Three Saint Leo marketing students answer some questions about their experience attending the school's University Campus, the clubs they've joined, and what their futures hold in terms of career interests.
We recently caught up with three marketing majors who attend Saint Leo University at its University Campus. We learned about their experiences as students, their interests, and what they hope to achieve in the future:
Name: Sherard Stevens
Nickname: "Rad"
Age: 20
From: Nassau, The Bahamas
Year in College: Senior
Hobbies: Jet skiing, scuba diving, spending time with family and friends, going to the beach, playing basketball, reading, and watching movies
Major/minor: Marketing major, communications minor
Expected graduation date: Spring 2018
How did you end up enrolling at Saint Leo University?: "Saint Leo visited Nassau to promote the university. I was invited to attend their presentation with my parents. it was amazing to see the success of the university through various levels of academics, religion, the environment, and campus life. It was something I wanted to be a part of."
Why did you decide to go to college?:"I've always had a passion for learning, and I always knew I wanted to attend a top university. So, I wanted to expand my knowledge in a specific field that would help me progress through life and follow my passion."
What are some special memories you have from your time at Saint Leo?: "There are so many special memories when I look back at my time at Saint Leo. It's almost hard to just choose a few.
In the summer of 2015, I was selected as a first-year experience summer staff leader where myself and some others were able to plan the class of 2019 orientation. Those four months were amazing because I learned new skills, got a better understanding of Saint Leo, and met people from all over the world.
Being on the executive board for the Caribbean Students Association has also been good. I served as special events coordinator where I got the chance to travel to most of the universities here in Florida. Getting a chance to bond with other classmates and also to see other beautiful campuses across Florida that I only saw on social media and TV was awesome.
I've also had special times with friends, from being together in the library to studying or doing homework together to working on group projects since freshman year. Being with those friends through the tough times and having laughs during the good times will always be special to me."
Do any classes, faculty, or staff stand out in your time?: "The classes that stood out for me were finance for managers, Accounting I and II, and the majority of my marketing and communications classes. Some professors who stood out to me were John Heather, Kenneth Embry, Rick Scott, and Raymond Yann."
Have you been involved in any clubs or organizations to campus? If so, what have these experience been like?: "During my tenure as an undergrad, I've been involved in a few clubs and organizations, and the experiences I've had have been tremendous. I've learned some things that I was able to apply to the classroom right away and benefit from.
I've also had the chance to meet and develop lifelong relationships and experience new adventures that absolutely made me a more well-rounded student and more prepared for the journey of life."
What kinds of core values will you walk away with from your time here?: "The core values I will walk away with would be all of them. This is because each individually taught me something that will be with me for a lifetime. These core values also taught me how to go about things with a good attitude and to always strive for excellence."
Why would you recommend Saint Leo to others?: "The reason I would recommend Saint Leo to others would have to be the small class sizes where you get to have a one-on-one connection with your professors and peers, the Catholic education system, the community with various clubs and organizations, the people who make up Saint Leo, and finally, the beautiful campus and Florida weather."
What are some pieces of advice you would tell a high school student about how to be successful in college?:"I would say to always set your goals and write down your plans that you want to achieve. Develop good study habits, and be around the right people with a positive attitude and good working habits. Try to get involved in clubs or organizations on campus, or even look for a job. Always put in the maximum effort to be a complete student."
What are your career goals?: "I'd like to do marketing or advertising. In the future, I'd like to travel the world to market my homeland of The Bahamas and our tourism."
Name: Elizabeth Ottati
Nickname: "Liz"
Age: 19
From: Long Island, New York
Year in college: Junior in the 3+1 Program (second year at Saint Leo)
Major/minor: Marketing major
Expected graduation date: Spring 2019
Hobbies: Spending time with my roommates and friends, listening to music, playing sports like volleyball and tennis, sunbathing, drawing, and napping
How did you end up enrolling at Saint Leo?: "My initial college search was for business schools in Florida. Along with Saint Leo, a handful of other schools across the state piqued my interest. As I toured the schools, it became clear I wanted a small school with a beautiful campus and great career opportunities. Saint Leo checked all the boxes, and I knew this was where I wanted to be when I visited the campus."
Why did you decide to go to college?: "On top of college being a necessary step for my future career plans, I desired to learn more and get a well-rounded experience that I could take with me forever."
