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Tap Day 2023: A Q&A with all 9 tapped business students
Since its inception in 1917, Tap Day at Mizzou has been a celebrated tradition, recognizing a distinguished group of students invited or "tapped" to join one of six prestigious honorary societies: QEBH, Mystical Seven, LSV, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Rollins Society. These societies honor those who have made substantial contributions to the university and exemplify unwavering commitment to service and leadership within the Mizzou community.
This year, an exceptional nine students from the Trulaske College of Business were selected for this honor. Let's meet the 2023 inductees:
SHANE BECKER - ODK
Senior
Marketing
Washington, Missouri
How did you feel when you discovered you were tapped into a secret society: My immediate response when I found out I was tapped into a secret society was feeling fulfilled and excited. Being tapped has been something I've looked highly at as many of my mentors that have graduated were tapped during their time here, and I am extremely grateful their guidance led me here.
Which professor or course in the College of Business has had the most significant impact on you and why: The two professors who have had the most significant impact on me are Dr. Mary Beth Marrs and Professor Katie Essing. While I never had Dr. Mary Beth Marrs for any courses, her guidance as an organizational advisor and academic mentor has been invaluable. Professor Essing was instrumental in elevating my passion for marketing, and her teaching style is something I wish I experienced in every course.
How has being involved in service projects shaped your college experience: Being involved in service projects at Mizzou has strengthened my belief in servant leadership along with helping me identify opportunities where I could implement my passions into projects. Additionally, working on various projects introduced me to other student leaders. These individuals taught me new perspectives and helped develop my own work ethic by wanting to replicate what they excelled at.
What will you miss most about your college experience after graduation: Albeit incredibly cheesy, I will absolutely miss the friends and connections I made at Mizzou the most. I would not be who I am today without those I have met here, and I hope that I have been and continue to be a reflection of the best traits of these people.
What advice would you give to an incoming business student: Search around for opportunities; Mizzou has so many organizations and areas of involvement for all kinds of students. Additionally, look for mentors early on; these people will not only help guide and shape your college experience, but they will become some of your closest friends.
TRUMAN GOULDSMITH – MORTAR BOARD
Junior
Accountancy
Independence, Missouri
First thing that came to your mind when you found out you were tapped: The first thing I thought when I found out was that I should tell my mom. She has been a constant in my life and celebrates and promotes every achievement I have ever had.
What has been your favorite class in the College of Business and why: My favorite class has been Introduction to Taxation (ACCTCY 4353). I am interested in pursuing tax research and found the content to be extremely interesting, especially as it relates to people's and companies' incentives in markets.
How do you think being a part of a secret society will impact your future: Being a part of a secret society will hopefully connect me with others who also want to promote and advance the community.
What is one unique fact about yourself that most people don't know: I grew up near the neighborhood where Harry S. Truman grew up, which is who I was named after!
What are your plans after graduation: After graduation, I plan to pursue a PhD in accountancy with an emphasis in taxation.
MARK HOOD – MYSTICAL SEVEN
Junior
Finance and Banking with Real Estate
Kansas City, Missouri
Describe your reaction when you learned you were selected for a secret society: When I was selected into the Mystical 7, I was hit with a truck of love from people whom I hold very close to my heart. It was like a double reward not only being tapped by a secret society but also to see that so many of the people in the group were all people whom I knew and loved.
What aspects of the College of Business have been most influential in your personal and professional growth: Trulaske has developed me professionally with the challenging classes that I have to take. That has shaped my perspective on how to deal with obstacles that I have not had to overcome before and built my resilience against them.
Why is giving back to the community important to you: Giving back to the community is important to me because it’s everything to pour into the generation that is following. Not only is it a sign of respect to the generation that poured into me, but it is an act of service that will enable those that are following me to achieve higher than myself. That’s how we grow as a community.
What is your fondest memory of your time in Columbia so far: One of many of my fond memories at Mizzou goes back to my freshman year when me and some friends from high school would meet up on Sundays and have family dinners. It was a sense of family and a new community with a whole lot of great food!
