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Looking back on his college experiences, Sam says "Even though many small colleges pitch the idea that you can be involved in a number of activities, BVU really came through on that promise."
BVU Classes, Outside Activites Were a Good Mix for Law Student
Buena Vista Today
February 2009
Sam Wooden, Class of 2007, a second year student at the University of Kentucky/Lexington School of Law, made academics a priority at BVU, but also found that what he learned outside the classroom was important to his total educational experience.
His courses with Dr. Brad Best and Lisa Best, associate professors of political science, prepared him well for the rigors of law school and gave him the knowledge and background to compete head-to-head with students from much larger universities. "The Bests were instrumental in my preparation for law school, in the advice they offered and their willingness to write letters of recommendation on my behalf. They always had open doors and ears to my concerns and questions. They have also continued to offer me encouragement after I graduated."
Life outside of class was also busy for Sam. A political science and public administration double major, he served on the Student Senate all four years at BVU and was president his senior year, which helped him develop his skills in leadership and teambuilding. He interned twice in a state's attorney office in Illinois, where he had the opportunity to apply the knowledge he learned in his legal studies classes and other social sciences courses. He also had two international academic travel experiences, one to Italy his sophomore year and the other to Ecuador and Peru as a senior. He even found time to be the student manager for the volleyball team and to occasionally sing and play his guitar at local pubs on weekends.
Looking back, Sam says "Even though many small colleges pitch the idea that you can be involved in a number of activities, BVU really came through on that promise."
When he started law school, Sam planned to specialize in entertainment law. Now, his career interests have shifted to criminal law and procedure. "I see numerous injustices in that area and hope to do my part in remedying them," he comments. After spending a summer working in Washington, D.C. for Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Illinois), he has also been considering a career in public service.