Student

Cameron Belcher

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Programs	Game Programming Degree
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	West Virginia
Study Abroad	Montreal, Canada

What made you choose Champlain College?

I found my love for the Game Programming major after going to Champlain’s summer Game Academy program. I decided the teaching style was a perfect fit for me, and I was drawn by the culture of Champlain as well as their connections to the game industry.

What has been your favorite class?

My favorite class so far would have to be Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Games. It was a real turning point in finding out what specialization I wanted to pursue. Now I’m working on a game called Cash Force, where I am combining my knowledge of artificial intelligence and Unreal’s vehicle to create AI for our game.

Have you had any jobs on campus?

I worked with other students on an augmented reality (AR) project at the Emergent Media Center. They were very flexible in adapting our work commitments to our school schedules. During the project, I used all my knowledge from my programming classes and applied it to real life situations.

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Brandon Bell

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

Why do you want to be a tutor?

I’ve learned a lot at Champlain, and I think helping other game art students can help me learn my craft better.

Advice to Champlain Student?

Your project will never be perfect! Focus on the project as a whole, and don’t get caught up in perfecting tiny details. You can learn so much more from doing multiple rougher projects than one totally perfected one!

Fun Fact

I’m a fan of making VFX!

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Abbey Belliveau

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Animation Degree  Filmmaking Degree
Class	2029
Pronouns	She/They
Home State	Connecticut

How did you apply to Champlain?

Regular Decision

Why I Chose Champlain

I chose Champlain for a variety of reasons. For me, it was close to home while still being far enough to spread my wings. I also found that the small campus and class sizes were incredibly important to me, the sense of community at Champlain is so much stronger than a lot of other colleges because of it. Also, fantastic programs for my majors and the cutest residence halls? Sign me up!

Ideal Weekend in Burlington

Fall, 70-degree weather, going to a cafe with my friends and then exploring every store on Church Street. It can’t be beat! Bonus points if I get to hang out afterwards in one of my friend’s residence hall and watch a terrible movie.

Favorite Champlain Memory

It’s so hard to choose just one! However, I will never forget making my final project for Intro to Filmmaking. It was called “The Green” and was a super campy horror short. It was real hard editing it, but it was so rewarding in the end!

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

It’s okay to take your time and not always know where you’re going to go or what you’re going to do. I didn’t choose Champlain until a week before college decision day, and I was so nervous! I wondered for a while before school if I was making a mistake or if I could have actually been a better fit elsewhere, but this was always the right choice for me. I am so happy now, I sometimes forget how scary searching for the right fit was! Remember that it’ll pass, and you’ll find your place, even if you feel like you might be behind your peers in your search.

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Cara Benjamin

Class	2022
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Vermont

Favorite Class

Legal Research and Writing

Why Champlain for studying Law?

Champlain’s Law program feels so unique compared to other tracks in the legal field. Instead of focusing my time on the idea of justice and legal philosophy, I’m learning how to write legal memorandums, file motions with the court, and present an effective oral argument in the realms of civil, criminal, probate and family court.

What has Burlington added to your overall education and personal and professional development?

Part of why I chose Burlington is that it doesn’t really feel like a city compared to most other college towns. I grew up in Vermont and always saw Burlington as a big place. After coming to Champlain, I learned it’s a pretty close-knit, supportive community. The amount of small businesses helped me to appreciate the work-ethic of our small state. The views of Lake Champlain from campus can be stunning. It’s a welcoming place, and it doesn’t just feel like I’m here to be solely at school.

How prepared do you think you are for life after Champlain, both in your future career and day-to-day life?

Not only do I think I have the necessary skills to move into the legal field, I’ve been able to network within the Vermont legal community. It’s reassuring to know that Vermont has been supportive of the program. I’ve walked into job interviews where employers are already aware of Champlain’s curriculum and the experience students gain, and they’re enthusiastic about it. That reassurance helps me professionally and has boosted my confidence about leaving academia.

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Harper Bennett

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Game Design Degree
Class	2023
Pronouns	He/They

Advice to Students?

Working with friends is better than working alone!

Favorite: Book, Movie, Podcast?

Movie: A Silent Voice

Inspirational Quote?

“And remember that bad times…are just times that are bad.” – Katrina, Animal Crossing

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Grace Berry

Staff Member	Business Administration Degree
School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Programs	Business Administration Degree
Class	2027
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Vermont

How did you apply to Champlain?

Early Decision

Why I Chose Champlain

I chose Champlain because of the unique business environment we study in and the major specific courses I take feel very valuable.

Clubs & Student Involvement

• President’s Council
• Students Demand Action
• Stiller Women in Business

Ideal Weekend in Burlington

Walking down Church Street and stopping by all of the small businesses and walking down to the waterfront for lunch.

Favorite Champlain Memory

The night before classes begun, we watched Jurassic Park on Finney Quad under the stars.

