Student

Maliki LaForce

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Class	2023
Pronouns	He/Him/His

Advice to Students?

Time Management is your best friend. Use Google Calendar and get that ball rolling.

Favorite: Book, Movie, Podcast?

Movie: Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse

Inspirational Quote?

“I see now that the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.” – Takeshi Shudo

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Vilcina Laplante

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Programs	Computer Science & Innovation Degree
Class	2023
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers

How have the Pathways Scholarship and CARE program supported your journey at Champlain?

The Pathways Scholarship and CARE program have connected me to individuals on campus in different areas that support students like me. CARE has helped me create relationships and connect with people that I didn’t know could exist. CARE started a lot of conversations about the goals and dreams I want to accomplish. It changed the phrase ‘I can’t do this’ to ‘I can’t do this but I know who to talk to to reach there.’ The programs have pushed me out of my comfort zone when I couldn’t. Without me being a part of CARE, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

What is the most rewarding part of the CARE program?

The most rewarding part of the CARE program is the relationship you make. From the students that start with you to the staff checking on you, wondering what else they can do to help your journey at Champlain. Including you in every event on campus that’s possible. CARE created the support system that I didn’t even know I needed in my first year and I’m thankful for that.

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Emily LaPlume

Class	2017
Study Abroad	Dublin Ireland and New Zealand.

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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Addie Laprey

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Class	2020
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Maine
Study Abroad	London, United Kingdom

Internship

Graphic Design Intern at the Champlain Marketing Department in Burlington, VT

Favorite Class

Visual Communication Design Capstone

Did you get the chance to study abroad?

I studied abroad in London at Central Saint Martins. It was very different from Champlain, and I learned a lot about working conceptually and independently. While it pushed me out of my comfort zone at the time, it also taught me how to approach design from an entirely different perspective and shaped how I view visual communication today.

What is the best part of the Visual Communication Design major?

One experience I have found incredibly valuable at Champlain is the emphasis on collaboration in classes—every design class involves group critique from peers. I’ve had the opportunity to work on various collaborative projects, either in small groups or with the entire class. Working so closely with my peers has helped me create a tightly knit support system of people I consider not only peers, but some of my closest friends.

Are you involved with any extracurricular activities?

I helped organize a club called In The Arts, which encourages Champlain students to become involved in the art community around town, collaborate, and share their work with each other. I have met a ton of people through this club that I wouldn’t have otherwise known. It’s inspiring and motivates me to be creative.

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Alex Lasker

School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Programs	Business Administration Degree
Class	2021

Hometown

Colchester, VT

Transferred From

CCV and Castleton (One semester at both)

What is different about Champlain in comparison to your previous college/university?

Teachers put more time into you. They are much more willing to help you figure out a problem, rather than leaving you to deal with it alone.

What do you think is unique about Champlain?

[Champlain] is an open school. People are accepting and innovative. Coming from Castleton – which is basically four more years of high school – I really liked the attitude of everyone at this college. People want to be here, they don’t have to be here.

How has Champlain prepared you for the professional world?

Champlain teaches teamwork and how to apply skills to classroom environments like Excel in my business classes. It teaches you to be more mindful which is something that most business classes do not teach you.

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Max Laudenslager

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Game Art Degree
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Vermont

Favorite Class

Advanced Seminar

Can you tell us about your experience in your major?

Reflecting back on my time at Champlain, these past four years have been absolutely insane. Regarding my major in Game Art, from day one, students are taught the fundamentals and principles of art and design and the history of game development. Champlain College’s Upside-Down Curriculum offers students the wonderful opportunity to explore their field of study from the very beginning. Students are pushed to go above and beyond, and to unlock their highest potential. The teachers and faculty from the different game majors work hard to provide students with the right resources and skills to prepare them for the industry, and after reflecting back on where I was four years ago in comparison to where I am now, I can certifiably say that the most passionate and dedicated individuals who pursue this field will graduate from Champlain with all of the right tools, skills, and resources that the industry is looking for.

How has Core changed your perspective?

It opened up my mind to a greater understanding of the unfathomable life experiences of others, which can be dramatically different from my own life experience. Karma is a collective experience, not just an individual one. Everyone is influenced by the way each of us shows up in the world. I grew to enjoy it, and I’ve learned an incredible amount about the world and current issues we’re working through, on both a personal and global scale.

