Student

Jon Trusheim

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Massachusetts

Double Minor

Computer Science and Mathematics

Internship

Research Associate Intern for MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation In Cambridge, MA

You switched majors from Game Programming to Data Science. How was that experience?

The Upside-Down Curriculum helped me realize that Game Programming wasn’t for me, but I knew I wanted to stay at Champlain because of the small classes and few tests. Dean Lawson—my advisor—and Wei Chan, the Assistant Dean for the division, suggested Data Analytics* because it was the mix of business and computer science that I wanted.
*Program name changed to Data Science for Fall 2020

What do you like most about the Data Science program?

I love the puzzle of working with different datasets. Each one has a question to answer, and it’s a fun adventure to figure out if the data answers or doesn’t answer that question. I’ve also loved all my classes with Narine Hall, because she is so willing to change up the class pacing based on how well we understand the material.

Do you feel prepared to graduate?

Yes. A lot of the master’s degrees that I was looking at seem to overlap a lot with the work that I was doing already in my classes. So yes, I do feel prepared for going out into the workforce.

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Conor Tully

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Game Design Degree
Class	2019
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Texas
Study Abroad	Montreal, Canada

Internship

Game Design Intern at Ironbelly Studios in Montreal, Canada

Post-Grad Job

Quality Assurance Tester at Bungie in Bellevue, WA

Why did you choose Champlain College?

I was looking through the Princeton Review for top game design schools, and Champlain caught my interest so I had to visit! When I stepped on campus for the first time, I could really feel the career focus at Champlain. The faculty were willing to show me what their classes were working on, and they answered every question I came up with.

What projects have you worked on that were particularly rewarding?

I got to make an arcade-style game with a team. It was fun to make and play. The game uses a steering wheel and Wii remote gun to shoot aliens and drive through a wasteland. I have learned so much from this project, and it has been one of my favorite experiences at Champlain.

Have you had any on-campus jobs?

I was a Student Ambassador on campus for two years. My job taught me how to communicate with people from all walks of life. It helped with my public speaking skills, and I got to interact with important people on campus.

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Jessica Turner

Programs	Integrative Professional Studies Degree
Class	2022
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Massachusetts

Concentration

Cybersecurity and Social Justice

Internship

NuHarbor Security

How have you benefited from the Upside-Down Curriculum?

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.

Can you discuss your internship experience?

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.

Have you volunteered or participated in a service-based experience?

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.

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Ben Van Cleave

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	New Hampshire
Study Abroad	Central Saint Martins at the University of Arts London

Internship

Champlain College Marketing Department

Favorite Class

Intermediate Typography

What do you like about going to college in Burlington?

Burlington is the perfect college town. The student population here is huge, so everywhere you go, there’s always young people out and about. It also has a unique spirit and tightly-knit community, so it really does feel like home. I always recommend that people check out the local music and arts. There are always a lot of amazing shows going on in a variety of different venues across town.

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

I think my favorite major-specific class I’ve taken at Champlain is Intermediate Typography with Suzanne Glover. You grow so much over the course of that class, and seeing the progression from project to project is really exciting and rewarding. My favorite Core class that I’ve taken at Champlain is definitely the History of Hip-Hop with Brian Murphy, which had really interesting subject matter. It was one of the few classes that I’ve been excited to write a paper for.

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

Champlain has a really strong focus on providing you with real industry standards so that you can enter the field with all of the tools you need to succeed. The people I’ve met here form an amazing community, which will turn into an amazing professional network after graduation.

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Rachael Vecchio

Class	2020
Home State	New York
Study Abroad	Florence (spring semester)

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Erin Warner

School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Class	2020
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Delaware
Study Abroad	Shanghai, China and Dublin, Ireland

Internships

Community Management and Marketing intern at Parkpnp in Dublin // Website Editor inter at Krust Baker in Dublin // New Accounts inter at Omni Marketing in Shanghai, China.

DId you enjoy studying abroad?

Yes. I really enjoyed my study abroad semester. I had the ability to travel as well as live in the professional field doing app development work. I worked in a very small company with six employees that included me, as well as another graphic design student, and an Division of Information Technology & Sciences student as interns.It was a very collaborative environment. I enjoyed a lot of the projects that I worked on. I did a 10,000 word ebook copyright project where I talked about employee mobility optimization, and I did a lot of design work in adding a community management side to this app that helps you park. It’s called Parkpnp and it’s like a Airbnb for parking spaces.

Did you learn anything new in the professional world abroad versus here?

I would say that in Ireland when you’re within your internship, you start off with work that is to learn the culture. I did a lot of customer service work to understand both the platform, as well as the pain points of the users within the app, and from there I was able to scale into larger projects. In Ireland, it’s very much about proving your worth and then being able to climb the ladder with more independent projects.

What is the SMART space and what was your role there?

