Two McIntire students, Manish Dahal and Kylie Nagel, were recently named to the Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors Class of 2024 list published by business education website Poets&Quants.
Chosen by Commerce School faculty using criteria such as academic performance, extracurricular leadership, and innate potential, Dahal and Nagel were selected to represent the Commerce School on the list of 100 students graduating this semester from the top 50 undergraduate business schools. This is the ninth year that the Best & Brightest has recognized outstanding soon-to-be graduates.
The profiles of Dahal and Nagel delve into the many ways they were involved in and out of the classroom, detailing their favorite business course, extracurricular activities, honors, awards, leadership positions, educational experiences, internship history, career plans, bucket list goals, biggest lesson from studying business, advice for prospective business school students, accomplishments they are most proud of, classmates they admire, and more.
McIntire Professor Jill Mitchell says that Dahal is “one of the most engaged, dedicated, and motivated teaching assistants with whom I have ever worked. With his infectious positive attitude and genuine care for others, he developed new and innovative ways to support students and enhance their learning experience in the rigorous introductory Accounting courses. Going well beyond the required duties, he organized targeted post-exam sessions to individually assist struggling students. I admire his initiative, not only in generating creative ideas, but also in effectively implementing them, always with student success in mind.”
Regarding Nagel, McIntire Professor Ryan Wright says that she is “an exceptional student with a curious, intelligent, mature, and driven personality. She excels academically and participates actively in various extracurricular activities. She is a leader and a mentor, always willing to assist her peers with advice and support. I’m excited that we are now collaborating on a cybersecurity case study using data from my research, which has showcased her analytical skills and creativity. I have been teaching at McIntire School of Commerce for many years, and I can attest that Kylie is one of the best students I have ever met.”
As the standout students wind down their time at UVA, they are preparing for the next stage of their lives. Dahal, a Charlottesville, VA, native, is still undecided about where he will forge his path, while Nagel is set to serve as a Cybersecurity Consulting Associate for PwC in Washington, DC.
In explaining what it takes for a student to make the prestigious list, Poets&Quants says, “They were the ones who could always be counted on—the constants who were first to arrive and last to leave. On campus, they didn’t just get involved: They were the leaders who held their communities together. They commanded attention with their confidence and enthusiasm, eventually becoming role models who set the bar and inspired others to be their best. Along the way, they always took time to listen and learn, leaving classmates feeling supported and part of something bigger.” Noting that these students began their college career during the pandemic, Poets&Quants recognized they would need to play catch-up throughout their college careers, and as a result, “they never took opportunities or classmates for granted. Even more, they adopted a results-driven mindset.”
Read the full article on the Class of 2024’s Best & Brightest in Poets&Quants for Undergrads.
