Student

Cass Bittner

Concentrations

Marketing and Communication

Internship

Graphic Design Intern for Grafton Digital in Dublin, Ireland

When you were deciding where to go to school, why did you choose Champlain?

My top choice was always Champlain due to Division of Information Technology & Sciences engaging curriculum and beautiful campus. Also I knew as soon as I heard about the College’s study abroad opportunities as a high schooler, I had to come to Champlain and fulfill younger Cass’ dream of living in Ireland. An outreach counselor from the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) explained that Champlain offered scholarships for low-income first-generation students like myself that allow me to be here today.

What opportunities have allowed you to apply classroom learning to real-world settings in your field?

Champlain helped me become the designer I am today. I now know what can make or break a design along with many of the tips, tricks, and secrets of my field. Before college, I used to look at something and say “that doesn’t look right,” or, “something is off,” and struggled to find what it was. Now I have the ability to critique and precisely point out what about a design is not working. It’s fun to apply this to the world around us since design is everywhere. Even when I spend time out with friends or family, I find myself scanning labels on various items to see if they were well designed or have flaws. Like graphic designer “I spy” if you will.

What do you want to be ready for/ready to do upon graduation? How has Champlain pushed you toward getting there?

The best part about Champlain is that they require you to have at least one internship experience before you graduate and go into the “real world”. Because of this, the College’s Career Collaborative has a deep reservoir of connections and are excited to help you secure a job or internship. The best part is that Champlain will also help you at any point in time, even after you graduate and need a career change down the road. The people at the Career Collaborative often joke “til’ death do us part,” meaning they are there whenever you need them!. Champlain makes sure you are ready to succeed when you enter the professional world.

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Eli Blaker

Internships

EBP Intern at Aronson LLC in Rockville, MD

Do you feel that Champlain has prepared you for the professional world?

Yeah, I feel that Champlain is preparing me for the professional world. They do a good job of matching students with internships. School can teach you the basics, but when you get on the job, that’s when you really start learning.

What do you like about Champlain’s Upside-down curriculum?

The Upside-Down Curriculum gets students involved in their major in their first year in college. It really puts you ahead of the curve, especially when you’re seeking internships. It allows you to get internships earlier than students from other colleges would be able to, because you get into your major in your first year. And if your major ends up not being what you’re looking for, at least you know that in your first year rather than your third.

What will you miss most about Champlain?

The thing I’m going to miss most about Champlain are the people that I’ve met here. At Champlain, it’s been very easy to meet great people. Through the friends that I’ve made, I’ve really blossomed from the person that I was in high school to the person I am now.

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Caitlin Blanchette

Travel Course

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Internship

Fundraising & Programming Intern at the Peace & Justice Center in Burlington, VT

Favorite Class

Social Justice: Oppression and Empowerment

Post-Grad Job

Master’s degree candidate in Public Policy

What made you choose your major?

I chose Law because I was not sure what I wanted my career to be, but I saw Law as an option that would open many doors. I knew I wanted to make a difference, and I had—and still have—a lot of areas of interest, from women’s rights to criminal justice reform. An undergraduate degree in Law would prepare me for many different career options.

What was your best Core experience?

In my second year, I took two Core classes with a focus on West African religion and art. At the end of the semester, we got the opportunity to travel to Zanzibar, an archipelago outside of Tanzania. We were able to really appreciate the history we’d been learning about. The best outcome of that trip was the creation of Techdren, a Champlain student-led nonprofit that returns regularly to Zanzibar to distribute technology to local schools.

Are you involved with any extracurricular activities?

I started playing rugby with the Women’s Rugby team and knew little about the sport, but I quickly fell in love with it. I missed being on a team sport and instantly found a family in rugby. I became treasurer and helped to raise $2,000 for the men’s and women’s teams. Now I’m a team captain, and I look forward to playing rugby after college, too.

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Mark Botaish

Internships

Software Developer Intern at LORD Sensing in Williston, VT

How has the Game Studio prepared you for the professional world?

Everyone takes the C++ intro to advanced courses, so you get a really good summary of the language. In order to do well in classes and projects throughout your college career, you have to push yourself and be able to ask questions, pay attention, and learn to work independently as well as in a team. The Game Studio is pretty much on point with what you would experience in the real world.

Can you tell us about the Ubisoft competition in Montreal?

