By Erin O'Hare '15
It didn’t take long for Erin Grogan ’15 to realize Siena was the perfect college for her.
“Once I visited Siena, other places dulled in comparison,” said Grogan, a marketing major from Wappingers Falls, New York.
Grogan recalled that on her Siena College campus tour, the guide walked backwards the entire time just to keep the group engaged. That first impression made Grogan realize that Siena’s friendly, helpful environment and people make the College special.
“I felt welcomed and at home before I even applied,” Grogan said. “Siena isn’t just a college, it’s a community.” After experiencing the community feeling during her campus visit, Grogan was excited to be part of it and she has made the most of her time as a Siena Saint.
To ensure that incoming students received the same warm Siena welcome she did, Grogan joined SAINTS, a team of student leaders dedicated to acclimating new students to the College community through residence hall meetings and special events. Becoming a SAINT was one of the best experiences of Grogan’s Siena career because it allowed her to form deep friendships and gain experience facilitating group discussions, leading team-building exercises and conflict resolution.
Grogan is involved in the Siena Marketing Association and Student Senate. Serving in these organizations has helped her develop budgeting, event planning, communication and time management skills that will be valuable when she begins her career. Grogan has also developed a strong network of contacts and forged strong friendships, all while contributing to positive change at Siena.
Grogan’s campus involvement is impressive. It is rivaled only by her achievements in the classroom.
Last year, Grogan was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for business programs accredited by AACSB International. It is the highest recognition a business student can receive in a program with that accreditation.
Grogan attributes her success as a student to the many experiences she’s had here at Siena College. “I’m often amazed with how prepared Siena made me to work a real job,” she said.
Grogan will graduate this fall, a semester early. Although she is sad to leave the community she calls home, she’s confident that Siena has prepared her for success in the future, proving that the College made not only a good first impression, but a lasting one.
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