LATROBE, PA – Because he was good at math in high school, Enzo Rotunna thought he’d love studying economics in college. He didn’t. Then he tried engineering because he thought it was a good fit. It wasn’t. By the end of his freshman year, he told himself, “You know, math is my best subject. Let’s just go for it.”
While satisfied he’d chosen the right major, the question of how he would use his math degree from Saint Vincent remained uncertain.
From the beginning, Rotunna enjoyed his math classes, drawn to both his professor's engaging teaching style and the overall challenge of the material. Last summer he earned an internship crunching numbers at Intervala, an electronics manufacturing company, and while he valued the professional experience, he didn’t love the work.
He recalled, “I quickly realized last summer that going into finance or something like that was not for me.”
Rotunna always wanted to go to grad school but wasn’t interested in a PhD. “My aunt and uncle are both patent attorneys, and the idea of furthering my education at law school started early to mid-sophomore year,” Enzo said reflecting on his academic journey.
That’s when he met Bruce Antkowiak, C’74, Harvard Law graduate, Saint Vincent law professor and a popular resource on campus for students interested in law. Rotunna recalls that during their first conversation, Antkowiak shared that he always knew what he wanted to do growing up: he needed to be in a courtroom.
Rotunna admits, “I'm not going to sit here and say I felt the exact same way. But just seeing someone that passionate about what they do was really cool.”
Rotunna created a plan. He started studying for the LSATs and began applying for more than 80 internships. When none of those panned out the way he’d hoped, he went back to Antkowiak who connected him with the DA’s office in Pittsburgh. Within 24 hours of submitting his résumé, Rotunna had a prestigious internship lined up for the summer, working in the office of District Attorney Stephen Zapalla, 15 minutes from his house.
When describing his upcoming internship, Rotunna's eyes light up as he talks about "getting [his] hands dirty” and benefitting from some “good leadership.” He will be working through 6-10 areas of law, such as juvenile court, domestic violence and fraud. He hopes this exposure will provide an overview to help him narrow down his career goals.
After taking the LSAT, he plans to apply to law schools, with Duquesne Law being his top choice. Rotunna, who will graduate from Saint Vincent next spring with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, seems passionate about the next step in his academic journey. In fact, it almost seems like he needs to be in a courtroom.
Enzo Rotunna
