The Department of Athletics is always looking for ways to promote the accomplishments of its former student-athletes and will be conducting a series of Alumni Spotlight's to highlight their professional accomplishments. If you have a success story you would like to share, please contact Assistant AD for External Relations Tim Lutz at tlutz1@aum.edu or at 334-244-3832. He can also be reached on Facebook or Twitter (@timlutz). We would love to hear from you and share your accomplishments.
 
Today's Alumni Spotlight features Mitch Schachter, a three-year member of the men's tennis team from 1981-84. Schachter majored in business economics and earned the then-Senators' Scholar Athlete award all three years and made the Dean's List each semester. He was also named an NAIA Scholar Athlete.
 
On the court, the Toronto, Canada, native partnered with Derek Welsh as a doubles tandem and he played at the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 positions in singles. In his three seasons at AUM, the Senators posted a combined record of 54-8. During his juniors playing career in Canada, he ranked as high as third in the nation.
 
Currently, Schachter is the founder and managing partner of Kronis, Rotsztain, Margles, Cappel, LLP's Personal Injury and Insurance Litigation department. His practice places particular emphasis on serious occupier's liability cases, motor vehicle litigation, medical malpractice litigation, product liability litigation and strict liability matters.

Schachter has varied trial experience and has represented clients in complex personal injury matters before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. He was among the first lawyers to argue at arbitration proceedings before the Financial Services Commission of Ontario when no-fault insurance was introduced to Ontario.
 
Upon graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1987, Schachter articled with the firm Cassels Brock & Blackwell.  He was admitted to the Law Society of Ontario in 1989, after which he practiced personal injury law with the firm Gluckstein & Neinstein until 1992. He joined KRMC in 1992 and became a partner with the firm in 1996.
 
For more information on what Mitch is doing and how AUM played a role in his professional success, please check out the Q&A below.
 
1. Where are you living now and what are you doing? Did you know you always wanted to do what you are doing professionally?
I am currently living in Toronto, Canada. At AUM, I majored in business economics. In my sophomore year, I decided to write the LSAT (law exam) in Tuskegee, Alabama. I was accepted to law school after my sophomore year, but I declined as I wanted to return to AUM for my junior year. I was accepted again and I accepted following my junior year at AUM. After leaving AUM in June 1984, I started at Osgoode Hall Law School, which is one of the top law schools in Canada. I graduated law school in 1987. I joined my current firm KRMC, in 1992 and became partner in 1996. I am currently the firm's managing partner and I run the Personal Injury Department. We have approximately 35 lawyers and about 100 staff.
 
2. How did your time as a student and student-athlete at AUM prepare you for your career and life after college?
I was pretty immature when I first arrived at AUM, having always lived at home. All of the sudden, I had to learn to cook, do laundry, adapt to a new environment, and at the same time, figure out how to train for tennis, study for school and still maintain a social life. Coach Darold Dunlavy was a great coach and mentor and really kept us on the straight and narrow. As well, I became good friends with Reverend Ben Sawada, who loved watching me play tennis, and he kept me focused as well as balanced between tennis, school, and social. We understood that being on the tennis team meant that we were ambassadors for the school when we traveled, and we learned to behave properly. I learned to balance and multi-task. I attended classes every day until 1 p.m., played tennis and trained in the afternoons, and studied and had social time at night. This was great practice for life.

3. What are your goals for the near future in regard to your career? Do you have a plan for the next 2-3 years?
Going forward, I want to continue to work as I enjoy what I do. I still compete in senior ITF tennis tournaments and I was recently ranked #2 in Canada in over 55 doubles. I plan to stay in shape and keep playing tournaments as I realize I am happiest when I am competing and putting it on the line.
 
4. When is the last time you've been to campus. How has the campus changed?
After starting law school, I returned to see my friends at AUM for the next two years in 1985 and 1986. I have not returned since as I have great memories of my times at AUM, and vivid memories of the campus, my dorms, and the tennis courts. I am worried that if I return now, there will be many new buildings and the campus will have grown, and I do not want to distort my memories.

5. What originally attracted you to AUM as a student-athlete?
The southern belles. I first came to AUM in the summer of 1981 as a recruit by Coach Dunlavy. Everyone I met was super friendly, the campus had a very cozy feeling, and the weather was nice. I met some of the players that were going to be my teammates, and I felt very welcome. Oh, and the southern belles.

6. What are some of your most memorable moments from your time as a student-athlete at AUM?
I joined a fraternity and enjoyed my time there. I loved traveling with the team, whether by plane, or in the school van, to other states and universities to play them. Home matches were a blast because our friends and classmates all came to support us. I loved attending AUM basketball games and cheering them on. In my first year I lived with the star basketball player Taylor Hart, so it was awesome watching him play. I also have nice memories of road trips with my teammates to Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Pensacola Beach as well as visiting some of my friends who were on scholarship in South Carolina . As a junior, playing tennis was always an individual sport, so it was fantastic having this team atmosphere and cheering for each other at matches against other universities. I also loved to watch the Auburn vs. Alabama Iron Bowl football games with 100,000 fans cheering.
 
7. How often do you keep in touch with your former teammates?
I was good friends with my teammates, Cliff Retief of South Africa and Gus Garibaldi of Panama. I still keep in touch with Greg Shafer and Derek Welsh. During my time at AUM, I had spent time with them and their families in Orlando and Coral Gables. I was also keeping in touch with Coach Dunlavy and keeping track of his tennis teams results after I had left.
 
8. What are some things you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy traveling. I have twins, Nikki and Jake, age 22, and my favorite thing is to travel and spend time with them. We have traveled to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taiwan, Australia, as well as sun and ski vacations. Jake graduated with a degree in Philosophy and is currently working to become an osteopath. Nikki is graduating with degrees in Sociology and Psychology. I also enjoy reading, playing chess and learning piano.
 
9. What advice would you have for the current student-athletes at AUM?
My advice to current student athletes would be to enjoy every moment there. Those were some of the best years of my life. Don't be stressed with the tennis/study balance. Get involved in the school, write for the school newspaper, or get involved with the Montgomery community. Play hard, study hard and try to be the best you can be. Travel when you can to all the surrounding states.
 
10. Anything else you would like to share with the AUM community?
I was very sad to learn of Coach Dunlavy's passing. He was a fantastic coach and mentor. Those years playing tennis for AUM were amazing and really prepared me well for my life and my current profession. My one regret is that I did not stay at AUM for my senior year.