Students in the Degree Design Lab

So far I have taken some phenomenal classes. A few special ones come to mind that I think are worth mentioning:


Management/Organizational Behavior taught by Professor Scott Baker made such a lasting impact on my life. It was a class on how to lead people, understand people, and work to successfully create a work environment that helps everyone thrive. Professor Baker taught the class in such an organic way, and the material is so applicable to my job as a supervisor. I use his leadership advice each day and learn how to work with people and make everyone feel appreciated. 

New Ventures/Entrepreneurship with Professor Kylie King is so epic. I come to class with a business idea that I've had for years, and with the help of Kylie, watch it come to life. In this class, I worked on my wellness company, called Five Wellness, and have a podcast on Spotify. The class gives students the freedom to learn how to explore their business ideas, know what steps are important to take to make it happen, and pitch to real investors to get feedback. If not for this class, I don't think I could have made plans for my company or have a podcast that I am so proud to produce.

I absolutely love most of my professors at Champlain. After joining the Degree Design Lab major, I built a family with my professors and faculty members. Now I have a number of professors that know me very well, help me when needed, and join me for a cup of coffee.

Yes! I was just landed a two-month internship in Bangkok, Thailand, this summer supported by a Freeman Foundation Grant. I will be interning at Rapid Asia, which specializes in sustainable change in Asia. They do work with the United Nations, too. The people I will be working for complimented my degree and were interested in me being an interdisciplinary student. It feels like a fantastic fit.

I can't imagine being at any other institution and not taking major-specific courses right off the bat. Taking a deep dive into your field of study so early on allows for more opportunities within your field. By the end of my sophomore year, I was an intern at NuHarbor Security doing information assurance. I feel as though I would not have been able to get that opportunity elsewhere.

I have worked as an intern at NuHarbor Security in Colchester, Vermont, since January 2020. The president of Champlain's Womxn in Technology Club at the time, Mackenzie Marsocci, was interning there and put in a good word for me with her boss. I got an interview after submitting my rèsumè at the Career Fair, and I received an offer less than a day after. I've been working there ever since, and in November 2021, I got a full-time job offer after graduation as an information assurance analyst. 


I've also interned as a research assistant for Professor Duane Dunston, and we have completed many different projects together. One of these projects was on an expert system for identifying victims of human trafficking. I've also worked on building a virtual reality application for a local non-profit organization, Vermont Works for Women, aimed at teaching members the necessary skills to work on a construction site.

I am a part of Techdren, Champlain's student-run nonprofit. My role is to gather a group of volunteers and refurbish donated technology for students in need. We distributed about 65 laptops to students, as well as to the Boys and Girls Club and a local nursing home. 


Volunteerism emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community. I strongly believe in using your skills for the greater good and serving others.

I love that everyone is passionate about what they are pursuing. Since there is so much choice involved in the program and curriculum, you never feel like your work is done in vain. This creates passion for the work, and that energy is shared with peers. 

In the Fall of 2020, my project design class was given the opportunity to work with local organizations working to improve food access in Vermont. From that experience, the class created an online resource website where Champlain community members could go and find information on education, volunteering, and assistance with food insecurity. It was rewarding to create a product that real people could and would use. 

Whether you come for a tour or an open house or some other admissions event, take a few minutes to sit and observe the school in action—there's an energy about this place that you can't find anywhere else.

I really like to write and create stories, but I also enjoy learning about science. Why not create stories that teach about the planet?

Creating posts for one of my environmental classes in collaboration with the Emergent Media Center. It was a good exercise to try to distill scientific facts to the size of a post and make them entertaining. It was satisfying to see them published. I also liked working on a food website with my classmates in my Project Design course.

I've enjoyed the classes where I have learned a lot, and there are a good number of those. I think the one that I learned the most in is Screenwriting I. I really love cinema, and have lots of ideas for films, but you can't get anywhere without a good script.

Living on campus gives you the feeling that you're not alone and that there are other people like you studying. I don't have a spot in particular that is my favorite, but I like walking around Maple Street and South Willard Street because it's the center of campus and you'll see other students.

Burlington is big enough to explore but small enough to be safe and it is physically beautiful.