Belk College Gold Standard graduates gain marketable skills through unique initiative

UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business has set a new standard for career readiness, celebrating the first 21 graduates to earn a unique Gold Standard distinction. The students stepped outside their comfort zones to follow paths to success.

“Our first students graduating with Gold Standard designation crossed the commencement stage on Dec. 12 proudly wearing medallions as part of their regalia,” said Natasha Randle, associate dean for undergraduate programs. “These medals are an outward signal to the world of the skills our students have achieved through high-impact experiences.”

Gold Standard completers — including the December graduates — have so far documented 109 such experiences, including 35 internships, 29 significant leadership roles, 15 project-based learning opportunities, 19 study abroad trips and 11 other experiences.

Three takeaways

1. The Gold Standard program is a roadmap for students to build the skills that are valued most in the workforce, including problem-solving, teamwork and professionalism.
2. To earn the distinction, students must proactively seek and complete at least three high-impact experiences that enhance their classroom learning, such as internships, study abroad, significant leadership roles and project-based learning.
3. Gold Standard distinction serves as a clear, verifiable marker of excellence and career readiness. Students receive special recognition, including the gold medallion and a digital badge for résumés and LinkedIn.

Students who participate in experiential learning see better career outcomes, a 2024 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers of early career professionals found. Benefits included faster career progression, higher rates of career satisfaction and workplace mentorships and networks and salaries that are, on average, $15,000 higher.

The stories of three of the first Gold Standard students to graduate illustrate how dedication to action and exposure to high-impact opportunities can accelerate professional trajectories.

Mackenzie Aarsen ’25 B.S.B.A., Business Analytics, Management Information Systems

Mackenzie Aarsen has built a formidable skillset that has led to a full-time position in the Finance Management Rotational Program at Bank of America, with plans to complete a graduate certificate in Data Science and Business Analytics. Aarsen’s reported experiences included a business practicum, a leadership role as a peer guide and an internship in supply chain and distribution at The TJX Companies. A Business Honors scholar and Belk Scholar, she graduated summa cum laude.

Her internship at a Fortune 100 company required commitment. She was never late to her early-morning shifts, as she learned about leadership and about retail from the distribution side. “Working in a distribution center was not something I had any experience in,” she recalled. “I worked the first shift from 4:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This taught me about work ethic and being a dedicated employee.”

Christian Barber ’25 B.S.B.A., Marketing

Christian Barber used his Gold Standard opportunities to cultivate a globally informed leadership style, leading him to his next role as a college peer advisor at West Charlotte High School.

A decision to study abroad in France and Croatia was pivotal for Barber’s personal growth. “Going to France and Croatia definitely taught me a lot about myself and also expanded my worldview as a result,” he said. “I had never been outside the country before the trip and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to take that next step outside of my comfort zone. But I am glad that I did. It helped me view the world from a different perspective and actually made me ready for the future and the possibility of living outside of the country. This experience grew me into a better marketer and also showed me different pathways of entrepreneurship that I didn’t even think of before.”

Tanner Stroman ’25 B.S.B.A., Management Information Systems, Operations and Supply Chain Management

For Belk Scholar Tanner Stroman, who also is a Business Honors scholar, the immediate outcome of his UNC Charlotte and Gold Standard experiences is a full-time role as a supply chain associate at Duke Energy. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in Data Science and Business Analytics.  Stroman’s experiences included two primary internships, one with Duke Energy in the tariffs and new alliances group, where he streamlined reporting and improved efficiency for leadership presentations.

Stroman credits his internships with forging essential professional awareness. “Interning really helped me to be more confident and more comfortable in a corporate professional setting and understand how it works,” he said. “I learned more about how to work independently and solve my own problems while also being able to share ideas in meetings and being comfortable asking questions to more senior people when I needed help with certain tasks.”

---

Students who graduated this December with Gold Standard distinction