Alex McKenna

Bekemeh Airewele

Favorite Class

Concepts of Community

Why did you decide to pursue Marketing?

I knew I wanted to do something in the business world, but I wasn’t quite sure what. With the Upside-Down Curriculum, I was able to take a few marketing classes from the start and realized I really liked them. Marketing is perfect for me. It involves a lot of creativity and talking to people.

What organizations are you involved with on campus?

I could talk all day about my experience with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, or the ODI as students call it. Champlain feels like home, but the ODI is like going back to your own room. There’s a lot of support for all students from all different types of backgrounds, which I really love. If you ever go there, you will be laughing within 10 minutes. It’s so fun.

What do you think of the Victorian-era mansions?

My first year, I lived in Lyman Hall, and I loved it. I’m from a city, so all the old houses I’d ever seen were in museums. When I pulled up on move-in day, I thought, “This is great. It’s like living in one of my books.”

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Emma Katz

Internship

Brand Strategy Intern at Fuse in Winooski, VT

Post-Grad Job

Associate Account Manager at Fuse in Winooski, VT

What is the best thing about professors at Champlain?

My professors are so personable and kind. They get to know me and what my career goals are, and they always help me pursue those goals. I’ve had professors recommend internships to me and help me network with companies. Our professors really want to see their students succeed in class and in their careers.

Did you get the chance to study abroad?

I went to Prague in the Czech Republic, where I studied at the Anglo-American University. While in Prague, I took courses like Brand Management, Project Management, EU Policies in the Business Market, and I did two classes for our Core curriculum: Prague Art & Architecture and Cultural Journalism. I learned a lot about the city, brand management, and even myself. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, met new people, and had a lot of fun.

Can you tell us about your internship?

I was a Brand Strategy intern at Fuse in Winooski, Vermont my senior year. Fuse is a local marketing agency that works with national companies on event-based marketing aimed towards millennial and Gen-Z audiences. Towards the end of my senior year, Fuse started searching for a junior associate to join the team. They were looking at all of the applicants, but they just kept thinking about me and my work. My supervisor said she didn’t want somebody new to apply, and she wanted to hire me because of all of the amazing work I did as an intern. Now, I work there full-time.

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Colin Kuhn

Pronouns

He/Him/His

Internships

Marketing & Event Intern at Sarah Ramsey Strong Fund in Burlington, VT

How has Core changed your perspective?

During one of my Core classes, I got the opportunity to research and learn about the importance of clean water and the impact of microplastics. I enjoy being outside and, having lived in Vermont my whole life, I have a deep connection with nature and Lake Champlain. In my Core class, I realized how big of a problem microplastics can be, and now I care a lot about that.

What made you choose Champlain?

Iwas drawn to the individual attention that I would get in the classroom. This gave me a chance to discuss topics one-on-one with my professors. They’re approachable, and they always challenge me to think deeper.

How has Champlain prepared you for the professional world?

I was able to start getting internships the summer after my first year because the Upside-Down Curriculum gave me the experience I needed. I’ve had four internships during my time at Champlain, ranging from marketing to event planning to business development. My studies made me adaptable and confident at work, and I was able to take in new knowledge and skills. I was surprised to find out how many certifications I can get through my classes. I’ll have a leg up on the competition when I graduate.

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Emily LaPlume

Internships

Fuse Marketing

Favorite Class

Marketing

Work Experience

Founder, Saturday Swimwear

Getting Her Business Started

After Emily returned home, she taught herself about clothing design and sewing, then developed and tested her first prototypes. She began developing her brand, Saturday Swimwear, along with a website and social media presence using skills learned from her advanced marketing class. She joined BYOBiz* in the fall of her senior year and worked to complete her launch strategy, including pricing, production and distribution, financial projections, incorporation and IP protection. With encouragement received from BYOBiz, Emily sought and achieved her first retail accounts.

Making Professional Connections

She also competed in the Elevator Pitch, LaunchVT Collegiate, and was a finalist in the nationwide Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs. Following her graduation, Emily planned to continue developing her business while also working at Fuse Marketing.

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Gabby Mastropolo

Internship

Ted Moudis Associates, New York, NY

How has the Upside-Down Curriculum enhanced your education?

The Upside-Down Curriculum is hands-down my favorite part about Champlain’s academics. Who wouldn’t want to start studying in their major starting day one of their college career? There is a lot of pressure on 18-year-olds to somehow magically know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. In many other schools, you don’t actually start in your major until as late as your junior year. Not at my school!

How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career, both in and out of the classroom?

One of the best things by far about Champlain is how career-focused they are. The amazing folks over at the Career Collaborative make sure we have everything we need to be prepared for our futures starting in our first year. We learn everything from how to optimize our résumé and LinkedIn to creating our own elevator pitches. They even have job fairs every semester to connect local employers with student job seekers.

What advice do you have for students thinking about coming to Champlain for college?

There are so many incredible experiences for you at Champlain. What are you waiting for? Come join the fun!

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DJ Miller

Internship

Event Planning & Sales Intern at the Vermont Tent Company in Essex, VT

What made you choose the Marketing major?

I came into college as a Criminal Justice major, and decided to take a marketing work-study job at the Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity (The Leahy Center). After my first week working as a Marketing Assistant there, I decided to switch my major to Marketing because I loved it so much. It was so easy to switch majors since my professors and Faculty Advisor were so helpful with the entire process.

What has been your experience with the Core Curriculum?

One of my favorite things at Champlain is the Core. When I came to college, I was a totally different person. I grew up in a small town and had no idea how the world worked outside of that. In my Core classes, we discuss so many different perspectives and deeper-level topics. This has molded me into a strong activist who looks for multiple ways to achieve a goal. Core really allows you to explore your personal ideas and beliefs while connecting with others in your classes.

How has Champlain prepared you for the professional world?

Being a Marketing major at Champlain has opened so many doors for my future. In my first two years, I have had over six jobs and internships that were directly related to my major. It’s truly an amazing experience to show up to class and have representatives from Seventh Generation, Ben & Jerry’s, Burton, and other big names there to work with you on class projects.

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