New Adventures Blog
Sometimes, the best part of teaching isn’t what happens inside the classroom: it’s what happens years later when former students return to say hello.
That was the case on the UCSB campus when Emely Fey, Mathias Mairon, and Niklas Hillenbrand reunited with their former instructor, Don Blumenthal, for a long-overdue catch-up and a chance to reminisce about their time at UCSB Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE). These three stellar students originally joined PaCE as international study abroad students from their native Germany.
Two years ago, the three shared an experience that went well beyond simply attending classes. They threw themselves into coursework focused on building the practical skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive business world, and they certainly made their mark.
In both Business and Personal Branding as well as Business Development and Sales, Emely, Mathias, and Niklas each earned top marks in their classes, a remarkable accomplishment driven by their hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication.
According to the students, however, the experience was about much more than grades.
They genuinely loved the courses, the UCSB campus environment, and the Santa Barbara community. The friendships, conversations, and real-world lessons shared with their instructor and classmates left a lasting impression.
So, when the opportunity came to travel back to California, Santa Barbara naturally made its way to the top of their itinerary.
The reunion gave the former classmates a chance to reconnect with Don, share updates on their careers and lives since completing their PaCE studies, and look back on their favorite moments in the program.
It served as a great reminder that education creates connections that extend far beyond the final day of class.