Students put knowledge to work at internships

Finn Towle ’24
Finn Towle ’24, who is majoring in business and management with a concentration in marketing, promoted Boston Public Market as a summer intern. He was one of 167 students engaged in experiential learning in various locations in the U.S. and abroad. (Photo by Keith Nordstrom)

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 funded internships at nonprofits, medical facilities, government agencies, businesses, campus laboratories 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 in Bourne, Mass.
T’nysha Peete ’25, Riverside Community Care in Somerville, Mass.
Finn Towle ’24, Boston Public Market in Boston

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 Zoo, Naples, Fla.
Melina Masseli ’24, International Medical Aid, Mombasa, Kenya
Peter Baier ’25, ThinkerAnalytix, virtual from New Orleans, La.
Erin Billinger ’25, People’s Alliance in Maine
Katalyn Foster ’24, MEG in Dublin, Ireland
Darin Sweet ’25, Zealand University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark