School of Business Administration

Imagine walking into your first job interview with a résumé packed with real-world experience, team collaboration, and cross-disciplinary skills. For students in the Stitt Scholars Program, this is their reality. Funded by the generous donation of Jim Stitt '71, chairman of Cutco Corporation, and his wife, Carol, the program offers yearlong paid internships where students collaborate with startups and entrepreneurs at The HUB powered by PNC Bank. This immersive experience goes beyond a typical internship, as students develop hands-on problem-solving skills in innovation and entrepreneurship while mastering teamwork and communication. In addition to their internships, students take a two-credit course in Elements of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a zero-credit experiential learning course, fully preparing them to excel in today’s rapidly changing workforce.

Jim and Carol Stitt recognized the need to bridge the gap between business and engineering students, who often work in isolation but are required to collaborate in the real world. The Stitt Scholars Program was created to address this challenge by bringing students from different disciplines together to work on meaningful projects, learn from one another, and develop the skills needed for professional success. The program not only enhances technical expertise but also fosters essential communication and teamwork skills that are critical in today’s job market.

Lucianna Nice, a finance major and a 2023-2024 Stitt Scholar who returned for the 2024-2025 academic year, emphasized the unique interdisciplinary experience: “I wanted to return to the program because I gained a lot of valuable real-world skills that I would never have learned in a classroom. I think the program offers many new opportunities for students to learn alongside others outside of their major. As a finance major, I think it's cool to work alongside an engineer who has a lot of different skills they have learned from their classes."

Jim Stitt conceived the program based on his experiences at Cutco Corporation, where he saw how critical interdisciplinary communication was in the workforce. He observed that engineers and accountants often struggled to understand each other’s perspectives and recognized the importance of preparing students to bridge these gaps. As Jim Stitt put it, “They learn to communicate and work together. Share ideas, grow, and then walk away with this basket of skills they can take to the job market and say, 'Here’s why I’m better for this job as a UD student; I worked as a Stitt Scholar.'"

Reflecting on her growth, Lucianna shared that her communication skills significantly improved during her year with the Stitt Scholars Program. "One thing I learned from one of my first projects was the importance of communication with the client. I found that it is important to make sure that you and the client are on the same page at all times and that the project is very organized."

The impact of the Stitt Scholars Program is already being felt. Vincent C. Lewis, associate vice president of entrepreneurial initiatives and executive director of the L. William Crotty Center, emphasized, “The generous contribution from Jim and Carol Stitt to establish the Stitt Scholars Program has impacted both UD students and community members in Dayton. The opportunity for business students to work alongside engineering and design students creates a unique interdisciplinary experience that helps students develop their teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills. The projects, which have ranged from product design, product testing, developing marketing plans, and supporting local nonprofits, have allowed UD students to build their practical business and engineering skills and engage in work that supports the common good."

As Carol Stitt noted, "It's the collaboration that makes it special. You have a certain skill set, I have this certain skill; let's get together and expand them both. By working together, students can build an impressive résumé and gain invaluable experience."

The Stitt Scholars Program exemplifies the importance of experiential learning, and with continued support, it will continue to empower students to enter the workforce as well-rounded, innovative professionals.