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A mix of nerves and excitement is common at the beginning and end of a college journey. For Anna Egeland, Minnesota State Moorhead became more than a place to get ready for the next phase — it became the community where she grew in confidence, found her career path, and built connections that will last long after graduation.

Anna always had an interest in business, but the specifics were unclear — until a high school accounting class changed everything. She enjoyed the classwork; and took it as a sign. She enrolled in the accounting program at Minnesota State Moorhead and later into Moorhead’s 4+1 MBA program — the perfect opportunity to expand her skills and career options.

“I didn’t want to be stuck in one box. An MBA gives you so many opportunities," she says.

After earning her bachelor's in accounting, Anna moved to the Twin Cities, which required a transition to online courses.

“It’s been a quick year, but the professors made it incredible,” Anna says. “I’ve dived deeper into everything I learned in undergrad, and the faculty’s expertise is amazing.”

Among those faculty members, Ralf Mehnert-Meland stands out.

“Ralf has always been supportive. I could go to him with anything — even things not related to class,” she says. “It makes such a difference when professors see you as a student and a person.”

Anna was also actively involved in on-campus organizations.

Her leadership roles included serving as Student Body Treasurer for the 2024–2025 academic year, competing with , participating in the , and joining the (NSLS).

As a graduate student, Anna earned second place at an international DECA competition and received the Alumni Scholarship from NSLS.

Anna Egeland with her 2nd place trophy at International DECA Competition.

These experiences helped her build essential interpersonal and career skills.

“Classwork teaches you the books, but involvement teaches you the human aspect,” she says. “DECA especially helped me apply what I was learning to real scenarios and being a master’s student gave me an edge.”

Anna especially values the connections she made with students, professors, and staff.

“Everyone has been so kind and supportive. I have so many people in my corner now.”

From that first spark in a high school classroom to becoming a campus leader, and now the student commencement speaker for the graduate ceremony, Anna has set the stage to close an unforgettable chapter.