06/15/2026
Three RMU grads, 5 degrees, and one Colonial family. ❤️💙
Meet the Bender Family and the most recent RMU graduate, Luke! 🌟
“My first day at RMU, it felt like home.” said Luke. “I know it sounds cheesy, but I got this feeling when I first walked on campus that this was my place.”
Luke graduated this past May with both a bachelor’s in Finance & Accounting and a master’s in data analytics. 🎓
“My mom would tell me about the Hale steps, and how she could barely walk up them her freshman year but could run up them her senior year. I got on campus and was like holy crap, she wasn’t kidding. But I can run up them now.” ⛰️🥹
Luke had multiple professional experiences outside the classroom during his time at Robert Morris, including internships with BNY as a finance controller intern, PwC as a private tax and wealth management intern, and S.R. Snodgrass as an external audit intern.
“I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for RMU. Thank you RMU for building me up, for building my skills. I’m glad I went here the last four years and I’m going to miss it very dearly when I leave.”
Outside academics, Luke was a member of Robert Morris University Phi Delta Theta, the RMU Bands & Performing Ensembles, a peer tutor, Robert Morris University Concierge Team, and leader of the class of 2026 gift program. Luke says he “loved serving this University.”
He also remembers his time in the classroom fondly, especially the relationships he made with professors. 🏫
“All the professors here are extremely friendly. RMU started as the Pittsburgh School of Accountancy, we’re one of the best in the country. The thing that was different here is the professors are actually passionate about what they were teaching. They wanted the students to learn as opposed to just getting the grade.”
Luke’s parents graduated with bachelor’s degrees in business administration in 1996 and 1997 and his mom returned to complete her master’s in HR management in 2010.