Finance
Biography
Hello, my name is Hampton Gerken from Knoxville, Tennessee. Go Vols! I am a Finance major in the 2027 Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program cohort.
My fascination with the systems and ideas that drive our world began in my childhood, influenced by building with Legos, watching How It's Made, and spending time with my father, a structural engineer. Initially confident that my career path was headed straight for engineering, I began to develop an obsession with the automotive industry. This passion led me to attend car shows, travel for races, and take automotive repair classes in high school. Through these experiences, I gained hands-on knowledge ranging from routine maintenance to swapping engines and transmissions.
Hard work and a long-term mindset were instilled in me at a young age. Eager to gain work experience not just for money but to learn valuable lessons, I took on various jobs such as pet-sitting, landscaping, and performing random menial tasks. These roles taught me the importance of clear, honest communication and maintaining an open perspective through client and customer relations. These experiences also sparked my interest in business and being part of something larger than myself.
As I transitioned out of high school, I was torn between studying finance and mechanical engineering. Ultimately deciding on finance with the intention of managing the business side of an engineering company seemed like the best path forward. During my college tour at UTK, I was introduced to Heath IBEP; immediately knowing it would be perfect way fulfill lifelong passion alongside academic path!
Currently interested in gaining industry experience in the corporate financial or management sector. In the long term, I hope to pursue similar endeavors within an engineering field, specifically automotive/motorsport, focusing on improving the relationships between businessmen and engineers.
