Student

Nyjah Strange

School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Class	2018
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Pennsylvania
Study Abroad	Ifrane, Morocco and Shanghai, China

Internship

Ecommerce Intern at Asia Socks Inc. in Shanghai, China

Post-Grad Job

Financial Analyst at Burton Snowboards in Burlington, VT

How has the Upside-Down Curriculum impacted your education?

The Upside-Down Curriculum is not only empowering, but it also prepares you for the real world from the start. You know in your first year if your major is really what you want to pursue in life. I have friends at other schools who are just now getting in their accounting and financial management classes. I’m able to say that I did that my first year.

What do you think of the Core curriculum?

I think that the Core is very important. At first, you come into the Core with a high school mind-set, and you just want to get it over and done with. But sophomore year, we’re able to choose our own Core classes. I took Ethics & the Environment, and we focused specifically on water. That was the best class I think I’ve had at Champlain. Not only did it open my mind to environmental ethics, but I pursued a new lifestyle where I’m now GMO-free—everything is organic.

Are you involved with any student organizations on campus?

I am a part of CHAMP (Champlain Has Activities and Motivational Programming). We put on events for students on campus, like Spring Meltdown and our Snowball Dance, which is amazing. One year, Snowball’s theme was “Enchanted Forest,” and it was honestly the best event I’ve ever been to. I met a ton of people. I thought no one would know who I was. I don’t know how I did it, all I did was dance in a circle, but I pulled random people in and danced with them. People still come up to me and say, “Hey, I remember you. You danced with me!”

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Adam Streeter

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

Internship

Lost Cosmonauts

Favorite Class

Arab Spring

Post-Grad Job

Valve Software

What made you choose Champlain?

I knew I wanted a smaller school, and I also knew I wanted something game-related. Reading up on Champlain’s robust game majors was very exciting! I was especially interested in going to Champlain after hearing about the production sequence and actually getting to make real games. What sealed the deal was the location. Having grown up in Connecticut, I knew I wanted to stay in New England. Sure it’s cold, but in the fall it’s less cold! And look at those trees!

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

I worked for five semesters at the Emergent Media Center, which gave me a lot of important experience working with actual clients on real projects, and taught me more about the production cycle hands-on! I’ve also been a Resident Assistant on campus for two years, which really helped me come out of my shell socially, built up my confidence as a leader, and introduced me to a lot of responsibility!

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I participate in the Champlayers drama club. It’s a small group of people who I consider good friends, and they’re incredibly supportive and talented. I love being able to get on stage and make people laugh and have a good time. I also attend Climb Champlain, which is a great way to get physical and hang around with a bunch of really passionate climbing folks.

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Cory Sweitzer

Class	2015

Graduation Year

’15

Organization

Burton Snowboards

Position Title

Senior Video Editor

How are you using your Communication degree at your job?

My experience at Champlain in the classroom and through required internships made me very versatile.
My primary job role is video editing and post-production, but working on a small team at Burton we all do a little bit of everything. On shoots, I can be a second shooter, run audio, help light sets, and then afterward log, edit, color, and version out all video assets. During the process, you’re working with project managers to ensure deadlines are met and almost become your own project manager. Your value depends on your ability to collaborate with others and contribute to any situation or willingness to dive in and try.
Working in the classroom at Champlain and getting real-world experience through internships helped build my confidence. I can be thrown into any situation and succeed.

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Katherine Taddeo

Class	2023
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Maine

Concentration

Professional Writing

What made you choose your major?

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

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

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.

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

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.

Do you have a favorite spot on campus?

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.

What do you like about Burlington?

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

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Lily Tammik

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Creative Media Degree
Class	2022
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Massachusetts

Specializations

Visual Art & Design, Sonic Arts, and Creative Writing

What do you like about your program?

I love the range of courses I have been able to take within the scope of the Creative Media major. From classes in Intermediate Creative Nonfiction to Film Scoring and the Advanced Digital Image, I’ve been able to try my hand at all sorts of practices that have fostered growth and the expansion of my creative capabilities. Through all of these courses, I have researched artists from modern times and times long past, and have used those influences to inform myself about what my voice is and what I want to communicate with my own art.

