Paying it forward by giving back to CFANS

November 5, 2021

This fall, the U of M capped off a highly successful 10-year Driven campaign. Our CFANS community raised $309 million in total gifts, pledges and private grants. Trey O'Bryan, BS Agricultural and Food Business Management, '17; member of the CFANS Dean's Circle Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD); and current commodity merchant at Cargill shares why he gives to CFANS.

Campus Affairs
Trey O'Bryan.

I choose to give back to CFANS and the University of Minnesota as an alumni because I view it as a way to 'pay it forward' and hopefully help build a positive experience for others. As a first-generation student from rural Minnesota, attending college was both very difficult and intimidating, and if it wasn’t for CFANS, I don’t know if I would have graduated or if I would have been blessed with the opportunities I have since been presented with. For me, CFANS represents three things.

  1. Positive, life-changing relationships
  2. A framework to explore your interests and identify your passions
  3. An academic environment that becomes a foundation for career success

CFANS provided faculty and staff that have positively impacted my life — I think particularly of Liz Hruska, an advisor who helped prevent me from dropping out my freshman year and has since been a great friend and mentor.

CFANS provided me with a framework that allowed me to explore my interests while accelerating my academic progress. As an undergraduate, I was able to travel and study abroad affordably and participate in student groups that encourage diversity of thought and provide 'real-world' professional experiences. For me, some of those experiences were relevant to the career I ended up choosing and some weren’t, but all provided valuable learning experiences.

Finally, CFANS provided a rigorous and relevant classroom environment that helped me be competitive professionally immediately upon graduation. While I was challenged, I always felt supported by my professors and advisors and knew academic success was achievable.

Ultimately, I volunteer in the hopes that other students can find the same community and success that I did. CFANS is a great organization that I consider myself lucky to be an alumnus of, and I am happy to give back to that organization today.