Sam Lemin

Sam is finishing his final year at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he has been dual majoring in Accounting and Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. Sam comes to us from Canberra, ACT Australia, the National Capital of Australia.

He told The Collegian, “I came to OPSU after being recruited from one of the football coaches (Coach Peters) here. There was a combine/clinic in Australia that I attended that various coaches attended looking for potential recruits. I was lucky enough to be one of the few given the opportunity to play college football.” Football brought Sam across the ocean, and through many different activities offered on campus, he found a second home in the Panhandle. He shared with The Collegian that in earlier years on campus, he was a part of the History Club and the Shooting Sports Club in addition to working as a Residence Assistant for two and a half years. He shared, “Unfortunately, time is limited and I was not able to continue being a part of those organizations. Currently, I’m the treasurer for Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), the treasurer for Student Senate, and a proud member of the OPSU Aggie Football Team.”

Sam’s consistent involvement with Panhandle State and the activities on campus have provided him with a very unique perception of college life, “I think the biggest thing I like about the Panhandle is the family atmosphere as well as simplicity of daily life. Everyone I have met through football and school, have always had open arms and been more than welcoming. I have created many friendships inside and outside of football that I hope last a lifetime. Not only are these special relationships created with students, it’s also with the teachers. The class sizes and nature of lectures allow for students to get to know their professor on a personal level. This, in my opinion, allows for the best learning experience possible as it is never too hard to get help when needed. The other thing I like about the Panhandle is the simplicity of daily life. Although there is a lack of things to do within Goodwell itself, I think this is almost a good thing, as your basics are met with good internet and Walmart only 15/20 minutes away. Not having these distractions available right in front of you I believe aids in forming good relationships as well as allows you to focus on the things that truly matter.”

Sam has a very steady compass when it comes to what truly matters, and being an international student does not come without its challenges. Flying internationally takes a lot of time and money, and as a full time college student it can be difficult to find the time in the academic year. Sam shared with The Collegian how he stays in touch with his family back home, “The biggest thing I miss from home would have to be spending time with my family and friends. It’s strange not being able to be there when significant life events happen or simply having the chance to spend time with those who mean the most to you. However, I try my best to stay in contact with them and am fortunate enough to skype my family roughly once a week.” One of the special opportunities of attending college with an international student base is all of the different places one can learn about. The Collegian asked Sam about his hometown of Canberra and he had this to share, “There isn’t much to say about Canberra except if you ever get asked what the capital city of Australia is, the answer is Canberra and not Sydney or Melbourne. If you ever win some trivia completion or “Who Wants to be A Millionaire” off this question, I’ll gladly take any prize money for the answer.” So make sure to add that to your data bank and remember Sam in the future!

This summer, Sam plans on attending an internship at Edenborough and Edenborough and staying throughout the summer for football. This fall semester will be his last football season and the last time Sam plays football; he told The Collegian, “I want to help the younger generation who are coming up as much as I can in a similar fashion to those that did before me.” After graduation next fall, he plans on pursuing a career in auditing while attaining his CPA license.

Sam looks back happily on his time at Panhandle State, “There’s nothing else to say except a huge thank you to everyone who has been at OPSU during my time here. I would like to personally thank Coach Gaskamp and the members (past and present) of the offensive line who have always made practice, 6 a.m. weights, and early morning meetings a blast. They have always been a great support group and it is certainly a unique collective of individuals who I’m glad to see are all good friends within. Secondly a personal thank you to Robyn Harris, Mindy Davis, Mike Murrell, Davin Winger, Sara Hitch, Brad Duren, Patrick Maille, and Tito Aznar. They have always been more than willing to help when I asked for it as well as help with networking opportunities. I certainly wouldn’t be the student I am right now if it wasn’t for their gracious time and dedication to teaching. I’ve certainly enjoyed my time here and look forward to coming back in future years for various Alumni activities.”