Not everyone has a life plan figured out by the time they’re in college.  

Joana Camarena is a great exception. Now a senior in the business administration program, she found her calling in an early accounting class at Yuba College and hasn’t looked back since.   

“I just fell in love with it,” she said, laughing. “My professor, Martin Gutierrez, was great. He encouraged  the students a lot, and he is also a first-generation Mexican American, like me.”  

From the beginning, Camarena approached her education with intention. She planned to pursue a business degree to gain the financial literacy her parents didn’t have. Today, her long-term goals reflect that same focus: becoming a chief financial officer while also owning her own business. 

When she was exploring transfer options, a personal phone call from Chico State’s College of Business about the accounting program, student support, and internship opportunities made a lasting impression. 

“I wanted to go to college to get a good job,” she explained. “Hearing how much Chico State supports students in getting internships really stood out to me.” 

Since arriving on campus in 2024, she wasted no time getting involved—including adding a second major in finance to her academic plate. Within her first few weeks, she had joined the Accounting Society and began exploring other student organizations. 

“All the students, staff, and faculty at the Accounting Society were super welcoming,” Camarena said. “I was also able to join Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honor society, and became the treasurer within a semester.” 

In class, she has impressed faculty with her dedication and initiative. Associate professor Angela Casler, who taught Camarena in her “Survey of Management” class, said her drive to learn “everything and anything about business, how to begin her career in accounting, and create career goals to achieve,” was highly noteworthy.   

“She immediately took the initiative to attend the Career Center’s career fairs and landed her first internship! She excitedly contacted me to let me know. I really felt honored that she took the time to let me know her exciting news. . . . She exemplifies the Chico Wildcat spirit, and I am proud to be a small part of her journey.”  

Camarena says one of the reasons she has been successful in class is because of the smaller faculty-student ratio and class sizes. 

“I learn better in a smaller group, where I can ask questions and won’t be worried about shouting over a hundred other people,” she said. “It feels welcoming, and it’s easy to make friends and connections.” 

Beyond academics, Camarena has found a strong community on campus through El Centro. 

“As soon as I walked in, I saw people who looked like me, and they’re super welcoming,” she said, noting the positive difference this made to her experience. “The directors are super welcoming and offer snacks, coffee, or just a place to hang out.” 

Resources, like the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the Association of Latino Professionals for America, also played a role in helping her navigate campus life and build essential connections. 

For Camarena, these spaces are reminders that she belongs. 

As she progressed through her program, she began developing one of the most important and challenging professional skills: networking. 

Through Beta Alpha Psi, she attended recruiting events and dinners with industry professionals, learning how to introduce herself, ask questions, and build relationships. 

It wasn’t always easy. Like many students, she initially worried about saying the wrong thing or not knowing how to start conversations. But with practice and support from her peers, she grew more confident. 

In addition to a previous internship, Camarena secured a highly competitive opportunity with global accounting firm KPMG during the winter break and early spring 2026. Leaping at the opportunity, she relocated to Los Angeles for the experience and put her training to work in a fast-paced environment during audit season.  

“It was definitely interesting being right in the middle of busy season, and I think I was kind of surprised, as well as how much work we were actually doing as interns,” she said. “I feel like Chico really prepared me for that. My professors in the College of Business always encourage us to ask questions, and I think that made a huge difference for me.”  

In addition to successfully completing the internship and gaining invaluable experience, Camarena also received a job offer at KPMG, which she has accepted and will begin in 2027.   

Now on the cusp of graduating with employment, the self-described coffee lover and former barista is continuing to enjoy exploring local coffee shops around Chico, looking for that elusive perfect lavender latte. 

She also finds creative outlets in thrifting and making floral bouquets, small but meaningful ways to unwind and express herself. 

Spending time with friends helps her stay grounded, but when she can, she heads home to Yuba City to be with family. 

While Chico State has played a major role in her success, Camarena is quick to point out that her journey is also rooted in the support she receives outside of campus. 

Her sister’s constant encouragement and her father’s unyielding support are driving forces behind her efforts.  

“It’s the small things,” she said. “They mean everything.” 

For Camarena, success is as much about chasing her dreams as it is honoring the people who helped her get there.

Delta Air Lines today reported financial results for the March quarter and provided its outlook for the June quarter.  

• Delivered March quarter earnings in line with initial guidance on broad demand strength driving better-than-expected revenue performance
• Guiding to low-teens revenue growth in the June quarter on flat capacity growth, reflecting strong demand momentum, meaningful capacity reductions, and rapid actions to recapture higher fuel
• Expect June quarter pre-tax profit of around $1 billion, on a more than $2 billion increase in fuel expense at the forward curve 
• Continuing to strengthen investment-grade balance sheet, with adjusted net debt below 2019 levels

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today reported financial results for the March quarter and provided its outlook for the June quarter.  

“Delta’s results underscore the power of our brand and the durability of our financial foundation,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s Chief Executive Officer. “We delivered earnings that were more than 40% higher than last year, even with a significant increase in fuel costs and operational disruptions across the industry. Our results are powered by the Delta people, who will always be our greatest competitive advantage. In February, we celebrated $1.3 billion in profit‑sharing payouts, similar to last year and more than the rest of the industry combined.”

