By Rhodes Neuner

“Stay active, stay curious, make sure you’re putting in the time so that things will go your way.” 

Collegiate alumnus (and my older brother) Will Neuner (’22) continues to carry these words with him, as he always looks for a new challenge and new opportunities to conquer. Neuner, currently a senior at Duke University, will graduate this May with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Neuner said his “itch” for engineering started during his time at Collegiate. At Collegiate, Neuner was an avid member of the varsity soccer and track teams, while also being a member of the Darr-Davis investment club and the robotics team. 

Photo courtesy of Will Neuner.

During his time at Collegiate, Neuner won six individual track state championships in his four years of competition with the varsity team. Neuner also helped varsity soccer win the VISSA Division I state championship in 2023. Neuner thought he wanted to pursue track in college and had the opportunity to do so. He was recruited at the Division I level, eventually getting a walk-on spot on Duke’’s track and field team. “When given the opportunity to run track in college, I actually had to sit down and think about it, because it’s more than just running.” Neuner ultimately turned down the offer after tearing his labrum during his Senior year spring season at Collegiate. When asked if he regretted his decisions, he said, “I don’t think passing up on that opportunity is something that I regret, because it gave me so much more time for other things that I’m very grateful for in my life.” 

Neuner’s choice to attend Duke was controversial in our family. Our mother Corbin Neuner spent her four years of college at the University of North Carolina, Duke’s archrival in pretty much everything. When asked about her son’s college decision, she said, “I’ve always thought it would be really fun to have one of my children go to my alma mater, UNC, and was really happy that it was the first school to give him a college acceptance. I knew with Will’s dream of being an engineer that wouldn’t be the right home for him, so when he chose Duke. I knew it would make for a fun family rivalry watching basketball during the years he’s been there, and it has not disappointed.”

Neuner remembers a time he could cheer for UNC: “It’s really funny that my whole life I grew up being a Tar Heel.” When he made his decision, the 2022 March Madness basketball tournament was in full swing. When it came down to the final four, UNC and Duke met in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. “I remember telling people who were asking, ‘Who are you going to cheer for?’ and I told them I’m going to cheer for Duke, but when we got to the game, it was a different story. Externally, I wanted to cheer for Duke, but internally, I had this gut feeling every time North Carolina hit a shot, I was happy about it.” UNC would go on to win that game, but Neuner did say his views have changed since. “I will say, four years later, I will never be able to cheer for UNC again.”

Neuner plans to move to Chicago after graduation to work at Optiver, a technology-driven trading firm. When I asked how he got into that field, he said he never even knew about it before a Duke business club meeting. Neuner was talking about opportunities he was looking into, and one of his classmates mentioned their job in Chicago. Neuner got a referral from a classmate, and after interning for the company this past summer, he received a job offer. Neuner accepted the offer and will be helping to make models driven by data to help the traders know when to buy and sell stocks. 

Neuner advocates that although the grades in college are important, being social and knowing people in your industry is also vital to success. “You have no idea who you’re going to run into at any time, and how impactful that interaction could be for your future.” 

Looking back at his college career, Neuner does have some regrets. “My biggest regret would be not getting involved earlier, socially and in the clubs the school offers.” Neuner advocated persistently that while school and grades are important, college is a new start and fresh beginning. “There are only four years. You have to use them wisely.”