September 13, 2018

We are pleased to welcome our new Design Professional, Samantha Schneider, to Epstein!

Samantha graduated in May 2018 with a Bachelors of Architecture from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. Interesting tidbit the schools mascot is an Ibis, which is the last bird to leave in a hurricane, but the university is more commonly referred to as the Miami Hurricanes. And, at the U, they say, Go Canes!

While at Miami, Samantha continued her involvement in the Jewish community, holding active roles at the Hillel, including internships through StandWithUs & The David Project. Through these roles, she had the opportunity to manage over 10 educational and cultural events on campus, apply for grants, produce graphic advertisements, as well as deliver multiple speeches to the greater Miami Jewish community about initiatives on campus.

She was also on the executive board for Challah for Hunger, an organization that helps feed the hungry. Samantha participated in a fundraising campaign called "On One Foot" where she raised over $1,200 for the Hillel in just one month.

Samantha joined Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity, in order to surround herself with a diverse group of motivated students and enhance her professionalism and business skills. There, she was able to hold a leadership position as Vice President of Membership, managing the rush process of over 200 interested students and the education of the pledge class.

And, no, thats not all. I have participated, won, and organized/administered a design-build competition on campus. I have shadowed Studio X Architects at weekly on-site tours and construction meetings as they renovated the Hillel building on campus. A group project of mine focused on solar panel window technology and Habitat for Humanity was chosen to participate in the Clinton Global Initiative University. Samantha, did you have time to even go to class?!

She grew up in Skokie, just north of Chicago, and went to Niles North High School. She decided to go into architecture because of her passion for choreography. In high school, she was a dancer and choreographer.

Nothing gave me more joy than inspiring the audience with a beautiful dance that told a carefully crafted story through the movement, song, costumes, lighting and emotional acting. I wanted to find a career where I could create projects that have this kind of effect on people who experience them. Architecture is the one form of art that you cant escape. Everyone experiences architecture every day of their lives.

Samantha added that shes also very practical and loves to figure out the best solutions to highly complex puzzles.

The girl has a lot of hobbies traveling, cooking and baking (she claims she makes a MEAN pumpkin pie), to name a few. Shes very into music, attending concerts and festivals and creating hundreds of playlists on Spotify. She even recently began to teach herself how to play the guitar!

She also enjoys running competitively. She tends to stick to 5Ks, but she is proud to say she has run two half marathons now!

Again, welcome, Samantha, were delighted to have you join the Epstein family!