Internships

‘Prepared for the Future’

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 15:11:25 +0000

‘Prepared for the Future’ BBENSON@bridgew.edu Tue, 07/02/2024 - 11:11

Recent alumnus excelling at Boston tech start-up

July 3, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Joseph Defendre, ’24, arrived at �¼��ϲʿ�� with an interest in technology but little knowledge of computer programming. He recently graduated with the confidence that he can excel in a programming job.

And the computer science major is already proving his abilities thanks to a special fellowship and internship.

“The difficulty of the computer science program really prepared me for tasks passed on to me in my current role,” said Defendre, who overcame doubts at Bridgewater State about his ability to succeed. “That adversity prepared me to accept any challenge in the workplace.”

Before he studies artificial intelligence in graduate school at Northeastern University, Defendre is spending the summer interning for WHOOP. The Boston-based company develops wearable fitness trackers used by professional athletes like LeBron James, as well as everyday consumers. Defendre works on a team supporting the company’s Android app.

The internship is one component of the Hack.Diversity fellowship, an initiative striving to increase representation for Black and Latinx people in the technology workforce. Fellows such as Defendre complete technical projects and also study resume writing, networking, salary negotiation, and the impact of race in the workplace.

The organization’s mission resonated with Defendre, who noted the difficulty of “people like us to get our foot in the door.”

Defendre immigrated to the U.S. from Haiti with his family at age 7. His classmates and a high school teacher recommended attending �¼��ϲʿ��.

“I’ve seen the sacrifices my parents had to make to get me where I am,” said Defendre, a first-generation college student. “I always felt obligated to not let them down.”

But his journey to a bachelor’s degree wasn’t straightforward. Having joined the Army National Guard when he was 17, Defendre temporarily withdrew from �¼��ϲʿ��. As he focused on his military duties, Drs. John Santore and Margaret Black, both computer science professors, remained invaluable sources of guidance.

“I couldn’t have made it without these people,” he said, also praising Military and Veteran Student Services staff. “Because of their support and constant emails and pointing me in the right direction, I was able to enroll back in Bridgewater State.”

As a Bear, he formed close friendships, persevered through challenging mathematics classes, and learned in-demand skills from computer science professors who were committed to his success.

Despite studying a different programming language than the one he uses at WHOOP, Defendre said he developed the foundational skills to adapt to any software job.

“I think Bridgewater had a huge impact on how I turned out on a professional level as well as my social development,” he said. “I feel prepared for the future.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I think Bridgewater had a huge impact on how I turned out on a professional level as well as my social development. I feel prepared for the future.

Joseph Defendre, ’24

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Alumni Profile

Internships

Racial Justice

�¼��ϲʿ�� Works

Granting Opportunities

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Tue, 21 May 2024 19:03:28 +0000

Granting Opportunities BBENSON@bridgew.edu Tue, 05/21/2024 - 15:03

CUBEs program takes students into the working world

May 23, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Anna Dykhoff, ’26, enrolled in an English class on grant writing hoping to learn a new skill. By the end of the semester, she was able to add even more to her resume.

The class challenged students to work with A&A Metro Transportation to support its Bridgewater Cares on-demand public transit system for town residents and �¼��ϲʿ�� students. And, thanks to connections she made, Anna is a summer intern for the organization.

“It blossomed from something I thought was just a class into a career opportunity,” she said.

That’s just one of the many benefits of �¼��ϲʿ��’s Collaborative University Business Experiences (CUBEs) program. In CUBEs classes such as this one taught by Dr. Lisa Litterio, students work with local organizations on semester-long projects that are embedded within the course.

Students visited A&A Metro’s offices and the Senior Center and met with users of the service. They established a TikTok account, produced Instagram posts and wrote a federal grant proposal for Bridgewater Cares, which is currently funded by the state, town of Bridgewater and �¼��ϲʿ��. They even received feedback on the proposal from Congressman Bill Keating’s staff.

“It’s mirroring what the workplace is about and what the world is about,” said Litterio, who hopes the course helps students expand their writing and career horizons. “It’s seeing the classroom as a place to do grant writing.”

