Students put knowledge to work at internships
On-the-job experiences enhance education, provide career preparation
Wheaton College’s Compass Curriculum encourages students to practice putting their knowledge to work through experiential learning and internships. As part of The Wheaton Edge, students are guaranteed access to internship funding to help position them for success after graduation. This summer, 167 students gained valuable skills through research with faculty on campus, study abroad trips, fellowships and internships at nonprofits, medical facilities, government agencies, and more.
Audrey Spina ’17, assistant director of Career Services at Wheaton, provided a by-the-numbers look:
- 102 students in approved and funded off-campus experiences for summer 2023
- 23 students researching with faculty (across 10 departments, including psychology, biology, English, political science, computer science, art history/museum studies, religion, music, film and new media and physics/astronomy)
- 32 students on faculty-led trips (in four countries: Iceland, Madagascar, Ireland and Ecuador)
- 8 Davis International Fellows (in six countries: Spain, Ecuador, Ireland, Kenya, Denmark and Brazil)
- 2 Porter Cleveland Fellows
We asked a few students about their experiences:
Abbey Mitchell ’25, National Marine Life Center, Bourne, Mass.
T’nysha Peete ’25, Riverside Community Care, Somerville, Mass.
Finn Towle ’24, Boston Public Market
Several students also created TikTok videos to share a day in their internship life:
Amelia Butler ’24, digital marketing firm, Dublin, Ireland
Charlie Racine ’25, Naples (Fla.) Zoo
Melina Masseli ’24, International Medical Aid, Mombasa, Kenya
Peter Baier ’25, ThinkerAnalytix, virtual from New Orleans
Erin Billinger ’25, People’s Alliance, Maine
Katalyn Foster ’24, MEG in Dublin, Ireland
Darin Sweet ’25, Zealand University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark