Bethlehem Bekele, a University of Wisconsin-Superior student double majoring in finance and economics, recently placed second among more than 40 undergraduate presenters from across the country at the Association on Private Enterprise Education (APEE) annual meeting in Las Vegas.

Bekele, who is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, presented her research, “The Economic Contributions of International Students to U.S. Universities and Local Economies,” to an audience of faculty, scholars and fellow students.

Winning second place made the experience particularly meaningful, Bekele said, but it was the opportunity to connect with others in the field that left a lasting impression.

“This experience at APEE meant a lot to me, especially winning second place,” Bekele said. “As an international student, meeting people from all over the country was really wonderful. I never thought I would get the chance to meet people in the economics field who are so established and successful. It showed me that I can have that opportunity, too.”

Turning a Small-School Experience into an Advantage

Although UW-Superior was one of the smaller institutions represented at the meeting, Bekele found that to be an advantage when engaging with peers and faculty.

“Most students were from larger universities and states, but coming from a smaller school ended up being an advantage for me,” she said. “I’ve had more time and closer interaction with my professor, which allowed me to receive really constructive feedback on my work.”

Building Confidence and Academic Direction

Founded to advance the study of private enterprise, APEE brings together scholars from colleges and universities, public policy institutes, and industry. Its annual meeting provides a forum for members to share research, recognize scholarly contributions, and support emerging scholars. APEE also publishes The Journal of Private Enterprise, which highlights research from across the academic community.

For Bekele, the conference was as much about growth and connection as it was about recognition. Presenting her research to an engaged academic audience challenged her to think more deeply about her work and its future direction.

“Being around such smart people in academia, who challenged me, asked meaningful questions and gave thoughtful feedback, really pushed me to think deeper about my research,” Bekele said. “I also met very kind professors who encouraged me to pursue graduate-level education. That support was really inspiring – it helped me see how I can improve my work, especially for my capstone, and it built my confidence.”