As part of our Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our undergraduate and MBA programs to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller College, and what they plan to do after Fall 2018 Commencement.
Meet Sam Medinger:
Sam hails from Norcross, Georgia, and is completing his undergraduate Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance. He is also minoring in Engineering & Business, via the Steven A. Denning Technology & Management (T&M) Program, and French.
Sam is a Bergmark Family Dean's Scholar who describes himself as a "sincere and passionate person who strives to make a difference in the world." And, his best advice to potential Scheller students: "Get involved outside of the classroom! Getting good grades is a great foundation to being a successful student, but being involved in things outside the classroom is so important to your personal development and growth."
Where did you intern/co-op and when? What projects did you work on during your internship?
I co-oped at Southern Company on the Derivatives & Collateral Management team. My main projects included building out a collateral database and monthly reporting on the market value of outstanding derivatives. I also interned part-time at Southern Company during the semesters in between my co-op on the Capital Markets team. My largest project was working on analyzing the investor base for outstanding Southern Company debt as compared to peer companies and looking at potential investor targets.
Finally, I also interned at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey on the Leveraged Finance team. I worked on various client pitches as well as an acquisition deal.
Did you end up working or interning for one of your top choice companies?
Yes; I knew that I wanted to work in financial services and I was able to find perfect fits for me.
Where will you be working after graduation?
After graduation, I will be working as an investment banking analyst on the Leveraged Finance team at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey here in Atlanta.
Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?
I chose Scheller College of Business because of its community at the intersection of business and technology. I visited Scheller my senior year of high school to interview for the Dean's Scholarship. Once I arrived at the event and began to meet students, professors, and staff, I realized that Scheller was the perfect place for me to study business. I also realized that Scheller would provide an environment where I would be surrounded by students who would push me to be my best and provide a great community with many opportunities to thrive. Additionally, the focus of Scheller's developing the "whole student" with courses in career development was extremely appealing to me. Four-and-a-half years later, I could not be happier with my decision to come here.
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Being a Scheller student in the heart Tech Square was significant in my development as a student, I believe. Seeing friends pursue roles at startups, innovation centers, and in technology project management, I was able to better understand the role that we as business majors play in the role of the development of technology and running a successful business.
The community within Scheller College of Business is incredible. The faculty and staff are all invested in each student's success and the growth of the College. For me, it has been so rewarding to be a part of its community.
How did the extracurricular offerings at Scheller College help you during your time here? Is there anything Scheller didn't offer that you feel would've helped you succeed?
Extracurricular activities at Scheller and Georgia Tech contributed significantly to my personal and professional growth outside of the classroom. My involvement allowed me to develop leadership skills, meet students outside of my major, and leave an impact on Georgia Tech's campus. Just as Georgia Tech seeks to find well-rounded students, companies also want employees who are well-rounded. The extracurricular involvements at Georgia Tech allowed me to grow as an individual and pursue opportunities I did not have the chance to explore in high school.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
On campus, I was involved in a few extracurricular groups, including: the Interfraternity Council, GOALSoccer, Scheller Business Ambassadors, and the Student Government Association. Having the opportunity to pair my Scheller classroom knowledge with organizations I cared about was very rewarding.
Did you travel abroad during your time at Scheller? What were some of your key takeaways from the experience?
Yes, I studied abroad with the Language for Business and Technology (LBAT) Program where I spent seven weeks living in Paris and two weeks in Nice living with a host family. Spending the summer in France and traveling to countries across Europe was an incredibly rewarding experience. The time abroad allowed me to reflect on my time at Scheller and reevaluate time priorities. Studying abroad and traveling is an experience I think everyone should have the opportunity to do.
How do you feel you grew as a business student by being part of the Denning T&M Program?
T&M allows you to apply concepts learned across the business curriculum into a real, tangible project. Being the sole business major on my team allowed me to take lead on crafting the story of our project and pushing our team to meet deliverables.
How do you feel a program like T&M will prepare you for life after graduation?
I think the T&M program provides invaluable soft skills to students that are not learned in a typical classroom lecture setting. The courses that I took in emerging technologies, nanotechnology, and product development will be valuable later on in life at whatever company I chose work. Being provided a foundation to understand technologies and skills to be a lifelong learner will be important to me for the rest of my life.
Did being part of T&M play a role in what you've decided to do after graduation?
Having the opportunity to learn and work with students outside of my major and take classes outside of the normal scope of business has been invaluable. The opportunity to see and hear other perspectives allowed me to be reaffirmed in my choice of major and job choice after graduation.
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
To travel to all seven continents and to visit every National Park in the U.S.
In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?
I would like to be remembered by my peers as a compassionate student who deeply cared about Georgia Tech and Scheller College of Business.