Stories
Eller Students Spend the Day with Warren Buffett
Surrounded by Eller College undergraduate students, Warren Buffett holds his new, team-autographed UA football.
Photo by Douglas Gunder.
April 2009
By Serida Fong, BSBA Marketing '09
27 undergraduates traveled to Omaha over spring break to tour Berkshire Hathaway companies and enjoy a casual lunch with the investment giant
Berkshire Hathaway, investor, and Nebraska are just a few of the terms that every business student associates with business mogul Warren Buffett. Earlier this spring, a group of 27 Eller students were given the privilege to meet the legendary investor after completing a competitive application process.
Eller students, many from the Eller Leadership and Integrity Training for Excellence (E.L.I.T.E.) Program, flew to Omaha, Nebraska and joined students from Harvard, Wharton, London School of Economics, UC Davis, and Boston College in an exciting day-long event. The visit included touring Berkshire Hathaway companies, Nebraska Furniture Mart (the largest furniture store in the world), and Borsheim’s, the second-largest jewelry store in the country.
Students also engaged in a two-hour question-and-answer session with Buffett, where he tackled issues such as the current financial crisis, taxation, threats to the future of the economy, and the robustness of the capitalist system.
“He encouraged people to continue pursuing their dreams,” says assistant professor of finance Eric Kelly. “His general belief is that our economy will endure the crisis.”
Finance major Whitney Anderson appreciated the session and found Buffett’s personality to be refreshing. “He was fun, had a great personality, and was extremely passionate.”
After the session students were invited to lunch and were able to take pictures with the investing tycoon afterwards.
The day was an unforgettable experience for many Eller students. “He had mentors when he was younger and he wanted to give back to kids like us,” says Anderson. “He gives so much back, but he doesn’t sit there and publicize it.”
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