I love that the Creative Media major encompasses so many different types of artists because all of those perspectives allow me to see the breadth of art, and the value that learning about so many mediums can have on one’s own understanding of the world and of the self.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in? What do you do/why do you enjoy them?

I’ve been a part of Champlain’s literary and fine arts magazine, Willard & Maple, since the start of my second year. Each week the group of associate editors goes through submissions from the college’s students, ranging from poetry to prose and photography to digital painting, to select our favorites and compile them into a magazine yearly. I’ve been able to design the covers, choose fonts, and more for the last two years, and next year I will be a Co-Editor-in-Chief for my senior year. I enjoy Willard & Maple because I love reading through our submissions and experiencing the unique voices of Champlain’s students, engaging in their stories, along with providing them a vessel through which to become published. As an artist, I know how important it can feel to be recognized for your work, and I think that Willard & Maple serves as a very inclusive and creative channel for that outcome to be obtained.

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

The Upside-Down Curriculum, combined with the wealth of knowledge from my professors, has provided me with the capabilities and confidence to pursue a professional career as an artist. A seemingly intimidating career path, becoming an artist in today’s world, feels much more accessible with the experience my classes have given me. I’ve learned the business side of the music industry and how to predict trends and stand out from the crowd, how to create photographs that capture audiences through composition, content, and creativity, and how to craft meaningful and relatable writing that connects with readers. These tools, along with many others, have prepared me for the various positions in the professional world I could find myself in, given the creative world’s desire for multi-talented employees.

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Jessica Taylor

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Programs	Computer Science & Innovation Degree
Class	2021
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	New York

Specialization

Software Engineering

How has Core changed your perspective on yourself on the world around you?

Core has strengthened my written and verbal communication skills, as well as my critical thinking skills. With Core, I was able to travel to Italy and experience a new culture while also learning about the impacts of colonialism on Mediterranean markets.

What do you like about going to college in Burlington?

I love the local community and the scenery in Burlington. Being from upstate New York, Burlington reminds me of all the positives of my local community and surroundings while also having a nice city feel. I recommend taking advantage of all the nature during the warmer months by going on hikes, walking trails, or biking.

What surprised you about Champlain?

I didn’t expect to feel as important as I do in the eyes of my faculty and community. I feel like my faculty really values what I bring to class. I’m not just a face in a sea of people.

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Maia Tebbets

School/Division	School of Social Innovation
Programs	Integrative Professional Studies Degree
Class	2026
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Maine

How did you apply to Champlain?

Regular Decision

Why I Chose Champlain

I chose Champlain because of the cozy tight knit campus and the small size of the school! I went to a small high school so it was important to me that I would be able to connect with my professors and peers, and I have definitely found that here!

Ideal Weekend in Burlington

My ideal weekend in Burlington would be grabbing coffee at Cosmic Grind down on Church Street, exploring the lakefront with friends, having a slice at Pizza 44, and playing board games with my friends!

Clubs & Student Involvement

• Resident Advisor
• President’s Council
• Captain of Champlain College Dance Team
• CHAMP

Favorite Champlain Memory

One of my favorite Champlain memories was Spirit Week my freshman year! It was themed after space camp and there were lots of cool crafts and activities. It felt like the first time I really connected with my people!

One piece of advice for students going through the college search process

One piece of advice for students starting to look at schools is to go with your gut. It can be easy to make a decision based on what other’s expect from you or what you think you are “supposed to do”, but go with what feels right! For me, I felt a connection when I visited campus. I hope you find what you’re looking for!

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Jack Tenda

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

Favorite Class

Advanced Seminar

What specifically made you choose Champlain?

The Game Studio/Game Art program was one of the biggest reasons why I chose to attend Champlain. Being a local Vermonter, I always heard great things about the program. It seemed like a no-brainer to be a part of the Champlain community, which values hard work and collaboration.

How has Core changed your perspective (of self, of community, of the world)?

Core allowed me to open up as an individual and be a free thinker. I can see now that before coming to college, I was a very close-minded person, and did not really care to learn more about other perspectives. Core classes completely changed my way of thinking about life, and helped me form my own opinions while doing relevant research on important topics. Without the Core curriculum, I would not feel as prepared to jump headfirst into the real world.