Students embraced the opportunity and responsibility that comes with a project whose impact stretched far beyond the classroom.

“It’s very rewarding,” said Cam Rodericks, a marketing major who expects to finish his degree in the fall. “I’m learning something I can apply to real life.”

Dasia Peters, ’24, added: “I feel like I’m actually doing something that has a greater purpose. Just the thought of being able to actually get funding that can help the community is really motivating to me.”

Dasia, a communication studies major and member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, hopes to use her new skills to help her tribe apply for federal grants.

Anna, who focused in class on enhancing Bridgewater Cares’ social media accounts, looks forward to growing A&A Metro’s online presence during her internship.

“We’re being trusted as professionals,” Anna said of the course. “It’s not work just to get a grade.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

It blossomed from something I thought was just a class into a career opportunity.

Anna Dykhoff, ’26

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CUBEs

Internships

�¼��ϲʿ�� Works

Secure Position

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:42:47 +0000

Secure Position BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 10/11/2023 - 09:42

Graduate college internship leads to career in cybersecurity

October 12, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Rachel Cullity, ’21, G’23, helps safeguard the financial systems and taxpayer money that power a plethora of Massachusetts government services.

It’s a critical job – and one she may have never found if not for the mentoring of a Bridgewater State cybersecurity instructor.

“I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater,” said Cullity, a compliance officer with the state Office of the Comptroller. “I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.”

Cullity began her full-time position in June, soon after earning a master’s degree in criminal justice with a certificate in cybersecurity and cyber-criminology. She protects state financial systems from fraud and cybersecurity attacks and helps agencies follow relevant laws.

“I wanted to have a really important job that gives back to taxpayers,” said Cullity, who also studied criminal justice as an undergraduate at �¼��ϲʿ��. “I wanted to play an important role in the commonwealth.”

Cullity’s experience in the comptroller’s office began as a summer intern while in graduate school at �¼��ϲʿ��. She helped develop a campaign raising awareness about suspicious emails that was subsequently implemented. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, Cullity is continuing to build cybersecurity awareness among state employees.

Marion, who met Cullity in his introductory cybersecurity course, encouraged her to apply for the internship. She credits it with helping her see a way to use her academic knowledge in the workforce.

Cybersecurity internships provide intensive, first-hand work experience in a way that classroom instruction can’t fulfill, said Marion, who also serves as �¼��ϲʿ��’s director of information security.

“We can do a lot with simulating the technical stuff,” he said. “What’s more difficult to simulate is relationships and understanding how relationships work in an organization.”

While at �¼��ϲʿ��, Cullity also served as president of the Graduate Professional Student Association and criminal justice honor society. Now she is the director of young professionals for the AGA Boston chapter, an organization for workers and students involved in government financial management.

Her commitment to giving back stands out, Marion said.

“Her leadership and willingness to help others really sets her apart,” he said. “The way Rachel does it is in a very collegial, very supportive, very collaborative way.”

Cullity credits Marion’s course with planting the seed that the burgeoning field might hold a viable opportunity for her.

“He told me that I could do it,” she said. “I just had to stay focused.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater. I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.

Rachel Cullity, ’21, G’23

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Cybersecurity

Internships

Graduate Studies

Alumni Profile

The Job Ahead

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 18:48:13 +0000

The Job Ahead BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 09/18/2023 - 14:48

Meet new director of Career Services and the Internship Program Office

September 19, 2023

Brian Benson, G’23

Growing up in Hong Kong, Dr. Gerald Tang attended schools where test scores played an outsized role in dictating a student’s future. After immigrating to America, he discovered a higher education system focused more on helping students discover their passions.

Tang embraced that sense of exploration as a student and professional.

“My true calling is helping people understand their skillsets and interest in what they want to do,” said Tang, who immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a teenager.

Tang sees �¼��ϲʿ�� as a great place to continue that mission as the first executive director of Career Services and the Internship Program Office. He looks forward to uniting the two in order to enhance support for students and alumni.

“The community cares about student success,” Tang said of an initial observation of �¼��ϲʿ��. “Bridgewater is a great institution.”

