Huizenga Business Innovation Academy Celebrates Its First Class of Graduates

Back in the fall of 2019, NSU’s Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship launched a one-of-a-kind program designed to develop students’ entrepreneurial skills while they earn their bachelor’s and M.B.A. degrees in four years – The Huizenga Business Innovation Academy (HBIA). The HBIA couples an accelerated entrepreneurial curriculum with co-curricular activities, which result in the creation of monetary investment into their business following graduation.

As we enter the program’s fourth year, we pause to celebrate this monumental milestone. This May, 48 amazing seniors are completing their bachelor’s degrees, and then continuing on to earn their M.B.A. in their fourth year of the HBIA program. We could not be more proud of these students who have impacted our college and NSU during their undergraduate studies in these impressive ways:

• HBIA students have a combined GPA average of 3.4.
• They have run or started over 30 businesses both on and off campus.
• Students have founded or taken leadership roles in four student clubs and organizations.
• They have been active members of the campus community, becoming members of President’s 64, student government association, and Greek life.
• Students working in Shark Cage on-campus businesses hosted several events, from grand openings to biz bashes, to serving countless students during Shark Preview weekends.
• 90% of the graduating seniors have already completed at least one internship or study abroad experience.
• Students in the HBIA have volunteered their time for the university on focus groups and with the Dean’s Student Advisory Board as they trailblaze the path for students who will follow them in the program.
• HBIA students have also volunteered their time working with future business students in high schools and middle schools around the country.
• They have secured employment with Deloitte, Citrix, JM Family, and others.

This class of 48 represents three countries and 13 states. Congratulations to: Macarena Abarca Ruiz, Lawrel Andry, Angelique Benda, Romy Bensoussan, Cameron Bissitt, Michael Bittner Mcpherson, Victoria Boudreaux, Jonathan Boulanger, Juan Camilo Arrazola, Melissa Castaneda, Jessica Cazassa, Jordan Clarke, Chase Crosby, Jarred D’Amico, Analia De Jesus Camarzana, Nicholas DeSimone, Hailey Egan, Caleb Fell, Asilah Golaub, Valeria Gonzalez, Sebastian Harada, James (Jack) Hayes, Jerzey Hickson, Jennifer Kallstrom, Matthew Lucas, Maxi Luna, Lauren Mallias, Julianne Mangano, Eduardo Mestre, Naija Miller, Ronald Murga, Frank Natale, Kyle Nichols, Eileen Platten, Cross Pratapas, Alexander Pratt, Cameron Pritchett, Vanessa Renslow, Ivanna Rodriguez, Jazmin Salinas, Lucas Sandoval, Gabriella Seferlis, Justin Sigcha, Steven Suarez, Tanner Tennant, Alyssa Torres, Mikaela Whitmer, and Kevin Zheng!

Today, we wish them well as they continue their NSU journey by heading into their year of graduate studies – and beyond!