Adriana Hall spent weeks in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, climbed volcanoes in Ecuador and Bolivia, built lifelong friendships through her sorority and excelled in class at Florida Gulf Coast University. Still, two more items remained on her FGCU bucket list as she approached graduation this spring.
“I want to wakeboard at the Waterfront,” Hall said with a laugh. “That’s the one thing I want to try.” She planned to check that off after finals were over.
It makes sense that Hall, an Honors College student who has embraced nearly every opportunity FGCU offers, hadn’t yet had time to try wakeboarding. Her campus involvement included joining the Kappa Delta sorority, leading the International Business Association, studying abroad twice, serving as an ambassador for the Lutgert College of Business Mentorship Program and working as a resident assistant and resident life team assistant for four years in FGCU Housing and Residence Life. Off campus, she also worked as a marketing intern and assistant for Truth Technologies, a Naples software company.
Arthrex internship in Germany up next
Hall’s final FGCU adventure: a six-month marketing internship with Arthrex in Germany. She credits many of her FGCU friends and mentors with helping her prepare for the experience.
“I actually had a Kappa Delta sister of mine who did this experience, Chloe West,” she said. “She gave me some tips and pointers when I applied in December.”
Hall also worked with career adviser Caitlyn Barris in Career Development Services to refine her resume and cover letter. She discussed the internship opportunity with resident director Kat Stephens to better prepare for the experience.
Hall’s Spanish professor, Marta Ramos, was not surprised that Hall was selected for the Arthrex internship. Ramos got to know Hall through two Spanish courses, as well as a study abroad trip to Bolivia and Ecuador, and describes her as “a perfect student.”
“She is responsible, she is punctual, she is engaged,” Ramos said. During their intensive three-week study abroad trip, Hall emerged as a natural leader. “She never complained. She adapted to unexpected changes because you know that when we travel, something can happen differently than we plan it.”
Hall received the Perez Family Study Abroad Scholarship in 2022–23 for that trip and participated in a second study abroad experience the following year in Peru.
FGCU ‘felt like home’
The Chicago native was initially drawn to FGCU because of the many opportunities it offered.
“I loved the campus, how close it was to nature, the class sizes and just the overall feel,” Hall said. “It felt like home, and I felt like I could really flourish here.”
Her high school guidance counselor first encouraged her to consider FGCU for its strong forensic science program, which Hall originally planned to pursue. However, at a “Say Yes to the Nest” event, a business professor suggested she explore marketing instead.
That decision proved to be the right one. Hall majored in marketing and minored in Spanish and international business. She also joined Lutgert’s mentorship program to make the most of her college experience. After completing the program in 2024, she has continued to connect with her mentor, Anthony Messina, vice president of conference sales at Gartner.
“Being able to connect not only with my community, but also with a leading company headquartered here, has been an incredibly valuable experience. Through this program it has opened doors and provided opportunities I would not have otherwise known were possible,” she said.
Getting involved early and often is key
Each of these experiences has helped Hall get to where she is now — looking past graduation toward a career in international business. People like Ramos, who have worked closely with Hall at FGCU, believe she will thrive in this new environment.
“She will excel,” Ramos said. “She will do great in Germany. I don’t have any doubt.”
Hall couldn’t be more excited to immerse herself in a new culture and meet new people in Munich, Germany.
“I want to push myself,” she said. “I want to step outside my comfort zone and figure out who I am not just here, but outside of the country. Places will test you, and experiences will shape the person you become.”
Her advice to fellow Eagles is simple: Get involved.
“Get started early,” Hall said. “Start figuring out what you love, what you’re passionate about and stick with it.”