Lessons lived, learned and happily shared

2026 graduate Anna Lawson earned her marketing degree debt-free, studied abroad in Spain and landed an internship through Career Hub by taking advantage of Wright State’s financial aid, scholarships and career services.

Anna Lawson wanted to earn a degree without taking on student loans. Despite working full time and completing two years at Sinclair College before transferring into the marketing program at Wright State University, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to achieve that goal.

She was wrong, but in the best possible way.

She walked across the Nutter Center stage on May 2 with a degree in hand, a study abroad trip under her belt, an internship on her resume and no debt. It was more than she’d hoped for, and it happened because she did something that didn’t come naturally: she asked for help.

Lawson is the seventh of 10 children. She’s resourceful, adaptable and can handle her own. She graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, but she knows she still has room to learn and grow.

She didn’t fill out the FAFSA when she went to Sinclair because she thought her father’s police officer salary exceeded the qualifications. When Lawson met with an admissions counselor at Wright State, they convinced her to fill it out anyway. It turned out that she qualified for grants she hadn’t expected. It didn’t solve all her problems, but it got her a step closer.

And that’s what she hopes others can learn from her. Don’t be afraid to ask questions — and be open to answers. Ask for help. Don’t assume you have all the facts.

When she started dreaming about studying abroad, her first thought was that there was no way. But it gave her an opportunity to practice her growth. She talked to financial aid counselors who walked through her options.

She was awarded Wright State’s Jennie and David Buckwalter Scholarship, a University Studies Abroad Consortium scholarship and grants to help fund the experience.

“It was stunning,” Lawson said about her time in San Sebastian, Spain. “And it kind of forces you to realize what you can and can’t do on your own. I recommend it for everyone.”

Before graduation, she had the chance to meet with the Buckwalters in person, which she said was “amazing.”

And that wasn’t the only great outcome that came from being open to the resources that are available to Wright State students.

Lawson also scheduled time to meet with the experts at the Career Hub, where she met with Lacey Loges, a career consultant who specializes in helping College of Liberal Arts students find and secure internships and employment. The Career Hub organizes career fairs and provides skill-building, resources and practical advice for Raiders at all stages.

“I went to the Career Hub for help with my resume, and I came out with a revised document, a polished LinkedIn profile, access to Handshake and interview coaching that stuck,” Lawson said.

Handshake is the #1 site for college students seeking internships and employment.

Shortly after her appointment, she applied for a marketing internship at Panini North America through Handshake, emailed her resume with a note about why she’d be a good fit and got the job.

At Panini — an Italian firm specializing in banking and identity security — she did competitor research, content strategy and weekly analytics work. She discovered she loves data.

“I like seeing how things shift week to week, and what that tells you,” she said.

The marketing team is based in Italy, so there are no Ohio openings, which was disappointing. But it did show her that data analytics is another area of interest ripe for development, and that is really what is what drives her.

“That’s what is most important to me; I want to continue to grow,” Lawson said. “Even if I start somewhere as an assistant, as long as I know I can grow to where I want to be, that’s my goal.”

Related links:

• Visit the Career Hub.
• Explore marketing at Wright State.
• Learn about scholarships at Wright State.