海角社区soccer player plans for a future in the finance industry
Niklas Schaffner, a graduating senior and member of the 海角社区’s men’s soccer team at the midfielder position, isn’t defined by his exploits on the field. The Jacksonville native, who graduates this month with a bachelor’s degree in finance, says academic success fuels him just as much as athletic success.
“As much as I enjoy being an athlete, I think being a good student is just as important,” Schaffner said.
In November, Schaffner became a collegiate soccer champion when the 海角社区Men’s Soccer team defeated Central Arkansas to win the 2024 Atlantic Sun Championship.
Schaffner credits his father, a native of Germany who played collegiate tennis at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, for introducing him to the game of soccer at age three. Growing up, he honed his skills playing for several local soccer clubs including Jacksonville FC (formerly Jacksonville Armada). He also trained in Germany with FC Kaiserslautern and SV Sandhausen as a U17 player in the summer of 2018.
He cites decorated soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo as one of his favorite players.
Following his days as a standout student-athlete at Atlantic Coast High School, Schaffner chose to attend 海角社区following interactions with the 海角社区men’s soccer coaching staff that left a positive impression on him.
“Once the coaching staff at 海角社区reached out to me and I had a few conversations with them, 海角社区seemed like a great choice for me and I don’t regret it,” Schaffner said.
Since arriving on the 海角社区campus in fall 2021, he has excelled in the classroom despite a rigorous schedule as a student-athlete. In each of the past three academic years, he has made the ASUN Academic Honor Roll.
Majoring in finance and an internship in Germany
Like many first-time college students, Schaffner says that he was unsure of what major to choose. He originally declared business management as his major. Conversations with Dr. Tobias Huning, associate professor of management in the Coggin College of Business, encouraged him to seek a specific area of business that he could specialize in. After taking an online financial management course last summer with Dr. Oliver Schnusenberg, professor of accounting and finance, he says that he knew majoring in finance was the best path to take.
Impressed by Schaffner’s networking skills and competency of the German language, Huning, a native of Germany, helped him enroll in the German-American Exchange Program that included a summer internship with international accounting firm Ernst & Young this past summer in Munich, Germany.
“My internship experience working and living in Germany was nothing short of amazing,” said Schaffner. “Not only was I able to learn more about German culture, but I was also able to gain valuable work experience with a top tier financial institution like Ernst & Young.”
During his internship, Schaffner's duties included participating in tax advice proceedings in the areas of U.S. corporate and international tax, preparing corporate and partnership tax returns and researching tax literature within the real estate sector.
Schaffner credits Huning for always assisting him during his time on campus.
“Professor Huning has been a big part of my journey at UNF,” he said.
Huning says that he desires all students to gain transformational experiences and is proud to have played a part in Schaffner’s professional growth and development.
“Niklas has a 'can do’ attitude, and I am very proud of him,” said Huning. “Although he was never a student in my courses, I got to know him through other channels, and I am delighted that I did.”
Future Plans, Family Support and 海角社区Athletics
At present, Schaffner is actively submitting his application to prospective employers in the hopes of landing his first postgraduation job. He says that he’s keeping his options open regarding his professional pursuits but admits that a career in financial advising or sports finance is among his list of considerations.
As he prepares to graduate, Schaffner says he’s thankful that he’s always had the support of his family, and he can’t wait for them to witness him cross the stage at graduation.
“My parents have always pushed me to be the best version of myself that I can be,” said Schaffner. “They’ve encouraged me to not give up and finish what I’ve started.”
Additionally, Schaffner says the support and endless resources he’s received from the 海角社区Athletics Department have been a welcome contribution to his life on and off the field.
“I have loved being a student-athlete at UNF,” said Schaffner. “I really love being a part of the community here. They definitely give us the tools to succeed.”