Proving that the graduates of Indiana University Northwest’s economics program succeed at the highest levels are two May graduates whose accomplishments shine a spotlight on the School of Business and Economics.

Matt Paskash, 31, of Portage, has accepted an invitation to join the doctoral Ph.D. program in economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Paulina Ugalde, 23, of Hobart, will attend the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.

“From a professor’s point of view, there is perhaps no greater compliment than when your graduating students gain acceptance into top-ranked graduate programs,” said Professor of Economics Surekha Rao.

While these achievements are certainly a testament to the personalized attention of the economics faculty and the curriculum, none of it would have been possible without the unique level of commitment and talent on the students’ part.

A journey with many detours

To say that Paskash took the “scenic route” to graduation would be an understatement.

After graduating from Andrean High School, Paskash enrolled at Valparaiso University. During his three years there, his interests moved from music, to sociology, and philosophy. He eventually decided that he was not in the right place and stopped attending school altogether. For the next eight years, he meandered through a variety of jobs, from auto shop to coffee shop, and a few other things in between.

Now 31, he returned to school, this time at IU Northwest. Here is where everything fell into place, and Paskash found a community of adult learners, like himself, with their passions backed by a hearty amount of life experience.

Said to “devour any textbook, article, or research that gets within arm’s reach,” according to Professor of Economics Micah Pollak, Paskash set to work on taking advantage of every opportunity. He carried out extensive research with Professor of Economics Surekha Rao on gender pay inequality and with Pollak on the Northwest Indiana Coincident Index.

Additionally, he worked as a tutor, maintained higher than a 3.9 grade point average, and the research he has done alongside his faculty mentors is being submitted to academic journals. He was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Scholarship. He will graduate with minors in Spanish, mathematics, sociology, and philosophy.

“Matt is an inspiration to all and an amazing success story of how someone who had never completed their degree can make it to a top Ph.D. program, in which I am confident he will succeed,” Pollak said.

Realizing her full potential

Ugalde, a 23-year-old mother of two, completed her first two years of college in Mexico before moving to Hobart in 2016 and enrolling at IU Northwest.

She struggled with her English skills, raising two children, working three jobs, and keeping up with her academic work. Still, she found the time to supplement her education with additional opportunities that contributed to her entire experience.

Together with Paskash, for example, she founded the BEST Club, which stands for Business and Economics Students Together. She was also named the “Most Promising Student in Economics” in 2017; the “Outstanding Senior in Economics” in 2018; and received an award from the National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS) in 2018. She also works as a tutor and has been an active member of NSLS and TRIO Support Services.

Ugalde credits the unwavering support of her professors for helping her believe that she could accomplish more than she ever believed. She says the rigor of IU Northwest’s economics program prepared her for the prestigious master’s program at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, where she is headed in October.

“My professors definitely helped me discover myself and encouraged me to overcome my fears and obstacles and dream bigger,” she said. “Never in a million years did I think I was going to graduate school,” said Ugalde.

Ugalde’s ultimate goal is a government position that will enable her to help people on a large scale by creating public policies that impact large populations.

“At IU Northwest, I found people who care about me,” Ugalde said, “and a place where I was able to develop my full potential.”

About the Class of 2019: Indiana University Northwest will confer 830 degrees at the 53nd Annual Commencement ceremonies on May 9, 2019. The Class of 2019 will collectively receive 51 associate’s degrees, 670 bachelor’s degrees and 109 master’s degrees. The oldest student graduating is 68 years old and the youngest is 20, and seven out of 10 graduates are female. The most popular bachelor’s degree granted is general studies, followed by psychology. More than 40 percent of the graduating class are first-generation college students and more than 50 percent are over the age of 25.