Northern Arizona University business students got to rub elbows with the "rock star of the business world" in a special visit to Nebraska last week.

The group of 41 students from Northern Arizona University's college of business administration, along with NAU faculty members Mary Bowers and David Allen, traveled to Omaha, Neb., to meet billionaire Warren Buffett, the second-richest man in the world behind Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.

Not only was it a chance of a lifetime for many of the students, but it was also a first for Arizona universities.

"He's the rock star of the business world," said Allen of their meeting with Buffett. "Students flock around him wanting his autograph."

Buffett, 76, is worth an estimated $42 billion and recently offered most of his fortune to Bill and Melinda Gates' philanthropic foundation.

Mary Bowers said the trip was amazing for her students, who met with Buffett along with students from Northwestern University. Both groups traveled to Omaha and toured facilities owned by Buffett, ending with a question and answer session at the famous investor's Berkshire-Hathaway offices. She said the session ended with a trip to Buffett's favorite steakhouse, where he treated everyone to dinner.

"We were bused downtown to his Berkshire-Hathaway office, which if you know Warren Buffett, there's no sign, just a building. Even though he's worth $40 billion, he doesn't have his name outside. He would answer questions, he would tell a joke, tell a story, then he'd give some real concrete information, but it was fairly structured in that a certain person asked a question, then another, and I think that was just the format," said Bowers. "It was the first time an Arizona university has gotten to go see Buffett and usually it's MBA (master's in business administration) students, not undergraduates."

The trip was made possible thanks to NAU alum Scott Coors, who coordinated the trip and got NAU pushed to the top of Buffett's list, according to Bowers. Coors, vice president for marketing and sales for Trentwood, Inc., works closely with Buffett in the furniture business.

Another NAU alum, Keith Newlon, provided much of the airfare and lodging costs in order to make the trip possible. Newlon is president of Pioneer Title Co.

NAU student Jen Ming said the trip was a validation for her personal beliefs.

"We can tell our grandkids," said Ming, who plans to relocate to the Northwest when she graduates.

Matthew Gehl, a management major at NAU, said the trip to Omaha was something that those who attended would remember for a long time to come.

"It would be unlikely for any student that went to just let it drop," said Gehl. "It's an incredible reference. This is something to be very proud of. We (NAU) represented very well."

"He really stresses to surround yourself personally, professionally, with people that you admire," said Kelly Gosselin, who will graduate in May. "He's 76, has no plans for retirement. He's going to work for five years after he dies. He could be on a yacht somewhere, but he's not. He's in Omaha, and he's working."

Gosselin said the trip will set NAU apart from the other universities in Arizona.

"It's going to be something that, marketing-wise, they (NAU) can use for a long time."

Besides getting a chance to meet the billionaire, students have since shared their story with various individuals, including the National Advisory Board. A group of students recently completed a presentation to the board and reported on their experiences in Omaha. Many of the students kept journal entries as well, which chronicled their trip, and plan to share them with colleagues and friends.

Patrick Whitehurst can be reached at whitehurst1@peoplepc.com.