At UNC Asheville, Economics seniors get the rare opportunity to dive into a research project and take it from an idea to a publishable paper through a two-part research course. Twelve seniors completed the two-course sequence with a focus on Finance, led by UNC Asheville Assistant Professor of Economics Muhammad Nawaz. Among them, three students directed their research toward issues with direct consequences for North Carolina residents, examining financial literacy, a federal tax preparation program, and the economic toll of Hurricane Helene on small businesses.“Our students have a pretty impressive set of skills that they develop in the courses that we teach,” shares UNC Asheville Department of Economics Chair, Department of Business Professor Leah Mathews. “We've done alumni surveys, and 90 percent plus point to it being really important for their skill development and for their career trajectory.”Their findings offer real insight into the financial health of Western North Carolina communities. Read on to meet these incredible students.