Take forty or so University of Oregon alumni with connections to Lundquist College and New York City and invite them to a party on June 26 at Morton's the Steak House in the World Trade Center, throw in some inspirational Duck videos (see above) along with great food and beverages, and you've got the ultimate networking event.

Hosted by the college's Career Services office in partnership with New York Ducks—the region's UO Alumni Association chapter—the event was designed to create excitement around students who are interested in kicking off their careers in the Big Apple.

Four students currently working at RBC Capital Markets in Manhattan peeled away from their duties to share with the group their experiences at the Lundquist College and how these helped them secure their internships. Kim Evans "79 from Career Services, Deb Bauer, MS '01, from the college's Honors Program, and Lusha Kaufmann from the college's Development and External Relations team talked about a few of the best ways attending employers can get involved.

Steve Panitch "94, a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley and president of the New York Ducks, gave a big thumbs up to the gathering.

“We look forward to future events with Lundquist and fellow alumni," he said. “There is so much talent at the college that is a natural fit for many of the city's employers who have expressed a genuine interest in helping students. I really want to keep the momentum going."

Prior to the Morton's party, a select group of New York Ducks had the opportunity to join Panitch for a tour of the New York Stock Exchange. They also participated in the closing bell. “It was a blast to be able to see the historic New York Stock Exchange," said chapter board member Nate Dean. “It was the perfect start to a really fun evening with fellow Ducks."