A Passion for Giving Back

When Rachel Ley (BBA ’19) walked through the doors of Grainger Hall on a university tour, it was love at first sight. Active in giving back to her own community, Rachel found herself inspired by business students’ engaged attitudes and knew she wanted her college experience to have that same focus on helping others thrive.

“Everyone in Grainger is so excited and passionate about what they’re doing,” Rachel says. “That passion is a ripple effect—it gets you passionate about what you’re doing, and that’s why I think everyone is so involved here.”

For Rachel, attending UW–Madison depended on financial support. After receiving the Rath Foundation Academic Undergraduate Scholarship, which provides support for undergraduate business students based on academic merit, she was able to attend the university she fell in love with on a full ride. The scholarship meant Rachel could pursue her desired career in finance and become a part of a passionate community of business students in the process.

“When I got the email from UW–Madison that I had received a full ride, I initially thought that there was an extra zero added onto the scholarship number,” says Rachel. “I was just shocked. It motivates me even more, knowing someone has invested so much in me.”

After being directly admitted into the business school as a freshman—one of only 44 out of the 910 students admitted in the fall 2015 semester—Rachel immediately got involved with several student organizations. In her first year as a business student, she took on leadership roles in the professional business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi and the Wisconsin Consulting Club, an organization that provides students pursuing careers in consulting with hands-on industry experience including case workshops, mock interviews, and networking trips. Getting involved in School activities early on, she says, has helped her gain experience as a leader and make connections with older students and people working in companies she wouldn’t otherwise have had the chance to meet.

Rachel’s own interest lies in driving results from numbers. In finance, she says, you can analyze data and numbers and utilize them to reassess a business strategy. This process piqued her curiosity from an early age when, as a high school student in Stevens Point, she started her own business—a non-profit called Literacy for Little Ones. The organization encourages literacy by providing book packages and library access to families with young children. Currently, Literacy for Little Ones is connected to 11 hospitals in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nicaragua. Rachel hopes to utilize the business and finance skills she learns at WSB to expand the program and continue exploring her passion for helping others.

Rachel feels extremely fortunate to be earning her business degree at the UW. “Education is important to me because it opens so many doors,” she says. “I don’t think that you can really make your way into the business world if you don’t have that undergrad degree to start you off with.” With her experiences and connections from being involved in the School, Rachel is already starting to establish her future career.

Her future plans include a summer internship with CUNA Mutual Group’s finance department, along with staying involved in School organizations and focusing on academics.

“Looking ahead, I really want to pursue a career in finance—specifically corporate finance for a larger company,” says Rachel. “For now I definitely want to stay really active and involved in the classroom and in the WSB community.”

Rachel says knowing someone believes in her gives her the motivation to do her best. “I definitely wouldn’t have been able to come to Wisconsin without the scholarship,” she says. “Every day I wake up and I’m so thankful that I have the opportunity to be here.”