If you need to find Sami Chahouri on a Friday afternoon, head to the Marshall Student Center food court. He’ll be there making turkey sandwiches to feed the homeless.
Chahouri is one of about 50 student volunteers who gather weekly for Project Downtown Tampa, an initiative where students prepare over 300 sandwiches, drive to downtown shelters, and hand out sandwiches.
When he witnessed their gratitude, despite their struggles, that fostered a sense of compassion and social responsibility, he said. Helping people made him want to help his entire community. His ultimate goal: to own his own medical supply sales company to help people in need.
But being committed to the good of giving back is only part of his identity. Chahouri grew up in Lebanon and embraces his diverse multilingual background. He speaks French, Arabic, and English, and is learning Spanish.
A double major in finance and marketing, Chahouri landed a prestigious 2024 summer internship at Raymond James that will allow him to apply what he’s learned in the classroom in real-world situations.
As a member of the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, his mentor encouraged him to step outside of his comfort zone and improve his public speaking skills. Not only is he not afraid to speak in front of large audiences, but Chahouri now mentors other members so they feel supported and empowered to thrive.
Chahouri also served as an official Knack Tutor for the Muma College of Business and led an advertising and marketing communications campaign for the Florida Department of Transportation on motorcycle riding.
Now only a few months from graduating in 2024, Chahouri is grateful for the growth opportunities he found inside and outside the classroom.
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