Students in our NIU College of Business are all phenomenal individuals who we love to celebrate. As commencement approaches, it’s our great pleasure to share a couple examples of our many outstanding students who make up our Class of 2023. These individuals were nominated by their faculty and academic advisors to be spotlighted by President Lisa Freeman during spring commencement.
In celebration of our fantastic NIU College of Business Huskies, here’s our first entry written by Chenfang Su, Department of Finance academic advisor and NIU finance alumna.
I am delighted to introduce you to James Keppler, who has been chosen to represent the College of Business as the student marshal at the spring commencement ceremony in May 2023. As an academic advisor in the Department of Finance, I have had the privilege of working with many talented individuals, but James stands out among his peers. With his background in finance and business administration, James has consistently demonstrated exceptional capabilities in both fields.
Not only has James excelled in balancing a challenging double business major, but he has also utilized his time management skills to guide other College of Business students as a finance peer assistant. As a senior TMAC Student Managed Portfolio analyst, James uses his extensive knowledge of finance to analyze market growth rates and competitive landscapes for the energy and utility sectors, contributing to the growth of the million-dollar portfolio. Thanks to his exceptional research and financial analysis skills, James was selected as one of four CFA Research Challenge team participants. He and his team have spent countless hours preparing their valuation, and their hard work has already yielded a first-place recognition in the competition’s local level. Their goal is to maintain NIU’s esteemed reputation following its 2022 global championship win.
James’s attention to detail, strong work ethic and comprehensive understanding of finance and business earned him an internship with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond during summer 2022. During his internship, James conducted a variety of detail-oriented tasks including cash operation optimization, compliance review and analysis to ensure adherence with Federal Reserve and Treasury standards. He assisted with off-site audits and facilitated company head visits, ultimately increasing cash operational efficiency. His internship experience deepened his understanding of the banking industry and laid a solid foundation for his future career. As a result, he recently received recognition as the Intern of the Year Bronze Scholarship Award recipient from NIU Career Services.
Aside from his academic achievements, James has a genuine talent in music. He serves as a section leader in the Huskie Marching Band, guiding the drumline and optimizing team performance. He also exhibits unwavering school spirit cheering for our NIU football team every year. James’s commitment to his community has led him to pursue a career close to home as a
Medline Finance Development Program analyst. His impending graduation in the Class of 2023 is accompanied by an increasing appreciation for the experiences gained over his four years at NIU.
In conclusion, I am grateful to have witnessed James’s growth and success, and I am confident that he will continue to excel in his future endeavors. He is an exceptional student and a credit to the College of Business.
