Meet David St. Clair '20
Meet David St. Clair, a senior studying Computer Science and Cybersecurity at Seton Hill. David was initially drawn to Seton Hill as he was being recruited for the Men’s Lacrosse team. “My first visit to campus was great. I remember driving up the hill for the first time and thinking how beautiful campus was with all of the trees and historic buildings,” says David. “I also remember everyone that I met being so nice and welcoming.”
David says that being a student-athlete at Seton Hill has been a wonderful experience. “The best part was meeting and becoming so close to all of my teammates. They have made the transition to college a lot easier,” says David. “The hardest part is definitely the time management, but my coaches, my teammates and student services are a big support system.”
In addition to being on the Lacrosse team, David says that going to a smaller school has also made for a great student experience. “I think some people think that going to a smaller school won’t be as fun, but I think it’s been a really positive experience. I’ve made so many friends and have so many memories that I am grateful for,” says David. His greatest memory was during his freshman year when the Lacrosse team won the inaugural Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship. “That was such a big accomplishment for me and my teammates and definitely something I will remember forever.”
David says that the biggest challenge he has faced as a student is the one all too familiar to all students around the world - dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. “The transition to going online was definitely difficult, but I felt like we were prepared for it and my professors did a really nice job of making the transition to online,” says David.
As an Apple Distinguished School, Seton Hill was well prepared for the transition to the online learning environment. Throughout the last decade, Seton Hill has eliminated the digital divide among students by providing each of them with mobile technology that provides them the tools they need to conduct class work. Faculty continues to be supported through the Innovative Teaching and Learning Center, which educates them on best practices for delivering classes in an online format.
Not only did the pandemic put a halt on face-to-face classes, it also created problems for students seeking internships and field work. “I was supposed to have an internship over the summer, but unfortunately it was cancelled,” says David. “Luckily, Seton Hill has opened up internship opportunities on campus. I was able to work with my professors to design a new internet program for the computer science classrooms. It was an eye-opening experience. I learned about the different career possibilities and got to experience the responsibilities that will be required of me working in those different fields.”
Although David hasn’t quite yet figured out what career he wants to pursue, he potentially sees himself working in cybersecurity. “Seton Hill has definitely prepared me for whatever field I decide to go into,” says David. “After graduation I’m looking forward to continuing my journey in the MBA program at Seton Hill, which I think will help prepare me even more.”