Twelve Arkansas Tech University students participated in the 2026 Wall Street Experience study away opportunity provided by the ATU College of Business and Economic Development.
William Ayers of Dover, Morgan Blamey of Scranton, Caleb Carter of Russellville, Josiah Carter of Sanford, Fla., Miguel Green of Eudora, Rose Gunther of Bigelow, Karina Herrera Gamboa of Clarksville, Kendra Hulsey of Alpena, Emma Kiser of Cumming, Ga., Sarah Pham of Van Buren, Annsley Rawlins of Stratford, Texas, and Adeea Teter of Dover visited sites such as the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ MarketSite and the home offices of multiple accounting firms during the spring break adventure.
“This trip enhanced what I have learned in the classroom by showing me how businesses operate in an environment containing a wide range of people and backgrounds,” said Gunther, a senior agriculture business major. “In New York, I saw how companies have to appeal to incredibly diverse audiences all at once, which brought concepts like target markets and consumer behavior to life in a way you cannot get from a textbook, and it is hard to find here in Arkansas. At the same time, the experience helped me reflect on where I would see myself in the future. Being in a fast-paced, urban setting allowed me to realize how much I appreciate living in a rural environment and how I will use my degree moving forward.”
Jessica Brock, ATU instructor of business, and Angie Bell, coordinator of student engagement in the ATU College of Business and Economic Development, accompanied the ATU students on the trip.
“Seeing the bull itself on Wall Street was crazy after learning so much about the bull and bear markets in finance courses,” said Josiah Carter, a senior accounting major. “My top experiences would be touring Madison Square Garden with its rich sports background, touring Wall Street due to me completing an internship for the Bank of New York Mellon the prior summer and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, which gave me brand new perspective on the event since I was not born at the time.”
The ATU delegation also toured the Empire State Building, the Intrepid Museum, the Harbor Lights Tour, the Statue of Liberty, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Times Square.
“The Wall Street Experience trip enhanced what I’ve learned in the classroom by allowing me to see how business, economics and history all intersect in a real-world setting,” said Hulsey, a senior agriculture business major. “Visiting major landmarks that I’ve heard about all throughout school helped me to better understand the foundations that shape our business world today. It’s hard to choose a favorite memory from the Wall Street Experience because the entire trip was incredible. We really did get to see it all. I enjoyed getting to know and explore New York City with the group I went with.”
The journey to Wall Street began during the fall 2025 semester with interest meetings hosted by the ATU College of Business and Economic Development. Once selected, the twelve ATU students who made the trip participated in fundraising projects to help defray the costs of participation.
“What made these moments especially meaningful were the personal connections behind them,” said Gunther. “My grandfather deployed from New York during World War II and later returned home by boat, seeing the Statue of Liberty just as I did on our riverboat tour. Visiting the 9/11 Memorial was also deeply impactful, as both of my parents served as firefighters in Little Rock. I think the best part of the experience, though, was the people I got to share it with. Our group brought a lot of energy and curiosity. With majors ranging from agriculture business to accounting to computer science, we experienced the city through a wide range of perspectives.”
Visit www.atu.edu/studyabroad to learn more about study away and study abroad opportunities available to ATU students.
Visit www.atu.edu/business to learn more about the ATU College of Business and Economic Development.
More photos from the 2026 ATU Wall Street Experience study away trip are posted below.
