For PennWest Edinboro senior Garrett Hannah, choosing a major was about following what came naturally.

“In high school, I always had a passion for working and interacting with people, so I decided to pursue business,” he said.

That decision set him on a path that now leads directly to a full-time position with Erie Insurance.

On January 15, the December graduate will begin working as a sourcing and vendor management analyst. Hannah will manage vendor relationships, negotiate contracts and conduct research to support the company’s expense management goals. After nearly two years as an intern with Erie Insurance, he says the company feels like the right place to grow long-term.

Hannah’s experience at PennWest Edinboro included significant involvement in Student Government Association, where he served as treasurer and later as president. Those positions gave him exposure to strategic planning, budgeting and participating in formal review processes – experiences he says directly prepared him for the workplace.

“SGA provided me with plenty of opportunities to grow professionally,” he said. “Being in those positions truly prepared me for the workforce.”

He also joined Lambda Chi Alpha, a decision he didn’t expect to make when he first arrived on campus. The fraternity offered opportunities for community service, including fundraising for the campus food pantry and participating in campus-wide service projects. Holding roles such as treasurer, recruitment chair, standards and executive council also helped him build his professional skill set.

Inside the classroom, Hannah found value in projects that required critical thinking and data analysis.

“Almost every project I’ve had in my economics courses has been beneficial,” he said. His current regression model project in Econometrics is strengthening his Excel skills and his confidence in interpreting data.

His political science classes helped him develop a more analytical and structured approach to communication.

“We learned about civil discourse and how to use logic to support our thoughts,” he said. “Those assignments helped me become more open-minded and resourceful.”

Hannah’s internship at Erie Insurance allowed him to apply what he learned in his coursework. He reviewed contracts, developed departmental procedures, conducted vendor market research and even led training sessions for colleagues.

“If I were to highlight one experience, it would be being able to lead trainings in our department,” he said.

He also learned the importance of service, a core value at Erie Insurance. “That has helped me see the importance of giving back to your community,” he said.

Hannah credits his parents, girlfriend and close friends as key sources of support. Looking back on his time at PennWest Edinboro, he feels well prepared for the next steps.

“PennWest Edinboro provided me with a lot of opportunities to build professionally and socially,” he said. “I took full advantage of them, and now I’m seeing the benefits.”

Long-term, Hannah hopes to continue growing his career at Erie Insurance and pursue a master’s degree in IT Management with a focus on technology and AI.

His guidance for students beginning their own college journey is straightforward: “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Remain confident in your decisions. Never give up,” he said. “Most of the time it’s only one bad day or one bad test. Stay the course, learn from mistakes and keep going.”