Oscar
Samios
Director of Student Experience
Oscar Samios is an Empire alum, longtime Blue Shirt, and the ever-enthusiastic emcee you’ve probably seen at more closing ceremonies than you can count.
Based in Sydney, Australia (though he racks up airline frequent flyer miles like its a competitive sport), Oscar first joined the Empire community as a competitor in 2015, representing Barker College at Empire San Francisco. A year later, he took the courtroom in New York City—an experience he still calls his favorite memory as a competitor.
Since then, Oscar has become one of Empire’s most recognizable faces—and not just because of his signature smile. Over the years, he’s taken on nearly every role there is: Blue Shirt Lead, Director of Competition Experiences, and—when the world shut down—one of the key leaders who helped steer Empire through the pandemic. During COVID, Oscar played an integral part in adapting Empire to the virtual stage, making sure the program could continue bringing students together from across the globe, even when we couldn’t be in the same room.
When in-person competition returned, Oscar was right there, hopping on planes from Australia to cities across the U.S., bringing events to life behind the scenes and lighting up ceremonies with the energy only he can deliver. Whether he’s managing logistics or making hundreds of students laugh, Oscar is all in—heart, soul, and microphone.
Oscar earned a dual degree from the University of Sydney and now works at a Sydney-based ed-tech company, where he continues to champion education and opportunity for young people by helping schools and educators harness the power of technology.
When he’s not working or traveling for Empire, you’ll likely find him at a sports match—either playing, cheering, or talking about the next one he’s attending.
Oscar’s been part of Empire for nearly a decade—and for good reason. He’s a connector, a builder, and a believer in the power of the Empire community.
