Scholars Academy: Steph Freund

Steph Freund—originally from Lewis, Iowa and a graduate of Atlantic High School—came to UNO as a freshman in fall 2015 and was part of the very first Scholars Academy cohort. She is one of three Scholars, the program’s very first alumni, who graduated on December 14, 2018.

Since January 2019, Steph has been working as a tax accountant at BKD CPAs & Advisor’s Omaha office.

What impact has the Scholars Academy had on your career goals?

Coming into college, I did not know near as much about the accounting profession, and business community in general, as I will have leaving college. Through this program at UNO, I connected with many mentors in the accounting profession who helped me discover what career opportunities existed in and outside the industry. These mentorships also helped me connect what I was learning in school to real-life situations, making it easier to learn. My mentorships also brought about an internship that gave me an insight as to the specific area and firm size of the public accounting industry that would best fit me. I know I will be leaving college with a network of professors, peers and mentors whom I can rely on in future years.

What are the two or three most important things you learned throughout Scholars Academy?

Your network of peers will be the most valuable asset in and outside of college. You have to have peers whom you can bounce ideas and get advice from. Whether it be getting advice on what class to take, or if a company is good to work for or not, they will be your best asset in the business community.

Why should a high school student consider applying to the Scholars Academy?

In being part of the Scholars Academy, you will be given better resources as a college student and an automatic network of 80 peers who are willing to help you through your first year of college. You are given first access to the best professors in the University through your required classes. The volunteer and mentor opportunities are great for personal development and also great resume builders when you start applying for internships. Through mentors, you are also given better chances of finding an internship early on because you meet many recruiters.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is the Harry Potter series! It has always been my favorite because of the complexity of the series and the large fan base! It is an easy way to relate to many people and escape in a good book or movie anytime.