After thousands of dives off the platform, Eastern Michigan University senior Andrew Saunders knows the final dive is coming soon but hopes to make more splashes in the real world after graduation.
Saunders, 21, is majoring in finance and is on track to graduate this spring. After graduating, Saunders has an internship set up at ScotiaBank in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
“I plan on doing the internship for the summer, and then I want to stay with [ScotiaBank] if I can move up or get another position there,” Saunders said.
Saunders has four siblings: Ceilidh, who is two years older, and triplets Sophia, Sam and Adrian, who are 11 years younger.
He went to Halifax West High School, which did not have a diving team.
Saunders participated in club diving to make up for not having a high school team.
Before deciding to come to EMU, Saunders considered attending Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec and Dalhousie University in Halifax.
“The reason why I eliminated [Concordia and Dalhousie] is because they do not have scholarships in Canada, and I would have had to pay on my own,” Sauders said. “I ended up going to a meet in Florida and I handed my information to one of the coaches, who referred me to [coach Loren ‘Buck’ Smith] and he contacted me.”
His most rewarding moments as an EMU diver were winning at the MAC championships and having the chance to meet new swimmers and divers while traveling on the road.
Saunders’ favorite subject is investments.
“I really like the stock market and what you can do with money,” he said.
Saunders said his favorite athlete is Canadian diver Alexandre Despatie.
“Despatie is my favorite because he has medaled multiple times in the Olympics and the World Championships,” Saunders said.
Aside from swimming, Saunders enjoys music with pop being his favorite genre.
“I grew up listening to Michael Jackson my whole life and then he died on me, so I felt bittersweet about it,” Saunders said. “Then I was supposed to go to see Lady Gaga this past weekend, but she cancelled on me.”
Saunders also discussed his love affair with popcorn.
“I eat a lot of popcorn when I go to the movies, and order the extra large size just to get free refills once I am done,” Saunders said. “Sometimes, I don’t even go to the movies to watch the film, but I will go to eat as much popcorn as possible.”
Fellow EMU diver and senior Kelly Hendricks remembers her first time seeing Saunders shoving down popcorn at the movies.
“Seriously, the first thing he did after purchasing his ticket was to make sure he went and got his extra large bucket of popcorn, and it was hilarious to see it happen,” Hendricks said.
And speaking of the movies, his favorite is the comedy “Bridesmaids.”
“I think Melissa McCarthy is a hilarious and great actress,” Saunders said.
Saunders said the one person he looks up to the most is his mother.
“My mom has raised five crazy kids, and I don’t even know how she has been able to put up with it, but she helps us with everything,” Saunders said.