Every year, Ubisoft sponsors a competition with surrounding game schools. They set a theme, and you have 10 weeks to make a game that the audience can interact with. I would say it was one of the most pivotal moments of my college career because we were able to work on such a large team. Usually we are on teams of five, but with eight members we got to make a fully-fledged game to show professionals to judge. It’s a signature piece in my portfolio.

So what does a Game portfolio look like?

In your portfolio, you put most of your projects or finals. I have the game we made for the Ubisoft competition, my Capstone, and final projects from upper level courses I took junior and senior year. Recruiters love to see side projects, and that’s a big culture at Champlain. You work with your friends and make a good game to throw in your portfolio. It shows recruiters that you’re driven, you’re active, and you genuinely enjoy making games.As a game programmer, your portfolio shows off the end product and points out specifically what you did on that project. You might provide a sample of your code and a detailed explanation of how it works. It’s more technical than a designer’s portfolio, for example.

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Elaina Bouch

Advice to Students?

Always keep up with your work, don’t fall behind and don’t procrastinate.

Favorite: Book, Movie, Podcast?

Books/Anime: Spice and Wolf by Isuna Hasekura

Inspirational Quote?

“The world is just as fantastical as it is horrific, and it’s just as arbitrary to lose hope as it is to find it.”

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Becca Boucher

Internship

Her Campus Media in Boston, MA

Favorite Class

Advanced Typography

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

Getting to work on my Capstone, Critical, was by far the most rewarding experience. Critical isan activism-based campaign advocating for accessible design practices to be integrated into undergraduate design programs. Getting to build up the concept, brand, and outcomes all from scratch was so much fun, but that was not even the most rewarding part. The most rewarding thing to come from the project was when a high school acquaintance reached out to me and thanked me for my work. He told me that he felt personally connected to my project, as he has two blind brothers. Of course, I knew going into the project that my intentions were to help those who are visually impaired but being thanked by someone that actually has a direct connection with the folks whose lives I was hoping to enhance was a feeling like no other.

What was your study abroad experience like?

For the spring 2019 semester, I got to study abroad in London, England. As cliche as it sounds, I really do think that studying abroad was a life-changing experience. I went through a third-partyprogram, so I got to live and study with people from all over the states and the world. I still talk to all five of the girls I lived with almost every day, and I know they will be forever friends. I got to visit my boyfriend in Dublin for St Patrick’s Day and we got to spend our spring break in Paris.I think the most valuable thing I took from studying abroad was how rich other cultures are. London has some of the most amazing museums I have ever been to, and I learned so much from going and studying the work from all around the world. My favorite museums were the Tate Modern and the British Museum!If I were to give one piece of advice to any Champlain student, it would be to study abroad. I made so many unforgettable memories, learned so much, and made some amazing friends!

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I am an Orientation Leader and the Director of Design for CHAMP. I love both of these groups,as I get to interact with so many different people! Orientation week is so much fun. We get so close with the best group of leaders and get to welcome so many new students. I love the high energy and seeing all the working parts come together. I have been a part of CHAMP since my first year, and love getting to plan the different events.

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Kinsey Bowensmith

Favorite Class

Production II

What do you like about your program?

The professors are great and really willing to work with you on your growth as a professional. The classes are applicable as you go through your major, so you can apply what you learn right away in your work in teams. The projects are interesting and help put everything I learn into a real-world context.

What do you like about your professors at Champlain?

They are always ready and willing to work with you on whatever you need. They remember your name and can remember what you said in class that day. They are knowledgeable on the subjects that they teach and help you grow as a young professional.

What projects have you worked on in classes that you’ve found particularly rewarding or useful?

All of my production work in teams has been irreplaceable in learning how teams and game projects work. You are able to work in a studio setting, which helps put the whole process in a context that would not be there otherwise.

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Alexia Bowie

Favorite Class

Digital Forensic Analysis

Why does your field matter?

As technology and crime grows, the world needs and deserves a group of people to beable to properly analyze different incidents related to the digital world, and do it well. At Champlain, I can honestly say I have been set up for the best in terms of placing my foot in the door to professional experiences and helping others in the best way possible.

So far, what classes, projects, or experiences have been most impactful for you?

