Post by Princeton University

After four years serving on active duty for the U.S. Coast Guard as an electronics technician, Richard Kertatos '26 turned to Princeton to fulfill his dream of earning a college degree. In May, Richard graduated with a degree in Princeton Economics and a minor in finance. Born in West Palm Beach, FL, and raised in Oyster Bay, NY, the title of his senior thesis was "Analyzing the Effect of South Dakota v. Wayfair on Retail Establishments and Employment by Industry Returns to Scale." Outside of the classroom, Richard was focused on cultivating the veterans community on campus while serving as president of Princeton Student Veterans. "Whenever I struggled with anything, I had a built-in network of peers I could turn to for help and guidance," he said of his fellow veterans. "From social events to our weekly golf lessons at Springdale, I will always remember the camaraderie that made the veteran community so special. I’ve made some of my closest friends here, and I can’t imagine having gone through Princeton without them." One of his proudest accomplishments as president of the organization was securing a larger Veterans & Transfer lounge that will open this fall at Frist Campus Center. "This was especially meaningful because it gave me the opportunity to give back to a community that has played such an important role in my Princeton experience. I’m excited that veterans and transfer students will now have a space that better meets their needs and supports future generations of students," he said. This summer, Richard is completing an internship with Judge Jack Sabatino in Trenton, which he was inspired to participate in after taking Sabatino's course on the importance of state courts within the federal system. Then, he'll begin a new role as a tax associate with Andersen in the Commercial-Federal practice in McLean, VA. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve throughout college and ultimately plans to attend law school and pursue a career in corporate law.