Dylan Spencer said he’d like to one day start his own company. For the next two years, the May 2014 graduate in International Business from the Harbert College of Business will get a head start in that direction. Spencer is one of 107 recent college graduates nationally -- and first at Auburn -- to earn a fellowship at Venture for America. VFA is an agency that trains college graduates and sends them to start-ups where they spend two years harnessing their skills and learning how to be better entrepreneurs. “It’s an honor to earn a fellowship along with such accomplished and ambitious people,” said Spencer, who will soon head to VFA training at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. “It’s also great that VFA is an organization that is truly dedicated to its fellows and the cities we will work in. Academically, it's nice to see that the hours downstairs in Lowder Hall paid off.” Spencer, who interned at Sterne Agee, said VFA was a “perfect program for people who aren’t sold on the Wall Street/consulting world.” “In my first job, I wanted a chance to get a broad range of experience in different fields while contributing to some common good,” he said. “VFA gives me the opportunity and guidance to do that, while providing me with experience and access to resources that will be invaluable if I decide to start my own company in a few years. It's a very ‘learn on the job’ mentality paired with an incredible training camp at Brown University and then continued training throughout the fellowship.” Frank Oprandy, Director of Graduate Career Services in the Office of Professional and Career Development, said “Dylan has the complete package to compete and win in the corporate marketplace.” “He saw what he wanted to achieve, understood what needed to be done to get there, then worked hard to make it happen,” Oprandy added. “He works well with others, has great inter-personal skills and a tenacity that will ensure he has success.” During his time at Auburn, Spencer was a member of the men’s basketball team, served as an undergraduate assistant coach and minored in Spanish. “I'll forever be thankful for the quality of education and guidance the Harbert College of Business provided for me during my time at Auburn,” Spencer said.