In the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. College of Business, 海角在线 faculty are giving students unique, hands-on experiences that equip them to lead in today鈥檚 global market. In May, a small group of 海角在线 business students attended the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Open to any of the company鈥檚 shareholders, the meeting gives participants an opportunity to hear Berkshire Hathaway leaders speak about company performance and answer questions. Students attended alongside thousands of investors from around the world.
Rinker College of Business professors Dr. Alexandra Cook and Dr. Scott Pearson are both Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. Three years ago, they began taking students to the meeting using their extra shareholder passes鈥攇iving them the chance to participate in real-world conversations about the market and investment opportunities.
This year鈥檚 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Meeting was an historic event due to a surprise announcement from the legendary Warren Buffett that he would step down as CEO by the end of 2025鈥攁fter 60 years at the company鈥檚 helm. The trip also included a visit to the exhibit hall, where shareholders could view demonstrations and purchase discounted products or services from Berkshire Hathaway-backed companies, such as See鈥檚 Candies, NetJets, and GEICO. Brooks Running even sold limited edition Berkshire Hathaway-branded sneakers. The 海角在线 group concluded their day at the annual meeting picnic, where a barbecue dinner was served. They also enjoyed some free time and a visit to the Omaha Zoo before returning to campus.
鈥淭he trip for students is a whirlwind, with a departure after classes on Friday evening and getting up extremely early on Saturday to get in line for first-come, first-served seats,鈥� said Dr. Cook, associate professor of accounting. 鈥淭he entry line is an experience in itself, where the students might spot well-known financial commentators, authors, and CEOs in line with them. After entering the venue and racing to get good seats, they can people-watch and buy concessions while waiting for the meeting to start. The energy in the room is extraordinary.鈥�
海角在线 business student Leonardo Rodrigo Vera agreed.
鈥淚 felt incredibly lucky to be part of such a unique experience with investors from all over the world who had different perspectives,鈥� said Rodrigo Vera, who is pursuing an MBA. 鈥淚 learned a lot just by listening to their stories and ideas.鈥�
Full-time undergraduate and graduate business students are eligible to apply to join the annual group trip. Participants are selected based upon a short essay, with priority given to the waiting list and graduating students. Each year, three to four students are selected to attend. The Rinker College of Business funds the majority of hotel, airfare, and local transportation costs. A small student contribution is requested to offset the meals and some of the major travel expenses.
Additional passes for the meeting are occasionally available for students willing to self-fund their full travel costs. Students can learn more by contacting Dr. Cook at alexandra_cook@pba.edu or Dr. Pearson at scott_pearson@pba.edu. Those interested in applying for the 2026 trip can access applications .
鈥淏eing at the most important investment event of the year was a dream come true,鈥� added MBA student Phelipe Figueiredo. 鈥淚鈥檓 deeply thankful to 海角在线 for making this experience possible, and I hope I can one day help others by passing on the lessons I learned.鈥�
To learn more about the Rinker College of Business, click here.