The classes that have been the most impactful, specifically, are my Core classes. In these classes, I have honestly learned some of the most eye-opening and interesting concepts such as the importance of culture, different kinds of sciences, and philosophy. I began to view the world differently and more positively upon completing the courses, and I genuinely appreciate those experiences so much.

What do you want to be ready for upon graduation, and how is Champlain helping you get there?

Upon graduation, I want to be ready to enter a professional environment and willing to take advantage of opportunities given to me. Champlain has helped and pushed me toward getting there by the various programs they have offered to me, dedicated to establishing a professional image and presenting new opportunities to people like me.

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Erika Brown

Specializations

Editing & Publishing/Creative Writing & Literature

How did you first hear about Champlain?

I first came to Champlain for the Champlain Young Writers’ Conference in 2015. It was my firsttime ever hearing about Champlain or visiting the campus. The conference was an opportunity to stay on campus for the weekend (I slept in Butler), go to workshops in the classrooms, and roam around the campus to explore it on my own time. We were able to eat in the dining hall, and I remember consuming a lot of pizza bagels that weekend!

What do you like about your major?

I love this program because it has allowed me to make incredible friends. I’ve never beensurrounded by people who had similar interests as I do. This writing community is constantly encouraging one another to read work, swap drafts, give critique, provide edDivision of Information Technology & Sciences, and help each other grow. We all have admiration for one another. We don’t see each other as competition, but as collaborators. I love being able to go into our Discord server and say “Hey, I’m not feeling confident in this draft. Could you all help me?”—and they do!

Have you worked on-campus in either a part-time or work-study position?

I’ve been working in Compass Student Services since my first year. When I started, it was theEnrollment Services Center. In the past few years, I’ve watched and helped build the Compass office into something more identifiable and resourceful for students.
In the summer of 2018, I was asked to join the Class of 2022’s Facebook page to help answer questions, concerns, and provide guidance on the Summer To-Dos. There’s a lot to be done before a student gets to campus, and it can be overwhelming and confusing. Then, I joined the Champlain Parents and Families Facebook Group. Parents tend to have more questions about what needs to be done, how to do it, and when it’s due. I started answering their questions, calming their concerns, and connecting them with the appropriate person if I couldn’t answer. That was two years ago, and I have a cult-like following with them. I am often their first point of contact and their primary resource. I love talking to them over the summer and getting to meet them during Orientation. Sometimes, parents will call the office and ask for me directly. I’ve had parents bring me flowers and cookies.
Nothing brings me greater joy than helping a student or a parent. For some, this is their first child going off to college. There is a lot of trust there, and I want students to love being at Champlain as much as I do.

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Madi Brumbelow

Specialization

Threats & Mitigation

Internships

Capgemini Invent in Shanghai, China and Global Technology Summer Analyst with Bank of America, Charlotte, NC

Favorite Class

Malware Analysis

Post-Grad Job

Global Technology Analyst with Bank of America

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

My favorite class that I have taken at Champlain was the Malware Analysis course. In this class, we analyzed real pieces of malware in controlled environments and learned ways to detect, evaluate, and remove these malicious files from computers. My favorite part of this course was when we got to look at ransomware-this is a very common threat right now, and it is helpful to learn how these types of malware work!

What was your study-abroad experience like?

My study-abroad experience stemmed from the Freeman Foundation Grant in the summer of 2019. I completed an internship abroad with Capgemini Invent in Shanghai, China. In addition, I took a few courses on Chinese Language and Culture at East China Normal University.This experience was extremely valuable as part of my overall education because I experienced living and working in the biggest city in the world! I learned how to navigate a workplace at a large, international company and how to meet, interact with, and communicate with top-level executives. I also learned about China’s history, culture, language, and the importance they play in the world currently.

Can you tell us more about any other internships you’ve had?

I have also been a Global Technology Summer Analyst with Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina. During this internship, I collaborated virtually with team members, cohorts, and managers to complete projects dealing with data literacy, visualization, optimization, and environmental and social justice. I learned and developed cybersecurity attack and defense skills, including the usage of Kali Linux tools and Kibana, as well as developed skills in Microsoft Excel, Python, teamwork, and collaboration.

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Cat Butrick

Specialization

Editing & Publishing

Internship

SolidarityWorks in Drugan, Bulgaria

What do you like about the Professional Writing program?

