The Bellarmine IMPACTdescribes in universal language what is most relevant, authentic and distinctive about a Bellarmine education, focusing on four broad areas: Engagement, Belonging, Wellness and Purpose.

 

At Bellarmine, hands-on experiences such as internships let students apply and integrate learning outside of the classroom to help them find their passion and purpose.

 

Four students who landed internships earlier this year shared details of how they spent their summers and what they learned about themselves in the process.

 

 

 

Entering my final year at Bellarmine University has sparked an insurmountable amount of reflection about how I will enter the “real world” in May 2025. One message has been clear, and it is one that I will live out for the rest of my life: Lead with purpose.

 

This past summer, I was the Intern of Impact in Marketing Communications for the American Heart Association (AHA) in New York City. The American Heart Association’s mission is close to home for me, as I am a cardiac arrest survivor. It meant the world to me that I was able to be part of the organization I had revered for over a decade.

 

I traveled among New York’s five boroughs to meet with members of the community, collaborated with and learn from esteemed cardiologists and medical experts, partnered with elected officials on the New York City Council, and connected with courageous survivors who were willing to share their stories.

 

I worked with an absolute dream team in New York and stacked up not only a portfolio, but connections I hope will last a lifetime. While there were many highlights, the biggest happened in my last weeks on our team: A story that we’d been pitching since my arrival was finally picked up by NBC New York. 

 

I thank my experience at Bellarmine over the last four years for my success in the Big Apple. I am the team manager for the Bellarmine lacrosse team, and my two biggest mentors during my time at Bellarmine have been Head Coach Andrew Whitley and Associate Head Coach Nicholas Marks, who is also my Honors thesis advisor. I attribute so much of who I will become as a worker and team member to the guidance of these amazing champions. They have coached me in confidence, management, self-improvement and passion, all of which contribute to my engagement, my sense of belonging and intention to live a purposeful life.

 

 

 

My summer internship at Duolingo’s headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA, was a wonderful experience. My primary duties involved collaborating on a project related to the Duolingo app and artificial intelligence. I learned a lot about user experience, interface, research and the language-learning process.

 

My favorite part of the internship was attending the company’s annual Duoversity event. I met people from some of Duolingo’s other offices around the globe and participated in many fun activities. Linda Simensky, who helped to develop shows like Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Samurai Jack and Ed, Edd n Eddy, gave a fantastic presentation about animation for the interns.

 

As a Duolingo Intern Ambassador at Bellarmine, my responsibilities include promoting Duolingo's language-learning platform to students and the internships offered every year to students in DAT and computer science.

 

My mentors at Bellarmine have been instrumental in my growth and development. Dr. Shawn Apostel, Professor Laura Hartford, Angela Miller, Michael Kopp, and Anita Tyler have provided guidance, support, and valuable insights that have helped me both personally and professionally.

 

My advice to students considering an internship is to take the initiative and network with as many people as possible. Internships are a great way to gain practical experience and build your professional network.

 

 

 

I was recruited to play lacrosse at Bellarmine and was also attracted by the Business Analytics minor that I have been able to pair with my Business Administration major.

 

This past summer, I was a Sales Operations intern with the Air & Water Team at GE Appliances in Louisville. My primary duties included using Salesforce to streamline sales processes and using Excel models to optimize output. I used a lot of the Excel skills and shortcuts I learned from BUSA-346 to complete analytical tasks very quickly. I also assisted in updating sales territories maps using a graphic design app. My favorite parts of the internship were the more technical tasks, along with connecting with my coworkers after work.

 

At Bellarmine, lacrosse coach Andy Whitley is one of my mentors. He has helped my teammates and me get connected to alumni for various opportunities. Beyond the classroom, I am inspired by my older brother, who is working in the field of business analytics, and my father, whose career success has shown me how I need to work to provide for my loved ones in the future.

 

My advice to other students looking for internships is to consult with multiple sources about formatting your resume and handling different types of interviews. Having different perspectives will give you the best chance for success.

 

 

 

This past summer, I was part of a work exchange through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). I have been interested in the organization for years due to the community it provides for people interested in organic farming of various types.

 

I worked on a goat dairy in Barnard, Vermont, called Villa Villekulla Farm. The operation consisted of around 50 goats and the farm sold a product called skyr, a thick yogurt that is made from goat milk. Though it does not sound extremely complicated, I soon learned that there were so many details that went into creating a product, especially on a small scale.

  

My main responsibility on the farm was tending to the kids (baby goats, not humans). On a dairy farm, it is common to separate the mothers and babies after birth so that the farmer can control the amount of milk that is being given to the babies and that is being used for production. Therefore, the kids had to be bottle-fed three times per day.

  

I also helped with chores in the main barn, mucking the barn, putting out hay and feeding the goats different supplements. Although slightly intimidating at first, I learned to love spending time with the older goats in the main barn. There were about 40 of them, and they all had such unique personalities. 

 

Even though chores were a large part of my time on the farm, I was able to learn a lot about food production and business ethics during my time there. The entire farm is run by one woman, Lauren Gitlin, and I quickly became impressed with how proud she is of her product. She milks 30 goats each day while she talks to them and ensures they are comfortable. I learned how much she respects animals, and how she values their quality of life over making a huge profit. Her business is small, but Lauren feels confident in the skyr that she produces because it is made in an ethical and sustainable way.

  

This program exceeded my expectations. I have become more passionate about sustainability and agriculture and have so much more respect for farmers now. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to be involved in such a hands-on experience and look forward to doing something similar in the future!