Tang comes to �¼��ϲʿ�� with more than 15 years of experience in higher education, including most recently serving as the inaugural assistant dean for career integration at St. Francis College in New York City.

As a first-generation student, Tang found supportive mentors during his undergraduate years who shaped his educational and career journey. Even back then, he served his peers as an orientation leader, resident assistant and career development intern.

“I now understand what it takes to help students be successful in their college experience and professional experience as well,” he said.

Tang is excited to work for a university with strong academic programs that is committed to innovation and social justice. He looks forward to larger conversations with employers about what comprises a living wage and ways to achieve a more diverse workforce.

“Our work isn’t just about short-term change,” he said. “Our hope is (to create) systemic changes across society at large.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

My true calling is helping people understand their skillsets and interest in what they want to do.

Dr. Gerald Tang

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�¼��ϲʿ�� Works

Internships

Career Services

Photo by Mackenzie Rubitschung, '21

Building a Career

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 19:28:34 +0000

Building a Career HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 09/13/2023 - 15:28

Senior laying foundation for dual careers in teaching and construction

October 3, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

The road may not have been straight, but the twists and turns have led Gabe Elias, ’24, to the finish line of his senior year at �¼��ϲʿ��, and he’s confident about what comes next.

“I’ve always been open to possibilities,” Gabe said. “The way I was raised is, I need to make things happen for myself and if I put my mind to it and work hard, I’ll get things done.”

The Leominster native began his college career at a different school, studying finance.

Things were going okay until the spring of 2020 when COVID hit, classes moved online, and necessary restrictions were put in place.

“I was not doing good mentally,” Gabe said. “I couldn’t concentrate, didn’t like what I was studying and didn’t want to be there anymore.”

A friend at the time recognized his struggle and, because of his passion for sports and fitness, suggested he switch gears and study physical education.

After doing some research, Gabe discovered �¼��ϲʿ��’s physical education teacher licensure program. What he discovered piqued his interest and after some soul searching, he decided to transfer.

“I was very scared to pull the trigger and transfer, it’s a life-changing decision,” he said. “But once I did, the process was smooth and very easy.”

Around this time, he also received an email inviting him to interview for an entrepreneurial internship he’d previously applied for but had forgotten about.

He landed the internship and, while pursuing his degree at �¼��ϲʿ�� to teach physical education, gained valuable knowledge on how to run a business.

“The internship taught me what I was capable of doing,” Gabe said. It also provided the confidence to launch his own company, Elias Home Improvement.

His company offers exterior and interior painting and power washing in the Leominster area. Because of the success he’s had, Gabe looks to eventually expand into a full construction business.

Before then, however, he still plans to earn his degree from Bridgewater, which means this semester he will be student teaching full-time to complete the degree requirements, while also running the business.

The ultimate goal is to be able to teach physical education at the high school level and run a business at the same time, something Gabe feels is possible because the majority of his company’s work is done on weekends, while teaching takes place during the weekdays.

“I have a lot of business goals and aspirations but aim to be a man of all trades,” he said. “I don’t like being locked into one thing. I want to be someone who is successful, someone who helps and inspires others.”

When he looks back at the last three years, it amazes him how far he’s come.

“During COVID, man, I was in a bad spot mentally,” Gabe said. “But then I think about how quickly it turned around.”

A lot of that had to do with his decision to transfer to �¼��ϲʿ�� and the support he’s received.

“I’ve been calmer, less stressed and my professors have helped me tremendously with whatever I have had going on,” he said. “They are very flexible and always there to help me. Bridgewater has surprised me, there is definitely a family feel here.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Bridgewater has surprised me, there is definitely a family feel here.

Gabe Elias, '24

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Student Spotlight

transfer

Internships

Cleared for Takeoff

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:12:26 +0000

Cleared for Takeoff BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 09/13/2023 - 09:12

Logan internship prepares senior for career in aviation

September 14, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

The aviation field requires on-the-job experience that classroom instruction alone cannot provide. And Sophia Schiappa, ’24, is discovering there’s no better training opportunity than an internship at New England’s busiest airport.

