Good Business
Sarah Lobo’s Brian and Kathy Fitzpatrick Scholarship helped fund her M.B.A. and led to a job at Seton Hall.
Sarah Lobo '23 /M.B.A. '24 cultivated her business acumen at a young age. As a Girl
Scout, she recalls, "I was always determined to sell the most cookies." In middle
school, she created a line of feather-adorned earrings and headbands to sell at a
school fair. "I made at
least a hundred dollars."
Lobo, now a professional financial analyst, attributes her interest in the movement of money to her Latin American immigrant parents, who instilled in her the importance of hustle, hard work, and financial literacy. Her father, Mario Lobo, is an entrepreneur with a successful HVAC company that he built from scratch.
When it came time to apply to college, there was no doubt what Sarah wanted to study. Nor was there any doubt where she wanted to go: Mario happens to have a full-time job at Seton Hall, where he works as a facilities engineer. "Growing up, he would bring me here on family weekends and I would meet his coworkers and other people he knew on campus," Sarah recalls. "I always thought of Seton Hall as a very welcoming place."
While she was wrapping up her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in finance and technology, Sarah decided to pursue an M.B.A. through Seton Hall's 4+1 program. The problem was, she didn't know how to pay for it. As an undergraduate, qualified for tuition remission through Mario's employment. In order to pursue an advanced degree, however, Sarah accepted that she would need to take on student loan debt.
Brian Fitzpatrick '75 received his B.S. from the Stillman School of Business and went
on to teach there as an adjunct professor. Fitzpatrick, who also serves as a co-chair
of Seton Hall's For All, Forever campaign, is deeply committed to expanding access
and opportunity for students. His involvement in the campaign reflects his longstanding
dedication to giving back and investing in the next generation of leaders, values
that align perfectly with his legacy of philanthropy and mentorship.
Then she learned about the Fitzpatrick Family Foundation for Education Stillman Graduate Spendable Scholarship and decided to apply. Established by the Fitzpatrick family to support high-performing students in Stillman's graduate program, the renewable scholarship helps promising leaders pursue their studies. In 2023, Sarah was honored to become one of its recipients.
They’ve prepared me so well, largely through leadership by example." –Sarah Lobo ’23 /M.B.A. '24
"The scholarship covered a full semester of credits, and my graduate assistantship
covered the other half of my classes," she says. "It was completely transformational
because it took a lot of pressure off. It allowed me to focus on getting my degree
without having to take
out loans or work multiple jobs." Sarah was able to thank Fitzpatrick in person during
a reception for scholarship recipients. "He was amazing to talk to. He loves to give
back, and he has great advice and stories."
Even though Sarah's studies are complete, Seton Hall is still shaping her career. Her current role as a financial analyst is based at her beloved alma mater, where she now helps manage the University's budget.
"They've prepared me so well, largely through leadership by example," she says. "I've
built a
community and a network here. I'm so grateful every day because now this is a place
where I'm finally able to give back."