Poole College Congratulates Class of 2025 Graduates

On May 3 at Reynolds Coliseum, 903 undergraduate students will cross the stage to officially become Poole College alumni and begin their professional careers.

Meet Our Graduates

Evelyn Garey, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship Concentration

Evelyn Garey, an Apex native, joined Poole College in 2023 as a business administration and entrepreneurship major. Outside the classroom, Garey was a member of NC State’s Sales Club and served as an undergraduate researcher for The William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation. 

During her time at Poole, Garey fulfilled her dream of visiting Australia by studying abroad in the city of Adelaide for six weeks. “It was truly my most impactful experience through Poole,” says Garey, “I hope that all students who have even a slight interest will get to participate in one of these programs.”

After graduating, Garey plans to stay in Raleigh and pursue a career in medical device sales.

Eli Hill, Business Administration, Finance Concentration

Eli Hill joined Poole College in 2021 as a business administration and finance student. His favorite part about Poole is the people. He thrives on connection and has grown an appreciation for the sense of belonging he found at Poole.

During his time at Poole, Hill held internship roles with Wilders Wagyu, AgCarolina Farm Credit, State Employees Credit Union and Deloitte.

He completed a minor in Global Leadership and Team Decision-Making during a semester abroad in the Czech Republic, Germany and France through NC State Prague and the Shelton Leadership Center. “It was the most hands-on and immersive experience I’ve had — it pushed me to become more adaptable and culturally aware,” says Hill. 

Following graduation, Hill will be working full-time while pursuing a master’s in wealth management at Campbell University. He will also continue to manage his responsibilities on his family’s farm in Deep Run, North Carolina.  

Landon Hong, Business Administration, Marketing Concentration

Business administration and marketing student Landon Hong, from Marietta, Georgia, joined Poole College in 2021. His favorite part about Poole was the community of like-minded students. “One of my favorite memories was going abroad to France with Poole with a group of 30 strangers and coming back with 30 great friends,” says Hong.

Hong has been actively involved in several clubs and organizations on campus, including the Poole Student Advisory Board, which he served as president during the past year. He is also a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and has been a practice player for the NC State women’s basketball team for the past four years.

During his time at Poole, Hong interned with both ESPN and NASCAR.

After graduation, he plans to move to Charlotte to work as a brand marketing account executive at NASCAR.

Cyrani Houston, Business Administration, Information Technology Concentration

Since joining Poole College in 2021, business administration and information technology student Cyrani Houston has immersed herself in opportunities to lead and advocate for others. She served as a student mentor in the WISE Village, treasurer for NC State’s Queen In You organization and social media chair of NC State’s chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants. Houston also co-founded the Poole Undergraduate Student Hub Advocates (P.U.S.H.), which she went on to serve as the president of.

Houston held several internships during her college career, including NC State’s Project Management Lite Internship program, Enact Mortgage Insurance, Microsoft, and Poole’s Office of Development and External Relations.

In Fall 2023, Houston studied abroad at the Prague University of Economics and Business. Houston had the opportunity to represent NC State at a local study abroad fair. “That experience taught me how to adapt, embrace different perspectives and think globally,” says Houston. 

Houston’s post-graduation plans include working full-time in the corporate world, where she hopes to continue developing her business and technical skills.

Yvonne Mbugua, Business Administration, Information Technology Concentration

Yvonne Mbugua joined Poole College in 2022. Since arriving at NC State, Mbugua has taken on leadership roles and sought out opportunities that reflect her passion for community and success. She served as event coordinator for the Black Business Student Association, as well as resident counselor for both the NC State Emerging Scholars Academy and the NC State Women and Minority in Engineering Program. 

During her sophomore year, Mbugua joined BLK Capital Management as an equity research analyst trainee and was later selected for the Roark Capital Investment Fellowship. This opportunity helped her land the role of an investment banking summer analyst with Baird. The following summer, Mbugua worked in Manhattan as a client solutions consultant — a position she secured through Poole College’s Meet the Companies Mixer. 

Mbugua will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in information technology. Following graduation, she will be moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to work as an analyst at a private equity firm. “It will be a new city for me to live in, but I am excited for this new chapter!” says Mbugua. 

Lexus Silver, Business Administration, Marketing Concentration

Lexus Silver joined Poole College in 2021. She served as financial secretary of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and treasurer of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. She was also a member of Women In Business and the National Association of Black Accountants. 

Silver says her favorite part about Poole College is “the environment and the professors.”

Silver held internships with NC State Football and NC State Athletics, gaining experience in recruiting and marketing. 

She will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in psychology. Her  post-graduate plans include pursuing a full-time career in sports marketing. 

Gracie White, Business Administration, Marketing Concentration

Since joining Poole College in 2021, Gracie White has been actively involved in several campus organizations. She served on the Mental Health Committee of Alpha Kappa Psi, volunteered with Voluntarios Ahora en Raleigh and was a member of the NC State chapter of the American Marketing Association. White also worked as content strategist with the NC State Libraries communications department.

Her favorite part about Poole College is “by far the professors,” particularly Professors Thomas Byrnes and Patrice Nealon. White had the opportunity to study abroad with both during two Maymesters, traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2023 and Seville, Spain, in 2024. 

In summer 2024, White interned with Red Hat as an operations strategist and was offered an extension to continue her internship with a different team as a business process analyst. 

White will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in marketing. Looking ahead, she will return to Red Hat to begin a human resources rotational program.