Munir Sayegh ’11

Munir likes a good challenge. He works in the Admissions Office, tutors his peers in French and participates in Bible study. Whether he's keeping watch over his 50+ residents at Cosgrove Hall, mastering old school calligraphy or painting a school on a service trip to Kentucky, Munir is making the most of his time at Ambrose.

Next stop? A semester in Morocco to study Arabic and French. A bit farther into the future, Munir would like to own an advertising or design business.

In his/her own words:

Why St. Ambrose?

I was looking for a small, private school that had all of the majors I would possibly want. At that time I didn't know what I wanted to major in, but Ambrose had a variety.

I wanted small classrooms. That's ironic, because I came from a big high school. I graduated with 738 in my class. But I like individual attention, and I've gotten that here.

Do you see Ambrose as a good investment?

It's definitely worth it. You get a personal, family atmosphere, a nice place to live, good food and good people. I have a new family here. You can't put a price on that.

What are your favorite classes?

I've taken almost all of the basic classes for graphic design-fundamental studio classes like drawing, 2D design and 3D design. I learned old school calligraphy in my Letterforms class. One thing I appreciate about the basic classes is that it gives you experience in art before you start designing on a computer.

Are you close with any of the faculty?

The entire art faculty is really cohesive. They have different ways of teaching you how to see the world and how to view art. Leslie Bell has taught at Ambrose for 30 years or so and really knows what he's talking about. He's active in the art department, great at motivating his students and expresses what he thinks in a meaningful way.

How have you prepared for life after college?

During my freshman year I had an internship with Spin Web in Indianapolis. It was a valuable experience and I learned so much in the two weeks I worked there. Right now I'm doing some freelance design projects and I'm trying to get a job at a t-shirt printing shop.

How do you give back?

I did an Ambrose service trip in Kentucky. We did whatever they needed-mopped, painted and cleaned up a school. I knew a lot of the people I went with, but I got to know them a lot better. We played this word game, Apples to Apples, went to concerts and played sand volleyball.

I also built houses with my uncle in poorer areas of Jamaica. You get perspective out of service. It helps you understand the world better and gives you an appreciation for what you have. It brings you back to the basics about humanity and the human condition.

What do you like to do for fun around the Quad Cities?

I go to Grace Evangelical Free Church. Exotic Thai is my favorite restaurant in the whole QC. And concerts are always fun. Last year I saw Jason Reed, We the Living and the Whitest Light. And Josh Kelly performed at Ambrose during Last Blast.