“It’s such a hands-on industry,” said Sophia, an aviation management major from Wareham who is interning at Logan International Airport. “It’s an environment you have to be in to succeed.”

Sophia first worked at Logan for Cape Air, which flies from Boston to destinations in New England and upstate New York. In January, she began what has become a year-long internship with Massport, the public agency that runs Logan.

Sophia works in operations at Terminal E, which handles most international flights. She helps ensure smooth communication and collaboration between Massport, airlines, ground crews and others who help passengers travel to faraway destinations such as Dubai, Tokyo and Paris.

“I’m kind of like a middleman,” said Sophia, who interned this summer alongside fellow Bear Catherine Cummings, ’23. “I communicate about delays, weather and irregular operations and assist the airlines with whatever they need.”

Every day brings new experiences and challenges – and that’s just what Sophia is seeking in a career. Her internship even coincided with the construction and opening of a four-gate extension to Terminal E.

On campus, Sophia is president and co-founder of the Women in Aviation club, which organizes field trips and community service activities. Sophia enjoys helping new students acclimate to �¼��ϲʿ�� and the aviation field.

“I remember being a freshman at Bridgewater State and feeling a little lost with what I wanted to do,” she said. “Now it feels like I have a sense of who I am.”

During her internship, she helped run a STEM expo for high school students, an experience that further solidified her plans.

Sophia aims to continue giving back throughout a career that she hopes leads back to Logan Airport.

“Being able to support such a major facility in the state of Massachusetts would mean a lot to me,” she said. “Plus, I enjoy what I’m doing. I can blend a personal passion and a career.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I remember being a freshman at Bridgewater State and feeling a little lost with what I wanted to do. Now it feels like I have a sense of who I am.

Sophia Schiappa, ’24

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Internships

�¼��ϲʿ�� Works

Aviation

Foundational Work

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:37:57 +0000

Foundational Work HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Thu, 08/10/2023 - 14:37

Summer internship with area nonprofit prepares senior for future

August 15, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

When Caroline Tripp, ’24, received an email from Diane Bell, �¼��ϲʿ��’s vice president of outreach and engagement, recommending she apply for a summer internship with the Matt Light Foundation, she was intrigued.

A standout on the �¼��ϲʿ�� women’s basketball team, Caroline was looking for ways to expand her leadership skills and the opportunity looked promising.

“I had seen a lot of different openings for internships, some seemed more interesting than others, but this one jumped out at me because of my goals and the room for growth, leadership-wise,” she said.

Her hunch proved correct and this summer she was hired as a public relations intern to work for the organization founded by former New England Patriots standout Matt Light. The foundation’s mission is to help young people develop skills, values, and a mindset necessary to create a meaningful and productive future.

Working out of the group’s Sharon office, Caroline gained experience in social media management and blogging, and also collaborated with other interns and staffers to develop proposals for donors and fundraising efforts.

“I’ve enjoyed the work a lot because it’s rewarding. It’s not just busy work sitting behind a screen, you’re taking action to help youth and give back. You get to see your efforts unfold and make a difference,” she said.

Having a positive impact is something that motivates Caroline, especially within her own community. Including �¼��ϲʿ��.

Last year, the senior started a club on the Bridgewater campus to help student-athletes manage their mental health. Working with the nonprofit Morgan’s Message, Caroline established at �¼��ϲʿ�� an ambassador program, one of more than 1,000 at campuses nationwide. Morgan was a lacrosse player at Duke who committed suicide; her family started this program.

Through the program, meetings allow student athletes to check in on each other, particularly regarding their mental health. During finals, Caroline and other members of the club hosted mental health hangouts and during the year organized guest speakers to come and talk to �¼��ϲʿ�� teams.

“Also, each (athletic) team on campus now has a representative and we get together once a month to talk about things, to make sure that we have check-ins. We let each other know that we’re in this together...and it’s okay to not be okay,” Caroline said.

There is also an Instagram page dedicated to the program.

As she heads into her senior year at Bridgewater, Caroline is excited to continue with the program and expand her growing leadership skills.

