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The ������ý Business, Accounting, and Economics Department has named Will Cutler of Claremont, South Dakota, as 2026 Business Student of the Year, recognizing his academic excellence, disciplined approach to learning, and commitment to growth both inside and outside the classroom.

Faculty say Cutler stands out for both his performance and his character.

“Will has distinguished himself as one of the strongest students in the program,” says Brenda Zylstra, JD, associate professor of business at Dordt. “His practical application of material, sincere commitment to challenging himself, and genuine enthusiasm for learning set him apart. Beyond academics, Will demonstrates integrity and a deep love for others, the Bible, and our Lord.”

Cutler says the recognition is meaningful, but he approached his time at Dordt with the same mindset regardless of the outcome.

Cutler, when reflecting on his mindset before receiving the award, said he thought about it this way, “The work that I have put in here at Dordt has been and will be the same, whether or not I am given the award. Whatever the outcome, whether it is me or one of my deserving classmates, I will be happy. It is the work that really counts.”

Still, receiving the award marked a significant moment.

“When my name was announced, it felt natural,” he says. “After the banquet, I went for a walk and called my parents to tell them about it. While it is the work and the experience that really mean something, this award is something that I will carry with me for a long time.”

During his time at Dordt, Cutler was involved in several high-impact academic and extracurricular experiences. He worked alongside classmates Jacob Narkis, Willem Kimm, and Ella Peacock on the CFA Research Challenge, applying classroom knowledge in a competitive, real-world setting.

He was also an active participant in Defender Capital Management (DCM), a student-led investment group that provided opportunities to take risks, learn from failure, and grow alongside peers.

“The hands-on structure of DCM allowed me to fail, learn, and grow,” he says. “It also gave me the opportunity to build strong relationships with my classmates.”

Cutler credits much of his development to a focused approach to his time at Dordt.

“Rather than trying to do everything at once, I’ve tried to think in seasons,” he says. “Some months you focus more on work, others on study, others on relationships. It’s more effective to focus deeply on a few things than to spread yourself too thin.”

That mindset was shaped in part by what he describes as a growing awareness of his own limitations—and a deeper trust in God.

“I fail more than I would like,” he says. “Yet God’s grace is sustaining. Here at Dordt, I have learned to trust God more, love God more, and rest in His goodness more.”

After graduation, Cutler will attend law school at the University of Iowa College of Law on scholarship, continuing his pursuit of challenging and meaningful work.

Looking back, Cutler encourages younger students to pursue growth with intention and humility.

“You have to try,” he says. “Try to understand the material better. Try to build relationships. Try to do more than you think you can. You will come up short more than you like, but you will come out a winner more than you expect.”

About ������ý

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, ������ý equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.