Rebekah Thayer
BHP, Finance '13
As this year’s Discover BHP co-chair, Rebekah planned and coordinated the event to showcase all the program has to offer to potential students and their parents. She is also the current president of her sorority, serves as university-wide representative for Student Government, and works in the McCombs Alumni Relations Office. Rebekah was a sophomore admit to BHP. As a BBA student, she saw the community that her BHP friends had, the relationships they had with their professors, and the mentorship opportunities. She knew it was something she wanted to do, and she says the program has exceeded her expectations. As president of her sorority, she currently leads an organization of 180 students, which has given her some insight into what it would be like to run her own company. Having interned since the summer of her freshman year, Rebekah is well on her way to being a leader in the professional world. She was the youngest intern ever hired by Illuminas-Global LLC, an Austin accounting firm. After her sophomore year, she was one of only 24 students from across the nation selected to participate in the BP Sophomore Experience in Chicago. She will be going back to Chicago this summer to intern with BP as an analyst in the commodity trading department.
Jacob Spangler
BHP, Plan II Honors, Government ’15
Jacob is taking every opportunity to make the most of his time at The University of Texas at Austin. Not only has he taken on three majors, but he is also involved in the spirit community, works for the Office of Admissions, and is a Peer Mentor for the BHP. He loves the BHP MBA-style classes and the close-knit community that creates a real sense of belonging. As a BHP peer mentor, Jacob will mentor ten freshmen, helping them make the transition to college life and to succeed academically. He is the first to admit that it is a challenge juggling everything he has taken on, but has learned to manage his time, make time for his interests, and know his limits. He will share these tips with the freshmen he mentors because he believes there are no limits to where you can go if you take advantage of all UT has to offer. He has really enjoyed being a part of UT’s proud spirit community by being a member of the Longhorn Band. For him, it is all about finding a balance between academics and extracurricular activities, and just figuring out what works for you. After graduation, Jacob would like to go into management consulting. He knows that the strong liberal arts education he receives in Plan II Honors, as well as a broad understanding of the inner workings of the government, will be a perfect complement to his outstanding BHP education.
Jasmine Bell
BHP, MPA ’13
As a student recruiter for the BHP, Jasmine knows everything there is to know about the program. She leads weekly information sessions for high school students and their parents and answers any questions they have, ranging from classes they need to take to admissions requirements and to more personal questions like why she chose BHP. She is especially interested in helping the BHP recruit a diverse group of students. One of the things that Jasmine believes makes the BHP unique is the high level of exposure students have to companies. Those unique opportunities to interact with recruiters helped her land an exciting summer internship last summer with L’Oreal USA, where she was able to witness the manufacturing process in addition to performing accounting functions. She also appreciates the BHP faculty and their approach to teaching, which she says does not focus on memorization but rather teaches students how to think. Jasmine is involved on campus as a member of the Black Students Business Association and Orange Jackets. One of her duties as an Orange Jacket is to sing the Eyes of Texas on the football field before every home game. Singing in front of more than 90,000 students, alumni and fans is just another of the many memorable experiences that will stay with Jasmine even after she leaves the 40 Acres.
Adrienne Bowyer
BHP, Finance ’13
When Adrienne was considering where she wanted to go to college, she was looking at Ivy League schools in the northeast but ultimately realized that one of the best business educations in the nation was right in her backyard at UT Austin with the BHP. She has really enjoyed the social aspect of the BHP in addition to the stellar classes and has attended many of the Honors Business Association events. Adrienne enjoyed studying abroad as a BHP student when she traveled to Scotland to participate in the CIBER Honors Business Law Program after her freshman year. She was also one of two students selected for an internship with Dell that will take her to Panama City this summer. During the 2011 Legislative Session, Adrienne interned for a state representative working on bills, conducting research and attending briefings. In addition to being a McCombs student, she is also a student employee for the McCombs Development and External Relations Office, where she saw first-hand how companies are supporting McCombs and engaging with students before they graduate. She has already reaped the benefits of these connections and looks forward to connecting with the right company after graduation.