Megan Tran-Olmsted
Written by Allison Cowie
As college progresses, students realize that grades are temporary while the impact of service lasts forever. Senior Business Honors and Finance major Megan Tran-Olmsted definitely understood this as she went into her final year and has found numerous ways to give back to the program. Megan has represented Canfield BHP well, placing in multiple stock pitch competitions across the country, serving as a mentor for Wall Street for McCombs, and creating the curriculum for USIT, McCombs’s largest student-run investment team. Megan loves being able to teach others and seeing topics “click” for younger students. Helping younger students find and grow their passions is Megan’s way of paying it forward in respect to those who have helped her succeed. In honor of her contributions to McCombs and Canfield BHP, Megan recently received the prestigious R. Conrad Doenges Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership in the Canfield BHP.
Megan also serves as the co-chair of the Make-A-Mark campaign, which aims to bring the senior class together one last time prior to graduation. The campaign creates fellowship in addition to educating students on the importance of giving back as they transition into alumni. The first campaign event was held at El Mercado in March and many students attended and reminisced about past classes, funny stories, and even dreaded projects. As Canfield BHP students start specializing and pursuing their passions at UT, some find it hard to make time to catch up with peers, but Make-A-Mark events help remind everyone of the bond they all share.
While spearheading such a large campaign can be challenging, Megan recognizes the generous support she has received from Canfield BHP that has helped make her time at UT so impactful. In her eyes, contributing her time and effort to Make-A-Mark is her way of passing along the good fortune that the program has given her to future Canfield BHP students.
Upon wrapping up Make-A-Mark and her time at UT, Megan will spend a month backpacking through Europe before starting full-time at Goldman Sachs. Her final words of advice for younger students are, “Before jumping down a path, take the time to find out what you want in life and then consider how to achieve it.” The Canfield Business Honors Program is thankful for all of Megan’s contributions and is excited to see what she accomplishes in the future.