Spotlight
Class of 2025 Heading Towards Internships, International Trips, and Masters Programs
As graduation approaches this weekend, many seniors at Southern Virginia University are preparing to launch into their chosen career paths. Below are several students who are pursuing exciting opportunities through internships with major companies, international courses, and masters programs.
Benjamin Whitted (‘25), Internship with KPMG and Master’s at Arizona State University
Business major with double concentration in finance and accounting
The day after Benjamin Whitted graduates from Southern Virginia University, he, his wife, Rachel, and their new baby will be heading to Arizona where Whitted will work as an audit intern with KPMG, one of the big four accounting firms in the world.
As part of his internship, Whitted will be a part of KPMG’s MADA program (master of accounting and data analytics), which will provide him with a scholarship for a nine-month master’s program at Arizona State University. Upon graduating with his master’s, he will begin working full-time as an audit associate for KPMG.
“Accounting is the language of business. It’s a common phrase, and I love business because it offers a wide variety of things,” Whitted said. “I also like the concept of accountability. It’s been really interesting to see how accounting for finances kind of lines up with accounting for everyday life.”
A business major with a double concentration in finance and accounting, Whitted valued the good advice he received in his accounting classes with Visiting Instructor of Business Eric Nielsen.
“He’s given me the perspective from a professional,” said Whitted. “He has been a controller and a CFO. He’s been in different industries, so he helped me see beyond the curriculum into what it might be like as a human going into those situations.”
While at Southern Virginia University, Whitted was a member of the cheer team, participated in music industry classes, and was a member of student government all four years, where he found opportunities to lead and develop strong relationships with administration.
“There’s so much opportunity here,” Whitted said. “Try branching outside of your comfort zone and joining a program that you’re not familiar with, or volunteering to help in any kind of extracurricular because there’s everything everywhere here to turn you into a well rounded person.”
Moriah Salins (‘25), Florence Academy of Art / Sweden
Double major in Art and Philosophy
In October, Moriah and her husband Kevin (‘25) plan to travel to Mölndal, Sweden where Salins will participate in an eight week immersion course at the Florence Academy of Art / Swedish Branch. The academy follows atelier traditions and teaches realistic drawing and painting techniques.
“I feel like it’s important to hone my craft and refine my skills to the best of my abilities,” Salins said. “I want to be a full-time artist, that’s my career goal, and so I feel it’s my responsibility to become a master, or become the best that I can be in the field.”
Through her education at Southern Virginia, Moriah has gained confidence in her ability to develop her artistic talents, and she has taken inspiration from her professors who seek to become the best artists and people they can be.
“The professors I have studied under here are amazing,” said Salins. “I think they have opened my eyes esthetically but by presenting new perspectives for life, and so they have filled me with this vigor to go out and explore the world and take all that it has to offer.”
Salins is from Meridian, Idaho. She participated in the tennis team her freshman year, took voice lessons for three years at the university, and was a member of the Student Life team, Honors Program, and the philosophy honors society Phi Sigma Tau.
Susie Falconer (‘25), East Carolina University
Music major with a double concentration in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy
From Huston, Texas, Susie Falconer has always had a love of music, but didn’t realize choral music was a viable career option until she came to Southern Virginia University. With that knowledge, she will attend East Carolina University for a master of music with concentrations in vocal pedagogy and voice performance.
“Southern Virginia really did gather, lift, launch,” Falconer said. “Because of the instructors I’ve had here, I felt I was able to gain real competitive information and I’ve already been launched into my career. Through a lot of my teachers here, I’ve already been networked to different job opportunities and choral singing opportunities, gigs that I can get paid for.”
Through her teachers, former Director of Music Kyle Nielsen and Adjunct Instructor of Voice Chelsea Helms, Falconer has had the opportunity to develop friendships with fellow music majors and perform with them as a contracted singer in Iowa for a master’s student program, and later with a performing ensemble in New York City. She is also a choral scholar at Grace Episcopal and has sung twice at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, Virginia.
“It’s been so fun having really close friends to do it with. And I think that was part of what was beautiful about being here,” said Falconer. “The teachers, my mentors, gave us all the same opportunities and recognized that we all had these similar aspirations and it just brought us all together.”
Falconer has participated in the university’s choir group Chamber Singers throughout her college experience, traveling with the choir to perform at VMEA and the D.C. Temple Visitors Center. She also participated in the university’s operas of “La Divina” and “Suor Angelica.”