Student
C.J. Braccia
Heider sophomore C.J. Braccia will graduate with BSBA and MS in four years.
For C.J. Braccia, pursuing a degree at the Heider College of Business means “focusing on where the business world is moving, not where it’s been.”
Some students experience an “ah ha” moment when they walk on campus and feel immediately at home. Others are legacies or have a handful of friends also enrolling. But Braccia has equally strong, simple and straight-forward reasons for attending Creighton: He appreciated the small class size and the extra-curricular growth Omaha could present.
“I liked that professors would know my name and that I could actually interact with my professors,” he says. “Furthermore, I think that being in the city of Omaha offers a lot of out-of-class opportunities, such as internships.”
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Equally appealing to Braccia was the chance to participate in the Scott Scholars Program, which presents future business leaders, especially those who are entrepreneurial in spirit, with innovation opportunities and community impact. Additionally, the scholarship portion of the program provides full tuition, food and housing, as well as distinctive programming and engagement with the Omaha business community to develop scholars’ networks.
In fact, one of Braccia’s favorite Creighton memories is participating in the “Scott Olympics,” – in particular, reigning victorious in such events as food challenges and relay races with his teammates. Turns out, he can hula-hoop with the best of them.
“Although some teams will say otherwise, I believe my team won all the events. Maybe we lost one event, but anyone who says more than one is simply lying to you,” he jokes.
Braccia, a Castle Rock, Colorado, native, is a business intelligence and analytics (BIA) major who is also working toward a graduate business degree (he is currently undecided but leaning to an MBA or a Master of Science in organizational leadership) as an undergraduate. He says he didn’t want to cut his Creighton career short to graduate early, so when he discovered he could pursue a master’s degree simultaneously with his BSBA, he jumped at the chance.
“I looked forward to the more challenging and specialized courses” of the master, he says. “I like the versatility that both a business degree and a BIA degree offer. I think the future is leaning to be much more technologically focused, and I wanted to be able to keep up with that demand.”
A Creighton education is “not purely about what job you will receive after graduation. It’s more focused on how you can better the lives of those around you.”
— C.J. Braccia
As a second semester sophomore, Braccia is working as a strategy intern with First National Bank of Omaha subsidiary, New Stockyard Group. It is his fifth internship to date. He has also served as a financial review intern with Union Pacific Railroad and an audit, tax and consulting intern with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), in addition to interning with Michael T. Kossen, P.C. and Business Ethics Alliance. This summer he will begin his sixth internship, working at HealthEdge as a chief of staff intern.
What accounts for his string of success in securing internships early in his college career? He believes it is a combination of having a well-rounded CV and letting his personality come through in interviews. “By being more personable, I believe that the interviewer is more likely to remember you,” he maintains.
Getting involved on campus has the dual benefit of making your college years more fun – important – and building your resume’s experience bank, especially when internship and work examples are few. Braccia, for instance, joined the Management Consulting Club as a freshman, which not only introduced him to fellow business students but also Fortune 500 CEOs. He now serves a president of the organization.
Braccia also is a member of Jesuit honor society Alpha Sigma Nu and is dedicated to the Jesuit value of men and women for and with others. He worked behind the scenes at Financial Hope Collaborative, helping with its social media accounts. As a Best Buddy participant, he has checked out local restaurants, attended Creighton basketball games and even celebrated his buddy Michael’s birthday with some axe throwing.
These last two years have made it clear to Braccia that a Creighton education is one that allows students to focus on their “higher purpose.”
“It’s not purely about what job you will receive after graduation,” he asserts. “It’s more focused on how you can better the lives of those around you.”
C.J. Braccia and friend with Billy Bluejay
