Student

Marc Chartier

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

Why do you want to be a tutor?

Having to rapidly learn so many brand new, unfamiliar concepts and software in the first two years of game art was so jarring and overwhelming for me, and I understand that it feels that way for most game artists. Going into the game art labs and learning from the community of upperclassman was such a massive help in getting my assignments done on time and to a high quality. I loved having an open and welcoming space with other people who also went through the same courses and struggle. I really hope to provide a similar experience for the current underclassman who are going through what I went through. I also understand that most underclassman in the past couple years have been underutilizing the game art lab space and opt to work in different computer labs or at home, and I want to help encourage underclassman to give the gart labs a try.

Advice to Champlain Student?

I think a really great skill to have – especially in game art is to always submit on time. It’s better to submit something that’s unfinished or something you’re not particularly proud of instead of spending another week on it.

Fun Fact

I have been a barista for 5 years!

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Will Chen

Programs	Computer Science & Innovation Degree
Class	2026
Pronouns	He/Him/His

Why do you want to be a tutor?

As a tutor you get to help students at all levels and its really fun to work with students on assignments I’ve done in the past.

Advice to Champlain Student?

Take care of yourself.

Fun Fact

I’ve lived in Vermont my whole life.

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Brandon Cherry

School/Division	Division of Information Technology & Sciences
Programs	Game Programming Degree
Class	2027
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	New York

How did you apply to Champlain?

Early Decision

Why I Chose Champlain

The upside down curriculum allowed me to jump right into making games, and that drew me in from the start. Also, having a game programming specific major was a big factor as I wanted a more specialized major.

Clubs & Student Involvement

Student Ambassador Operations Captain

Ideal Weekend in Burlington

Playing games down at the Archives, dinner at Rí Rá, and heading up the hill to the Barnes and Noble!

Favorite Champlain Memory

Taking my girlfriend to Spring Meltdown! Between racing through bounce house obstacle course, sharing snacks and food, and getting printed pictures taken together, it was an amazing experience for both of us!

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

When you find the right college, it will stick out to you and you’ll feel right when you walk onto campus for the first time.

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Riaz Clark

Programs	Social Work Degree
Class	2021
Home State	Michigan

Internship

Family Programming Activities at the YMCA in Burlington, VT

What has been your experience in the Social Work major?

I love it. I love that it’s a very small, tight-knit group of people. We have our group chats, and we’re always looking out for each other. If one of us isn’t in class, we’re on it, making sure they’re OK. It’s because we’re Social Workers; we’re built to do that.

Has the Upside-Down Curriculum enhanced your education?

Oh, 100%. What stuck out to me when I took my first tour at Champlain was that it doesn’t believe in standardized testing. As someone with two learning disabilities, I don’t learn very well through text and reading. And, it was incredible that during the second semester of my first year, I was able to start volunteering at the YMCA, and now I have a job there. At a traditional school, with a traditional curriculum, I wouldn’t be doing that until my junior year.

Do you have a favorite Core class?

I was in a class called Bodies: Radical Awakening with Faith Yacubian. I just love Faith. She makes sure that everyone gets what they need. The class was based off that, about radically understanding your body. She told us in class, “If your body is telling you that you need to get up and that you need to do something, you need to listen to it.” It was really interesting to learn how to listen to what your body needs.

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Andrew Connell

Programs	Education Degree
Class	2020
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Pennsylvania

Focus

Secondary (High School)

Specialization

Social Studies

Internship

Student Teacher at Edmunds Middle School in Burlington, VT

What do you like best about your major?

The best part of my program is the people I get to work with. The professors in the major are some of the most amazing people I have met. A benefit of having small class sizes is that we really get to know each other. Plus, the professors are all extremely knowledgeable in their fields. Every professor I’ve had has some major accomplishments under their belts. Many of my professors have had books or scholarly articles published.

Have you gotten any experience in the classroom?

The fall semester of my first year I got to help out in a classroom, which is rare for education majors at other schools. I have also interned at Edmunds Middle School in Burlington, VT. Twice a week, another student and I went into a classroom for one period, helped out with the lesson, and worked one-on-one with students. It was a great opportunity to actually work in a school. We got useful, hands-on practice and learned more about working with students. Since my first year, I have been taking notes, observing professionals, and learning about what I can incorporate into my own classroom.

How has Champlain prepared you for the professional world?

After graduation, I would like to get a job teaching in a high school. Then I plan to begin looking into graduate schools and getting my master’s degree.

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Lizzie Cornett

Programs	Applied Mathematics Degree
Class	2026
Pronouns	She/They

Why do you want to be a tutor?

I was looking for an on campus job and a math professor recommended me.

Advice to Champlain Student?

Ask your professors questions both in and out of class!

Fun Fact

I’ve been in a love/hate relationship with the Cosmere books by Brandon Sanderson for 10 years now. Only ask me for my opinions on them if you’ve got an hour to spare.

