Empire Alum to Serve as New DCE
Outgoing Director of Competition Experience (DCE), Amber, introduces and passes the torch to Oscar Samios
Dear Empire Family,
As the Empire Mock Trial season starts to ramp up, I personally wanted to share some exciting news: two-time former Empire participant Oscar Samios is joining the Empire team as our Director of Competition Experience for 2019. Oscar began as DCE in mid-February, and he is excelling in the role thus far (as I knew he would).
My Time as DCE & Baby Lucas
If you attended Empire last year, you know that I served as the DCE for the 2018 season. Although I poked fun at the title initially, I began to appreciate what it meant to be the Director of Competition Experience: my job was to truly ensure that your experience–coaches, students, parents–was as enjoyable as possible from start to finish. During that time, I had the privilege of meeting so many smart and motivated students, selfless coaches, and amazing former competitors who volunteered as Blue Shirts. I had a “front row seat” to your Empire experiences, and I am forever grateful that you allowed me the honor of serving you.
As you may know, my husband and I welcomed a third son to our family the day after Christmas. Baby Lucas is healthy, happy and already growing too quickly for this momma’s liking.
The Rumancik Family, Amber, Joe, Joe Joe (age 6), Ty (age 3) and Lucas (4 months)
The Rumancik Family, Amber, Joe, Joe Joe (age 6), Ty (age 3) and Lucas (4 months)
After this major life change, I evaluated what was best for the Rumancik and Empire families. The role of DCE was one that I loved, but it requires a degree of availability and energy that I cannot commit to while raising a newborn and caring for a family of 5. That is why I have decided it is best for me to transition to a less hands-on role with Empire for the time being; I am now working as an Advisor to Empire’s Competition Leadership Team. This will allow me to remain actively involved with an organization that I love while having the freedom to attend all my children’s field trips, class parties, play dates and be home to enjoy sweet baby snuggles. It also allows me to have the time, and privilege, to introduce you to Empire’s new DCE: Oscar Samios.
Introducing Oscar Samios
Oscar Samios, Empire’s new Director of Competition Experience
Oscar is from Sydney, Australia. He currently attends the University of Sydney, where he majors in International Business, Government and International Relations, and Philosophy. Oscar was first introduced to Empire when he competed as a high school student, placing 4th at Empire San Francisco in 2015 and 11th at the Empire New York in 2016. As a fun fact, Oscar competed on the same mock trial team as Empire’s Director of Competition Operations, Viran Weerasekera.
In 2017 and 2018, Oscar returned to the States to be a Blue Shirt at both of our Atlanta and San Francisco competitions. In 2018, Oscar oversaw Blue Shirt training and recruitment, served as the emcee for Empire Atlanta, and made a surprise appearance in San Francisco, where competitors may best remember him for his appearance as ‘Tigger’.
Oscar Samios (Tigger) and Amber Rumancik at Empire SF 2018.
Last year, Oscar served as my “right-hand man” at both Empire Atlanta and Empire San Francisco. Oscar is energetic, hardworking, and extremely motivated. I could not have done my job as DCE without his help and support. He was the first to wake and the last to bed every night in order to help me plan and execute every detail of these competitions. When I decided I needed to lessen my responsibilities at Empire, Oscar was the first person I suggested take over the role of DCE.
Oscar has the skills, knowledge, and grit necessary to be an amazing DCE. I am confident you will enjoy working with Oscar as much as I have.
Thank you in advance for welcoming Oscar with open arms and be sure to greet him with a big ole “g’day mate” when you see him this fall.
See You Soon!
My hope is that I can see you and Oscar at an Empire competition this fall (we’ll see what Lucas has to say about that). Meanwhile, please keep in touch–I would love to hear from you.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and successful mock trial season.
Sincerely,
Amber Rumancik
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We want to take this opportunity to thank Amber (officially!) for her contributions to the organization as DCE during the 2018 season. If you attended an Empire competition last season, you saw the impact of Amber’s leadership and hard work. We will miss her infectious energy, passion for mock trial and love for others. But fortunately, we know she’s just a text (or Slack) message away.
Looking to the future, we are equally excited to introduce you to Oscar. The organization is ecstatic to add another alum to its Leadership Team. As a former student, Oscar understands the intangible magic and energy that characterizes the Empire experience. As a former senior Blue Shirt, he has a unique insight into the behind the scenes challenges that we manage during the competition. We have no doubt that Oscar is a worthy heir to Amber’s throne, and we believe you’ll think so, too.
If you would like to contact Amber, she can still be reached at amber@empiremocktrial.org.
If you’d like to give Oscar an official Empire welcome, he can be reached at oscar@empiremocktrial.org.