...I chose Ohio Wesleyan due to the personal relationships I would be able to have with my professors, as well as Ohio Wesleyan's interesting history and beautiful campus...
Name: Aidan "Trip" Pierce
Class year: 2026
Major: Finance
Why did you choose Ohio Wesleyan?
I chose Ohio Wesleyan due to the personal relationships I would be able to have with my professors, as well as Ohio Wesleyan's interesting history and beautiful campus.
Why did you choose your major?
I chose the finance major because of my keen interest in money, in all of its aspects.
Why did you choose your event/position?
Being on the golf team allows me to be a part of a brotherhood of guys that motivate me to strive for excellence in my sport, academics, as well as my personal life.
What event/sport other than your own would you like to try?
If I could, I would try to play lacrosse. I used to play as a midfielder, and have always enjoyed the sport thoroughly.
What did you study on your OWU Connection trip to Florence, Italy? Which experience(s) of your trip were the most memorable, and how did they affect you?
I interned for Accademia D'Arte in Florence, Italy, this past summer, as well as taking an international economics course. I found my intern experience to be incredibly fulfilling. I was able to lead a new business venture for the academy by creating partnerships with luxury hotels in Florence and offering personal art courses for the highest-end tourists in Florence. This initiative was completed in under five weeks and I was responsible for all marketing, outreach and logistics, an accomplishment I am incredibly proud of. One of my most memorable experiences was renting a BMW with my roommates and going on a road trip along the coast of Sardinia, an island off of Italy.
What athletic or academic achievement/accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my accomplishments at my first tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia. As a walk-on to the golf team, and having never played golf competitively, I played very strongly and fired two rounds of 81, which I was extremely happy with. That tournament gave me the assurance that I was capable of playing competitive golf at the collegiate level.
What did you do to put yourself in position to achieve that?
Coach Steve Runge offered me a spot on the team after I had come back from winter break during my freshman year, after I was relentless in my pursuit of gaining a spot on the team. I was incredibly grateful at the opportunity to play for this team and for Coach Runge, a man who I admire and respect. Looking back on it now, that opportunity changed my college career and my life. I practiced every day in our indoor practice facility in order to ensure that I was as prepared as possible for my first-ever golf tournament.
Which three people, living or dead, would you like to share a meal with?
I would like to share a meal with Tiger Woods, Winston Churchill, and my father (nothing beats that).
What is your ideal travel destination?
My ideal travel destination is Portofino, Italy, or Bellagio, Italy, as I think these are some of the most beautiful places in the entire world.
by Michaela Alfano '25
