Student

James Wicks

Graduation Year

14

Organization

Walter Morris Company

Title

Territory Sales Representative

How are you using your Communication degree at your job?

The curriculum at Champlain College equips students with the tools needed to communicate and resonate in today’s expansive world of communication. The lessons I have taken from Dr. Kerr and the curriculumshe built have allowed me to thrive in sales.
When Covid hit, I had the tools I needed to change gears and use alternate channelsof communication to provide my customers with the support theyneeded. By understanding all of my channels of communicationand how to utilize them most effectively, I was well-preparedfor an unprecedentedtime.

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Sam Wilhoit

Specialization

Journalism and Screenwriting

Internship

Glitter Magazine Irvine, CA

What have you learned through the InSight program? How will it help you in the future?

The Insight program has helped me consider the cost of living in different areas. Realistically, it may take me a few years after college before I am able to afford moving to a big city like Boston or New York to pursue writing and editing. However, there are many remote jobs available that will help me gain experience while saving up money for rent and transportation.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found/didn’t expect about Champlain (or your experience here) so far?

I didn’t expect how much my experience in classes would inform my perspective on life and my identity. I also did not know that my classes were going to be a safe space for me to share my intimate secrets through poetry and to cry in front of others. I was bullied throughout school for crying in public, so it is really nice to feel comfortable and safe expressing my feelings at Champlain.

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

Befriend your academic advisor and talk to them about any stressors you have. It is okay to drop classes, change classes, and change majors. I have done all of these things.If you are passionate about a subject and enjoy hanging out with a crowd of gamers, skateboarders, skiers, and artsy people then you’ll love it here. If you want a college experience with Greek Life and sports, this is not your college. This is a school that embraces individuality, not conformity.

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Tyler Wood

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Emma Worthge

Primary Concentration

Creative Writing

Internship

Social Media & Event Management Intern at Vermont Womenpreneurs

Favorite Class

Aesthetic Expressions: Jordan

Have you had any internships during your time at Champlain?

I was the Social Media and Event Management Intern for Vermont Womenpreneurs in Burlington, Vermont. I assisted with creating social media posts and campaigns. Ialso scheduled events for the company, culminating in a storytelling showcase at the end of November. My friends at other schools haven’t even thought about applying to internships yet, so already having completed one definitely puts me at an advantage. I notice that when I am applying for jobs, interviewers are really impressed with how much work I have done this far in my school career. I already have the experience that’s necessary to work in the field, which is miles above other people.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I’m a member of Los Dormant Volcanoes, Champlain’s improv comedy troupe. Improv comedy is a big part of my life and something that I love. I was super excited when I heard we had a team at Champlain. I auditioned during my first year, and have loved the family that we’ve built along the way. We practice by playing games and perform every few months for the Champlain community.My favorite part is hearing people laugh at the jokes I make on stage. It makes me feel like I’m a part of something really special.

What is your favorite class you’ve taken at Champlain?

My favorite class at Champlain was Aesthetic Expressions: Jordan. We learned about Jordanian culture, art, music and architecture throughout the whole semester, and then travelled to Jordan over Thanksgiving Break. We visited all the places we learned about, swam in the Dead Sea, rode camels through the Wadi Rum Desert, stayed at a Bedouin camp, and ate the best food in the world.

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Kathryn Young

Internship

Data Science Intern at Social Sentinel Inc. in Burlington, VT

Post-Grad Job

Analyst at Social Sentinel Inc. in Burlington, VT

How is the Law degree at Champlain unique?

The curriculum at Champlain is very similar to what you see on a law school website. I was able to go into my internship in Philadelphia the summer after my sophomore year, where I worked in this big-city law firm in business litigation, bankruptcy law, and civil litigation, and I knew what I was being asked to do. After the courses at Champlain, law school becomes sort of “Law School 2.0” by the time you get there.

Can you tell us about the Signature Courses in the Division of Education & Human Studies (EHS) Division?

Last year in the EHS Signature Course, I took a Social Justice Intensive class. Like most classes at Champlain, it was discussion-based. You’re not reading a book, so there’s no opportunity to miss the reading and stay back and be quiet. You really get engaged. You talk about social justice, current events, racial equality, and problems and topics that are really relevant to what’s happening in our country today, right now. It inspires students and you find that spark. You find that passion.

The EHS motto is "We Do Good Work." Can you elaborate on that?

I think that “We Do Good Work” especially ties in with the EHS Signature Courses because they want you to develop as a person. Champlain isn’t about building robots. Nothing about Champlain is generic. The college wants you to develop critical thinking skills. Maybe you’ve come from a high school that didn’t challenge you. Champlain will fix that really quickly.

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Mitchell Zasa

Internship

Marketing & Data Analytics Intern at Baopals in Shanghai, China

Favorite Class

Montreal Food Writing Class

Post-Grad Internship

Production Coordinator Intern at Sony Games in Santa Monica, CA

What is the best thing about Game Production Management?

I love the multidisciplinary aspect of my major. As a producer, it’s beneficial to know a little bit about each game discipline to know how they fit together to make the whole game. Since day one in the Game Studio, all the game majors were making games together. The process felt so natural. We’ve all been playing games since we were little, but we weren’t sure how to make them yet. That’s where the faculty stepped in and closed the gap to help us.

What kind of projects have you worked on in your major?

I’ve made half a dozen games here at Champlain, and working on our game in Montreal was really gratifying. We made it in 10 weeks and people in the industry loved it. As developers, we felt a huge sense of pride in our final product. We worked so hard on this project, and people were asking when we would put it online so they could buy it.

What has surprised you most about your time at Champlain?

I’m a first-generation college student, and I never thought that I would be in the position I am in today. When I was a kid, my mom always said I would go to college, and I never doubted it. I thought college would be all about hard work and good grades—which it is, don’t get me wrong—but I never expected all the memories I’ve made over the years. I made my best friends here, the ones that are going to last forever.

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Amy Zebrowski

Favorite Class

Heroines & Heroes: Harry Potter

What is the best part about your program?

The team-based projects in production classes have you working on creating games right away, which is great. The professors are knowledgeable and willing to help you learn, while also giving you valuable critiques to guide you in the right direction. The Game Studio feels like a family-we all help each other be the best we can be.

What projects have you worked on in classes that you’ve found especially rewarding?

Getting to work on games in production classes and major-specific classes right away has been the most useful thing I’ve gotten to do at Champlain. Growing my skills as a game developer has been so rewarding and has gotten me excited about my career after Champlain.

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

I highly recommend Champlain to anyone in high school who feels like they don’t fit in. You’ll find your place here, and having people in your corner will make a difference in your experience here.

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Olivia Zemany

Graduation Year

17

Organization

Avid Marketing Group | Social Media Maven

Title

Associate Account Executive

How are you using your Communication degree at your job?

My degreein Public Relations from Champlain has prepared me in more ways than I had thought for my roles after graduation. I currently work as an Account Executive & Social Media Manager at a marketing agency for alcohol brands, where I leverage skills from classes and of course, lessons from Academic Program Director Nancy Kerr almost every day.
As someone in marketing, I’ve had to wear many hats and advise on graphic design, video and sometimes even web design, all of which I had classes for that prepared me for these situations. I always keep Nancy in the back of my head whenever I present as well, which has lead to great feedback from clients and co-workers as well who say I am well-spoken and confident.
All in all—I feel very prepared in the workforce due to my degree from Champlain.

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Raymond Zheng

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