Bastian continued, “Demand remains strong, and we are taking actions to protect our margins and cash flow. This includes meaningfully reducing capacity growth, with a downward bias until the fuel environment improves, and moving quickly to recapture higher fuel costs. Delta is best positioned to navigate this environment, with a leading brand, strong financial foundation, and the benefit of our refinery. In the June quarter, we expect to lead the industry with $1 billion of profit. And while the recent fuel spike is currently impacting earnings, I’m confident this environment ultimately reinforces Delta’s leadership and accelerates long-term earnings power.”

March Quarter 2026 GAAP Financial Results

• Operating revenue of $15.9 billion
• Operating income of $501 million with an operating margin of 3.2%
• Pre-tax loss of $214 million with a pre-tax margin of (1.4) %
• Loss per share of ($0.44)
• Operating cash flow of $2.4 billion

Read the full release on PR Newswire or via download.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections, goals, aspirations, commitments or strategies for the future, should be considered “forward-looking statements” under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not guarantees or promised outcomes and should not be construed as such. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections, goals, aspirations, commitments and strategies reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the possible effects of serious accidents involving our aircraft or aircraft of our airline partners; breaches or lapses in the security of technology systems we use and rely on, which could compromise the data stored within them, as well as failure to comply with evolving global privacy and security regulatory obligations or adequately address increasing customer focus on privacy issues and data security; disruptions in our information technology infrastructure; failure of the technology we use or depend on to perform effectively, including new and emerging technologies; increases in the price of aircraft fuel; extended disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel, including from Monroe Energy, LLC (“Monroe”), our wholly-owned subsidiary that operates the Trainer refinery; failure to achieve expected results or returns from our commercial relationships with airlines in other parts of the world and the investments we have in certain of those airlines; the effects of a significant disruption in the operations or performance of third parties on which we rely; failure to comply with the financial or other covenants in our financing agreements; labor-related disruptions; the effects on our business of seasonality and other factors beyond our control, such as changes in value in our equity investments, severe weather conditions, natural disasters or other environmental events, including from the impact of climate change; failure or inability of insurance to cover a significant liability at Monroe’s refinery; failure to comply with existing and future environmental regulations to which Monroe’s refinery operations are subject, including those relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, waste management, pollution prevention measures and greenhouse gas emissions; significant damage to our reputation and brand, including from exposure to significant adverse publicity or inability to achieve certain sustainability goals; our ability to retain senior management and other key employees, and to maintain our company culture; disease outbreaks or other public health threats, and measures implemented to combat them; the effects of terrorist attacks, geopolitical conflict or security events; competitive conditions in the airline industry; extended interruptions or disruptions in service at major airports where we operate; significant problems associated with types of aircraft or engines we operate; the effects of extensive regulatory and legal compliance requirements we are subject to; the impact of laws and regulations governing environmental protection, including but not limited to regulation of hazardous substances, increased regulation to reduce emissions and other risks associated with climate change, and the cost of compliance with more stringent environmental regulations; and unfavorable economic or political conditions in the markets in which we operate or volatility in currency exchange rates.

Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties that could cause differences between actual results and forward-looking statements is contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and other filings filed with the SEC from time to time. Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which represent our views only as of the date of this press release, and which we undertake no obligation to update except to the extent required by law.

HOUGHTON, Mich. (WLUC) – As students prepare to graduate in the coming weeks, the cost of living continues to grow around them.

One Houghton County school hopes to prepare them to financially face those obstacles.

“It’s all really mundane things that you wouldn’t usually think that you would need a class to learn,” Senior Katie Manchester said. “But then you’re in the class, and you’re like ‘Oh, this is actually really helpful’”.

Manchester is among the juniors and seniors at Houghton High School who participated in its third annual Financial Reality Fair on Tuesday. Each year, students in the school’s Personal Finance class get a glimpse into what independent life could be like after graduation.

Personal finance teacher Jennifer Rubin says that students learning personal finance skills is more important than ever.

“Everyone’s pocketbooks have been stretched,” Rubin said. “I think people see it in their own households. They see it with their parents struggling with finances, and they see gas prices. They’re seeing all of these things having much more of an impact than maybe it used to be a few years ago.”

Rubin says students got hands-on training during the fair, making financial decisions and budgeting. Senior Elli Sommerville found this particularly useful.

“I knew about budgeting beforehand, but actually getting to do it was really helpful,” Sommerville said. “We worked on it for about a month.”

Student Kylie Hatman said the fair helped her better understand her habits.

“Budgeting is a main thing for me,” Hatman. “I figured out that I don’t spend as much as I think I do. I liked the ‘Budget Down to Zero’ method. Figuring out how to format that really helped me.”

Rubin notes that these students will soon take these skills and teach them to a younger generation at Houghton-Portage Elementary School.

“Tomorrow, all seniors in personal finance are partnering with an elementary classroom, and they’re going to be teaching the elementary kids,” Rubin added. “They’re going to be the teacher.”

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