Share your favorite quote or saying that has inspired you during your time in college: “I’ll do better on the next one!”
ADAM KLUMB – MORTAR BOARD
Junior
Management
Moline, Illinois
Describe your reaction when you learned you were selected for a secret society: I was absolutely thrilled and couldn’t help but think about how full circle the experience was! I took my official visit to Mizzou during Tap Day as a junior in high school. I sat in the back of Jesse Auditorium and was astonished by the accomplishments and accolades of every person getting tapped. Little did I know that four years later, I would be one of those people standing on the stage with all my friends and family celebrating me.
What aspects of the College of Business have been most influential in your personal and professional growth: The professors, faculty and staff have been the most influential in my personal and professional growth. Notably, Dr. Shannon Breske, Professor Tonya Ford and Kate Elmore. Dr. Breske inspired me to study abroad in Bergamo, Italy, last summer, which was an experience of a lifetime. Professor Ford motivated me to apply to the accelerated Crosby MBA Program to create my own academic path of graduating with my master’s degree in five years. Since freshman year, Kate Elmore in the undergraduate recruitment office has been a constant smile and someone I can always rely on for both good and bad.
Why is giving back to the community important to you: Investing in others is something my mom has instilled in me since I was a child. Being able to help others in their most vulnerable moments is so fulfilling. There is no better feeling than seeing how your time and resources can positively impact lives in your community.
What is your fondest memory of your time in Columbia so far: Homecoming! Celebrating my older brother, Alex Klumb, as a member of Top 10 Homecoming Royalty two years ago was such a highlight. Homecoming last year was even more special as a member of Homecoming Steering Committee, planning Mizzou’s most historic tradition.
Share your favorite quote or saying that has inspired you during your time in college: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right” - Henry Ford
KATIE MITCHELL – ODK
Sophomore
Accountancy
Clinton, Missouri
The first thing that came to your mind when you found out you were tapped: Immediately after being tapped, I was incredibly excited to get to know my fellow members of ODK. I loved getting to know them leading up to Tap Day, as we thought of ways to keep our secret! It is such an honor to be recognized alongside many passionate leaders.
What has been your favorite class in the College of Business and why: My favorite class in the College of Business has been the Cornell Leadership Program seminar with Dr. Mary Beth Marrs. This course allowed me to have deep discussions surrounding contemporary business cases, like the Theranos and Enron ethical scandals. The knowledge I gained in our seminar has carried far beyond the classroom and into my professional and personal life!
How do you think being a part of a secret society will impact your future: Tap Day is such a unique tradition at Mizzou that has brought me into a community of gracious leaders on campus. Being a part of ODK has allowed me to surround myself with leaders who encourage me to grow in the ways I lead and serve our campus. As a sophomore tap, I have the opportunity to learn from experienced and compassionate leaders at Mizzou.
What is one unique fact about yourself that most people don't know: I am a certified Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver!
What are your plans after graduation: I still have a couple of years to decide, but I am hoping to pursue a career in public accounting.
NICOLE OVERBAY – ODK
Junior
Marketing
Independence, Missouri
How did you feel when you discovered you were tapped into a secret society: I was definitely surprised when I discovered I was tapped into ODK because I was fully expecting not to be tapped. Being tapped felt like the ultimate validation of my hard work at Mizzou.
Which professor or course in the College of Business has had the most significant impact on you and why: The course in the College of Business that has had the most significant impact on me was Marketing 4800, Entering Global Markets. Professor Brady Hodges created a phenomenal blend of experiential, real-world consulting with applicable marketing theory wrapped up in a single course offering. This course has put my marketing research consulting skills to the test while developing my global competencies in the Southeast Asian market.
How has being involved in service projects shaped your college experience: Being involved in service during my college experience has shown me that if you rally a lot of people together, you can achieve something really beautiful for the community. Rallying for specific causes like pediatric cancer research, educating new parents on childhood safety and access to eye care for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds have shown me that my purpose in life is to educate myself on complex issues and help others where I can.
