Sam Schwab '18

When it comes to international travel, work, and study, Sam Schwab is a fan. The College of Arts and Sciences graduate soon hopes to live and work in Europe. He is pursuing teaching assistantships, paid internships, and possibly graduate study in Germany or Austria.

As a Marian University student, Sam participated in two study-abroad experiences. The first was at Harlaxton College in the U.K. The second was at Salzburg College in Austria, where he also completed an internship at the International Center for New Media (ICNM) that he says gave him more insight into the international business world, marketing communications, and entrepreneurship.

Part of Sam’s ICNM internship focused on marketing the European Youth Award (EYA), an annual contest open to young people who live in Europe and who have an interest in building digital solutions to address broad social issues, like healthcare, education, or the environment.

Sam’s team managed contestants from 17 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa who participated in EYA’s 2018 festival, which was held in Graz, Austria. In total, nearly 60 countries were represented at the event.

He says the strong written and verbal communication skills he built through his coursework, improving his fluency in conversational and professional German, and interest in the business world served him well. In fact, ICNM offered him full-time employment after graduation.

“Both experiences taught me to appreciate people from different cultures. I met wonderful people, visited places in Europe I never knew existed, and got a new perspective on life in my home country by learning to consider the perspectives of others,” says the Roncalli High School graduate.

Sam’s academic accomplishments at Marian earned him recognition. Last year, he was inducted into Delta Phi Alpha, the National German Honor Society. He also received the Goethe Institute Book Award for Students of German. Both honor excellence in the study of German language, literature, film, and culture.

Sam’s ultimate career goal? “My goal is to work in marketing for a German-owned company that operates globally. But, in order to get more international experience and obtain a work visa, I’ve applied for a U.S. Teaching Assistantship in Austrian secondary schools. The application was due a month ago, so I expect notification about whether my application was accepted soon.” If selected, Sam would join about 140 Americans who teach in Austria each year.

His advice for high school students who are exploring college options?

“Don’t worry about where your high school peers are going to college. Choose a school that interests you, even if it feels a little out of your comfort zone, because that is how you’ll grow as an individual. Consider smaller schools like Marian, because you often have bigger opportunities and get more attention from faculty. Get involved on campus and do something you enjoy when you’re not studying. I played intramural football and basketball. You’ll meet a lot of people and make many friends.”

Sam appreciates his Marian student experience. “I feel fortunate that Marian provided me with the academic knowledge, professional guidance, and educational resources I needed to pursue my goals.”

Bachelor of Science in Communication