UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — David Hayes, a third-year Penn State student majoring in criminology and minoring in psychology, has utilized the resources available to him within the College of the Liberal Arts to forge a successful collegiate career as a student, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadet and entrepreneur.

The Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, native always had a profound interest in attending Penn State, he said.

“I played football in high school and got to play a game in Beaver Stadium, so that’s how I initially explored Penn State,” Hayes said. “I also wanted to stay involved in ROTC, and they have a really good program here that made me want to attend.”

Hayes joined ROTC during his first year. Almost immediately, the organization provided him with the skills and connections needed for college success.

“They do a really great job at getting first-year students involved,” Hayes said. “There’s a lot of smaller clubs and organizations within ROTC that allow you to find your place. Being taught to wake up early and have a routine every day ended up being great in setting up a schedule for myself, which was definitely hard at first.”

As he reflected back on his time in ROTC, Hayes explained that the organization impacted every aspect of his college career for the better. He also discovered he’d like to pursue a career in the Army after graduation.

“I gained leadership experience I never thought I’d get,” Hayes said. “I learned so much about professionalism and how to work with my peers. You really do get out of it what you put into it, and I ended up with a great experience surrounded by great people.”

Hayes has also used his time at Penn State to become a budding entrepreneur. After completing his first year, he founded David’s Dough, a baking company specializing in made-from-scratch cookies.

“I ran through my savings my first year and really wanted to find a job I loved and was good at,” Hayes said. “With a traditional job I felt as though I was simply trading time for money, so I tried figuring out what I loved and was good at. I began by just selling cookies to my friends at home and eventually took it here.”

Hayes quickly gained an audience, established an LLC, and now sells his product in the State College and Penn State community. It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life, he said.

“Now it really feels like a true company rather than just a side job,” Hayes said. “Learning business skills was definitely a big learning curve since it’s something I’d never really done before. It’s very fun, definitely stressful and a lot of work, but so rewarding.”

Hayes credits his growth as an entrepreneur to the lessons he has learned during his time in the College of the Liberal Arts. Utilizing skills he has gained through his liberal arts education, he was able to build his business beyond simply one that sells cookies, he said, but that also aims to connect with customers and tell a story.

“I really wanted to learn how to tie my business into something tangible that people relate to, and I really gained those skills through my psychology minor,” Hayes said. “I branded my cookies as a ‘taste of home’ after a bunch of parents were buying them for their kids in the dorms. My minor really helped me attach emotional ties to my business.”

Reflecting on his academics, Hayes noted that his major and minor were a perfect combination of his interests and passions. Through them, he’s been able to gain skills that have translated perfectly to his ROTC involvement and his company. Ultimately, he said, he hopes to work in federal law enforcement after a career in the Army.

“Criminology is something I’ve always been very passionate about,” Hayes said. “I’ve also always wanted to explore education beyond my undergraduate studies, which psychology felt perfect for. The great thing is all of my classes and my education as a whole are so interesting, which ultimately makes it so much better to learn about.”