Meet Luke Johnston,
Class of 2026
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Major: Sophomore class of 2026 with a double major in Accounting & Finance
Q: What organizations/activities are you involved in here at Olin? Any outside of Olin?
A: I am a member of the SAAC career committee, and the football team.
Q: What is something that you’ve done/accomplished in your time at WashU/Olin that you are most proud of?
A: Being able to have a balance between academics, sports, social, and career activities such as reaching out to expand my network via the Bloomberg terminal as well as upperclassmen word-of-mouth referrals. Simply getting on phone calls this past semester with WashU grads to talk about their career paths has been huge in directing my next steps, and lead to opportunities such as a shadow opportunity this winter break at Lincoln International (IB in Chicago).
Q: What are your favorite things to do outside of school?
A: Read. I have a steady flow of books ranging from the economy to fictional classics I try to get through. I also love staying active outside of football, going on morning walks, lifting.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do/place to go in St. Louis?
A: Union Station. I am very familiar with all of the work and business deals that went into the revivification of Union Station through a capstone project my senior year at SLUH. Visiting the wheel or aquarium with that knowledge makes it that much cooler for me.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to the incoming first-year students, what would it be?
A: Explore St. Louis. Despite its reputation as a dangerous city, STL has a lot to offer. There’s so many cool areas and restaurants to visit and experience. Having a plan or talking to a classmate that’s from the area can help map out the area and make it less intimidating.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
A: I love to fish, hike, and get outdoors. I also went to St. Louis University High (SLUH) just across highway 40 from WashU. I also play quarterback for the WashU football team.
Meet Anthony Scales,
Academic & Student
Affairs Advisor
Q: Where is your hometown? How long have you been in St. Louis? At WashU?
A: I’m from Clinton, MS. I’ve been in STL for 9 years and at WashU 9 years (about 4.5 as staff!).
Q: What do you do here at Olin?
A: Here at Olin my time is split between three main areas: advising BSBA students and students with second majors/minors in Healthcare Management; supporting student organizations and other student affairs efforts at Olin, including mentor programs, summer programs, etc.; and collaborative university initiatives, including the Campus Votes Committee and Student Conduct Board.
Q: What is something that you’ve done/accomplished in your time at WashU/Olin that you are most proud of?
A: I launched the Olin Peer Mentor Program and the Olin Voter Engagement Hub.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: Singing, composing choral music, running with my dog, gardening, and writing.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do/place to go in St. Louis?
A: Saint Louis Zoo! I’m a huge fan of animals and really respect the Zoo’s conservation efforts. You’ll find me near the bears of elephants and FAR away from the monkeys and snakes.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
A: I’m a huge history buff! I’m especially interested in monarchies and monarchs; the English and Thai monarchies are pretty consistently interesting!
I’m a big music lover and have sang and played piano since I was a kid. Whitney Houston, Kathleen Battle, Reba McEntire, and Toni Braxton are a few of my absolute favs.
I’m a Real Housewives fan and a Trekkie!
Meet Alex Lassoued,
Class of 2026
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Financial Engineering, Sophomore Class of 2026
Q: What organizations/activities are you involved in here at Olin? Any outside of Olin?
A: I’m a Student Ambassador for OPA, and Vice President of Administration for Beta Theta Pi. Additionally, I volunteer with the Bear Cubs Running Team, and WashU Hope Volunteering. I’m also a Defensive Lineman for the Varsity Football Team.
Q: What is something that you’ve done/accomplished in your time at WashU/Olin that you are most proud of?
A: I’m proud of my involvement with the WashU HOPE volunteering club. Our goal is to make a positive impact on the lives of children in under-resourced communities through literacy education. When I was assigned with my reading buddy at the beginning of the year, he struggled a lot with books, but we remained persistent and didn’t give up! By the end of the semester, he was able to read to me without any help. Overall, it’s been a very rewarding experience.
Q: What are your favorite things to do outside of school?
A: I enjoy golfing at Forest Park with my friends. I’ve also gotten into cooking and trying out different recipes.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do/place to go in St. Louis?
A: Watching the Cardinals play at Busch Stadium. Colleen’s Cafe also has some of the best breakfast food I’ve ever had, and it’s a walking distance from campus.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to the incoming first-year students, what would it be?
A: My advice to incoming first-year students is to be curious. Explore clubs, activities, and classes that you usually wouldn’t see yourself doing. You’ll discover new passions, meet new people, and develop a well-rounded skill set.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
A: I’ve lived in seven different countries growing up and have three passports. I’m also fluent in French. And I’m a huge Houston sports fan. Go Texans and Astros!