What advice do you have for students looking to get into Game Art?

First, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your teachers, your peers, and the Career Collaborative are all here to help guide you and support you on your journey to developing your skills, passions, and aspirations. Second, know your limits, and break those boundaries even when all seems hopeless. If you don’t push yourself, you don’t go anywhere. Fail when you can, and learn from those mistakes (just don’t do it your senior year!). And third, there may come a time when you will ask yourself: “Do I have what it takes to make it?” The answer is yes. You CAN do this! Be bold, be daring. Love what you do, and learn how you can contribute and help others. In turn, they will help you to succeed.

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Aaron Leach

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Programs	Computer Networking & Cybersecurity Degree
Class	2022
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	New Hampshire
Study Abroad	Aesthetic Expressions travel course in India over Spring Break

Specialization

Cybersecurity Operations

Internship

Programming Intern at the Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity

What projects have you worked on that you found particularly rewarding?

My final project for my first year Business & Entrepreneurial Mindset class was to make a customer value proposition for a business we came up with. My group came up with a product that ended up not only getting us an A on the final, but also led to my professor inviting me to present the project idea to Samsung in New York. That project got me into the finals for the Elevator Pitch competition that year as well.

How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career?

With the large amount of hands-on work with software and tools, I feel like my classes have helped me prepare my technical skills really well. Out of the classroom, the number of extracurriculars and resources available have helped me explore my interests and learn transferable skills.

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

Try your hardest to physically come to Burlington. Picture and videos just don’t do it justice. Once you see the lake at sunset there is no going back. Also, bring a winter coat-you’re going to need it.

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Abaigael Lebrun

Class	2023
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	New York

Concentration

Broadcast Media Production

What do you like about your major?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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Bronson Leclerc

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Programs	Computer Networking & Cybersecurity Degree
Class	2021
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	New Hampshire
Study Abroad	Dublin, Ireland

Favorite Class

Systems Security

Post-Grad Job

Systems Administrator

How do you feel about your professors at Champlain?

The professors at Champlain have all really cared about the students. None of them are there to fail students or to just grade assignments. They all genuinely care and want the students to learn. They are flexible within reason, and are always open to a one-on-one conversation about anything.

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

I’ve worked on many great projects during my time at Champlain, but if I had to single some out, I would say all of the projects we have worked on in my System’s Security class have been really useful. They are self-directed in the sense that you are assigned an objective and must complete that objective in any way that you can. This has been very useful in preparing us for real life. In the real world, no one will sit down with you and walk you through how to solve a problem. You have to use your resources and think through the problem on your own to find a solution. This class has really helped me to develop those skills.

How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career?

Champlain has prepared me for my future career exceptionally well. I have grown as a person and developed many skills that will serve me well in life unrelated to my field. Additionally, my coursework has provided an unbelievable education that will allow me to succeed in my career. The thing that has had the most profound effect on my future career while at Champlain is the Leahy Center. The experience I have received while working at the Leahy Center has been invaluable, and it was the perfect supplement to my coursework and personal development.

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Michelle Lee

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Class	2020
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Vermont
Study Abroad	Montreal, Quebec

Specialization

Environment Art

Favorite Class

Advanced Seminar in Environments

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

Through the curriculum at Champlain, I’ve been able to create a portfolio that has landed me multiple job offers. The Game Studio hosts many company visDivision of Information Technology & Sciences and mixers, through which I’ve been able to make connections and a mentorship with an industry professional. The mentorship helped me not only get a job offer, but also allowed me to learn from a professional who was currently in the field and apply the skills I’ve learned.

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

My favorite class was Advanced Seminar in Environments, which I took during my semester abroad in Montreal. The professor was a tough industry veteran who worked at Ubisoft. It was the hardest class I’ve ever taken, but also the most rewarding. There were only 4 students in the class. The class size was so small! We each got a lot of attention and the professor was able to push us to our limDivision of Information Technology & Sciences.

