The Mitchell College Players present two productions each year — a fall play and a spring musical. Owen Murphy, in his first semester at Mitchell, jumped into the group this spring after seeing an ad for auditions on social media.

“I said to myself, ‘I am just going to do this, and if I don’t get cast it’s no big deal. If I do, I’ll have a lot of fun and grow as an actor and vocal musician.’”

Owen was cast, and it’s his first time performing in a theatrical production. A seasoned singer who has sung all of his life, he looks forward to a different kind of performance.

“I thought about doing theater in high school but decided not to. When I came to Mitchell I heard about Jono and how his dynamics worked, and I thought I could work with him as a director. He takes the time and effort to tell you how to do something and explains to a level you can comprehend. That’s what makes the productions here so fantastic. He is putting in 150%, and he challenges us as a cast. He knows we can do it, and he gives us the motivation to actually succeed.”

Owen, who is playing the role of Hero in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” said his biggest challenge is remembering the vocabulary of the sheet music, such as the crescendos, and the pitches.

“I haven’t done these things since March 2020, and the stage directions are new to me. I’m used to being on risers and not being in the spotlight.”

Owen said his participation in the Mitchell College Players has already helped him grow socially.

“In high school no one would come to me with their problems because they’d say I was too immature. Here, I have noticed people come to me with their problems and tell me I’ve been a good friend and have helped them so much. I think my involvement in theater has helped with that – you have to be well spoken and confident about what you’re going to say. Working on that has helped me be a better friend and helped me socially.”

As a Mitchell College student, Angel Graham ’16 once said, “I want to make a difference and put my footprint on the world.”

Today she is doing just that. She credits Mitchell with preparing her to be a critical thinker and develop ways to give back to her community.

Angel volunteers for three non-profit organizations in the greater Philadelphia area. She is a board member for The Arc of Philadelphia and is a member of the Montgomery County Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition, where she serves on the education team.

She also volunteers as a forensic education outreach assistant for the Association of Women in Forensics and recently hosted a webinar on disabilities and forensics as part of Women in Forensics’ “Beyond Autopsies and Crime Scenes” speaker series. Angel, who has cerebral palsy, earned her master’s degree in forensic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia in 2021. She aspires to use her degree to work for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or the Innocence Project. 

As an environmental studies major at Mitchell, not only did her coursework prepare her for graduate school, but it also taught her transferrable skills. She uses them daily in her job as a customer service representative in an IT Call Center, helping individuals apply for state benefits.

I knew I wanted to major in a branch of science that was interdisciplinary and would help me to become well-versed in an array of topics. In my current job, I often use tactics from both creative psychology and psychology and abilities like problem solving and communication. Resolving a person’s temperament when they might not get a certain response, reassuring them that they have taken the first step in their process, remaining professional at all times and being clear and direct are things I must do in my work every day.

She says that, when considering colleges, she was drawn to Mitchell for its campus, individualized attention and diverse community. 

The campus was visually stunning with its own beach, but it was also a perfect fit for me because, as someone with cerebral palsy, I was able to maneuver around easily with my crutches. I also succeeded in my classes through the one-on-one attention with professors and small class size. Plus, I had the opportunity to meet so many peers from various backgrounds and cultures.

As director of state and local outreach for the CT Department of Public Health, Dave Reyes, Jr. (Business Administration, ’08) found himself back on campus for a COVID-19 Booster Clinic on Wednesday, March 2, in the Red Barn. The clinic was open to the campus community and the general public.

Reyes said his skills in community outreach, so critical to his current job, were honed as a student at Mitchell and as president of the Student Government Association (SGA).

“Mitchell gave me the opportunity to work with SGA and partner with a local senior housing complex, providing Thanksgiving dinner to the residents and painting their apartments. I also did an internship with the Office of Economic Development for the City of New London and learned about the importance of networking. Networking is so critical to the work that I do today – making connections daily to continue vaccinating Connecticut residents against COVID-19,” he said.

“Knowing that my teachers knew if I was in class or not – and caring – mattered to me.”

Reyes said Mitchell’s small campus, close proximity to home and accessible faculty and staff drew him to apply for admission.

Senior Corrine Wilson has many fond memories of time spent with her grandmother doing things for others.

“When I was younger, I remember watching my grandmother make a wedding cake in her kitchen and helping her with cooking. She also took my sister and me to work with her in a nursing home. All of the residents were so happy to see us, and we had so much fun together. That feeling made me fall in love with helping people and seeing them smile.”

Corrine continues to work in a nursing home today, creating and hosting events for residents, serving meals and snacks, and building friendships with each resident.

She draws on these experiences as she looks to the future and dreams of being an event planner.

“I have always had a creative mind and want to design weddings and parties.”

Corrine chose to come to Mitchell College because of its small size and its hospitality and tourism management program. She studied hospitality at a technical high school and knew she wanted to continue learning about it in college.

Reflecting on what is special about the school, she said, “At Mitchell, you can be you. You aren’t seen as a number but as a person.”

That familiar sense of connection is something that Corrine carries into her internship with A Thyme to Cook, a caterer and event planner in North Stonington, where she is helping with event coordinating.

“During the week, I sit in on a meeting with owner Linda Sample and all of the event coordinators to discuss the weekend weddings. I also help create event binders, organize uniforms and stock, and count alcohol. On the weekends, when working events, I help unload and load trucks and am a food and water runner and a busser.”

Her favorite part of her internship is no surprise.

“Being able to be a part of a special moment of two families becoming one and helping everyone have a special time not worrying about anything is the best part of what I get to do. My internship has made it clear that I am excited about my future in event planning!”