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

Trust your instincts and know what you value in a college experience and that your values may be different than other people’s.

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Mitchell Biagini

Class	2026
Pronouns	He/Him/His

Why do you want to be a tutor?

I want to be more involved in our Champlain community and help other students in digital forensics.

Advice to Champlain Student?

Take good notes! You’ll thank yourself later.

Fun Fact

Most of my clothes are thrifted.

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Cass Bittner

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Graphic Design & Visual Communication BFA Degree
Class	2023
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Vermont
Study Abroad	Dublin, Ireland

Concentrations

Marketing and Communication

Internship

Graphic Design Intern for Grafton Digital in Dublin, Ireland

When you were deciding where to go to school, why did you choose Champlain?

My top choice was always Champlain due to Division of Information Technology & Sciences engaging curriculum and beautiful campus. Also I knew as soon as I heard about the College’s study abroad opportunities as a high schooler, I had to come to Champlain and fulfill younger Cass’ dream of living in Ireland. An outreach counselor from the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) explained that Champlain offered scholarships for low-income first-generation students like myself that allow me to be here today.

What opportunities have allowed you to apply classroom learning to real-world settings in your field?

Champlain helped me become the designer I am today. I now know what can make or break a design along with many of the tips, tricks, and secrets of my field. Before college, I used to look at something and say “that doesn’t look right,” or, “something is off,” and struggled to find what it was. Now I have the ability to critique and precisely point out what about a design is not working. It’s fun to apply this to the world around us since design is everywhere. Even when I spend time out with friends or family, I find myself scanning labels on various items to see if they were well designed or have flaws. Like graphic designer “I spy” if you will.

What do you want to be ready for/ready to do upon graduation? How has Champlain pushed you toward getting there?

The best part about Champlain is that they require you to have at least one internship experience before you graduate and go into the “real world”. Because of this, the College’s Career Collaborative has a deep reservoir of connections and are excited to help you secure a job or internship. The best part is that Champlain will also help you at any point in time, even after you graduate and need a career change down the road. The people at the Career Collaborative often joke “til’ death do us part,” meaning they are there whenever you need them!. Champlain makes sure you are ready to succeed when you enter the professional world.

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Eli Blaker

School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Maryland

Internships

EBP Intern at Aronson LLC in Rockville, MD

Do you feel that Champlain has prepared you for the professional world?

Yeah, I feel that Champlain is preparing me for the professional world. They do a good job of matching students with internships. School can teach you the basics, but when you get on the job, that’s when you really start learning.

What do you like about Champlain’s Upside-down curriculum?

The Upside-Down Curriculum gets students involved in their major in their first year in college. It really puts you ahead of the curve, especially when you’re seeking internships. It allows you to get internships earlier than students from other colleges would be able to, because you get into your major in your first year. And if your major ends up not being what you’re looking for, at least you know that in your first year rather than your third.

What will you miss most about Champlain?

The thing I’m going to miss most about Champlain are the people that I’ve met here. At Champlain, it’s been very easy to meet great people. Through the friends that I’ve made, I’ve really blossomed from the person that I was in high school to the person I am now.

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Caitlin Blanchette

Class	2020
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	New Hampshire
Study Abroad	Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Travel Course

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Internship

Fundraising & Programming Intern at the Peace & Justice Center in Burlington, VT

Favorite Class

Social Justice: Oppression and Empowerment

Post-Grad Job

Master’s degree candidate in Public Policy

What made you choose your major?

I chose Law because I was not sure what I wanted my career to be, but I saw Law as an option that would open many doors. I knew I wanted to make a difference, and I had—and still have—a lot of areas of interest, from women’s rights to criminal justice reform. An undergraduate degree in Law would prepare me for many different career options.

What was your best Core experience?

In my second year, I took two Core classes with a focus on West African religion and art. At the end of the semester, we got the opportunity to travel to Zanzibar, an archipelago outside of Tanzania. We were able to really appreciate the history we’d been learning about. The best outcome of that trip was the creation of Techdren, a Champlain student-led nonprofit that returns regularly to Zanzibar to distribute technology to local schools.

Are you involved with any extracurricular activities?

I started playing rugby with the Women’s Rugby team and knew little about the sport, but I quickly fell in love with it. I missed being on a team sport and instantly found a family in rugby. I became treasurer and helped to raise $2,000 for the men’s and women’s teams. Now I’m a team captain, and I look forward to playing rugby after college, too.

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Mark Botaish

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Programs	Game Programming Degree
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Massachusetts
Study Abroad	Montreal, Canada

Internships

Software Developer Intern at LORD Sensing in Williston, VT

How has the Game Studio prepared you for the professional world?

Everyone takes the C++ intro to advanced courses, so you get a really good summary of the language. In order to do well in classes and projects throughout your college career, you have to push yourself and be able to ask questions, pay attention, and learn to work independently as well as in a team. The Game Studio is pretty much on point with what you would experience in the real world.

