Sam Schroeder is currently serving his second term as UNK’s student body president and student regent. He’ll graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in political science and start law school this fall. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)
KEARNEY – Sam Schroeder’s advice for first-year college students is simple: say yes.
That mindset shaped his experience at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, turning a nervous freshman into a campus leader.
“I would tell a freshman to say yes to everything,” Schroeder said. “I think that helped me out a lot. I said yes to a lot of things just to get out of my room, and those experiences were really important. I found out what I liked and what I didn’t like. It got me involved. And I met a lot of great people – people who I’ll be friends with forever.”
A senior political science major from Seward, Schroeder will graduate in May with minors in public law and global peace and security. He is currently serving his second term as UNK’s student body president and student regent, a role that reflects his commitment to service and making a meaningful impact on those around him.
Schroeder describes his time at UNK as “transformational,” recalling a much different version of himself when he first arrived on campus.
“When I got to UNK, I was a pretty scared freshman,” he said. “I had no friends. I had no idea what was going on. I couldn’t access MyBlue one time, and I was like, ‘I’m never going to make it through college.’”
That uncertainty faded as he found his place within the political science department and branched out into UNK Student Government, Fraternity and Sorority Life and other campus organizations.
“I quickly found myself surrounded by a very welcoming, inclusive political science community,” Schroeder said. “That really helped me grow professionally and personally.”
A voice for students
Schroeder had no prior experience in student government before college and admits he didn’t expect it to play such a major role at UNK.
“Honestly, I couldn’t even tell you what my student council did in high school,” he said. “And when I came here, I didn’t think it would be any different.”
Encouraged by then-Student Body President Emily Saadi, he ran for a freshman senator seat as a way to meet people and get involved outside the classroom. He’s remained active in UNK Student Government ever since, serving as speaker of the Senate before he was elected student body president in 2024.
In his current position, he’s led several initiatives aimed at improving the student experience, including the addition of sand volleyball courts on campus and a policy change requiring proposed student fee increases to be presented to Student Government.
“It was an amazing experience,” Schroeder said. “It was a great honor to be selected to serve the student body. I think we did some great things for the student body.”
The 2025 homecoming king also served as president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and executive vice president of the Interfraternity Council. Additionally, he’s been involved in the UNK Honors Program, Undergraduate Research Fellows, Catholic Newman Center, Pre-Law Society, Order of Omega honor society and NU Student Alliance.
Those pursuits were a way to turn ideas into action.
“Something that propelled my involvement on campus was just realizing that I have the ability to make a change,” he said.
Professor Chuck Rowling, chair of UNK’s Political Science Department, saw that potential early on. He calls Schroeder a natural leader and model student who “commands the utmost respect from those around him.”
“His impact on our department and the broader campus has been profound, which began the minute he arrived on campus,” Rowling said. “UNK was never going to simply be a means to an end for Sam. He was determined to leave a lasting imprint throughout his time here.”
Preparing for law school
Schroeder is a member of the Kearney Law Opportunities Program (KLOP), a partnership with the University of Nebraska College of Law that recruits and trains students committed to serving rural Nebraska communities as attorneys. The program played a major role in his decision to attend UNK.
“KLOP was a big part of it, along with the affordability and incredibly high value of a UNK education,” he said. “If you’re a student here, you’re going to have opportunities for study abroad experiences, internships and research as early as freshman year. The sky’s the limit, and you can really do anything you want right away, as soon as you step on campus.”
Through KLOP, Schroeder received a full-tuition scholarship at UNK and guaranteed admission to the Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln. He’s participated in multiple field study experiences through that program and the political science department, including trips to Northern Ireland and Europe focused on international affairs, human rights and international law. The courses took students to historically significant sites such as Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg and the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
“Those are life-changing experiences, and it’s all thanks to KLOP,” Schroeder said.
The program has also helped him clarify his career goals through internships at the Klein, Brewster, Brandt & Messersmith law firm in Kearney and at the Nebraska State Capitol, where he worked with Gov. Jim Pillen’s office and the Governor’s Policy Research Office.
“I think the biggest impact those internships have is that it shows you what you can do with a law degree,” Schroeder said. “For me, it validated that I want to be an attorney and I want to help people in my community and in my state.”
Schroeder’s younger brother, Austin, is also part of KLOP. They’ll graduate together this spring and begin classes at Nebraska Law in the fall, continuing the academic journeys side by side.
“The joke is that when we graduate together in May, he’s actually graduating before me because his name starts with an A,” Schroeder said with a smile. “I think it’s pretty cool. I’m proud that he was able to catch up to me – and I’m prouder that he didn’t surpass me.”
After law school, Schroeder plans to return to rural Nebraska, where he hopes to put his education and leadership experience to work serving communities in need of legal professionals.
“We don’t want to see our communities without attorneys,” he said. “They’re leaders. They provide important services. I want to be part of the solution to the problem that our state faces.”
Passing the torch
As he prepares for the next chapter, Schroeder is both excited for the challenge that awaits at law school and committed to completing the work he started at UNK. He remains focused on finishing strong and positioning the next group of student leaders to step forward.
“I want to empower them to be able to make a greater impact than I was ever able to,” he said.
Rowling believes that same mindset will shape Schroeder’s future beyond UNK.
“Sam will be an exceptional attorney. I have no doubt about that,” he said. “The careful, methodical way that he thinks and processes information makes me know that he will excel in this profession. Beyond that, Sam has a deep sense of community, and he really values serving others. He truly embodies what the Kearney Law Opportunities Program is all about.”
For Schroeder, the path ahead reflects the same advice he offers incoming students.
Say yes, get involved and make the most of the opportunity in front of you.
