Nic Abbagnaro’s Explore Experience
My name is Nic Abbagnaro ’24, and I attended Explore in 2025.
I wanted to join the chapter because it was the one place on campus where I felt I could truly be accepted for who I was, and it has also allowed me to grow as a person. To me, the Brotherhood always means being able to push and support one another to strive for better, and I find that through giving back to my brothers in the work I do for them.
Right now, I’m a Junior accounting major with hopes of graduating and obtaining my CPA to pursue a career in public accounting, focusing on tax. However, this felt a bit limiting, and the Explore program was one opportunity to see what more I could do after college.
I first learned about the Explore program from Matthew Bratsch ’24 (Rowan ’11), who mentioned it to me every time we talked, at least a year before I participated in it. The program is mainly designed for finance majors, yet I felt it would give me a chance to see what else is out there and how I can “explore” my options within my career that I hadn’t considered before. Made up of guest speakers, alumni dinners, and opportunities to connect with brothers from other chapters, Explore gave me and others a chance to learn how we can shape our careers with the many options available within the finance field.
Going to Explore allowed me to better understand my career. Firstly, I understood a lot more of what wouldn’t fit me, with fields such as investment banking or wealth management. Alongside that, I took the time to gather general skills that can help with my career, such as making connections with the other brothers or speakers present or understanding how to properly present myself to employers and what they need. It gave me a narrower idea of my path, but let me know that I made the right choice for my career in accounting.
As it stands, I am nearly two years into being a brother, and I can’t imagine what college would be like without it. I’ve met friends I hope to stay in touch with for decades after graduating. I have gained leadership skills I didn’t know I had, and it has allowed me to truly feel free and happy with myself. As the current vice president of the chapter, I’ve learned about the struggles and hardships of being in charge, but also how rewarding it is to see the chapter grow because of it. Not every day has been easy, but the days after big events have always been incredibly rewarding. I hope that before I finish my time at the chapter and at college, it continues to be a fraternity where anyone can feel comfortable and safe, just as it was what motivated me to join in the first place.
This chapter means a lot to me, and I hope more people will follow in my footsteps by attending incredible programs like Explore.