Can you tell us about the Ubisoft competition in Montreal?

Every year, Ubisoft sponsors a competition with surrounding game schools. They set a theme, and you have 10 weeks to make a game that the audience can interact with. I would say it was one of the most pivotal moments of my college career because we were able to work on such a large team. Usually we are on teams of five, but with eight members we got to make a fully-fledged game to show professionals to judge. It’s a signature piece in my portfolio.

So what does a Game portfolio look like?

In your portfolio, you put most of your projects or finals. I have the game we made for the Ubisoft competition, my Capstone, and final projects from upper level courses I took junior and senior year. Recruiters love to see side projects, and that’s a big culture at Champlain. You work with your friends and make a good game to throw in your portfolio. It shows recruiters that you’re driven, you’re active, and you genuinely enjoy making games. As a game programmer, your portfolio shows off the end product and points out specifically what you did on that project. You might provide a sample of your code and a detailed explanation of how it works. It’s more technical than a designer’s portfolio, for example.

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Elaina Bouch

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Programs	Applied Mathematics Degree
Class	2025
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers

Advice to Students?

Always keep up with your work, don’t fall behind and don’t procrastinate.

Favorite: Book, Movie, Podcast?

Books/Anime: Spice and Wolf by Isuna Hasekura

Inspirational Quote?

“The world is just as fantastical as it is horrific, and it’s just as arbitrary to lose hope as it is to find it.”

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Becca Boucher

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

Internship

Her Campus Media in Boston, MA

Favorite Class

Advanced Typography

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

Getting to work on my Capstone, Critical, was by far the most rewarding experience. Critical is an activism-based campaign advocating for accessible design practices to be integrated into undergraduate design programs. Getting to build up the concept, brand, and outcomes all from scratch was so much fun, but that was not even the most rewarding part. The most rewarding thing to come from the project was when a high school acquaintance reached out to me and thanked me for my work. He told me that he felt personally connected to my project, as he has two blind brothers. Of course, I knew going into the project that my intentions were to help those who are visually impaired but being thanked by someone that actually has a direct connection with the folks whose lives I was hoping to enhance was a feeling like no other.

What was your study abroad experience like?

For the spring 2019 semester, I got to study abroad in London, England. As cliche as it sounds, I really do think that studying abroad was a life-changing experience. I went through a third-party program, so I got to live and study with people from all over the states and the world. I still talk to all five of the girls I lived with almost every day, and I know they will be forever friends. I got to visit my boyfriend in Dublin for St Patrick’s Day and we got to spend our spring break in Paris. I think the most valuable thing I took from studying abroad was how rich other cultures are. London has some of the most amazing museums I have ever been to, and I learned so much from going and studying the work from all around the world. My favorite museums were the Tate Modern and the British Museum! If I were to give one piece of advice to any Champlain student, it would be to study abroad. I made so many unforgettable memories, learned so much, and made some amazing friends!

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I am an Orientation Leader and the Director of Design for CHAMP. I love both of these groups, as I get to interact with so many different people! Orientation week is so much fun. We get so close with the best group of leaders and get to welcome so many new students. I love the high energy and seeing all the working parts come together. I have been a part of CHAMP since my first year, and love getting to plan the different events.

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Kinsey Bowensmith

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

Favorite Class

Production II

What do you like about your program?

The professors are great and really willing to work with you on your growth as a professional. The classes are applicable as you go through your major, so you can apply what you learn right away in your work in teams. The projects are interesting and help put everything I learn into a real-world context.

What do you like about your professors at Champlain?

They are always ready and willing to work with you on whatever you need. They remember your name and can remember what you said in class that day. They are knowledgeable on the subjects that they teach and help you grow as a young professional.

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

All of my production work in teams has been irreplaceable in learning how teams and game projects work. You are able to work in a studio setting, which helps put the whole process in a context that would not be there otherwise.

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Alexia Bowie

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Class	2025
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Nevada

Favorite Class

Digital Forensic Analysis

Why does your field matter?

As technology and crime grows, the world needs and deserves a group of people to be able to properly analyze different incidents related to the digital world, and do it well. At Champlain, I can honestly say I have been set up for the best in terms of placing my foot in the door to professional experiences and helping others in the best way possible.

So far, what classes, projects, or experiences have been most impactful for you?

The classes that have been the most impactful, specifically, are my Core classes. In these classes, I have honestly learned some of the most eye-opening and interesting concepts such as the importance of culture, different kinds of sciences, and philosophy. I began to view the world differently and more positively upon completing the courses, and I genuinely appreciate those experiences so much.

What do you want to be ready for upon graduation, and how is Champlain helping you get there?

Upon graduation, I want to be ready to enter a professional environment and willing to take advantage of opportunities given to me. Champlain has helped and pushed me toward getting there by the various programs they have offered to me, dedicated to establishing a professional image and presenting new opportunities to people like me.

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