Britt Barry, Author at Mitchell College

High Schoolers Go to College

Aug 16, 2022 | News

Pictured above (l-r): Mitchell College President Tracy Y. Espy and New London Public Schools Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie sign a partnership agreement.

Mitchell College and New London Public Schools (NLPS) are partnering to provide dual enrollment to New London High School (NLHS) students, giving them an opportunity to take courses at Mitchell College. Mitchell College President Tracy Y. Espy and NLPS Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie signed a dual-enrollment partnership agreement at a recent orientation and ice cream social for the dual-enrolled NLHS students at Mitchell College.

President Espy said, “We are thrilled to welcome students from New London High School to our campus this fall, and to rekindle our partnership with the New London Public Schools, in alignment with the goals of the Governor’s Workforce Council’s focus on affordable access to higher education for Connecticut students. There is no better way to find out what college is about than for students to engage in a classroom with a professor and fellow students. The courses being offered this fall to NLHS students will not only open their minds to possible career paths, but will also help them think about greater societal issues in the world today. At Mitchell, our goal is to not only prepare students for career, but also to nurture an understanding of the world around them.”

NLHS students, who are identified by NLHS guidance counselors and teachers, will have the opportunity to enroll in a choice of three Mitchell College courses for Fall 2022: Introduction to Applied Exercise Science, Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Culture. Additional courses will be offered in Spring 2023.

Superintendent Ritchie said, “New London Public Schools is incredibly excited about partnering with Mitchell College on this dual enrollment initiative. The program allows us to provide our high school students with college experiences, including being involved and connected to on campus staff and activities, early on. Connecting high school students to these experiences now will allow them to see themselves as future college students and successful graduates. We are grateful for this partnership, with Mitchell College, on behalf of our students!”

NLHS students who successfully complete 6+ credit hours at Mitchell and earn a grade of “C” or better in each course will be given priority admissions to Mitchell College upon successful completion of their high school diploma.

In addition, enrolled NLHS students will receive a Mitchell identification card, which will enable them to access the Mitchell College library and dining hall and events of interest (such as athletics and performing arts). Mitchell College tutoring services will also be available to dual-enrolled students.

A winning experience with Bay State Games

Aug 12, 2022 | Stories

Nate Chadbourne spent much of his summer as an operations intern at the Bay State Games, a non-profit organization in Massachusetts that offers a variety of amateur sports competitions in an Olympic-style format.

The senior sport and fitness management major worked with other interns to help organize and prepare for the competitions. He said his responsibilities ranged from doing office work, where he helped pack for upcoming events and prepare reminders to athletes, to game day assistance at various sports facilities where games were held around the state.

Nate said that during the peak of the games season, every day was different, and he had to be ready for assignments to change

“One of the phrases that was used in the office is that 60% of the plan won’t go according to plan. It’s important to expect the unexpected and be prepared to adjust,” he said.

Being adaptable to change is a skill that Nate has honed at Mitchell College, along with other transferrable skills that he used regularly in his work.

“At the Bay State Games, I worked with a lot of different people, so being able to communicate and interact effectively and in a professional manner was important. These skills helped the Bay State Games maintain long-term relationships with the people that helped with our purpose. Being able to problem solve and think critically was also important for being able to adjust when plans didn’t go as expected when organizing and preparing for competitions and events.”

Nate found the camaraderie of the other interns and the full-time staff of Bay State Games a highlight of his internship, along with visiting numerous sports facilities around Massachusetts. His internship, however, was not without challenges.

“Meeting my own expectations and those of others around me was sometimes a challenge. At times I doubted my competency, but the staff at the Bay State Games provided me with great mentorship. They guided me and helped me trust in my own abilities, which, over time, made it easier to overcome challenges.”

Armed with his newly-gained confidence, Nate is looking forward to his final year at Mitchell. He knows that he will be prepared for whatever comes his way after he graduates.

“I chose Mitchell because I liked the idea of being at a small school. Its size made it easier for me to focus on developing skills and traits that can help me find success later in my professional career.”