On Sunday, September 29, 2019 the HC Launch student incubator started off with its semester kickoff event. The application process yielded eight student-led startup teams, with ventures ranging from data security to the cosmetics industry. Paul Wiley ‘20 and Tom Cremins ‘21, managing directors, kicked off the event discussing the direction of the incubator this semester, matched student teams, and led an engaging team building activity. Continue reading “HC Launch Incubates Eight Student Businesses”
Ciocca Center Intern Shares Path to Finance
Leif Johnson ’21, Economics Major
Fall 2019 Ciocca Center Intern
Coming into freshman year at Holy Cross I played lacrosse, and only lacrosse. That is who I was my entire life. I am very thankful for the lessons in teamwork and leadership along with the life long friends I made being that these are things I will have forever. I was never in any extracurriculars being that I truly thought all I would do is go to college, play lacrosse, and graduate with a job waiting for me. However, at the beginning of my sophomore year that all changed when I sat down and thought about all the things I wanted to explore on campus and beyond. Continue reading “Ciocca Center Intern Shares Path to Finance”
Summer Internship Reflection: Caroline Babinski ’20
Position: NBC Nightly News Digital Intern
Continue reading “Summer Internship Reflection: Caroline Babinski ’20”
Summer Internship Reflection: Tom Cremins ’21
My name is Tom Cremins ‘21 (pictured third from left), a rising junior economics major and education minor at Holy Cross, and current managing director of the HC Launch incubator through the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society. This summer I had the privilege of interning with Keeling & Associates, a highly-comprehensive consulting firm focused on the higher education sector with the goal of trying to improve learning outcomes for both students and institutions. Continue reading “Summer Internship Reflection: Tom Cremins ’21”
Ciocca Center Provides Multiple Pathways to Business
The Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society takes business programs at Holy Cross to the next level giving students multiple pathways to study business at the College. “Before, we emphasized that students could ‘major in anything, succeed in business,’ but we only offered the one pathway, the co-curricular certificate of readiness through COES,” says David Chu, the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society’s director of certificate programs and prebusiness advisor. “Now, we are going to give students multiple pathways to learn about business.”
In addition to the technical skill building Certificate in Business Fundamentals and Certificate in Entrepreneurship, the College has recently developed a new interdisciplinary minor in business, ethics, and society. The minor draws on a range of liberal arts disciplines to help students develop historical, economic, political and philosophical perspectives on the world of business, while exploring overarching questions about the role of business in a just society. In addition to this coursework, students in the minor will complete an internship and participate in relevant workshops offered through the Ciocca Center.
Read the full story on the Holy Cross news site.
Ciocca Center Intern: Leif Johnson ’21
Each semester the Ciocca Center hires a new intern to complement the Academic Internship Program through the JD Power Center on campus. Partnering again with Prof. Dan Ricciardi’s course offering, Leif Johnson ’21 is currently enrolled in “Managing Business in Society” and is interviewing alumni to show how a Jesuit liberal arts degree is an excellent foundation for a career in business. Check out his fall alumni interviews:
- Seton McFarland ’16
- Jillian Caffrey ’14
- Ted Lynch ’84 (audio interview)
- BONUS: Leif Johnson ’21 Shares Path to Finance
STUDENTS: Interested in the internship? View the description and consider applying next semester.
ALUMNI: Interested in being interviewed? Reach out to business@holycross.edu
Summer Internship Reflection: Nalani Ramos Ruiz ’21
My name is Nalani Ramos Ruiz ’21, double majoring in Sociology and Psychology with a concentration in Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies. 2019 marks my sixth year with Raytheon Company and my second summer as a college intern. In addition to creating valuable connections, my education at Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School and years at the College of the Holy Cross, involvement with the Ciocca Center Business Certificate Program, and experience on the Women in Business Planning Committee have all helped me to succeed in a company focused on the defense industry and the protection of our war fighters. Continue reading “Summer Internship Reflection: Nalani Ramos Ruiz ’21”
Ciocca Center Hires Diversity Student Liaison
Starting this fall the Ciocca Center has hired a new workstudy position, Diversity Student Liaison, in an effort to reach the diverse populations on campus. Nalani Ramos Ruiz ’21, a sociology and psychology double major pursuing the Certificate in Business Fundamentals, was already involved with the office through Women in Business. As the student committee began working to create a more inclusive and diverse conference and network, it became clear that this was an area that needed more focus. Nalani readily stepped forward and was recognized for her efforts.
“I have a passion for engaging minorities on campus to become successful students and future alumni.” commented Nalani. “I am working to find new ways to increase student awareness and involvement.”
The Diversity Student Liaison will be working with various campus partners including Career Development, Office of Multicultural Education, Athletics and the various student organizations on campus.
Please join us in welcoming Nalani Ramos Ruiz ’21 to the Ciocca Center team!
Startup Spotlight: Matt Gasparrini ’20
I have always had new ideas. Along with those ideas comes with the excitement of trying something new, of creating something novel. Most of my ideas (even my best ideas) … are garbage. They wouldn’t make it in the real world. They wouldn’t succeed outside of my own head. Because at the end of the day, nobody has room in their kitchen for an English muffin separator or fireplace tools with a built-in vacuum. My latest idea was the least glamorous of them all. A dog food company. The dog food idea was inspired by my own dog Gracie. Gracie had boring kibble every single day, she was also sick a lot of the time too. I fed her kibble because it’s what everyone feeds their dogs and because it was cheap. It turns out that kibble was making Gracie sick. I had heard about homemade dog food and gave it a try. On the homemade diet, Gracie had more energy, a shinier coat, and was overall healthier. I looked for similar fresh dog food on the market and found only very expensive products that used expensive ingredients. I knew that feeding a fresh, homemade dog food was simply better for the overall health of the dog. I decided to create a dog food with simple, inexpensive ingredients. Continue reading “Startup Spotlight: Matt Gasparrini ’20”
Holy Cross Student Investment Fund Gains Traction
The HC Student Investment Club (HCSIF), is set to begin it’s third year this fall through the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society. The goal of HCSIF is for students of all majors and class years to gain experience in the fields of asset valuation, equity research and portfolio management with the Bloomberg Terminal on campus. And as of last week, the students also have access to Capital IQ, an investment analysis tool used to inform investment strategies.
Students are taking the initiative to immerse themselves to gain technical skills and access to the alumni network and all of the hard work seems to be paying off as students are landing internships and full-time jobs. Co-founders, Andrew Smith ’19 and Sean Manning ’19, have secured employment at Goldman Sachs and Raytheon respectively, and the three new student leaders are interning at the following firms this summer.
2019-2020 Holy Cross Student Investment Fund Leaders
- John McConville ’20: Equity Research Analyst, CTMA
- Margaret Burd ’20: Securities Division Summer Analyst, Goldman Sachs
- John Boyd ’21: Summer Analyst, inspire11

Continue reading “Holy Cross Student Investment Fund Gains Traction”