Another record-setting year for BOP in 2019
2019 proved to be another banner year for the Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program (BOP). In the video above, Jared Florell (BOP '17) reveals how the Society of Minority Managers (SMM) hosted more companies on campus this year since the early 2000's. Because of their efforts, 92% of BOP 2016 (current seniors) graduating with Krannert degrees next May currently have job offers. As President of SMM, Jared led efforts to bring the amazing Caroline Wanga (Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer, Target Corp.) to Krannert for a memorable presentation in the Krannert Executive Forum. With BOP students teaching career readiness skills to local high school students, donating over 30 winter coats to local elementary school children in need, and leading the annual SMM Campus Celebrity Date Auction for charity (donating over $10,000 to The Martin Center - Sickle Cell Disease Initiative), BOP continues to strive towards its mission of producing the next wave of business and community leaders.
BOP 5-Yr Graduation Rate
The figure below displays current 5-year graduation rates on campus. 95.5% of BOP 2014 graduated in five years or less and launched their careers at banks, companies, and firms such as Accenture, ArcelorMittal, Crowe, Deloitte, Eli Lilly, Goldman Sachs, IBM, J.P. Morgan Chase, and PwC. This is a new all-time high among graduation rates from 48 graduating cohorts of BOP. BOP drives the 5-year graduation rate for underrepresented minority students (URM) entering Purdue as Krannert freshmen (82.9%), which is the highest graduation rate for minority students from all academic units on campus. The Krannert 5-year URM graduation rate is the only URM graduation rate from an academic unit higher than the overall Purdue University 5-year graduation rate of 79.3%.
Something New
This is an exciting time for BOP, as 2019 marked a year full of "firsts" and new initiatives. Last spring, students across campus elected Assata Gilmore (BOP '17) as Purdue University student body Vice President. Assata is the first African-American woman elected as President or Vice President of the Purdue student body. Additionally, the search for new administrative staff to support BOP launched last summer. Next month, the new Associate Director of Diversity initiatives will join the BOP suite on the third floor of Krannert. Finally, the inaugural BOP Future Scholars week-long summer camp for rising high school seniors will launch in July 2020. Summer camp participants will stay in a residential hall, discover career options related to functional areas of business, and get an up-close view of Purdue University.
Thank You
On behalf of current students in the Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program, thank you for your support in making 2019 a great year! Have a happy, healthy, and warm holiday season!
