Like No Other

Beemish isn't the only one praising Stern's extensive list of trips and treks. Michele Costello, MBA ‘05 tells me all about her time on the Inca Trail trip that SEA organized and Davon Snipes, MBA '07 and Daria Burke, MBA '08 both loved the DBi Argentina trip. Snipes says the "whole trip was a highlight" and Burke remembers how she celebrated her birthday in Buenos Aires along with twenty of her classmates. "It was incredible," she says. "We were so far away from New York, but I didn't feel far from home at all, surrounded by so many familiar faces."

Turning on my heel, I join a conversation among Dean Fraser, Oppy editor Chavon Sutton, Oppy columnist Tom Nowicki and Mark Simmelkjaer, MBA '07. Of course I prod Simmelkjaer for his favorite Stern moment. "Climbing Mount Sinai on the Egypt trip and watching the sunset from up there with so many of my friends was truly amazing," Simmelkjaer says, as he taps his mother, Gloria Simmelkjaer, MBA ‘73 on the shoulder, who also shares her Stern highlight with me. "The Dean called me into his office one day and I didn't know what it was about," she says. "I thought I was in trouble, but then he offered me a full scholarship!"

On her way to one of the rooms filled with Taylor's garments, Nancy Cohen Roberts, MBA '82 stops to chat about her love of fashion. "When I went to NYU, we were still downtown by the World Trade Center. There was a Century 21 right near our building and every break, I'd go and look at clothes," she confides. When professors asked me what I was doing, I said I was doing marketing research!" I also get a chance to chat to Laura Febo, MBA '06, whose favorite moment has a lot to do with tonight. "It's all of the amazing events Stern organizes, both during school and after graduation," she says. "The community is really strong and networking opportunities are endless."

Back downstairs, I meet John Ryan, MBA '94. "The first day in the new building was so exciting," he says. "Another great thing that happened was that, while I started out as a full-time student, a company offered to pay for school if I'd start working for them and go to school at night, so I ended my time at Stern as a part-time student." NYU Stern's downtown location in the heart of New York City is an attribute that I hear mentioned over and over again by alumni. Keith Langworthy, BS '78/MBA '81 tells me about the concerts he used to go to in the Village. "The atmosphere and culture in the Village is unbeatable," he says. "You just don't get that anywhere else."

By this time, most attendees have stopped counting the number of champagne glasses they've enjoyed. A recent graduate, Nate Pinkston, MBA '11 tries to convince me that his favorite memory was participating in the Moustache May Drag Show as "Tequila Mockingbird", but then ultimately selects a legendary lecture by one of Stern's best as his ultimate educational highlight. "Professor Okun's lecture about breaking unions," Pinkston says, "was hands down the best 1.5 hours of my educational career." His classmate, Haejin Shin, MBA '11 is standing next to him and nodding, while adding that there are too many moments for her to pick just one. "It's everything from Spring Fling to Charity Ball to those delirious nights before accounting exams or the Damodaran final," she says. "Everything about Stern just makes me smile!"

I step outside into a chilly winter night and look back at the fabulously lit-up Christie's building. Through its large glass windows, I can see Dean Henry still surrounded by smiling alumni. And, as I flip through my notebook filled with so many unique Stern moments, I well up with school pride.

This is Stern. We are like no other.

The Alumni Holiday Celebration took place on December 8 at Christie's in New York City. Do you have a favorite moment from your years as a student at NYU Stern? Tell us at www.sternopportunity.com.