I love how practical all my classes are. We don’t just talk about theory; we actually implement the techniques we discuss. In the creative writing classes I’ve taken, we read poetry aloud; we act it out, and Jim Ellefson (who usually teaches these classes) shows us how to submit our own work. In almost every class I’ve taken, we create a tangible product that we can use in our careers.

How has the Upside-Down Curriculum enhanced your education?

The Upside-Down Curriculum is responsible for almost every single experience listed on my resume. I took six major-related classes my first year, so I was prepared to take on editorial roles at student publications or assume a campus leadership position much quicker-and more skillfully-than I would have at another school.My Core classes also really helped shape my interests. I came into Champlain wanting to be a developmental editor, but my relationship with one of my Core professors, Aziz Fatnassi, led me to an internship with a Bulgarian NGO where I learned I actually want to work in the nonprofit world.

How was your study abroad experience valuable as part of your overall education?

I studied abroad for two months in Sevilla, Spain during the Spring 2020 semester. Living with a host family really taught me how to communicate with others from different cultures and how to make connections with those who live a drastically different life than myself. Studying abroad also taught me how to be more outgoing and go after what I want. It taught me to let loose and have fun sometimes, and that life isn’t all about work.

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Ariana Calder

Internship

Social Media Intern at Payverse

Favorite Class

Intro to Typography

What opportunities have allowed you to apply classroom learning to real-world settings in your field?

I did an internship over the summer, where I still work now! I manage social media and create content for a fintech company called Payverse. It’s been interesting to grow my skills in brand identity and learn a little about an industry that I had no background knowledge on before I began. It’s been wonderful to bring my typography and hierarchy skills into a space that really needs it.

Looking back, what advice would you give a new or incoming Champlain student?

My main advice for a new Champlain student is to really walk around campus and Burlington as a whole! It can be daunting coming here and having all the freedom in the world all of a sudden, and may make a lot of us (including me) just want to stay in our rooms sometimes. But Burlington is so beautiful, and while it’s a lot of walking, I can confidently say so much of my college experience has been made by discovering new places, after walking maybe a little too far.

Describe your ultimate career aspiration, job, or accomplishment in your field.

My ultimate career aspiration is to have my own graphic design business where I can sustain myself by working at home, creating my own hours, and traveling to places that I’ve always wanted to go. Of course, this comes with a lot of development and networking, so immediately after college I’d like to first find a design firm to really grow my skills in interacting with clientele. In order to become a great designer, you need to be adaptive, communicative, creative, and understanding of just how much impact your work really has. Through continuing to foster my work ethic and develop my skills, I really do believe this dream will be possible.

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Abby Caldwell

Advice to Students?

Never be afraid to try something new, be it a club, a class, or something else. You never know where you’ll find a new passion. It may not always work out the way you want, but take the chances you’re given.

Favorite: Book, Movie, Podcast?

Books: Animorphs series by K. A. Applegate

Inspirational Quote?

“Creative activity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.” – Arthur Koestler

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Zoe Campos

Personal note

As a first generation immigrant and college student, learning and gaining experience is a privilege that I will never take for granted.

What's your favorite book, movie or podcast?

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

Interests

Writing and game making are my two passions, and I love the combination of arts and technology.

What is your favorite game?

Mother 3

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Jenny Caplan

What about Champlain College appealed to you as an international student?

For my Computer Arts degree, there were several options in Europe for exchange programs. Champlain was the only one in the USA which was interesting to me. I wanted to go to Champlain because it seemed like a really fun and friendly community. I went to the exchange program presentation led by previous exchange students. I was really excited after the presentation, finding out there were so many clubs and student activities. I had my own club at Abertay but without much engagement. I run one now by the same name of Jukiyo club and the club members are now all my closest friends here.

What resources are available to you as an international student? How were they helpful?

The OISS office run by Jessa Karki is my first point of contact for any issues or questions that I have as an international student. Jessa is really helpful and is a good advisor for when I’m struggling with anything. I have also found many professors to be understanding of my status as an international student, as well.

As an international student, what do you think is most valuable about a Champlain education?

I think having professors in the industry has been really helpful in preparing me to choose the right specialization and career path in Game Art after graduation.I really enjoyed Game Entrepreneurship, which was a virtual Montreal class. We worked with real industry problems and data in our case studies, which was really interesting.

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