Jake Weitkamp ’22, who completed undergraduate and MBA degrees at Berry, capitalized on opportunities to pursue academic excellence while growing leadership skills on campus and through work opportunities. His efforts paid off. WestRock Company, a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions, tapped him to join their finance leadership program upon completion of his MBA.
“I believe that earning degrees from Berry has been extremely valuable for my career, but my experiences and the relationships I have gained are priceless,” Weitkamp says.
A degree in sports administration initially attracted Weitkamp, but a class with Associate Professor of Economics Brian Meehan changed his trajectory. “I took an introductory economics class with Dr. Meehan, and I knew I had to switch majors,” he explains. “I think I was most intrigued by learning how people respond to different incentives, and I felt challenged by the need to think analytically.”
In addition to his role as the football team captain, the scholar-athlete served as president of the economic honors society and became involved in the Berry Center for Integrity and Leadership, which matches a small group of juniors and seniors with experienced leaders in the professional community. Noting that he learned to interact with people motivated by a variety of goals and passions, he says, “I have learned that one can never know enough about leadership. There is always room to grow and get better.”
Some of Weitkamp’s most notable experiences on campus occurred because of his position as a tutor at the Academic Success Center (ASC), which offers free consulting and review sessions to Berry students. “I think working as a tutor helped me learn how to teach a lot of different people, build self-confidence and promote my time-management skills,” he reflects.
Weitkamp interned for Harbin Clinic as a business intelligence analyst in 2022 then mentored undergraduates while working on his MBA. As the coordinator for the Roosevelt Scholarship Program, he offered guidance through a variety of topics and issues to ensure a meaningful experience at Berry. He also completed an internship at Inspire Brands in Atlanta, working with the team that manages cash flow, banking relations and capital structure.
Story by sophomore Zach Pishock
