While the summer is often a time to relax, some students from the Harrington School of Communication and Media spent their summers traveling, taking classes and interning for companies.
There are many ways that Harrington students get involved and find these opportunities. Some students found opportunities through their professors, while other students found them in Harrington emails and some even made their own opportunities.
As we finish the semester, let’s look back at some Harrington students’ summer highlights.
Alexander Pretorius, Film/Media and English ‘23, spent nearly three months at Hole in the Wall Gang, a non-profit that aims to give seriously ill children and their families a week of fun. Pretorius described himself as the “eyes of the camp.” While he grew from his experience at camp, Pretorius said that the most important thing to him was making sure the kids had a good time.
“I like to say it’s the most important thing I’ve ever done,” Pretorius said. “It sort of shifted my mind to the power of photography. If people want to see what’s happening. That’s me. That’s my job.”
Leah Popovic, Communication Studies and Writing and Rhetoric ‘24, worked as an intern for Beyond Celiac, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and advocacy for celiac disease. As an intern, Popovic took over “Celiac Straight Talk,” the weekly podcast for the organization. According to Popovic, her favorite part of this internship was learning about others’ experiences with celiac and using her platform to tell their stories.
“I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone for this experience,” Popovic said. “It benefitted my ability to empathize with others and give them justice through my writing and editing.”
Cam Iasimone, Sports Media ‘24, interned with 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, MA this summer because of his interest in sports broadcasting. His responsibilities included producing the Zolak and Bertrand Podcast and writing articles for the station’s website. Iasimone was able to experience what goes on behind the scenes to produce and run a radio show.
“I got to meet some famous athletes such as the Bruins Legend Ray Bourque and be featured on TV from time to time to chime in on the conversation the hosts were having,” he said.
Adam Bernstein, Sports Media and Public Relations ‘23, worked for Madison Square Garden Entertainment as the people connection summer student associate. He spent the summer making connections and learning about the media industry. He advises students to put themselves out there and introduce themselves to professionals.
“You never know how far one connection will take you,” Bernstein said. “I would also say that your best ability is availability. It is important to show your internship that you are willing to learn in all areas.”
Zach Austin, Sports Media and Journalism ‘24, spent his summer broadcasting for Ocean State Waves in Wakefield, RI. He commentated for games and was a producer for the live stream at home games. Austin said he was excited to have the opportunity to apply the skills he learned in the classroom to a local organization where he could push himself.
“While broadcasting every night can be stressful and overwhelming at times, the payoff to the work you do is more than worth it,” he said. “It’ll help you in your post-college career more than you know, and what better way to gain this experience than being a part of the team?”
Emmett Munterich, Public Relations and English ‘23, interned for “Incorrigibles: Bearing Witness to the Incarcerated Girls of NY” an exhibit in Newburgh, NY. The project focused on “female juvenile injustice in New York,” particularly the New York State Training School for Girls. Munterich did public outreach and had a press release published in multiple news outlets. As part of this internship, he helped run a workshop where women who were sent to the school spoke about their experiences.
“The best part of my time with Incorrigibles was being able to meet the women who were sent to the school when they were young,” Munterich said. “Cynthia Boykin, a Newburgh native, became a close friend who always inspired me with her unlimited ambition and radiant personality. I was the workshop scribe for Hilda, who was sent to the institution in the 50s. I wept when writing her life story down.”
Juliana Lepore, Journalism and Communication Studies ‘24, worked as a content specialist for Workplace Options, an international employee wellbeing company. Lepore said her favorite part of the experience was working with a team of people from all around the world, such as Russia, France and Canada. She learned experience with new editing software, created infographics and even got to record her own podcast episode.
“Working for Workplace Options over the summer allowed me to use the skills that I have learned through my classes,” Lepore said. “It also allowed me to learn a lot of new skills that will be beneficial in my career.”
Maddie Bataille, Journalism and Spanish ‘23, spent a month abroad in Salamanca, Spain with the Spanish Language Program. For Bataille, studying abroad was a way to challenge herself and learn more about the culture surrounding the language. She said the trip helped her gain more confidence in her language skills and increased her cultural knowledge.
“The best part about studying abroad, even for a short time, was getting to know the world through a different lens,” Bataille said.