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Ella Countess

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Class	2023
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers

Advice to Students?

Front load your work

Favorite: Book, Movie, Podcast?

Movie: Spirited Away

Inspirational Quote?

“We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” – Bob Ross

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Jayy Covert

Class	2022
Home State	Florida
Study Abroad	Travel course to Edinburgh/London/York, United Kingdom

Favorite Class

Abnormal Psychology

What made you choose your major?

I came into Champlain as a Psychology major, but in my second year I decided that I wanted to add a double major in Education. I started with a class in Elementary Education, but then realized that Secondary Education was a better fit for me. I grew up with depression and anxiety and tried to seek help, but found the mental health system lacking qualified therapists and support for queer and trans youth in particular. I wanted to dedicate my life to providing the support that I knew I needed, but never received, so no one else would have to suffer. But on the other hand, I’ve always felt drawn to the world of education. In high school, I helped out at our embedded preschool program, designing lessons for three and four-year-olds. I hold my elementary school teachers as the basis for the strong support I had growing up and the desire to always keep learning more. I couldn’t decide on just one major or one career path, so I chose to study both because I feel they’re deeply interconnected fields that often get separated into singular specialties.

What do you like about your program?

Both the Psychology and Education programs are held in the EHS Division, and we’re like a big family. We connect with different majors all the time in our classes; I have friends from basically every major in EHS. Being two of the smallest majors also means we have the chance to really work with our professors in their fields of expertise on projects that we feel inspired by. I also love that EHS students take Service Learning classes as part of our curriculum so that we can engage in meaningful work for the local community. Our motto sums us up the best: “We do good work.”

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

I took a Core class called Interdisciplinary Project Studio, which is a course where students can pitch their own project ideas on any topic they want to focus on throughout the semester. I worked on developing a unit plan to teach 9th grade students about the modern history of the Korean peninsula. This not only gave me the chance to add something to my portfolio when I go into the field looking for a job as a teacher, but also allowed me to explore my own heritage and culture more deeply in a project that is both relevant and meaningful.

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Tom Cyr

Class	2022
Pronouns	He/Him/His

Piece of advice to students?

Branch out and explore new things. You will grow by trying something new.

What's your favorite book or movie?

Movie: The Dark Knight

Inspirational Quote?

“Satisfaction comes from suffering.”

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Zhomart Dairov

School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Class	2018
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Kazakhstan
Study Abroad	Shanghai, China

Double Major

Business Administration and Finance

Internship

Finance & Marketing Intern at meXBT in Shanghai, China

Post-Grad Job

MBA Candidate at the University of Connecticut School of Business in Hartford, CT

Have you worked on any particularly exciting projects in the Business Administration program?

In my Business & the Entrepreneurial Mindset class, we ran a six-week simulated coffee shop competition, called BizCafe. We made weekly decisions surrounding coffee orders, hiring servers, setting employee wages, and promoting the business. We placed first out of six virtual coffee shops in our course.

You were part of the Freeman Foundation Grant internship program in Shanghai, China. What was that experience like?

The Freeman Foundation Grant allowed me to spend two months in Shanghai, China, interning at meXBT, a FinTech company that operates in a payment service provider industry, all while experiencing authentic Chinese culture. My internship experience proved to be valuable in terms of exposure and knowledge, and provided me with a cumulative opportunity to integrate all I have learned at Champlain and apply it in a practical setting.

What do you like about going to college in Burlington?

One of the great things about going to college in a small town is the way the community caters to students. Eateries stay open late, public transportation is convenient, and local businesses welcome their student customers. College is also a great time to be living so close to the great outdoors. Champlain has active outing clubs that sponsor free or highly subsidized trips, so students living in the city can still enjoy the natural beauty of Vermont.

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Caitlyn Dangvu

School/Division	Robert P. Stiller School of Business
Class	2020
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	California

Double Major

Accounting and Finance

Internship

Audit Intern at KPMG in Colchester, VT

Favorite Class

Financial & Economic Modeling

Post-Grad job

Auditor at KPMG in Colchester, VT

How has Champlain prepared you for the professional world?

Champlain taught me how to act professionally, encouraged me to be a team player, and provided me with a foundation of knowledge to help propel my future career. At the end of my internship with KPMG, I was offered a full-time job post-graduation! I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to work for a Big Four accounting firm if I hadn’t landed the internship.

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

I took a finance class where we built data models in Microsoft Excel. The knowledge I learned in this class allowed me to build data models and systems as I worked at other jobs. I was able to create Excel systems that streamlined processes and analyzed data that were then used by my employers.

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

If you value a close-knit community and personal connections, Champlain is for you. I’m astounded by the opportunities I’ve come across and the fantastic network I’ve built here, all stemming from the individual connections I’ve made within this community. I feel like everyone—my professors, my Advisor, my Career Coach—cares about me as a person and helps push me to succeed.

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Connor Decker

Class	2020

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