A group of 10 Cal State Fullerton Business Honors students visited the nation’s capital earlier this autumn, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at one of the political and economic hubs of the modern world, while meeting dignitaries such as Congressmen Rick Allen and Joe Wilson at the Grand Strategy Summit.  

The visit, organized through the Richard Nixon Library, was made possible through the generous support of longtime Cal State Fullerton donor Charlie Zhang, the founder of Pick-up-Stix Chinese restaurants. Zhang, who came to the United States with just $20 to his name, admires the late President Nixon for opening immigration with China.

“My goal is to provide students with additional resources and support to empower them in their learning journey and make educational resources more widely available,” he says. “Ultimately, encouraging professionals and alumni to give back to the Cal State Fullerton business college is about building a strong community invested in the success of current and future students.”

Highlights from the Trip of a Lifetime 

“Visiting our nation’s capital was a super fun experience! I visited once before when I was in third grade, but I was too young to remember anything,” says Shreya Krishna ’24 (human resources), one of the students who went on the study tour. “But once we were visiting monuments and memorials, everything started looking familiar.”  

The students attended the second annual Richard Nixon Grand Strategy Summit, which brings together voices from across the political spectrum to discuss best foreign policy directions for the United States.  

Students met with diplomatic corps representatives and national security specialists from across the country in addition to congressional representatives.  

“Politics have always been of interest to me, so being in D.C. surrounded by important government officials and seeing all the famous monuments was an amazing experience,” says Krishna. “As a business student, we are always looking for any opportunity to network. The trip allowed all of us to meet and connect with new people, and we learned a lot from them.”  

Among the highlights of the trip included sitting in the House chambers during the selection process for the Speaker of the House and sitting where the justices sit at the U.S. Supreme Court.  

“But for me, my favorite moment was when our group went out to see all the monuments late at night,” says Krishna. “We were all laughing, bonding and having so much fun together. We ended up getting back to the hotel at 1 a.m.!”  

For Krishna, the visit testified to the unique and memorable opportunities afforded students through the Business Honors Program.  

“I don’t think I can ever say enough good things about Business Honors,” she says, looking back at her experience that began during her freshman days at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “I made some of my best friends during COVID, and I know they are lifelong friendships. I have been on the leadership team for Business Honors for the past two years, and I am currently president of engagement. Nothing makes me happier than knowing I am giving back to the program that has allowed me to grow personally and professionally while at CSUF.” 

Lorenzo Bizzi, the director of the Business Honors Program, says, “At the Business Honors program, we offer unique experiences that not only make our students grow, but motivate them to contribute more to society, and energize them to make a difference in the world. This is just one of the many initiatives that we will offer those who join.”

Advancing Civics Education and Immersive Learning with a Business Focus 

Jim Byron, president and CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation, says bringing West Coast students to the summit was in keeping with the late president’s vision.  

“President Nixon believed that government should not be exclusively an East Coast institution. So it is important to the leadership of the Richard Nixon Foundation to offer opportunities such as this to emerging leaders across the country. This special student travel program is part of our ongoing partnership with the Cal State Fullerton business college and an advancement of our educational mission and renewed focus on American civics education,” he says.  

And business students can have particular benefit.  

“Anyone seeking to start a business, or those who will have opportunities to operate or direct companies, will have to deal with some form of regulation and understand the political climates of the day. The Grand Strategy Summit was a masterclass for any business student to improve their knowledge and understanding.”  

Sri Sundaram, dean of the College of Business and Economics, says the visit speaks to the immersive experiences the college offers its students, and the interdisciplinary nature of a CSUF business education.  

“The visit to D.C. helps our students better understand the U.S. political system and how business, economics, and politics all are interrelated. And we at the College of Business and Economics are always keen on offering professional development opportunities for our students outside the classroom that helps them broaden their perspectives,” says Sundaram. 

“Experiential learning is a cornerstone of academic success and career preparation today, and our college seeks to be a leader in this. Thank you to Charlie Zhang and the Nixon Library for making this experience possible!”  

For More on Business Honors 

From an exclusive cohort-based learning and mentoring approach to study abroad opportunities to extracurricular excursions such as the D.C. summit, the Business Honors Program is committed to combining the diversity and resources of a major public business college with the smaller class sizes and individualized approach of exclusive private schools.  

For more on Business Honors and how it is preparing the business leaders of the future, visit the program online.  

Or read more of our articles about Business Honors.