I love the SMART Space. It’s a center for Champlain students to receive academic help, depending on what classes they’re taking. I’ve utilized it for financial management courses.The SMART Space is my favorite feature of Champlain College. I would not have survived a lot of the math side and financial sides of my major if it wasn’t for the SMART Space. My first and second year, I was in the labs doing statistics work and financial management work with these tutors, who were students and peers. It made it so much easier to gain a grasp of my homework and my class assignments, and because of that, I’ve built that relationship with the SMART Space as well as gotten really good grades from the help I received. I was able to become a statistics tutor and help out students like the ones before me. It’s actually amazing, because during the alumni networking even, I got to meet one of my old financial management tutors, and it was a great experience to see how they’ve grown and for them to see how I’ve grown from my first year to my senior year.

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Aidan Wasserman

Class	2022
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Washington
Study Abroad	Core Travel Course to India

Internship

Prison Law Initiative with Professor Stephen Miller

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

I got to work with Professor Stephen Miller on his Champlain Prison Law Initiative, where students go into Vermont prisons and teach legal education courses to incarcerated individuals. I helped teach an evidence course and a more general intro to law course, both of which helped me grow my own knowledge base by preparing to teach, as well as gave me a perspective into prisons in Vermont. Meeting incarcerated individuals helped me humanize and conceptualize the overarching realization that people in prison are the same as any of us. They may have made one mistake, and while it might have been a really bad mistake, they still deserve support, empathy, friendship, and love.

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

I’ve worked on campus for the Admissions Office as a Student Ambassador since my second year. Through that job, I’ve become better at speaking on behalf of the causes I represent. I’ve become more aware of how marketing works and how the inner workings of colleges can function. I’ve also met numerous people that have become my friends for life, and I can’t imagine who I’d be without their influence.I also worked for the Student Government Association for three of my four years at Champlain. I served as a First-Year Representative and a Representative for the Division of Education and Human Studies. Both of these positions helped me grow in terms of how I interact with other representatives and do what I think is best for the students I represent.

How have you benefited from the Upside-Down Curriculum?

The Upside-Down Curriculum is around 60 percent of what drew me to Champlain. I truly don’t understand how other schools can possibly justify not allowing you to know if the major you choose is a mistake or not until it’s nearly too late to change. I personally was very lucky to choose correctly, but I’ve had friends switch majors once or twice to find things that they have a genuine passion for and can pursue careers in.

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Ethan Whiton

Programs	Game Design Degree
Class	2026
Pronouns	He/Him/His

Biography

 

 

Research

 

 

Distinctions & Awards

 

 

Publications & Abstracts

 

 

Why do you want to be a tutor?

So I could offer support to other Game Designers as someone who had switched majors and had little experience coming into the major.

 

Advice to Champlain Student?

If you feel yourself getting burnt out, take a break! Working through burnout is a surefire way to get less work done at a lower quality.

 

Fun fact

I worked an internship position overseas in Japan in 2024.

 

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James Wicks

Class	2014

Graduation Year

14

Organization

Walter Morris Company

Title

Territory Sales Representative

How are you using your Communication degree at your job?

The curriculum at Champlain College equips students with the tools needed to communicate and resonate in today’s expansive world of communication. The lessons I have taken from Dr. Kerr and the curriculumshe built have allowed me to thrive in sales.
When Covid hit, I had the tools I needed to change gears and use alternate channelsof communication to provide my customers with the support theyneeded. By understanding all of my channels of communicationand how to utilize them most effectively, I was well-preparedfor an unprecedentedtime.

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Sam Wilhoit

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Class	2022
Home State	California

Specialization

Journalism and Screenwriting

Internship

Glitter Magazine Irvine, CA

What have you learned through the InSight program? How will it help you in the future?

The Insight program has helped me consider the cost of living in different areas. Realistically, it may take me a few years after college before I am able to afford moving to a big city like Boston or New York to pursue writing and editing. However, there are many remote jobs available that will help me gain experience while saving up money for rent and transportation.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found/didn’t expect about Champlain (or your experience here) so far?

I didn’t expect how much my experience in classes would inform my perspective on life and my identity. I also did not know that my classes were going to be a safe space for me to share my intimate secrets through poetry and to cry in front of others. I was bullied throughout school for crying in public, so it is really nice to feel comfortable and safe expressing my feelings at Champlain.

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

Befriend your academic advisor and talk to them about any stressors you have. It is okay to drop classes, change classes, and change majors. I have done all of these things.If you are passionate about a subject and enjoy hanging out with a crowd of gamers, skateboarders, skiers, and artsy people then you’ll love it here. If you want a college experience with Greek Life and sports, this is not your college. This is a school that embraces individuality, not conformity.

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Tyler Wood

Class	2017

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Emma Worthge

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

Primary Concentration

Creative Writing

Internship

Social Media & Event Management Intern at Vermont Womenpreneurs

Favorite Class

Aesthetic Expressions: Jordan

Have you had any internships during your time at Champlain?

