School of Business Administration

Students from the University of Dayton’s School of Business Administration are making a lasting impact in the Dayton community through their commitment to service and philanthropy. The Flyer Nation Build is just one of many acts of service and generosity that SBA students undertake to support those around them.

Under the collaboration of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton and the University of Dayton, and with the sponsorship of community partners including the City of Dayton, Greater Edgemont Community Coalition, Five Rivers Health Centers, Fischer Homes, and Fifth Third Bank, the Flyer Nation Build marked a historic milestone. The project brought the first new home to Dayton’s Edgemont neighborhood in more than 50 years, symbolizing the area’s resurgence and the university’s commitment to enriching its surrounding community.

The journey began during the university’s 2023 Welcome Weekend, when more than 400 first-year business students rolled up their sleeves to build the home’s walls. Over the ensuing months, 796 volunteers—including students and alumni—donated 4,015 hours of labor to complete the home. The service project epitomized SBA’s mission of connecting learning with leadership and service.

“At UD, our students embrace the call to serve from day one,” SBA Dean Trevor Collier said during the dedication. “Through meaningful community work, they learn that business is not just about profit—it’s about people. These experiences help them see their careers as a calling, deeply rooted in the well-being of their communities.”

The Flyer Nation Build stands as a testament to the transformative power of collaboration. It also underscores SBA’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to integrate their education with service. Through the school’s BWISE program—Business Wisdom through International, Service, and Experiential Education—students are required to engage in at least two service, international, or experiential learning components, reinforcing their role as ethical leaders in a global economy.

"Service may be embedded into our curriculum, but for many of our students, their commitment to giving back is driven by their desire to do good," highlighted Allie Ellison, Director of Student Recruitment and Engagement at the School of Business Administration. 

For new homeowner Aliciah Jackson, the Flyer Nation Build has meant more than the bricks and mortar of a house; it has provided a foundation for her family’s dreams.

“Having a home gives us more than a roof—it gives us roots,” Aliciah said during the dedication ceremony.

For Aliciah, the journey to homeownership was a testament to resilience. Balancing two jobs while completing 275 sweat-equity hours and homeownership courses, she closed on her new home with a 0% interest mortgage, a hallmark of Habitat’s unique program.

The dedication ceremony, held Oct. 11, was a true celebration of community spirit. More than 100 supporters, along with city officials, Habitat leaders, and members of the SBA community, celebrated Aliciah’s achievement. Dean of the School of Business Administration, Trevor Collier, handed Aliciah the keys, marking the culmination of months of teamwork, determination, and hope.

For many students, they found additional time independently to continue working on the Flyer Build, said Ellison. “This past summer, Bryan Baker, a senior in finance and marketing, spent a day helping finish Aliciah's home—a project he’d worked on from the foundation up. For Bryan, this experience was more than fulfilling a service requirement; it was a chance to make a lasting impact."

The Flyer Nation Build is just one example of how SBA students are living their Marianist values, demonstrating the vital contributions individuals and organizations can make to their communities. It reflects the SBA’s commitment to preparing students not only for successful careers but also for lives of purpose and impact.

“The Flyer Nation Build was more than a house—it was a testament to the power of partnership and the generosity of spirit that defines this community,” said Norman Miozzi, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton. “Together, we are building homes, communities, and hope.”