead of money concerns,” said Sato. “They motivated me to study harder to show I was worthy of the confidence they placed in me.”

Because of her desire to continually broaden her horizons, in 2022, Sato sought study abroad opportunities through two of ESU’s sister universities. In the spring, she studied at the University of Turku in Turku, Finland, and in the fall at Bina Nusantara University in West Jakarta, Indonesia, adding to her global business acumen. Two internships also helped Sato prepare to enter the professional world as an experienced asset. For an entire year in 2021, she served as a tax intern with Security Benefit Corp. in Topeka, KS. Then, in the fall of 2022, she spent three months as an audit intern at KPMG LLP in Columbus, OH. “Usually accounting students have to choose between the audit or tax side of accounting,” Sato shared. “I was able to experience both. It was invaluable.”

The other secret ESU advantage that Sato touts is the faculty and staff. From Beth Ginter (MBA 98-Business Administration), director of student services and marketing for the School of Business, who got her to participate in the Emporia Entrepreneur Challenge her freshman year; to Dr. Mary Teal, associate professor of Accounting, Information Systems and Finance, who conducted accounting clinics beyond the classroom; to Assistant Professor Dr. Juan Chavarria, assistant professor of Accounting, Information Systems and Finance, who helped with her master’s program application, Sato credits these and others with the wellrounded preparation she received for a career in accounting.

After Sato graduates in May 2023, she will enter the Master of Science in Accounting program at the University of Washington, Tacoma. Her short-term goals are to earn her master’s degree and pass the CPA exams. While her long-term goal is to start her own business, her ESU education and credentials have already landed her a job with Atlanta-based Deloitte & Touche LLP as an audit assistant starting summer of 2024.

Study abroad and internship experiences are examples of the real-world learning opportunities Emporia State University offers students. These experiences equip graduates with a broad range of both career-specific and broadly applicable skills. It’s just one of the many ways ESU connects its graduates to careers. You can support more of these hands-on experiences through the Together, Forward campaign, by making a gift today.

ESU Provides Opportunities for Personal and Professional Growth

From beginning his freshman year feeling shy and rarely venturing out of his dorm room to becoming a gregarious and courageous leader of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, Chris Peine has come out of his shell and made a name for himself at Emporia State University.

Since childhood, Peine knew he wanted to be a musician. He grew up in small-town Garnett, KS where he started playing trumpet in the 5th grade and joined the choir in 7th grade.

After years of practicing and performing, he is now majoring in both music performance and music education, focusing his studies on both trumpet and vocal music. The opportunity to study more than one instrument is a unique benefit offered to ESU students that isn’t always possible at other colleges and one that Peine factored into his selection process. After exploring several college options, Peine came to ESU for a scholarship audition and tour of the campus.

“I knew right as I stepped on campus this was where I was going to go. It just felt like home. I know that's cliche or whatever, but I felt welcomed,” Peine said. Of course, the transition from his senior year of high school spent in COVID lockdown to a campus environment bustling with people was quite jarring for Peine at first. He missed home and felt a little hopeless. Then, one day in choir everything changed. What seemed like a simple invitation to watch a football game with a few guys from Phi Delta Theta transformed his life trajectory. He quickly joined the fraternity and has since served as scholarship chair, vice president and is currently serving as president, where he is tasked with overseeing the vision of the fraternity.

“It's just been a great experience overall,” Peine said. “Especially getting leadership opportunities. It’s helped me grow into who I am meant to be: someone outgoing, fun, loving.”

As a recipient of the presidential, instrumental talent and vocal talent scholarships as well as a scholarship through the fraternity and a couple of national scholarships, Peine remarked that he wouldn’t be here without them.

“Being able to go through college without having to worry if I’m going to be able to pay off next semester has been a blessing.”

Along with being president of Phi Delta Theta and working on his double major, he and a friend started a chess club on campus. Peine enjoys playing disc golf and going bowling. He is also tutoring for a middle school band class, helping the students learn notes and techniques, conducting classroom observation and on occasion getting to conduct. Once he graduates from ESU, Peine plans to open a music store and studio where he will teach lessons.

“I know I love music. I definitely think I have a good chance of being successful, and I’m going to push myself to be successful.”

Investing in students is investing in the future. Help future Hornets have the kinds of opportunities that will help them develop themselves personally and professionally. Join the Together, Forward campaign and make a gift today.