Research Center

ANDY

Hometown:
Normal, IL
Normal Community West High School

Major / Concentration:
Senior in Media Studies / Psychology & Speech Communication

Extracurricular activities @ U of I:
Intramural softball and basketball

Favorite Class @ U of I:
COMM264: Media, Money and Power. It was a long and challenging class, but was extremely insightful and interesting.

Hobbies:
I’m a sports nut, but I also enjoy reading, movies, writing, or just hanging out with friends.

Favorite Restaurant in C-U:
Dos Reales. I go at least once a week – I’m addicted!

Favorite Movies:
I love all of the Bourne movies and just about anything with Will Smith.

Favorite TV Show:
My TV is usually on ESPN, but I also try to catch Californication, Nip/Tuck, Scrubs and Law and Order SVU.

Best college advice:
Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Meet new people, try new things, and put yourself out there.

Favorite Quote:
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” -Plato

Hero/Role Model:
My parents are great role models, but I’ll say my younger brother. I’ve never met anyone as driven, or who has gotten more out of the abilities he was given. When he sets his mind on something, nothing will stop him from achieving his goal.

Project Work @ RC:
Our team is responsible for writing monthly updates on State Farm’s competitors. We also research and report on many current topics and trends in both the insurance and financial services industries.

What brought you to the RC?
The convenient location on campus and flexible schedule were definite pluses, but you can’t beat the opportunity to gain real world experience with the top insurance company in the country.

Best thing about working at the RC:
Easily, the people and the environment! Everyone here is always willing to help and the openness makes it enjoyable to come to work everyday.

Most surprising thing you’ve learned about State Farm:
The opportunities here are endless – it’s not just about your knowledge of insurance. There are so many different departments, or areas, to fit a variety of skills and interests – the business acumen has developed along the way.