2003 Citizen Scholar: MARK SAMSEL, Wellsville High School

Mark Samsel, a Wellsville High School alumnus, was selected as Herald Citizen Scholar five years ago. During his time as a high school student, Samsel was active in sports, clubs and other activities, and he has continued to be involved during his college years.

Samsel graduated with a 4.0 grade point average from Missouri Valley College, Marshall, Mo., in May of 2007 with majors in political science and business administration and concentrations in management and finance.

At the University of Kansas, where he just finished his first year of law school, Samsel is focusing on media, law and policy and is ranked first in his class of 172 students with a 3.91 grade point average.

In high school, Samsel was junior and senior class president, president of the student advisory council and math team, secretary of the National Honor Society, and he was on the chess, basketball and track teams all four years.

Other groups and organizations Samsel was involved with included FBLA, Kansas Association for Youth, Students Against Destructive Decisions and yearbook.

“I certainly narrowed my involvement in college and particularly now in law school, but I remain actively engaged in the school and community,” he said.

At Missouri Valley College, Samsel a resident director and was involved with the Student Government Association, as well as being district campaign office manager for Missouri State Sen. William H. “Bill” Stouffer.

At KU, he’s involved with the Public Interest Law Society and is a Dean’s Fellow for the 2008-09 school year. Samsel said he also is involved with Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County and continues to officiate basketball and soccer.

He said he’s also a “huge” Jayhawk fan.

“[I] love being back on this side of the state line and at KU Law/Lawrence,” he said.

Samsel said he’s working at Lathrop & Gage L.C. this summer, but he’s not yet sure what area of law he’s most interested in.

He said he would like to try working in Washington, D.C., for a summer or two, but he loves Kansas and has no intention of leaving permanently.