![Nelson Hall Resident Director Kendall Engelke Davis looks over to see what Resident Assistant Chloe Smith paints. For her weekly 8 p.m. staff development meeting in Nelson Shack April 16, Engelke Davis held a watercolor event to relieve stress. “It’s a unique opportunity to get to really invest and be in [RAs’] lives,” Engelke Davis said, “which I consider such a privilege.”](https://thebuclarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/041624_KendallEngelkeDavis_Holland_05-1200x800.jpg)
Jordan One High Chicago x Off-Whites.
The shoes that Isaac Lange sold for $10,000. The shoes that are helping him pay his way through college, allowing him to travel to places like Italy and are just one of the 5,000 pairs he has sold in the last seven years.
Lange is a junior marketing major whose shoe-selling business, Blazin Cooks, is one of many businesses he has started and run over the years. Lange’s passion for business started in sixth grade. Since then, he has gone down many business paths including starting and organizing Minnesota’s largest sneaker event, MN Lots Swap. Lots Swap started in 2020 with five people in attendance and held its most recent event in July featuring food, 55 shoe vendors and 800 attendees. His favorite part of the job: getting to talk to people.
“I have lifelong friends through this,” Lange said.
Selling shoes isn’t the end-all for Lange, but he hopes to continue owning his own business after graduation in some form. He is getting applicable experience through clubs such as Bethel Biz, a mentoring program, and the Bethel Business and Economics Association.
“You never know how it’s going to work out unless you do it,” Lange said. “Jump in.”
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She’s Nigerian, also an immigrant, obviously a woman. And so seeing her work ethic, seeing her rise above and succeed, was eye-opening.
— Ebube Mordi, senior
BBEA CEO Ebube Mordi is a senior finance student whose ambition is to become the CEO of his own company someday. He wants to guide a company to give back to the communities around it. Mordi said business and leadership runs in his blood: his mother is the CEO of International Quality Homecare, a company which provides caregivers for people who struggle with daily tasks in their homes.
“She’s Nigerian, also an immigrant, obviously a woman,” Mordi said. “And so seeing her work ethic, seeing her rise above and succeed, was eye-opening.”
Outside of BBEA, Mordi is the research analyst for the Rose Investment Fund, which opened in 2017. Here he is able to have hands-on experience with investments and the stock market. Since the fund opened six years ago, the money has doubled from the initial $1 million given. The fund is fully student-led and provides experience that makes graduates more hirable.
“I’ve probably learned more in that than my actual classes,” Mordi said.
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In the analysis and analytics side of the business department is senior Grace Robinson. With a joy for numbers, Robinson has had two internships, one at Lyman Roofing and Siding and the other at Cargill, where she was able to use her skills to further their company by sorting and studying claims, as well as coding and web development.
Robinson transferred from Carthage College to Bethel in 2022, largely inspired by the option to emphasize in analysis and analytics. Bethel offers six emphases under the business major: Accounting, Business Analysis and Analytics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Marketing.
“Coming here was really confirming that it was the area of business I wanted to pursue,” Robinson said.
Like Lange, Robinson is a part of Bethel Biz. Throughout the mentoring program, she has found it helpful to connect with her mentor, Crosby Steen, spirituality and professionally.
“A business degree will take me where I want to go because it is very versatile,” Robinson said. “As my experiences and my passions develop, I know I will be able to use it in a variety of different industries.”