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

I studied abroad in Montreal during the fall semester of my junior year. The courses were excellent because they were all taught by industry professionals who were still working in their field and teaching us during the night. The school also took us on many company visDivision of Information Technology & Sciences, tours, and cultural events throughout the semester.I was able to take an advanced French course, and it was great to finally be able to put what I learned to use when speaking to locals.

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Aaron Leonard

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Class	2019
Pronouns	He/Him/His

Specialization

Cyber Investigations

Internship

Cadet at the Vermont Army National Guard in South Burlington, VT

Post-Grad Job

Lieutenant at the Newark Volunteer Fire Department in Newark, VT

How did you decide on your Computer & Digital Forensics major?

I chose Champlain because of the Digital Forensics major, which interested me more than anything else I’d seen at other schools. I’ve always been interested in computers, and since I want to go into law enforcement after college, Computer & Digital Forensics was the logical move to make. I like Champlain’s program because I get to take my major-specific classes early with the Upside-Down Curriculum. I wanted to go to one of the best schools in the country for my degree.

So how did the Upside-Down Curriculum impact your education?

My major-specific classes and professors give me hands-on experience with topics I’ll need when I enter the field. I’ve already done practical reports in my cybercrime, forensic science, and digital forensics classes. Instead of just hearing about methods and ideas, I’m actually applying them.

Can you tell us about your experience with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)?

The University of Vermont’s United States Army ROTC hosts students from other area schools, such as Champlain. The partnership allows us to participate in the program and experience a lot of interesting classes and hands-on training. It also provides great scholarship opportunities. I get to do a lot of things most other college students won’t ever do, and I have the opportunity to serve my country in the military when I graduate.

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Julia Leonard

Class	2020
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	New Hampshire
Study Abroad	Montreal Summer Cultural Program

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Michael Levy

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Game Design Degree
Class	2027
Pronouns	He/Him/His

Why do you want to be a tutor?

I wanted to give back to the Champlain community.

Advice to Champlain Student?

You are more than your work; it is okay to stop and take a break.

Fun fact

I lifeguard at an amusement park over the summer.

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Karl Lewis

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Game Design Degree
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Pennsylvania
Study Abroad	Montreal, Quebec

Specialization

Sonic Arts

Favorite Class

Senior Capstone/Production

What made you choose your major?

Video games have always been one of my most cherished passions. It was always my dream to be able to create fun and immersive game experiences that make lasting impressions on players throughout the world. The Game Design major at Champlain was the first step in achieving that dream, and after seeing people have fun playing my games, I can safely say that I’ve been living the dream with my major!

How has the Upside-Down Curriculum enhanced your education?

The Upside-Down Curriculum put me right into the swing of actual game development and design from day one. From my first day at Champlain until the present, I’ve been learning about how to make game experiences on paper, prototype and iterate on them to receive feedback, and use that feedback to bring designs to life. Without ever having to wait to see if my major was right for me or not, I knew from day one that I was in the right program!

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

My experience at Champlain has effectively prepared me for a career in the game industry through classes that not only teach design theory and principles, but also require hands-on creation and implementation of ideas and concepts in solo settings and within multidisciplinary teams. The experience I’ve gained working on games with teammates from different disciplines and walks of life is the real deal, and is quite possibly the closest you can get to actually working in a real game development job!

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Anders Lindberg

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Game Art Degree
Class	2022
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	New Hampshire

Specialization

Animation

Favorite Class

Animation I

How has the Upside-Down Curriculum enhanced your education?

The Upside-Down Curriculum has been so beneficial to me as a learner that I cannot imagine being in a program that doesn’t utilize it. The amount of genuine experience I have received in my field has put me in a position that allows me to develop critical skills every semester starting right away.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

My first semester at Champlain, I was given the opportunity to join one of the Champlain College Esports teams, and beyond that I have had a blast participating in student-run events such as Game Jams and movie showings. I enjoy these activities because they are run by students, for students. Therefore, everyone has the opportunity to influence these activities and make them exactly how they want them to be.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found out about your experience at Champlain so far?

What surprised me about Champlain was myself. Oftentimes the first years come down with ‘imposter syndrome,’ and I can say that it hit me hard. I was afraid that I couldn’t live up to the expectations. What surprised me was how much potential I had within me, and how these classes could drag that potential out and allow me to do things I didn’t think were possible.

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