Buffalo State, M&T Bank Work Together to Provide Opportunities for Students
Originally from Queens, New York, senior Nigel Peters chose Buffalo State because it’s in the city, and has a smaller, but similar vibe to his native New York City.
“I felt like the school would be a really good fit for me, and it is to this day,” he said. “I don’t think there’s another school that could fit me better.”
A partnership between the school and M&T Bank afforded Peters real-world experience working at the bank as an intern over the summer. It’s just one of the ways Buffalo State works with M&T Bank to benefit the campus community and Western New York as a whole.
“The internship experience went extremely well,” he said. “I also learned what it’s like to work in a business environment.”
Peters came in contact with M&T through a networking event set up through the Career Development Center. Annette Fontanez, an alumna and CRA administrator with the bank, helped establish a relationship between the center and the bank to help students attain internships and jobs.
“From there, (the relationship) has just blossomed,” said Stephanie Zuckerman-Aviles, director of the Career Development Center.
Fontanez, who’s also from the New York City area, stayed in Buffalo after graduation due to her job at M&T. While she was only supposed to spend a year here, Fontanez has now been in Buffalo for 30 years. She wanted to share that experience with Buffalo State students.
“It’s a great town and a great place to live," said Fontanez. "You can have a good life here.”
Nearly 75 students showed up to the first meet and greet with M&T employees.
“The students were great,” Fontanez said.
M&T works hand-in-hand with Buffalo State in a variety of ways, providing support for student scholarships, distinguished speakers, and funding literacy programs in the Buffalo community. The bank also sponsors M&T Second Fridays at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, as well as the annual Bengals Dare to Care Day.
“Buffalo State is grateful for the many ways M&T Bank supports our students and mission as an anchor institution,” said Buffalo State President Katherine Conway-Turner. “As Buffalo’s college, we are proud to partner with an anchor organization like M&T Bank as we work together to lift our wonderful city to new heights.”
Peters offered some advice to students on how to follow a similar path: Be well versed in a variety of activities outside of academics, like volunteering and networking. After all, it worked for him.
“It was a really great internship,” he said. “The internship taught me the importance of information technology within the banking industry.”