Moving Forward: Senior Spotlight on Pablo Samanez

Could Pablo Samanez have imagined, back when he began his college career at Texas Lutheran University four years ago, that before he graduated, he would have helped to manage a $2 million investment portfolio? Or that he would stand in front of a professional board of directors, presenting investment proposals? Or that he would confidently speak to groups like Rotary Clubs, talking about the work he and his fellow students were undertaking at TLU?

All of that happened because of one important decision Samanez made during his sophomore year: He decided to join Bulldog Investment Company (BIC), TLU's award-winning student-managed investment program, directed by TLU alum and certified financial planner Dave Sather, CEO of the Sather Financial Group, Inc. In hindsight, Samanez says it was one of the most impactful choices he's ever made. "It was the first time I was pushed to operate at a professional standard, where preparation and accountability actually mattered beyond the classroom, and where the expectations felt much closer to the real world."

Through BIC, Samanez learned how to read financial statements, analyze stocks, and make professional presentations-but there were also bigger, broader lessons which will equip him both personally and professionally as he graduates and enters into the next phase of his life. "Under the mentorship of Dave Sather, I learned that leadership is less about having the right answers and more about being prepared, taking ownership of your work, and making sure your team is aligned," he says. "That experience changed how I approach responsibility and made me take preparation much more seriously in everything I do."

Samanez says he also gained valuable experience by serving as comptroller for TLU's Student Government Association, chairing the Finance Committee and helping to oversee $100,000 in student funds.

This spring, he's been volunteering with TLU's VITA tax clinic, assisting members of the community with their tax returns. For an accounting student, it doesn't get more hands-on than that-but again, Samanez has a penchant for tapping into the deeper lessons in everything he does. For example, the experience of helping people with their tax returns "showed me how accounting directly impacts people's lives beyond just numbers."

Other areas of involvement on campus include the Mexican American Student Association, where Samanez helps organize campus and community events, and the Center for Servant Leadership, where he gets involved in serving the wider community.

All of that, plus classes, and Samanez has still managed to be an active member of the TLU Men's Soccer team. "I competed for four years as a defender under Coach Eddie Salazar," he says. "Balancing these roles taught me discipline, time management, and how to stay consistent even when the workload was high."

Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Samanez graduated from St. John Paul II Catholic High School in New Braunfels, and when he walks the stage at commencement this May, he will have earned both his BBA and his master's in accounting, with a minor in information systems.

He's already completing his second accounting internship with Neopod Systems, a modular manufacturing company in New Braunfels. This spring he'll also tackle that mountain that accountants across the nation face: the CPA exams, the first section of which he's taking in April. And following graduation, he'll transition into a full-time role with Neopod Systems.

Samanez will carry with him a wealth of experience and the hard-won wisdom he's acquired through that experience as he moves into the next chapter of his life. "I want to build a career where I can combine technical accounting expertise with practical business impact while continuing to grow as a professional," he says. "One idea that has stayed with me is to 'keep moving forward.' I've learned that you can't control every outcome, but you can control how you respond. That mindset has helped me stay focused, adjust when things don't go as planned, and keep progressing toward my goals. In the long term, I am interested in building something of my own, with a focus on providing tax and financial guidance to individuals and communities."