Scholars Academy: Owen Finn

The UNO College of Business Administration Scholars Academy is a close-knit community of ambitious, high-achieving business students who want to challenge themselves while pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

During this four-year program, Scholars are mentored by Omaha-area business professionals, take special business courses taught by award-winning faculty, and gain real-world experience through community engagement and international travel. They also receive generous scholarships.

Scholars are selected the spring of their senior year in high school after a rigorous and competitive application process.

Meet new member Owen Finn of Omaha, Nebraska

Why did you choose UNO?

Although Nebraska is home to a multitude of exceptional colleges, UNO has consistently stood above the rest. From the beginning, I knew that UNO had everything I'd need for a wonderful college experience. The school is close to home, affordable, and offers a plethora of social and academic opportunities including the CBA Scholars Academy. The campus boasts great housing and exudes an incredibly welcoming atmosphere. My choice to attend UNO was further solidified by the praises that coworkers and former classmates gave the school.

Why did you choose business as a major?

A major draw for me regarding business is the creative freedom of marketing and entrepreneurship. In addition, the business world incorporates many fields within it. These fields, ranging from accounting and finance to marketing and entrepreneurship are all utilized by other careers in one way or another. With such an extensive collection of career opportunities, a business major seemed like a smart decision. Even if I decide to not focus on finance, for example, I'll still receive experience with the financial side of business by taking courses like economics. In this way, I'll hopefully possess a more well rounded set of skills that can be applied to my future career.

What business concentration are you planning to pursue? Why?

Currently, I'd like my business concentration to be focused on marketing. During my time in high school, I've had the opportunity to take marketing classes and participate in a business organization called DECA. These experiences have shown me the value of marketing and its role in the business world. Marketing, which shapes how a consumer learns of new products and services, has a greater role as a means of spreading information to the public. It's how we reach out to others. Additionally, I've always had a creative side; as such, I find the creative aspects of marketing to be very appealing.

What aspect of the Scholars Academy are you most looking forward to?

I'm most looking forward to the sense of community created by the Scholars Academy. College is a major step and it will take time getting adjusted to the structure. Belonging to a cohort of students, who are all in the same position as myself, will definitely ease the process. With such a collaborative and ambitious group of people, I think that we will all keep each other motivated and supported. Of course, it'll also be nice to see the experiences and unique perspectives that each members will bring to the group.

What do you like to do in your free time?

If I'm not at school or behind the counter at work, you can usually find me relaxing with my friends. I'm always in the mood for a game of basketball or a round of golf. I also like waking up early to go running. I'm a major fan of taking naps and watching movies and shows on Netflix. Walking around downtown Omaha is always a fun experience as well!

What is one thing we would be surprised to know about you?

During my junior year of high school, I was given the opportunity to be in a unique, UNO supported student program referred to as the NCLP. The program was designed to prepare soon to be high school seniors for AP Government by showing them governmental institutions in action. With professors from the UNO Political Science Department, a select group of juniors from schools like Burke, Central, and South traveled to the Truman Library, attended political science lectures at UNO, and took a five-day trip to Washington D.C. The program was a wonderful experience! I made some new friends and gained a deeper understanding of how the U.S. Government operates.