Young entrepreneur and senior majoring in financial markets Troy Carpenter did not hesitate to pursue his dream of working in economics.

The College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resources recognized Carpenter as the Family and Consumer Scientist of the Year.

“I fell in love with it in high school and came to college and still loved it,” Carpenter said.

As a sophomore, Carpenter interned for Fisher Investments. He was one of 28 interns selected out of a pool of 2,000 applicants.

Carpenter said that something he’s struggled with has been figuring out what he wanted to do within economics. He said he left Fisher Investments when he realized finances were not for him.

“It’s important to realize that whatever is on your degree is not what you have to do,” Carpenter said.

As a junior, Carpenter became a part of the Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship, which is an institute that helps students learn how to run their own business.

“He got involved with the Harold Frank program and just ran with it,” said Karla Makus, Carpenter’s adviser for the School of Economic Sciences.

Carpenter has continued the entrepreneurship and cofounded a student-led business called GO-KEFI.

GO-KEFI is designed to help people make travel decisions based on their interests.

Carpenter works as the chief visionary. He coordinates all the presentations and builds relationships with colleagues and clients.

“One of his strengths is public speaking and pitching his team,” said Marie Mayes, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

Carpenter and his team have received many awards for their company, including the WSU Business Plan Competition award, the Spokane Startup Weekend award, Best Written Plan award, and the Inland NW Plant Competition award.

These awards granted GO-KEFI money and resources to expand the company.

Over his four years at WSU, Carpenter has won many individual awards including the 2015 Outstanding Financial Economics Senior and the WSU Larry Underwood Leadership Award.

“He knew what he wanted to do and didn’t need a whole lot of guidance,” Makus said.

Carpenter is involved with multiple extracurricular groups and clubs on campus. He is a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and the Finance, Insurance and Real-Estate Club. During his junior year, he was president of the Economics Club.

Carpenter said that if GO-KEFI takes off, he plans to further the development of the company.

“As long as he can use his creative flow to create startup companies, I think he will be happy,” Makus said.