Rabinovitz gets down to business

Mike Rabinovitz came to Lehigh because he wanted to learn and have the opportunity to play collegiate lacrosse. In his four years here, however, he has done so much more…
Rabinovitz chose Lehigh in part because it was close to his Sykesville, Maryland home and Lehigh afforded him the opportunity to play Division I lacrosse. However, a much bigger factor in his decision to head to Bethlehem was the faculty of the Rauch Business School.
They were amazing, Rabinovitz says. The business faculty here really cares about the students and wants you to succeed. That became very clear to me when I came here to visit.
In the classroom, Rabinovitz has excelled. He holds a 3.95 grade point average as a double major in accounting and finance.
However, success in the classroom is nothing new to Rabinovitz. Mike, his sister Allison, and his brother Chad were tri-valedictorians at South Carroll High School. The triplets have all fared very well at the collegiate level as well. Allison is a journalism major at Lehigh, while Chad is involved in theatre at the University of Pittsburgh.
Set to graduate next month, Mike has already accepted a position with Ingersol-Rand near Charlotte, North Carolina. He starts his new job in July and will be working in both the accounting and finance departments as part of a program that will see him rotate departments throughout the company over the next couple of years.
It will be a good experience for me, Rabinovitz explains. The way the program is set up, I am able to try different things and see what I enjoy the most.
Rabinovitz accepted their offer in December, 2001. Already having a job, knowing what I was going to be doing, that far in advance has made things a lot more relaxed this semester, he points out.
With the weight of the job search now lifted, Rabinovitz has been able to concentrate on his other high priority at Lehigh: lacrosse. The midfielder is having an excellent senior campaign thus far. He has already tied his junior year totals with eight goals and nine assists, and the Mountain Hawks still have three games remaining.
There are very few guys I’ve ever coached that are of as high a character and as full of ambition as Mike Rabinovitz, said Lehigh head coach Chris Wakely. He cares about what is best for team rather than what’s best for himself. He is a tremendous leader and a tremendous captain.
Lehigh has surprised some people with its success on the field so far this year, but not Rabinovitz. Chris [Wakely] has done an amazing job, he says. His approach to the game and to life has really brought us together as a team and has made us believe in ourselves.
In his free time, Rabinovitz is involved in the Student-Athlete Council Executive Board, and an active member of Lehigh’s C.O.A.C.H. program. I love that we’ve been able to give back with C.O.A.C.H., Rabinovitz says. The idea of helping kids and reaching out is very important to me. He adds that he originally wanted to be involved in the Student Senate, but meeting times conflicted with lacrosse practice.
You’ve got to prioritize what’s important to you, Rabinovitz notes. There’s only so much time, so you have to decide what you want to do. I’ve always had strong organizational and time management skills; I’m very meticulous.
Meticulous? Maybe. Organized? Definitely. Headed for success? For sure.
--Jeff Tourial