When Matti Spalding looks back on her time at 农夫导航, she sees a journey of growth and connection that helped her discover her confidence and purpose.  A Louisville native and Honors Program student, Matti graduates this May with a double major in Economics and Finance from Bellarmine鈥檚 W. Fielding Rubel School of Business. Along the way, she balanced a packed resume: she competed on Bellarmine鈥檚 NCAA Division I golf team; served as president of the student-run leadership group BU Leads; student director for the Week of Welcome first-year orientation experience; vice president of external affairs for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; treasurer of the Economics, Finance and Investing Club; and was a member of the Bellarmine Society student advisory group.  The university鈥檚 distinctive community and opportunities were key factors in her college decision. 鈥淚 chose Bellarmine because I was able to connect with multiple parts of the campus community,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 could pursue the degree I wanted, play Division I athletics, maintain two internships, and join multiple clubs and organizations. I was truly able to maximize my collegiate experience.鈥�  During her time at Bellarmine, Matti completed internships with UofL Health and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and studied abroad in Greece.  Matti credits Bellarmine鈥檚 strong core curriculum and tight-knit community with helping her develop a diverse skillset that will lead her to a successful career. 鈥淚 feel very equipped for my future career after Bellarmine,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he Rubel School has equipped me with my technical skills... but I've also developed soft skills like public speaking and making connections, and those are just as important.鈥�    Among the many mentors who made an impact on her journey, Dr. Frank Raymond and Dr. Mike Ackerman stood out. 鈥淭hey have been pivotal in where I鈥檓 headed, whether through economics courses or being my thesis advisor. I鈥檓 very appreciative of them.鈥�  After graduation, Matti will begin her career as a Financial Analyst at Tri-Arrows Aluminum. 鈥淚 have accepted a position that is the perfect fit to jumpstart my career in the economics and finance field,鈥� she said.  Matti鈥檚 Bellarmine experience reflects the university鈥檚 emphasis on career readiness and strong outcomes. Bellarmine boasts a 99% career outcomes rate for students within six months of their graduation, and bachelor鈥檚 degree recipients earn a median income 19% higher than the Kentucky average three years after graduation. Learn more about the outcomes associated with a Bellarmine degree. As she prepares for life beyond Bellarmine, Matti says the connections she made on campus will be what she misses most. 鈥淚 can walk into any room, go down any hallway, or into the Quad and see somebody that I know. I'm going to miss just the people here.鈥�  What would she say to her classmates in the Class of 2025? 鈥淲e did it! We survived the collegiate experience -- and we not only survived, we prospered. We used these four years to the best of our ability and are getting to where we want to go next. Congrats 鈥� we did it!鈥