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Sales Scholars turn practice into philanthropy

The Sales Scholars at ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business are turning cold calls into real impact. During their second-annual call-a-thon, current undergraduate students connected with alumni to build confidence, gain sales experience, and raise funds for the Professional Sales Program scholarship.

Raquel Harris

2026-05-26

For many people, cold calling starts with a moment of hesitation, a quick pep talk, and the hope that someone answers. For students in the W. P. Carey School’s Professional Sales Program, that moment became an opportunity to make an impact.

The W. P. Carey School’s Department of Marketing houses the Professional Sales Program. This program prepares students for careers in sales through hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and student engagement. Students can take part in local and national sales competitions, as well as student clubs and organizations. Among those opportunities is Sales Scholars, an exclusive cohort of undergraduate students that offers tailored experiences to connect with the professional sales community.

On Sun Devil Giving Day, the university’s annual philanthropic event, the Sales Scholars held their second-annual call-a-thon to encourage donations for the Professional Sales Program Scholarship fund. This scholarship fund provides financial support related to tuition, books, and other college expenses to help sales students thrive.

Faculty leaders of the Professional Sales Program teamed up with the W. P. Carey School’s Office of Advancement to host the call-a-thon. “We wanted to give our students real sales experience,” says Detra Montoya, clinical professor of marketing and faculty director of the Professional Sales Program. “Making phone calls and cold calling are valuable skills, and this is a great opportunity for them to raise money for something meaningful to them.”

What is also special about the call-a-thon is that students aren’t just making calls based on a traditional prospect list. The leads for this call-a-thon are special because they are alums of the Professional Sales Program.

Julie Nelsen, clinical associate professor of marketing and sales faculty for the program, highlighted the benefits of the call-a-thon outside of raising funds. "It makes a big difference for the practice of professional prospecting, by having students push through initial discomfort,” she says. “Working through that feeling is a huge learning experience and helps them understand what they are capable of.”

As students made more calls, their nerves eased, and they were able to build connections with alums.

For Alden Mattingly-Dawson, one call turned into a networking opportunity when an alum asked to hear about her summer internship plans and early career goals. By the end of their conversation, the alum expressed interest in recruiting her for a full-time role after graduation. Mattingly-Dawson said, “It’s exciting to make these connections because a simple phone call turned into a potential job opportunity.”

Another scholar, Paige Busker, connected with alumni on LinkedIn and received advice on navigating the professional sales world. One alum she left a voicemail for called back to offer positive feedback, telling her she has a great sales pitch.

“I’m hoping this is the right career field for me and that I’m on the right path,” Busker says. “Getting positive feedback like that is really reassuring, especially when it comes from people who were in my shoes not too long ago.”

Anjali Razdan, assistant director of development with the W. P. Carey School’s Office of Advancement, works closely with the Professional Sales Program on the call-a-thon. She noted that students are typically not involved in raising money for their own scholarships in this way. “To have students leading a philanthropic initiative on Sun Devil Giving Day is a first for the W. P. Carey School,” she says.

By the end of the call-a-thon, the Sales Scholars exceeded their $5,000 donation goal for Sun Devil Giving Day. In fact, by the end of the first day, they had already raised more than last year's two-day total of $3,050.

The program’s faculty leaders knew students would surpass last year’s $3,000 donation goal, but were surprised by how quickly they achieved it. Nelsen adds, “I'm amazed at how generous sales professionals are to help future sales professionals.”

The Sales Scholars’ fundraising efforts reflect the strength of the W. P. Carey School’s global alumni community and help create new opportunities for future students in the program. Learn more and make a gift to contribute to the scholarship fund and support the next generation of sales professionals.