“The (Light Foundation) internship was a good experience, it gave me a taste of what it is I really want to do, and I look forward to taking what I learned and applying it to my classes this fall,” she said.

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

The (Light Foundation) internship was a good experience, it gave me a taste of what it is I really want to do, and I look forward to taking what I learned and applying it to my classes this fall.

Caroline Tripp, '24

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Internships

Dog Days of Summer

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:34:21 +0000

Dog Days of Summer HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 07/31/2023 - 12:34

Internship with campus police K-9 unit paves the way for senior’s future

August 8, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

Summertime, and the campus may not be bustling as usual. However, there is still important work being done at �¼��ϲʿ��. Just ask Alysiana Cruz, ’24, who secured an internship with the Bridgewater State police department over the break.

It is the first time �¼��ϲʿ��PD offered a summer internship.

“I was having a hard time finding an internship until Diane Bell and Aboubacar Diakite helped,” Cruz said.

Bell, who serves as vice president of Outreach and Engagement and oversees the Rising Bears program, and Diakite, the �¼��ϲʿ��PD liaison in charge of the Building Bridges program, are both keen on helping students find the careers of their dreams.

Rising Bears was developed to help prepare students of color and/or first-generation students for the workforce, while Building Bridges was established to create a partnership with the �¼��ϲʿ��PD to help close the divide that sometime exists between police and members of the campus community.

"I wanted to intern with any police department, but more specifically one that had a K9 unit,” Cruz said.

It just so happens that the �¼��ϲʿ��PD has a K-9 unit but didn’t have a current opening.

During the school year, the department had previously hired two interns to work with its two K9s: Zach, a community resource dog and explosive-detection K-9, and Mikey, a facility dog that works with community members and first responders.

When approached by Bell and Diakite, the �¼��ϲʿ��PD welcomed the idea of adding a summer intern to work with the dogs.

“In terms of my career, I want to work with K-9s, so when I learned that this opportunity was available, I was excited,” Cruz said.

She applied, went through the interview process, and was hired.

“It’s been an educational experience. I learn something new every day. I’m gaining a lot of knowledge about the K9s and when I enter the academy I’ll bring that knowledge with me,” Cruz said.

Being able to intern in the summer months has also proven to be beneficial in other ways.

“It’s been helpful because during the school year, things can get hectic. Being able to have this opportunity during the summer months allows me to give more attention to the job, it helps me to better focus on my career path,” Cruz said.

As she gets ready to start her senior year this fall at �¼��ϲʿ��, Cruz said she feels better prepared for what’s next and is more confident in her decision to pursue a career in law enforcement with plans to take the state civil service exam next year.

“I’ve been able to learn about the protocols and procedures of the �¼��ϲʿ��PD and understand the roles that both Mikey and Zach play on campus, how they work and engage with the community,” she said. “It’s been a very positive experience and I definitely think this internship has helped me reach my goals, learn new things and I now have great references to get me where I want to go.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

It’s been helpful because during the school year, things can get hectic. Being able to have this opportunity during the summer months allows me to give more attention to the job, it helps me to better focus on my career path.

Alysiana Cruz, ’24

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�¼��ϲʿ��PD

Internships

Cape Connection

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:00:31 +0000

Cape Connection BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 12/07/2022 - 10:00

Internship helps student study her Cape Verdean roots

December 8, 2022

Brian Benson

For Carolyn King, ’23, an internship with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute was about much more than learning new skills. It also offered the opportunity to study her Cape Verdean roots.

Carolyn developed a museum exhibit comparing maritime topics in Cape Verde, a 10-island archipelago off the African coast, and Cape Cod.

“I can’t overstate how grateful I am that I was picked to do this project,” said the �¼��ϲʿ�� psychology major from Wareham. “This internship has been a blessing. It’s opened many doors for me.”

Carolyn, whose mother was born in Cape Verde, used print sources and interviews to build content and videos for the digital exhibit. Her work will be displayed at the Cape Cod Cape Verdean Museum & Cultural Center and shared more broadly by Woods Hole. She also helped design a digital map of Cape Verde that will be printed as a giant floor mat on which people can walk, providing visitors with an immersive experience.

