Eye-opening internships
Wheaton-funded internships helped students apply classroom learning, build professional skills and make valuable connections.
“Wheaton opened my eyes to explore more things,” Justin Zhirzhan ’27 said. “If you come in with an open mind, faculty and staff will help you find your path.”
Zhirzhan and more than 100 other Wheaton College students gained professional experience during the summer through college-funded internships with businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and sports organizations across the country.
The opportunities reflected students’ wide-ranging interests and career goals. Some worked in professional and collegiate sports, including internships with Rhode Island’s professional soccer team and Cape Cod Baseball League organizations. Others explored careers in law and public service from district courts to health care.
Here are a few of their stories:
- Brown Health Pain Clinic – Ashley Almeida ’27, nursing
- Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center – Sid Chapin ’27, European history and visual art
- Boston Children’s Hospital – Maggie Cizmar ’28, psychology
- Office of Maryann Lehmann, DDS – Thomas Corridon ’28, biology
- Maple Hill Disc Golf Course – Aud Dodge ’27, marketing and neuroscience
- Massachusetts State Lottery – Justin Zhirzhan ’27, business and management
Wheaton offers students the opportunity to access funding for an unpaid internship before their junior or senior year through the Life and Career Design Institute. The support ensures that students can pursue meaningful opportunities, including positions that might otherwise be financially out of reach. The experience also gives students an opportunity to test possible career paths, learn from professionals in their fields and return to campus with new skills, knowledge and confidence.