As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2020, Nicholas Woo from Irvine, California has not had the typical final semester or commencement at UD due to the coronavirus outbreak. He, and his entire class, have shown incredible resilience, maturity and spirit while adjusting to the many unexpected changes that they have encountered.
Woo was nominated for this series by UD Donald J. Puglisi Professor of Finance and Finance Department Chairperson Laura Field who said, “Nick is a strong student, with a 3.93 GPA. He’s helped us whenever we’ve asked for his help. He comes from California and is having to attend classes 3000 miles away. It would be wonderful if we could recognize Nick – he’s a truly outstanding student that we were fortunate to recruit from the West Coast!“
In this profile, Woo, a finance major with a business analytics minor, shared his favorite UD memories, how he has changed during his time at UD and his plans following graduation.
Q: How do you think you have changed from your first semester at UD to now?
Woo: I have become so much more confident that I chose the right career path as each business class has grown my finance acumen. I have grown leaps and bounds in terms of maturity and have grown as a person. The biggest change over the four years has been the giant collection of memories I have created over the years and the dozens of friends I will carry on from college.
Q: What is your favorite place at UD?
Woo: My favorite place on campus is the Perkins Student Center. It was right next to my freshman year residence hall and I have so many memories of attending Perkins Live! with my friends. From the paint nights to the long gaming sessions in the Hen Zone, Perkins has it all. The Dunkin’ Donuts in it has the best hot chocolate on campus as the cherry on top.
Q: What is the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Woo: My most memorable class at Lerner was MISY408 which centered around using machine learning to solve analytical problems through Python coding. The class was extremely hands-on and real world applicable which made the class so enjoyable. Instead of lecturing the entire time, we would be solving different problems in groups using various coding methods. My group was amazing and Dr. Serva was a fantastic professor who tailored the course work to the real world.
Q: What was your favorite signature UD experience?
Woo: My favorite signature UD experience was the first home football game my freshman year. I had never been to a college football game before and the atmosphere in the student section was electric. I went with three other students at the time who have ended up being three of my closest friends through my four years. UD got the victory and it became the first memory my best friends and I shared together.
Q: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Woo: A Lifelong Lerner to me means to continually give back to a college that has given me so much. It means to stay in touch with the faculty and staff that have guided me through my four years and to help future alumni through their college experiences. Finally, a Lifelong Lerner is someone who will represent the college throughout their career and utilize their degree to the fullest extent.
Q: What are your plans following graduation?
Woo: I have accepted a job with an investment company called Capital Group in Norfolk, Virginia. I will be working in Investment Operations specifically in Portfolio Performance.