Laura Bly

In coming to Geneva, Laura Bly ’12 knew she was in the right place from the very beginning. “Being at a Christian school was where I needed to be,” she said. Laura is a graduate of Hampton High School and resident of Allison Park, PA, which made Geneva College feel like the ideal distance from home to her. And because both her father and her aunt are alumni of the college, choosing Geneva seemed all the more like the right decision. She knew, through them, the value of an academically excellent, Christ-centered education.

Pursuing a degree in business, Laura plans on using her entrepreneurial spirit to achieve her goals. She entered Geneva as an elementary education major; however, after a few classes, Laura knew being an elementary school teacher was not for her and she turned to others for advice in entering into her calling. “A very influential part of my career path was my father. He talked to me about how my strengths could be put to good use with a business degree and really helped me decide what I should be doing with my life.” After speaking with her father, Laura felt confident that business was for her and changed her major.

Associate Professor Denise Murphy-Gerber has had a major influence on Laura’s college career since she changed majors. “She reached out to me from the very beginning and was there when the courses got hard,” said Laura. “She is so understanding and patient.” Laura felt Professor Murphy-Gerber’s Marketing and Management Insights classes were challenging, but that also made them a good preparation for the business world.

Laura was also impacted by Professor Rob Rostoni and his business communication class. “He taught me the most important aspects of business, down to the last detail,” she explained. “He always wanted to help in any way he could. He goes out of his way for his students.”

Along with her classes, Laura enjoys the community of a small school like Geneva: “Ever since I came for Summer Preview, I made friends. The environment here is like no other.” In addition to making some of her best friends at Geneva, Laura enjoys the athletics on campus—especially the Golden Tornadoes women’s basketball team. She is also involved with the We Minus Me ministry which reaches out to college students to share the gospel.

In order to better prepare for her career, Laura joined the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce and attends the meetings to network with area business leaders. She also plays an active role in the Marketing Club at Geneva, where she focuses on building connections with marketing professionals. Laura also has a passion for drawing and art and hopes one day to combine that with her marketing skills to help design new products for a marketing firm.

- Julia Schademan ’13

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