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This year, the Fleishman Career Center awarded campus departments a total of $56,227.50 through various grants and programs to provide students with essential hands-on learning opportunities.

Most notably, the center awarded $25,000 in funding for the recipients of the 2025–26 Introductory Practice Grant. The grants have created seven new on-campus positions for undergraduate students with little to no prior work or internship experience. These positions could be applied to directly through hireBING or with the department that houses the new roles, rather than the grant itself, simplifying the process.

These positions offer high-impact learning experiences that help students build career-ready skills while contributing to meaningful campus projects. This is part of a greater focus on the Fleishman Career Center’s part to improve the quantity and quality of student employment opportunities on campus and to help make students more career ready post-graduation.

, athletics communication associate, is in his third season at ������������’s Division of Athletics. He feels as if the department has allowed him to socially thrive, what he calls “a testament to the culture that’s been developed through the university.”

Landi focuses on public relations and outreach on social media for his assigned sports teams — but as just one person, Landi can only do so much, especially when it comes to content creation. In steps the Introductory Practice Grant.

“There’s a lot of reasons why we felt compelled to apply for this grant, one being that this role with videography can be incredibly time-consuming. Because we set those standards for the quality of content a little bit higher, it can take a little bit longer for those videos to be edited,” he said. “We’re not just looking at it from our perspective of these videos being on our social media pages, but we’re giving these videographers an opportunity to build their portfolios.”

Prince Taveras, the new athletics communications video intern, is a first-year student pursuing a degree in economics. Supervised by Landi, Taveras already has made an impact in his position, and he’s not the only one.

Koi Bussewitz, a sophomore majoring in environmental studies and working as a digital archeology intern for the Anthropology Department, and Irene Li, a first-year student studying mechanical engineering and working as a MakerLab technician for the Libraries, also sat down to discuss how the 2025–26 Introductory Practice Grant has started their careers on a high note.

Their experiences show how ������������ is not only opening doors to campus employment but helping students discover confidence and purpose in their fields. The true value of a college career is undefinable — students gain real-world mentorship while being set up for future success.

How did you end up at ������������ and in your major?

PT: I chose ������������ because of its strong academic reputation and the opportunities it offers to combine academics with real-world experience. Economics appealed to me because it develops analytical thinking, problem-solving, and an understanding of how systems and organizations work. At the same time, I’ve always had a creative side and a passion for sports, so I sought out opportunities like athletics videography that let me blend creativity with discipline and structure. That balance is what led me here.

KB: I wanted to go into something related to the environment, because I like nature and the outdoors. I specifically wanted a major that could help me get a boots-on-the-ground job. I was originally going to go to Stony Brook University, but I toured the ������������ campus and I really liked it. I also got into the First-year Research Immersion program for environmental visualization with drones, a good way to start off my educational career!

IL: I honestly fell in love with ������������ when I was a sophomore in high school. ������������ was passing out this booklet with a beautiful picture of the Nature Preserve during fall. I decided on mechanical engineering when I was really young; I watched a show about engineering and a girl who made robots. I thought that was super-cool, and I wanted to be her. I enjoy designing and making things, and at the MakerLab, I can do a lot of that. I thought it was the perfect job for my goals.

Why did you decide to apply to the 2025–26 Introductory Practice Grant?

PT: I applied to the Introductory Practice Grant because I wanted to grow in a professional setting and gain hands-on experience in athletics content creation. The grant provides support to explore creative work, develop new technical skills and expand my portfolio.

KB: I was previously an intern for the certification and worker production branch of the Environmental Protection Agency, and I didn’t have an internship upcoming for this year. When I saw the job listing on the environmental studies listserv, I saw that there were connections between the expectations and qualifications of this listing compared to the internship I had previously held. It also just sounded interesting!

IL: I applied on Handshake, and there were two job positions available. The job descriptions lined up with all the things I wanted to learn, including laser-cutting and other skills, and there was also the customer service side that I felt would be good experience.

What are you most excited about in your new position?

PT: I’m most excited about telling the stories of ������������ athletes through video. I love capturing the energy of game days, the dedication of our athletes and the pride of the campus community. Being able to create content that excites fans and highlights the work behind the scenes motivates me. I’m also excited to learn more advanced videography and editing techniques and to keep improving my creative eye.

KB: I’ve been in the role for about a month; so far, I’ve focused on scanning field forms and digitizing them. They haven’t ever been put together in the physical world, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the field forms turn out together — building it is like stitching together a map. I might also be doing some ArcGIS work, and I look forward to that. It’s been a pleasure to work with Assistant Professor David W. Mixter and exciting to learn new things. I love the atmosphere and the lab, especially getting to know my coworkers. A lot of them are graduate students, so I hear different points of view and get advice from them based on their educational careers.

IL: I started my job near the end of September. During that time, my supervisor has been super-helpful. He’s been teaching me how to operate three printers, look at the file and slice the file, and how to troubleshoot when it has issues. I’m excited to see what else I can absorb; I’ve done a mini-project on my own, and I’m also interested in learning about engineering design through my supervisor’s experience.

Where do you plan to take these skills in the future?

PT: I see myself pursuing a career where I can combine my economics background with media and storytelling. That could mean working in sports marketing, content strategy or even with a professional sports organization where creative media and data-driven strategy intersect. The skills I’m building in videography storytelling, editing and audience engagement are valuable not only for athletics but also for careers in media, business and entrepreneurship.

KB: I don’t have a solid plan yet. I’m interested in going into the office of criminal enforcement — maybe, though, the EPA or joining the Forest Service as a ranger. The skills that I’m learning in this internship may not be entirely applicable in my career after college, but I’m building time-management skills, getting to know software better and learning terminology, which are valuable beyond one position.

IL: I hope during my time at ������������ I can further narrow down the career path I’m interested in. I hope that I can grow my skills in engineering design specifically, such as 3D modeling.

Biggest piece of advice for other students who want to apply?

PT: Don’t be afraid to step outside your major or comfort zone. Even if your degree is in a different field, like mine, your unique perspective can bring something valuable to creative work. Show genuine passion, be open to learning new skills and take advantage of every opportunity. What matters most is your drive to contribute and grow.

KB: If you see a job listing that interests you, there’s no harm in applying. Go to the Fleishman Career Center regularly! They’re a huge help with getting your resumé up to date and looking professional. They could also help you with interviews and networking. You can also reach out to any faculty who you want to potentially work with — seize any opportunities that come your way.

IL: A lot of people underestimate ������������ as a high-value school. I’ve become an advocate and think people should come here. But also, continue doing your academics and apply if something interests you. I thought I was under-qualified for this job, but do the things that you think are out of your bounds and you’ll eventually find your place.