In a state where athletics is king and the Southeastern Conference reigns supreme, Adam Tankersley, a student pursuing a degree in Finance with a concentration in Sports Marketing Analytics in Samford University’s Brock School of Business, could have pursued his passion for sports through any number of internship opportunities. However, he chose to spend a semester abroad, living in one of the largest cities in the world, London, and interning for the London Lions, a British professional basketball team based in Stratford, East London, England.

“I get a rush of emotion whenever I step onto the court,” said Tankersley. “When the lights come on and teams run out, I can only take a breath and take it all in because it is hard to believe I am a part of one of Europe's best teams, playing an integral part in their success.”

Through Samford Abroad, Tankersley joined several students living and studying at the Daniel House, a five-story home in central London, roughly a mile from Kensington Palace.

“The Daniel House is more than a home or a classroom, it is family,” said Tankersley. “I could never have achieved anything this semester without the support of the faculty, my fellow students, and of course, Samford, for providing me a home in London. It truly is something I will never forget.”

The Daniel House is used by students and faculty as both a home and a classroom and provides the setting for Samford faculty to develop students in an inspiring cultural context as affordably as possible. Here students can receive the quality education they are accustomed to in Birmingham, while exploring international internship opportunities and educational experiences.

“This professional experience helped me solidify my choice in a career. I knew I wanted to work in professional sports, but I never had seen firsthand what my potential opportunities could be. The academic pathway in sports marketing combined with my internship experience abroad have equipped me with the skills I need to confidently pursue a career in the front office of professional sports,” said Tankersley.

At Samford University and on the court of Copper Box Arena in East London, Tankersley’s passion met purpose. Furthermore, his education was broadened to include a holistic understanding of international sports, business and relationships.

“For me, the biggest benefit was experiencing different cultures. People talk about living in a bubble in America; regardless of whether that is true, having the chance to go abroad and get an international education is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It allows you to see different point of view and take what you have studied, bring it back to America and gain the benefits in the long term,” said Tankersley.

At the Daniel House, students live and work, but they also play, and take in the entirety of what life in London has to offer. Samford Abroad is thorough in its mission to provide in-depth cultural experiences that produce well-rounded students prepared for social and professional international settings.

“My favorite part of this semester was, without a doubt, working on the bench for the London Lions during a major European Cup basketball semifinal. I will never forget that, it’s hard to explain, it was out of this world,” said Tankersley. “Yet, another favorite part was probably playing snooker as a house. The Daniel House director, Tom Crosby, took us to play so we could experience a very British sport and it was honestly the most fun I’ve had that wasn’t a part of my internship; having everybody from the house there and getting to play a unique sport was a great cultural experience.” 

Students who are interested in studying abroad at Samford University should schedule an appointment with a SamfordGlobal adviser or submit an application today.

“I would recommend studying abroad for anybody. It provides you a chance to get out of your comfort zone and see the world, while also helping you advance your degree and provide you real world experience that you can’t find anywhere else,” said Tankersley.

Tankersley’s travel arrangements and study abroad experience were handled by the SamfordGlobal Office, which facilitates the bulk of Samford University’s international relationships and presence. SamfordGlobal’s impact provides an international education for those at home and abroad, adhering to the university’s vision to be a diverse community, stressing vigorous learning and personal faith.