Three years, three different cohorts, one shared experience

Janjay Gardea (’26), Cameron Heath (’23), and Cassie Taylor (’21) are all past or present members of the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, Truist Business Scholars — formally known as the Truist Business Fellows — program.

The Truist Business Scholars program is a cohort-based, four-year program limited to 20 incoming first-year students majoring in a business discipline.

These students will have a unique experience during their time at Campbell University and in the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, including an enriched academic experience, a $1,000 scholarship award, and the opportunity to engage with faculty and fellow students in various leadership focused activities outside of the classroom.

Janjay, a first-year student in the 2026 cohort, stated that “having a built-in network of peers to connect with and to feel comfortable enough to reach out to with questions,” was a strong incentive in her decision to join the program.

The goal of the Truist Business Scholars program is to provide students the unique opportunity to build leadership skills, and to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they prepare for a career in business.

As a member of a cohort, students are able to share common experiences, a sense of purpose, and develop life-long friendships.

Cassie Taylor, an alumna of the program, shared, “As a scholar, I was challenged to dissect every piece of information I was taught, in an effort to make us life-long critical thinkers. This, along with the invaluable friendships made with my cohort, are my most fond memories of the program.”

Scholars are awarded many opportunities to grow as an individual and experience the world of business first-hand. As a scholar, students attend a kick-off leadership retreat, they take classes designed specifically for the scholars’ cohorts, and are invited to travel to Washington D.C. (first year), Truist Leadership Institute (second year), and Atlanta, GA (third year).

Cameron Heath, a senior in the program, shared, “The opportunities that I have been offered as a scholar have helped me grow in the realms of communication, leadership, and team building. All of these are vital to work in a business so the professional development the scholars program has provided me will be carried forward for years to come.”

In the six years since the inaugural “fellows” cohort entered the program, many have gone on to work at national finance institutions, in the fields of higher education and marketing, and/or the realm of project management.

Dr. Steckbeck, the Director of the Truist Business Scholars program, shared, “Dean O’Mara, who came up with the idea of the Truist Scholars Program, charged me with creating a program that develops the students’ leadership and problem-solving skills, as well as providing them network opportunities. Now in our sixth year, the program achieves these objectives by giving the students great experiences and opportunities to learn in a less formal setting than a regular classroom.”

If you are interested in learning more about our Truist Business Scholars program, please visit our website and/or reach out to Dr. Steckbeck (steckbeckm@campbell.edu).