In what is becoming an annual tradition for the Business Honors students at the Cal State Fullerton College of Business and Economics, for the second consecutive year, a group of high-achieving business students got a behind-the-scenes look at the nation’s capital this September, thanks to an educational program presented by the Yorba Linda-based Richard Nixon Foundation.

This year, the Business Titans got to tour the U.S. Capitol, Ford’s Theatre, and the International Spy Museum. They also got an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the U.S. Supreme Court, where they talked with members of Justice Neil Gorsuch’s staff. Rounding out the experience, they received an economics- and business-focused look at current affairs by hearing from military generals, congressional leaders, and staff members of past presidents as part of the Nixon Foundation’s Grand Strategy Summit.

“Our students gain invaluable insights from visiting the nation’s capital and having the exclusive opportunity to learn about our government at the heart of D.C.,” said Dean Sri Sundaram. “This immersive study tour allowed them to experience leadership and policy in action, providing insights that will significantly enrich their academic and professional journeys.”

He added, “We are incredibly grateful to our esteemed donor, Charlie Zhang, for making this transformative experience possible. His generosity has enabled our students to gain a unique perspective that will inspire and shape their futures.”

Back at home, classmates, professors, parents and the entire business college community avidly followed the progress of the D.C. trip, with a first-ever social media takeover on college networks featuring regular photo and video updates from the students.

“This was a unique opportunity for our students to see our nation’s capital, and see how it works,” explains Atul Teckchandani, professor of management and head of the Business Honors program. “I hope we can continue to allow students to see how D.C. operates and give them more of these types of immersive opportunities.” Noting that many students have never taken trips without family before, Teckchandani believes study away opportunities such as the D.C. trip allow for personal non-academic growth in addition to scholastic and professional development.

“Leading this trip was interesting as I’d never been a chaperone before. I was so proud of our students. They were kind, respectful, gracious and curious. They also did their best to make the most out of their time in D.C. while not falling behind on schoolwork,” he says. “I discovered one student sitting in the lobby of a nearby hotel getting ready to take an online exam. Another had to take a taxi back to the hotel to take an exam in the middle of the day. And many reported staying up late so they could do their homework. Somehow they found the time to also explore D.C., walking through Georgetown and enjoying the unique beauty of the monuments at night.”

From a student perspective, Kaylee Farrell ’25 (finance and human resources management) agrees that this trip was a life-changing experience.

“Witnessing D.C. with my own eyes was so exciting and made me reflect on the images I saw in the classroom growing up,” she says “I never imagined I would be walking around inside the Supreme Court, the Capitol or Ford’s Theatre where Lincoln was shot.”

Farrell points to the Supreme Court visit as the high point of her D.C. trip. “We received the VIP experience by sitting in the actual courtroom and visiting other areas in the building that are closed to the general public, such as the Supreme Court basketball court and the Supreme Court library. Additionally, we had lunch with Justice Gorsuch’s legal aides, learning about their experiences working on cases that have greatly influenced the U.S.”

D.C. trips might stereotypically be the domain of political science, history or American studies majors. But Farrell recognizes that with her career goals in human resources, seeing how the world’s superpower is operated behind-the-scenes will be invaluable to her professional development.

“It is especially important to understand and uphold the laws set by the government to strike an equitable balance between the protections for the employer and employee, so this opportunity was invaluable in recognizing the role the government plays in business and its regulation,” she says.

For Farrell, her senior year will feature a number of travel experiences. During the winter session, she and her Business Honors cohort will be in Thailand and the Philippines, getting a look at the economies of the Pacific Rim that define the modern global village.

“The College of Business makes these experiences feasible for students through our donors’ generosity, allowing students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world settings and enhancing the educational experiences that students receive,” she notes.

You can be a part of making these immersive experiences possible for our students. For more on giving back as an alumnus, alumna or industry partner, reach out to Director of Development Chrissy Chase at [email protected].