Matt Pirrello (MBA ’21) epitomizes strength and perseverance. As a college student in the U.S. Air Force ROTC, he lost his leg after a parachute training accident. He learned to walk and run with a prosthetic leg, medaled in the Air Force Warrior Games and completed his ROTC program. When he came to UNC Kenan-Flagler, he found a cultural fit: “The School’s emphasis on veterans was evident and as an individual with a disability, was inclusive from the start. I said ‘yes’ to UNC Kenan-Flagler because they said ‘yes’ to me early on.” He used his leadership and mentorship skills to support fellow veterans, lead student clubs and mentor amputees at UNC Hospitals. “Having a life-changing event when you’re 20, you learn nothing is guaranteed, and you have to push past your comfort zone,” he says. “Always bet on yourself.”
