From Baseball to the Business School

Mitchell Ziebarth ’20, Cambridge, Minn.
Major: Accounting

What are you involved in at Concordia?

I’ve been on the baseball team for four years, I’m the president of Concordia’s People Accounting (CPA) club, I’m involved in the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), I was involved in Orientation for two years, and I had an internship at the Small Business Development Center.

What brought you to Concordia?

There was such a family atmosphere here. I visited Concordia in high school and I ended up loving it, and it has been such a welcoming place. The other colleges I looked at were great too, but Concordia just had the right amount of academic prestige and it just felt like home. Also, my grandparents live up here, so family is never too far away. Everyone I talked to on my visit here, whether it be students, coaches, professors, and admission representatives, were all so genuine and made me feel so welcome here. It was evident that the people here care about all aspects of the students’ lives, which I think is really important.

What do you find unique about Concordia?

Professors at Concordia care about each and every student. My professors have helped connect me with many job opportunities and internships, too. At a big university, you might know one or two professors, but at Concordia, I feel as though I know all the accounting professors whether I have had them for a class or not. The professors also take the time to get to know me on a more personal level. They know my interests, dreams, and skills. They are good to know even if you just need someone to talk to on a tough day.

Why should students be involved at Concordia?

Getting involved helped me branch out and meet people. During my freshman year, I joined a few organizations just to try them out and see what I thought. Even though I didn’t stay in all of those student organizations, I still have some great friends to this day that I met by checking them out. I’m friends with athletes, people involved in music, and people not involved in sports or music. I think that’s the beauty of Concordia, though. People here are just good people. A big part of college isn’t just getting you ready for a job, but it’s turning you into a lifelong learner and teaching you how to pursue passions outside the classroom.

What’s next for you?

I’m starting as an audit assistant at Deloitte in Minneapolis next September. I participated in the Deloitte Case Study competition that Concordia accounting students can participate in every winter. I did really well in the competition and they ended up offering me a full-time position afterward.

What three words would you use to describe your time at Concordia?

Engaging, nurturing, and fun.

^{Published October 2019}