What will you miss most about your college experience after graduation: I will deeply miss the community I have built at Mizzou. The feeling of belonging at Mizzou is best exemplified by always having a place to sit. I have the privilege of being able to walk into any huge building on campus and almost always run into friends I can sit and talk with, especially in Cornell Hall.
What advice would you give to an incoming business student: The only way you win anything in college is by putting yourself in a position where you have the chance of failing. This means you should run for that officer position, enter that case competition and apply for that internship – without letting it discourage you when someone inevitably rejects you.
JOANNA RODELO – MYSTICAL SEVEN
Junior
Accountancy
Kansas City, Missouri
How did you feel when you discovered you were tapped into a secret society: I honestly was extremely confused by what was going on during the time I was getting tapped. It felt surreal as if I was in a movie or TV show. When I learned what had happened, I began crying from all the sweet things they were telling me!
Which professor or course in the College of Business has had the most significant impact on you and why: Professor Jeffery Piao had the most significant impact on me. If it wasn’t for him, I would never have begun to talk to professors, but he genuinely cares about all his students and wants them to succeed.
How has being involved in service projects shaped your college experience: Helping other students around Mizzou or the community fills a part of me that I never knew needed to be filled. I always wanted to help, and it is amazing to be there for others in their time of need. It made me remember why I went to college in the first place.
What will you miss most about your college experience after graduation: I will miss the people. Having all these wonderful people around me who genuinely care about me has completely changed my college experience! Especially when it comes to having a community :)
What advice would you give to an incoming business student: My advice would be to follow your passions and dreams, not what you believe would get you the most attention or simply be a part of something for the resume. Showing your dedication to one thing that you love will be 100x better than multiple organizations because that is just added stress. Just have fun and enjoy college – it goes by fast!
SARAH SPENCER – ODK
Senior
Marketing and Economics
Belton, Illinois
First thing that came to your mind when you found out you were tapped: I was so surprised! Since the first Tap Day I watched my freshman year, I’ve always looked up to the secret societies and incoming taps. Becoming one myself has always been a goal of mine and I know it’s because my hard work paid off, not just luck!
What has been your favorite class in the College of Business and why: My favorite class at Trulaske has probably been MRKTNG 4910: Data Visualization. It was so fun getting to learn how to manipulate and present data to tell a story! Tableau is also a platform that many top firms utilize, so I felt very happy to be learning it before entering the workforce.
How do you think being a part of a secret society will impact your future: Being a part of a secret society is not only a great addition to my resume and connection to a greater alumni network, but it will also keep me connected to the university as I pursue my passions. I can look back and remember the hard work and drive I put into qualifying myself to be tapped, and apply this persistence to other areas of my life as I leave Mizzou.
What is one unique fact about yourself that most people don't know: A unique fact about me that most people don’t know is that I lived in Japan until I was 5! My dad was in the Navy at the time and stationed in Yokosuka. I have very special memories of seeing the Great Buddha of Kamakura, going to Tokyo Disneyland and seeing Mount Fuji. I have plenty of air miles under my belt from then!
What are your plans after graduation: My plans after graduation are to continue my Insights Internship with Veterans United while searching for positions within a marketing agency located in Kansas City or Chicago!
TYSON STRONG – MYSTICAL SEVEN
Junior
Marketing
Kansas City, Missouri
Describe your reaction when you learned you were selected for a secret society: I was extremely honored and grateful to be a part of Mystical 7. It felt good to receive praise from other student leaders at Mizzou.
What aspects of the College of Business have been most influential in your personal and professional growth: Finding peers who look like me in the College of Business has been one of the biggest factors for my growth. I’ve made friends in Trulaske from simple things like sitting together in class, supporting each other academically and organizations like the National Association of Black Accountants.
Why is giving back to the community important to you: Giving back to my community is important because it makes the community stronger and better. Any positive contribution is an important contribution.
What is your fondest memory of your time in Columbia so far: My fondest memory in Columbia was my move-in day freshman year. Mizzou felt like a completely new environment, and my family was extremely proud of me.
Share your favorite quote or saying that has inspired you during your time in college: “Just because things don’t work out the way you want them to doesn’t mean they’re not working out the way they’re supposed to.”