Meet the Class of 2022: Colton Scrudder (B’22) on Forging New Paths and Taking Risks

As the spring semester comes to a close, Georgetown McDonough is pleased to commemorate the accomplishments of the Class of 2022. This year’s graduating class demonstrated immense resiliency and determination to reach this milestone, and we are proud to recognize their achievements as they start their next chapter as Hoya alumni. To celebrate, Georgetown McDonough is spotlighting several of the exceptional students in the Class of 2022 as they share their personal stories, reflect on their time on the Hilltop, and preview what’s next after commencement.

When the world moved remote during the pandemic, Colton Scrudder (B’22) took the opportunity to chase a new adventure in the Alaskan bush training sled dogs and preparing for the Iditarod race. Now, with a business degree in hand, Scrudder will return to Alaska as a global fixed income analyst for the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation – combining his passion for the outdoors with his global business education to advance economic opportunities in the Last Frontier. 

As he reflects on his past four years on the Hilltop, Scrudder shares the most important skills he’s learned during his time at Georgetown and his advice for the next class of Hoyas. 

What is your favorite memory or proudest moment from your time at Georgetown?

My proudest moment was successfully leading a backpacking pre-orientation trip for incoming freshmen. I joined Georgetown’s Outdoor Education program as a freshman and spent the year training to lead other students on hiking and camping trips. My first trip was a weeklong backpacking trip through Shenandoah National Park for incoming freshmen. I was proud to share my passion for the outdoors with new Hoyas and get everyone back safely!

How do you plan to apply the skills you have learned at Georgetown in the next phase of your career?

I will be analyzing global markets and economies as a fixed income analyst. Georgetown gave me a global perspective toward business and economics, which I will be able to leverage in my new role.

What is one of the most important lessons you have learned while at Georgetown?

I became more comfortable making bold decisions at Georgetown, whether that is choosing to publish a book, take an overloaded schedule, or move to Alaska. 

Is there a particular person in the Georgetown community that has been instrumental to your success?

I would like to highlight Professor William English for letting me work as his research assistant. He helped me build strong quantitative and analytical skills that I will keep using throughout my career.

How has McDonough helped you achieve your professional goals?

McDonough helped me understand how global markets and economies work. I was fortunate to take classes in International Finance, Global Financial Institutions, and International Trade Insiders that allowed me to understand the global economy. This perspective is unique to Georgetown, and I am thankful to have developed this outlook.

Tell us about the year you spent in Alaska working with sled dogs. How did that experience lead to your new role at the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation? 

I decided to take a leave of absence when Georgetown went online for the 2020-2021 school year. Instead of hopping on Zoom, I decided to find the craziest, most exciting adventure I could. I found a professional dog musher who lived in the bush of Alaska who hired me to help take care of his homestead and train his young dogs. I got to be on the sled every day, exploring Alaska and spending time with amazing dogs. After my boss got injured, I stepped in to train his team for the Iditarod, a 1,000-mile race across Alaska. 

I got hooked on the beautiful, treacherous, expansive wilderness of Alaska. I knew I wanted to move back, so I applied to the Permanent Fund Corporation. From my stories of dog mushing, the interviewers understood how much I love Alaska and why I wanted to work on behalf of the Alaskan people to manage the fund.

What are your post-graduate plans?

I will be moving back to Alaska and working as a global fixed income analyst for the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.

What advice would you give to the next class of Georgetown students?

Take risks and adventures. You will have an impressive skill set when you graduate, so make it work for you to create the life you want for yourself, even if that means taking an atypical path.