DEAN'S LIST STUDENT FINDS NICHE AT UNM, MAINTAINS TIES IN SILVER

May 5, 2003

DEAN'S LIST STUDENT FINDS NICHE AT UNM, MAINTAINS TIES IN SILVER

Samantha Rose Schiowitz Samantha Rose Schiowitz, a 2002 graduate of Silver City High School and Dean's List scholar, graduated a semester early from high school. She likes to stay a step ahead.

Following high school graduation Schiowitz moved to Savannah, Ga., "to get as far away from New Mexico as I could," she said.

But, working two jobs to support herself was a wake up call to the value of an education. "I qualified for the lottery scholarship so I figured going to UNM was a way to afford school," she said. Also, the prospect of waiting tables "until I was 70" was not a particularly attractive alternative, she said.

Although currently enrolled in University College, she will move to the College of Education. "I am planning to be an elementary school teacher because I like children and I think teaching is a very important job," she said.

Schiowitz plans to minor in Spanish. "I would like to teach in a Spanish-speaking country and experience different cultures by living in them," she said. She will go to Guatemala this summer.

She has many people in Silver City who motivated and inspired her, including her parents, Bob and Susan Schiowitz.

Another role model was Rosemary Samulski, the journalism teacher at Silver City High School. "She helped me realize my passion for journalism," said Schiowitz, adding that she wrote for the school newspaper.

Janet Hammel, "taught me how to be an adult about my mistakes," said Schiowitz. Hammel, owner of Toytown, coordinated the effort in the community built park, Penny Park. "My dad was on the committee and I worked on the project, too," she said. At a difficult time during her senior year Hammel hired Schiowitz to work at her store.

Tom Earlywine, owner of Silver Office Supply, gave Schiowitz her first job. "I worked there four years, but my mom worked there 17 years," she said.

She said that all her friends and family continue to encourage and support her. "Without friends and family, who are we really?"

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