Poets and Quants for Undergrads, a leading national news outlet focused on business education, recognized two University of Dayton students among the nation’s Best and Brightest business majors.

Carolyn Haney, CEO of Flyer Enterprises, the sixth-largest student-run business in the country, and Bridget Momper, senior manager of Davis Center for Portfolio Management, which has the largest student-run investment fund in the country, are among 100 students from top undergraduate business schools selected for the honor. Poets and Quants named UD’s School of Business Administration to its list of the 50 best business schools earlier this year.

“'Best & Brightest' features seniors who embody the best in business education,” Poets and Quants wrote, adding faculty have lauded the students on the list for working hard, putting others first, trying to find common ground, and for their “contagious energy.”

Poets and Quants highlighted Haney and Momper for how they “made history.” 

Haney’s profile explains how she restarted Flyer Enterprises, which has more than $1.3 million in annual revenue, after business operations went dormant for a year because of  COVID-19. It also calls out her work to help launch the Startup Grounds, which features food from underrepresented entrepreneurs at the Hub Powered by PNC in the downtown Dayton Arcade. Flyer Enterprises manages the back-office support for the bistro.

“She had to lead a student-run business that has almost 200 student employees in a highly fluid environment that required her and her executive team to act quickly and decisively to run the business,” said UD’s Vince Lewis, associate vice president of entrepreneurial initiatives. “Despite all the challenges, Carolyn was able to lead this team to record sales, and their first off-campus operation. Her leadership and poise under pressure are an inspiration.”

Momper’s profile spotlights her rise to Flyer Investments senior manager and her leadership as the fund became the largest in the nation. The Fund also manages a pool of assets for the nonprofit Dayton Foundation.

“Bridget exemplifies service leadership with her dedication to the Davis Center for Portfolio Management,” said Dan Kapusta, Davis Center director. “She was one of the leaders of the team that won the CFA Research Challenge in Ohio and under her tenure as the senior manager, the first woman since 2007, the Flyer Investments Fund has become the largest student-managed portfolio in the U.S. with assets under management of $64.6 million as of Dec. 31.”

The students also share the biggest lessons they gained from studying business, their favorite professors at UD, the classmates they most admire, and more.

“Carolyn and Bridget exemplify the talent and drive of our students, and also the ways our undergraduates can foster their leadership skills through relationships with professors, mentors, peers, and through opportunities with the School’s signature experiential learning programs,” said UD School of Business Administration Dean Trevor Collier.

Along with the Davis Center and Flyer Enterprises, students run a $1 million angel investment fund with Flyer Angels; work with nonprofits and run a microlending program with Flyer Consulting; have the chance to win funding and support for their business ideas through Flyer Pitch; and start microbusinesses with $5,000 from the University as students in the entrepreneurship program. Students also work and learn alongside entrepreneurs at the Hub Powered by PNC at the Dayton Arcade, created in partnership with Dayton’s Entrepreneurs Center.