Bon Voyage Breakfast Celebrates Class of 2025
by Anna Mercer
Have you ever heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Chocolate University’s Class of 2025 can confirm that age-old saying. Before beginning the 90-hour journey to rural Tanzania, students attended a Bon Voyage Breakfast hosted at Drury University. Donors, alumni, parents, and board members shared a meal with the travelers and offered words of encouragement.
Alumnus John Otto (CU ‘23) encouraged the students to “embrace the unexpected. On this trip, plans might shift, conversations might challenge your assumptions, and you’ll see firsthand how business directly impacts people’s lives.” Two years after the conclusion of his CU program, John still finds ways to apply the lessons he learned about love and community. Alumna Emma Brand (CU ‘16) also attended the event in her role as the Educator and Adult Chaperone of CU ‘25. In the almost 10 years since being a CU student herself, Emma has served as the lead teacher for CU summer school programming through Springfield Public Schools Summer Explore and Drury University Summer Scape.
The Bon Voyage Breakfast was both a send-off and a capstone, the culmination of several days on Drury’s campus. The CU student travelers spent time bonding as a group and making final preparations for their student-driven projects. Their time on Drury’s campus wasn’t all work—they also went to a leadership ranch and a Springfield Cardinals game. At the breakfast, students shared their excitement with their families and CU alumni. CU ‘25 student Sarah Han said she was most excited “to meet beautiful people inside and out.” Other students said they were excited to experience a new culture and deepen their understanding of international business and direct trade practices.
This celebration wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Chocolate University donors. Their contributions help this program reach students across Southwest Missouri, giving them first-hand experience with international business. Our student travelers each contribute something unique to the group, and they all deserve recognition. It was an honor to celebrate their accomplishments and their potential as these students prepared to experience Tanzania.
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