Finding Her Place and Passion
Kate Giannini graduated from St. Mary's College with a BA in English in 2000. She describes St. Mary's as a small tight knit school that was stunning and peaceful, where she made some amazing friends. When she graduated she was torn between venturing out into the world and going back to school to receive her credentials to be a teacher. She decided on exploring the world.

Kate began her career at the California Culinary Academy in sales and marketing. After four years, however, she went into the agency space and spent some time recruiting at K-Force, a technology firm. "I realized that if you do not love the subject you are working with every day, it makes it difficult."

Kate found that she loved the rush of recruiting and found her place at 24 Seven, a boutique staffing firm that specializes in fashion and advertising, where she works as an account manager. She has found her passion and home at her job at 24 Seven in San Francisco. "The subject matter is one of my passions and the people I work with are amazing—to me, the environment is almost as important as the work. And I have found my home."

Goal Oriented
Since Kate found what she enjoys, she encourages others to find what they enjoy too. Kate has always worked to the best of her abilities and continues to demonstrate the strengths that earned her a Jefferies Family Scholarship. She was rewarded for her hard work as a high achiever two years in a row at the California Culinary Academy, and won Rookie of the Year at Kforce.

Once she has accomplished all her goals in the recruiting world, she would love to have her own business one day, a flower shop, café, or an interior decorating firm. In the future, Kate hopes to stay healthy, have a family and continue to grow her career to the fullest.

A Jefferies Family
Kate's brother, Matthew, is an alumni of the Jefferies Family Scholarship. Kate's mother, Joan Giannini, worked at Jefferies for more than 17 years. She helped open the first San Francisco Office for Jefferies with Richard Kane and Paul Kent. While at Jefferies, She managed the office of the Equity Sales Division, Bonds Direct and Private Client Services. "I am sure [the scholarships] alleviated a lot of stress for her," says Kate

Kate credits Jefferies with helping her reach her goals. "Without the award I would have not been able to go to the college of my choice, it was my vehicle to a world-class, private education that gave me the gift of writing, speech, and the continued desire to learn something every day."

Academic excellence
Matthew Giannini graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a degree in Pre-Law and a minor in Philosophy with a concentration in Rhetoric. He describes New York University as rigorous and socially rewarding. "Arguably the best four years of my life and I would not trade the education I received in the classroom or in life for any other school."

He excelled academically, making the Dean's List six times. Outside of academics, he was no less talented; he was an active and gifted member of the men's varsity basketball team and a member of the academic athletics honor association, which honored outstanding achievements on and off the court. He also participated in the Dean's Advisory Board, intramural sports, and was a freshman orientation leader and peer mentor.

Finding the Right Fit
After graduation, Matthew went to work at a New York-based law firm as a paralegal and essentially as a recruiter. He realized quickly that his real interest had shifted from a career in law to a career in recruiting. The financial markets had always been an area of interest for him, so he decided to align that interest with his aptitude for recruiting, and found his place in financial services. He currently works as an Associate at Rice and Dore, a financial service executive search/consulting firm. He helped open Rice and Dore's New York office and was promoted to Associate after only one year.

"A myriad of opportunities have arisen—meetings, interviews, offers from alumni, and the chance to live and study in a foreign country," as a result of his education and scholarship. Matthew ultimately would like to build and grow "a world-class business."

The Jefferies Family Scholarship
Matthew's sister, Kate, is also a recipient of the Jefferies Family Scholarship, and shares his passion for matching people with the right professional fit. Their mother, Joan Giannini, helped open the San Francisco office in 1992 with Rich Kane and Paul Kent.

Matthew thanks the Jefferies Family Scholarship for helping him and his family, and allowing him to attend the schools he wanted. "It certainly assuaged my parents' financial concerns and made their lives much easier."