Student Spotlight: Cole Benefield
Meet Cole Benefield, a junior from Houston, Texas, majoring in Business Finance with a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship while pursuing a pre-law track. Cole chose Texas State because of its vibrant campus life and strong public organizations. Texas State’s career-focused events that prepare students for life after graduation was something he highly values when choosing where to attend school. With many peers from his hometown also attending, it felt like the perfect place to grow academically and personally.
Cole is an active member of the Innovations and Entrepreneurship organization. The group gives students hands-on experiences with real-world entrepreneurs who share their journeys of starting businesses from the ground up. He values the opportunity to learn directly from these professionals, seeing their successes and challenges firsthand, and taking notes on how they built their companies. His goal is to continue soaking up these lessons and applying them to his own career path.
Cole has achieved immense academic success, ranking in the top 14% of students out of 44,000 and consecutively earning a place on the deans list. These achievements reflect the traits his peers often see in him: motivated, hardworking, outgoing, and dedicated.
Looking ahead, Cole plans to attend a top-30 law school and begin his career practicing law at a firm. His long-term dream is to build his own law firm and create a life in New York City. He credits his future self as one of his biggest motivators, striving to look back with pride on all his hard work. He also finds great motivation from his mother, who inspires him daily.
At Texas State, Cole has honed valuable skills like time management and accountability, which he knows will serve him well in his career. With clear goals, a strong work ethic, and a passion for learning from others, Cole is on the path to making a lasting impact in the world of law and business.
Story by Stelos Fellow, Ainsley Svitenko