I was the Social Media and Event Management Intern for Vermont Womenpreneurs in Burlington, Vermont. I assisted with creating social media posts and campaigns. I also scheduled events for the company, culminating in a storytelling showcase at the end of November. My friends at other schools haven’t even thought about applying to internships yet, so already having completed one definitely puts me at an advantage. I notice that when I am applying for jobs, interviewers are really impressed with how much work I have done this far in my school career. I already have the experience that’s necessary to work in the field, which is miles above other people.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I’m a member of Los Dormant Volcanoes, Champlain’s improv comedy troupe. Improv comedy is a big part of my life and something that I love. I was super excited when I heard we had a team at Champlain. I auditioned during my first year, and have loved the family that we’ve built along the way. We practice by playing games and perform every few months for the Champlain community. My favorite part is hearing people laugh at the jokes I make on stage. It makes me feel like I’m a part of something really special.

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

My favorite class at Champlain was Aesthetic Expressions: Jordan. We learned about Jordanian culture, art, music and architecture throughout the whole semester, and then travelled to Jordan over Thanksgiving Break. We visited all the places we learned about, swam in the Dead Sea, rode camels through the Wadi Rum Desert, stayed at a Bedouin camp, and ate the best food in the world.

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Kathryn Young

Class	2018
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Vermont
Study Abroad	Zagreb, Croatia

Internship

Data Science Intern at Social Sentinel Inc. in Burlington, VT

Post-Grad Job

Analyst at Social Sentinel Inc. in Burlington, VT

How is the Law degree at Champlain unique?

The curriculum at Champlain is very similar to what you see on a law school website. I was able to go into my internship in Philadelphia the summer after my sophomore year, where I worked in this big-city law firm in business litigation, bankruptcy law, and civil litigation, and I knew what I was being asked to do. After the courses at Champlain, law school becomes sort of “Law School 2.0” by the time you get there.

Can you tell us about the Signature Courses in the Division of Education & Human Studies (EHS) Division?

Last year in the EHS Signature Course, I took a Social Justice Intensive class. Like most classes at Champlain, it was discussion-based. You’re not reading a book, so there’s no opportunity to miss the reading and stay back and be quiet. You really get engaged. You talk about social justice, current events, racial equality, and problems and topics that are really relevant to what’s happening in our country today, right now. It inspires students and you find that spark. You find that passion.

The EHS motto is "We Do Good Work." Can you elaborate on that?

I think that “We Do Good Work” especially ties in with the EHS Signature Courses because they want you to develop as a person. Champlain isn’t about building robots. Nothing about Champlain is generic. The college wants you to develop critical thinking skills. Maybe you’ve come from a high school that didn’t challenge you. Champlain will fix that really quickly.

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Mitchell Zasa

School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Programs	Game Production Management Degree
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	New York
Study Abroad	Shanghai, China and Montreal, Canada

Internship

Marketing & Data Analytics Intern at Baopals in Shanghai, China

Favorite Class

Montreal Food Writing Class

Post-Grad Internship

Production Coordinator Intern at Sony Games in Santa Monica, CA

What is the best thing about Game Production Management?

I love the multidisciplinary aspect of my major. As a producer, it’s beneficial to know a little bit about each game discipline to know how they fit together to make the whole game. Since day one in the Game Studio, all the game majors were making games together. The process felt so natural. We’ve all been playing games since we were little, but we weren’t sure how to make them yet. That’s where the faculty stepped in and closed the gap to help us.

What kind of projects have you worked on in your major?

I’ve made half a dozen games here at Champlain, and working on our game in Montreal was really gratifying. We made it in 10 weeks and people in the industry loved it. As developers, we felt a huge sense of pride in our final product. We worked so hard on this project, and people were asking when we would put it online so they could buy it.

What has surprised you most about your time at Champlain?

I’m a first-generation college student, and I never thought that I would be in the position I am in today. When I was a kid, my mom always said I would go to college, and I never doubted it. I thought college would be all about hard work and good grades—which it is, don’t get me wrong—but I never expected all the memories I’ve made over the years. I made my best friends here, the ones that are going to last forever.

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Amy Zebrowski

School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Programs	Game Production Management Degree
Class	2021
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Pennsylvania

Favorite Class

Heroines & Heroes: Harry Potter

What is the best part about your program?

The team-based projects in production classes have you working on creating games right away, which is great. The professors are knowledgeable and willing to help you learn, while also giving you valuable critiques to guide you in the right direction. The Game Studio feels like a family-we all help each other be the best we can be.

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

Getting to work on games in production classes and major-specific classes right away has been the most useful thing I’ve gotten to do at Champlain. Growing my skills as a game developer has been so rewarding and has gotten me excited about my career after Champlain.

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

I highly recommend Champlain to anyone in high school who feels like they don’t fit in. You’ll find your place here, and having people in your corner will make a difference in your experience here.

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