Carolyn tackled the project with guidance from �¼��ϲʿ�� mentors Dr. James Hayes-Bohanan, a geography professor, and Angelo Barbosa, director of the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies.

“I see this as a part of the connections the institute is trying to build with Cape Verdean institutions in the area,” Barbosa said. “We’re creating real opportunities for the community to continue to discuss and understand the trajectories of Cape Verdeans.”

Massachusetts’ ties to Cape Verde date to the late 1700s, when whaling vessels from New Bedford visited the islands for supplies. Recognized for their maritime skills, Cape Verdeans soon began immigrating to the U.S. Today, Southeastern Massachusetts hosts one of the largest concentrations of Cape Verdeans living abroad.

Carolyn’s exhibit explores historical roots and contemporary issues such as fishing, water quality, and coastal resilience in the face of changing climate. These are topics that Woods Hole researchers study, creating a natural connection between the exhibit and the institute.

“From the first time I met with Carolyn, I was taken aback by her ambition and can-do attitude,” said Dr. Matt Charette, who directs the Woods Hole Sea Grant program through which Carolyn interned. “For an undergraduate student, she is mature beyond where most of her peers are at.”

Carolyn, whose internship led to work on a second exhibit for the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, has a passion for museums and learning about different cultures.

Ultimately, she is driven to tell the story of her family heritage.

“We played such a big role in this region but have not been recognized as much as we should,” Carolyn said of Cape Verdeans. “It’s really cool to teach others about this culture.”

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I can’t overstate how grateful I am that I was picked to do this project. This internship has been a blessing. It’s opened many doors for me.

Carolyn King, '23

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Internships

Covering the Bases

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 15:52:41 +0000

Covering the Bases BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 08/03/2022 - 11:52

Sports communications internship a home run for this senior

August 4, 2022

Brian Benson

Before they called Fenway Park home, Red Sox stars Carlton Fisk, Jason Varitek and Mo Vaughn played baseball on Cape Cod. Sam Santos, ’23, aims to follow a similar trajectory – although you will find her gripping a pencil instead of a bat.

Sam, a communication studies and history major and social studies minor at �¼��ϲʿ��, is interning as a beat writer for the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Wareham Gatemen. She writes game previews and recaps, as well as feature stories.

“I’m getting my reps in,” she said, drawing a parallel to the workouts athletes complete to be ready for game time. “I do a little bit of everything.”

Sam is one of nine interns who handle Gatemen communications. She attends every game to interview players, run the team’s social media sites (including launching the team’s TikTok channel), and sometimes even operate the scoreboard.

The experience builds on skills she developed in class and writing for �¼��ϲʿ��’s student newspaper, the Comment.

“Being at a smaller school, those opportunities are more readily available,” said Sam, who is from Dartmouth and will be the Comment’s sports editor in the fall. “You know a lot more people and it’s easier to get better experience and more hands-on practice.”

A longtime Boston sports fan, Sam came to �¼��ϲʿ�� to become a teacher. She switched majors, opting to follow her passions for sports and writing.

In part-time faculty member Brian Lepine’s Introduction to Journalism course, Sam wrote short- and long-form pieces and practiced interviewing. For one assignment, she spoke with employees at the New England Sports Network, where she would love to work writing about the Red Sox.

“Sam is really talented and hard working,” Lepine said. “I think she’ll have a great future in sports journalism or public relations.”

Outside the classroom, her experience as a resident assistant and orientation leader is instrumental to her internship success.

“Those two positions force you to talk to so many people you wouldn’t normally talk to,” she said. “They put you in situations where you have to be outgoing and make people feel welcome and at home at �¼��ϲʿ��.”

During her internship, Sam even wrote about (and soaked up advice from) former Gatemen interns who now work at ESPN and the Boston Herald.

“I’m learning the importance of making those connections and being as nice as you possibly can with everyone you meet,” she said.

Do you have a �¼��ϲʿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Being at a smaller school, those opportunities are more readily available. You know a lot more people and it’s easier to get better experience and more hands-on practice.

Sam Santos, ’23

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Internships