Cullman Scholar Gets Down to Business
Dash ’26 has excelled at math for as long as he can remember, so it’s no surprise that the Mamaroneck, N.Y., native would relish in challenging mathematics courses. How to apply his mathematical expertise going forward still needed solving. When presented with the opportunity to design a Cullman Scholarship experience of his choosing, Dash opted to explore those opportunities he saw as a potential career path.
So, seeking insight into the world of business on a global stage, Dash enrolled in a two-week summer program at the University of Oxford in England to study business and entrepreneurship.
“I’ve always been more of a math or STEM-focused student and so I really wanted to use this opportunity to learn more about business,” said Dash, who is also a Giles Family STEM Scholar. “I’ve always considered going into business someday, and incorporating math somehow, and the Cullman Scholarship Program was the perfect opportunity to learn more about the business side of things.”
Considered among KUA’s highest honors, the Cullman Scholarship Program was established in 1983 with a gift from Hugh Cullman ’42 and supports students in off-campus study opportunities. In 2025, Dash and nine other students were awarded scholarships to pursue an area of study of their choosing that develops leadership skills, global and environmental awareness, and service to others.
Joined by fellow students from places like Spain, Germany and Australia, Dash spent two weeks living and learning at Oxford’s historic Lady Margaret Hall. He said classes, held in three-hour blocks each morning, were conversational — much like those at KUA — encouraging frequent dialogue from students and faculty alike.
Dash learned how factors often outside of a business’s control, such as political, economic, societal, technological, legal, and environmental, can have significant impact on operations if not accounted for. Similarly, he learned how performing a SWOT analysis — which analyzes a business’s perceived strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats — can help managers prepare for factors that can be controlled.
Dash’s favorite aspect of his classes were projects that challenged he and his classmates to research companies and detail their successes and, in some instances, failures.
“From researching the downfall of Blockbuster, I learned that you can’t profit from the difficulties of your customers and then also expect their loyalty,” Dash said. “The biggest lesson I learned in researching Tesla is that it isn’t enough to be first. You have to continually innovate to keep your edge because competition is inevitable if your business is succeeding.”
In his downtime, Dash enjoyed playing mini golf and visiting arcades with his classmates, as well as a trip to London to take in iconic landmarks such as Big Ben. He said he strongly encourages future KUA sophomores and juniors to apply for a Cullman Scholarship, and to consider studying a subject matter that may not be their strongpoint.
To that point, Dash — who will attend Dartmouth College in the fall — said that while he still plans to major in a mathematics-related field, he couldn’t be more grateful to the Cullman family for providing him the resources to delve into the world of business.
“I want to thank the Cullman family so much for giving me this opportunity,” Dash said. “I learned so much and had such a great experience.”