A tale of two paths: How the Evans twins navigated internships and self-discovery
By Megan Nash
Twins Jordyn and Raven Evans (B.S. ’26) have always moved in sync. But as juniors at the VCU School of Business, the sisters are stepping into their own rhythms.
The sisters, both finance majors with minors in real estate, started college with different aspirations.
“I came into college thinking I would pursue physical therapy,” said Jordyn. Yet, a passion for math and leadership steered her toward finance during her freshman year. “I’ve always had a strong interest in leadership, and finance offered me the perfect blend of analytical thinking and management.”
This summer, Jordyn took on a district manager internship with ALDI USA, clocking 50-hour weeks across Virginia and North Carolina stores. She described her days as starting with “traveling to one of my assigned store locations, where I conducted a thorough store walk.”
Her responsibilities included checking the cleanliness and quality of produce, bread and meats, “ensuring that every part of the store met ALDI’s zone standards.”
Each day brought a rotation of duties, from overseeing store operations to reviewing financial reports and leading teams. By the end of the summer, Jordyn was tapped to present a 30-minute improvement plan to ALDI’s divisional leadership.
“This project was a major learning experience,” she said. Preparing and delivering the presentation “pushed me out of my comfort zone and required me to demonstrate the critical thinking and analytical skills I developed throughout the internship.”
Raven, who initially planned to major in exercise science, also found her path shifting. “I knew I wanted to major in a degree that would allow me to gain access to more positions and opportunities,” she said.
That ambition led her to finance and to an internship at Myers and Stauffer LC, a healthcare firm specializing in audits of government programs.
As a finance and accounting intern, Raven examined Medicaid finances for hospitals in Nevada and Virginia. “Some of my daily activities involved conducting desk and field audits on providers to ensure compliance with Centers for Medicaid and Medicare regulations,” she explained.
She also supported the Disproportionate Share Hospital Examination, a federal program supporting hospitals that serve Medicaid and uninsured patients.
“The volume of data was unlike anything I had dealt with before,” she said. “But as I worked through it, I became more proficient with tools and the complexity turned into something I became confident in.”
As she advanced, she grew adept with Excel, managing complex datasets and mastering pivot tables and other functions. “I wasn’t skilled in certain features initially, but the challenge was an opportunity to improve,” she said.
Both credit VCU’s Business Career Services for supporting their growth. “Business Career Services gave me the confidence to apply for roles I didn’t think I was qualified for,” said Jordyn.
Financial support through the Kevin Nicholson Internship Fund helped alleviate logistical challenges, covering housing and transportation costs. VCU alum Nicholson, (MBA ’06, MDA ’21) a leader at RiverFront Investment Group, established the fund to help students cover expenses related to their internships.
“I am proud that Jordyn and Raven were recipients of the Kevin Nicholson Internship Scholarship that my wife and I established to give members of underrepresented demographics the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the finance industry,” said Nicholson. “Jordyn and Raven are the ‘Wonder Twins’ that embody the strong work ethic, drive and determination that I feel is imperative to succeed in the financial industry.”
“The award gave me the opportunity to take on this internship,” said Raven. “I could focus without financial stress.”
Back on campus, Jordyn is excited to take on more leadership roles, such as treasurer for a student organization, while Raven is continuing her internship with Myers and Stauffer.
As they look toward the end of the fall semester, the Evans sisters are clear about one thing: they’re heading toward success together—but on their own terms.
“We’ve definitely grown in different ways,” Jordyn said, “but I think we’ve supported each other the whole time.”
Categories News