Student Spotlight & Honors
Justin Heckler, Class of 2025
Major: Finance
Campus: Penn State Abington / University Park (2+2 Program)
Post-Graduation Plan: Investment Banking Analyst at Harris Williams
Justin Heckler’s journey to Penn State was anything but typical—and that’s what makes it so impactful.
Initially unsure of his path after high school, Justin spent a summer working in logistics and quality control at a mask manufacturing facility during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. That hands-on experience sparked his interest in supply chain management and led him to Penn State Abington through the Smeal College of Business’s 2+2 program. What followed was a rapid transformation into a student leader, mentor, and advocate for others pursuing careers in business from non-traditional backgrounds.
At Abington, Justin co-founded Abington Business Leaders, which has since become the largest business-oriented student organization on campus. Simultaneously, he revived the Finance and Investments Association, organizing alumni speaker events, networking nights, and a campus-wide stock market competition. His leadership helped re-establish a vibrant extracurricular life for business students in a post-COVID environment.
As his interests evolved toward finance, Justin began an impressive internship journey. He held roles at a private equity firm and later at Janney Montgomery Scott, gaining firsthand experience in mergers and acquisitions. He also joined the Nittany Lion Consulting Group (NLCG), where he served as associate, engagement manager, and ultimately director, spearheading innovations like transitioning from traditional white papers to strategic reading decks in response to the rise of AI.
Justin transferred to University Park in his junior year, where he continued his mission to support students from branch campuses. He developed career resources, mentored peers navigating consulting and investment banking recruiting, and became a crucial link between students and alumni networks. His persistence paid off—he secured a coveted full-time investment banking analyst role at Harris Williams following a competitive M&A bootcamp
Throughout his time at Penn State, Justin remained committed to lifting others up—just as his mentor, former coach and entrepreneur Haldy Gifford, once did for him. From guiding younger students through resume reviews and interviews to reforming student organizations to be more inclusive, Justin’s legacy is one of perseverance, community, and impact.
Akshay Pai, Class of 2025
Major: Finance
Minor: Sociology
Post-Graduation: Works for McKinsey & Company
Akshay Pai graduated in May 2025 with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in Sociology. Graduating from the Schreyer Honors College, his campus involvement included Alpha Kappa Psi, the Schreyer Consulting Group, the Presidential Leadership Academy, Global Business Brigades, and the Campus Orchestra. He received the D'Ambrosio Honors Scholarship and was an Evan Pugh Scholar. After completing internships at State Street, Accenture, and Bank of America, Akshay is working for McKinsey & Company post-graduation.
Sanchita Bhusari, Class of 2025
Major: Finance
Scholarship: George Leland Leffler Scholarship
Post-Graduation Plan: Citigroup, Quantitative Analysis Division
Sanchita Bhusari (2025) Finance is from Reading, PA. She is the 2025 recipient of the George Leland Leffler Scholarship. She served as the President in the Nittany Lion Fund after previously serving as a Director of the Penn State Investment Association. Following graduation, she returns fulltime to Citigroup in the Quantitative Analysis Division where she interned in summer 2024.