Having been at Champlain now, what advice do you wish you could have given yourself on day one?

If I could have given myself advice, it would have been to be more involved with the Champlain community, and find a club or extracurricular to join. It always seemed like there was no time to fit these activities into my schedule. Looking back and seeing how quickly four years went by, I wish I did more to find a club or community.

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Chloe Thenor

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

Internship

Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office

Why does your field, Law, matter?

I was always drawn to the field of law ever since I was young. I believe that the field of law is important because we need more lawyers in the world to help society determine right from wrong and to help those who are innocent gain a voice and speak their stories against injustice.

So far, what classes, projects, subjects, or experiences have been the most meaningful or impactful?

The class that had the most impact on me was public speaking. In order to be a lawyer, you have to be able to speak loudly, clearly, and be convincing. I can’t say that I have gotten over the fear of public speaking, but I can say that I have learned some new tips to help me while making speeches and arguments.

How has Champlain helped you feel ready for post-grad life?

When I leave after graduation I want to be ready for exactly what I am getting into. I don’t want to go into law school and feel like this is not my life passion because then it would feel like a waste. Champlain has helped by giving me a taste of the classes I would take in law school during undergrad and it even helped me dial back the exact fields I want to go into.

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Alex Theodoreu

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Class	2021
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	New Jersey
Study Abroad	Montreal, Canada

Internship

Weathered Sweater in Winooski, VT and Rad Magpie in Burlington, VT

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I was involved with Champlain College Esports from the first week of my first year to the beginning of my junior year. It was one of the best decisions I ever made because I met so many cool people and really felt like I found a place for myself at Champlain. The connections and friendships I made have been really great, and I did a lot of graphic design work for CCE so I was able to build a portfolio for that. I never expected to get involved with Esports at all when I got to college, but it was one of the best choices I made.

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

Two positions I really enjoyed having are being a Student Ambassador and being a Game Art Tutor.Being a Student Ambassador is such a great way to meet a new group of friends and start feeling more self-confident. SA really focuses on how to talk to people, how to represent yourself and the school professionally, and how to think through situations quickly and handle them with ease. I’ve become a much better speaker ever since I started giving tours, and that has helped me with so many things from giving better presentations for my classes to being able to communicate more effectively with the people I collaborate with. Game Art tutoring is a super rewarding job because you can do it when you’re a senior and actually be able to apply the knowledge you’ve accumulated over the past three years of college to help other students. It’s been great actually learning how to articulate what I do specifically in the programs I’m using so that I can clearly communicate how to fix an issue or show a person how to do something without confusing them. I find that I learn more about the programs I use by teaching others how to use them.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found at Champlain?

I was surprised with how much I fell in love with the sunsets over the lake. I genuinely would schedule my meetings in the library right around when the sun would set so I could see the sunset over the entire horizon. It’s absolutely breathtaking, and I’m so happy I can sit in awe in front of my window every night and watch the sun fade into the mountains that frame Lake Champlain.

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Keegan Thomas

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Class	2023
Pronouns	He/Him/His

Piece of advice to students?

Having set a plan is better than not planning for anything as you can at least be aware of what you need to do.

What's your favorite book or movie?

Movie: Spirited Away

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Dehjia Thompkins

School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Programs	Business Administration Degree
Class	2018
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Pennsylvania
Study Abroad	Montreal, Canada

Internship

Account Handler at Vermont Business Magazine in Burlington, VT

Post-Grad Job

Customer Account Specialist at Dish Network in Tempe, Arizona

What made you pick your major?

I chose Business Administration because growing up, I was always told that I had the gift of persuasion and strong communication skills. I decided I would have a future in the business world due to my strength, drive, dedication, and straightforwardness. The business program at Champlain College is amazing. I especially enjoy group projects because they give me the opportunity to broadcast my natural leadership abilities while working with different people with different personalities.

Have you had any meaningful experiences with the Core curriculum?

A specific project that I was able to work on that I found rewarding was for my Global Condition class. I worked with Feeding Chittenden, and was granted the opportunity to cook for low-income families that live in poverty around the Burlington area.

How has your time at Champlain affected your career?