Do any classes, faculty, or staff stand out in your time here?: "Of the faculty at the school, I owe most of my success to Nick Macchio in admissions. He's been an incredible help with everything and has gone way beyond the call of duty to make sure I do my best and have the best opportunities to flourish at Saint Leo.
In terms of professors, Dr. Keith Jones has been a hugely influential figure in my college career. On top of being one of the university's marketing professors, he is my academic advisor and faculty supervisor for the American Marketing Association. I spend a lot of time in his office and corresponding with him, whether it be planning AMA events, my schedule for the next semester, or just catching up.
Another impactful figure for me was Professor Lucia Farriss who was an incredible teacher for macroeconomics. After noticing my performance, she reached out to encourage me to become more involved in economics. She was the reason I picked up an economics minor."
What kinds of core values will you walk away with from your time here?: "The core value that resonates with me the most is personal development. Saint Leo stresses the commitment of every student to their personal development and growth while at the university. I have grown in countless ways since coming here, including as a student, as a friend, as a colleague, and as a marketer. I have overcome weaknesses and built upon my strengths with excellence in my foresight."
Have you been involved in any clubs or organizations on campus?: If so, what have these experiences been like? "I'm most actively involved in the Saint Leo chapter of the American Marketing Association as the VP of Communication. I joined the executive board my first year as the VP of Social Media and then took over Communication. I've learned leadership skills, time management, content creation, and tons of other practical marketing and communication tools that I use in other parts of my education. I'm currently a member of two honor societies at Saint Leo – Delta Nu and Delta Mu Delta. However, I am newly inducted and haven't had the opportunity to do much under them.
My other extracurricular commitment is Intramural sports. I play indoor volleyball, sand volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis, kickball, and flag football. Intramurals taught me a lot about being a team player, and the added responsibility helped me to manage my time responsibly."
Why would you recommend Saint Leo to others?: "Saint Leo is the perfect fit for me, and I know there are students out there like myself who value the same things. The campus is beautiful and small enough to be convenient, but not so small that the scenery becomes too familiar. It is also relatively close to Tampa and Clearwater, and with the trips that Saint Leo runs, you can usually find something fun to do in your off time. The academic side of Saint Leo has worked really well for me because I was able to apply my high school AP credits to my degree program and graduate with my BA in marketing in only two and a half years. Saint Leo provides its students with an array of clubs and organizations to choose from so everyone will be able to find their niche."
What are some pieces of advice you would tell a high school student about how to be successful in college?: "Go to your classes! Classroom learning is an important part of being a college student. It's not all about grades and school, either. Enjoy your free time as long as you prioritize your learning. Go beyond your comfort zone to make friends and use orientation to meet new people. These are your peers and neighbors for the next four years of your life."
What are your career goals?: "I'm largely unsure about what I want to do, but I hope to join the marketing side of the fashion or magazine industry."
Name: Destiny Osuji
Age: 21
From: Houston, Texas
Year in college: Senior
Major/minor: Marketing
Expected graduation date: Spring 2018
Hobbies: Making music, painting, videography, and design
How did you end up enrolling at Saint Leo?: "I was searching for Universities in Florida and came across Saint Leo, and the rest is history.
Why did you decide to go to college?: "I wanted that upper hand in the marketing industry, so I decided to pursue my BA in marketing."
What are some special memories you have from your time at Saint Leo?: "A special memory would be the time I had the opportunity to make and package meals for the homeless. It was just a fun and eye-opening experience. I was glad I got the opportunity to give back."
Do any classes, faculty, or staff stand out in your time here?: "Dr. Passard Dean and Dr. Ioannis Pantzalis really stood out for me."
Have you been involved in any clubs or organizations on campus? If so, what have these experiences been like?: "All of the club experiences have been enlightening. I've even taken part in some clubs that have nothing to do with my major like the Healthcare Club."
What kinds of core values will you walk away with from your time here?: "Saint Leo University makes sure to instill its core values into each student. So, with that being said, I will walk away with excellence, community, respect, personal development, responsible stewardship and integrity."
Why would you recommend Saint Leo to others?: "The fact that it has Small class sizes would be a big reason I would recommend Saint Leo to others. It enables for the almost optimal learning experience."
What are some pieces of advice you would tell a high school student about how to be successful in college?: "My only piece of advice would be to find a good balance between having fun and academics – and to remember the main reason why you are here."
#MySaintLeo