I started my professional career as an Administrative Assistant at the Quality Inn in Colchester, Vermont. I was in charge of making reservations, solving guest issues, keeping track of paperwork, all while maintaining a strong work ethic. I’ve enhanced the skills I’ve gained at Champlain since my first year to guide me through my professional career so far, especially my communication skills. I have learned to be well-rounded and adapt to any and every situation I am faced with. Since this internship, I have become a Front Desk Manager at the Hampton Inn in Burlington.

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Annabelle Thompson

Programs	Applied Mathematics Degree
Class	2026
Pronouns	They/Them/Theirs

Why do you want to be a tutor?

I want to go grad school and TAing would help lessen the cost drastically so I wanted to get some experience in helping out other students.

Advice to Champlain Student?

Get ahead on your homework at the beginning of the semester when things aren’t too hard yet. Then when you start to fall behind later in the semester you’ll fall to where you’re supposed to be.

Fun Fact

I love sea slugs and I collect a specific brand of plush sea slugs.

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Zeke Tierkel

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Programs	Computer Networking & Cybersecurity Degree
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Massachusetts

Specialization

Cybersecurity Operations

Internship

Application Security Engineer Intern at Workday in Pleasanton, CA

Can you describe the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) program at Champlain?

CIE is a growing community of entrepreneurs. The program offers the ability to collaborate with other like-minded individuals on campus and provide a space for them to work together. At least once a month, a guest speaker—usually a business owner from the Burlington area—will come to talk about their experience in the field of entrepreneurism.
CIE also hosts events such as the Elevator Pitch and the Champlain branch of LaunchVT.

What does the entrepreneurial mind-set mean to you?

An entrepreneurial mind-set does not necessarily mean you need to go out, abandon your career, and start a business. The mind-set of an entrepreneur can be utilized in a corporate setting just as much as in your own startup. Entrepreneurism within a company is often referred to as “intrapreneurism,” and it’s just as valuable a skill.

Outside of your work with the CIE, what professional experiences have you had during your time at Champlain?

I have had three internships over the last three years. My first was as a Research Assistant at the Leahy Center for Digital Investigation. Next, I worked as a software engineer for a small web firm out of Easthampton, Massachusetts. Most recently, I worked as a Security Engineer for Workday, located in Pleasanton, California.
I am a big believer that it takes time within an industry to learn the intricacies of running a business. All three of my internships taught me different ways of building a successful business.

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Katherine Townsend

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Class	2023
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	New Hampshire

Concentration

Animation

Internships

Animation/Video Intern at Clocky & Game Production Intern at Jam City

Favorite Class

Advanced Seminars in Animation

What is it about your major/area of study that appeals to you? Why does a career in that field matter—what value does it add to the world?

I’ve always valued the field of animation, and I knew I would pursue that direction when heading to college. I’ve found game development is full of many more opportunities than I had even known. While I’ve always valued entertainment—whether that be through film or games—it’s even more clear now how necessary it is to humanity moving forward. Entertainment gets people through hard times and helps make our lives better.

Talk a bit about your classes. What projects, subjects, or experiences have had an impact on you? How does that apply to your field?

In the Game Studio curriculum, our studio classes have had the biggest impact on my understanding of the industry because we were immersed in a real studio environment with team-driven projects. It fostered a sense of community, autonomy, and goal-setting that I hadn’t encountered before. It also allowed me to explore different roles in the studio. It’s also where I was introduced to being a producer, which is what I’m going to do in my career.

Have you had opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in your major to experiences outside the classroom?

For my entire junior year, I worked as a Game Production Intern at Jam City. I’ve been able to bring the documentation and planning skills I’ve learned from my Game Studio classes into a major mobile game development studio. Coming from an interdisciplinary background, I was able to serve the art and narrative teams at work with the previous knowledge of having studied both subjects with my major and minor courses of study. During my internship with Jam City, I served on the production teams of two games: Panda Pop and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. I dove into production for art and animation, while also dabbling in narrative and localization. I handled various tasks and documentation that supported both teams, and took on solo projects that aided the team’s asset archives and reference material that will bring efficiency to future projects. Outside of working and supporting my teams as a Production Intern, I met many great people and made amazing and meaningful connections that I know I’ll keep for the rest of my career.

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