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Brooks Farrar ’11 - Applied Exercise Science, Personal Training

Brooks Farrar ’11
Applied Exercise Science, Personal Training
Personal Trainer, Equinox, Boston
Internship Site: Equinox, Boston

Although I was only at Springfield College for two years, having transferred from another college, my academic experience proved to be powerfully engaging. Despite having a solid knowledge base of the applied exercise science field of study, the faculty at Springfield College never ceased in challenging me. I owe a lot of my career success to their guidance and support, as well as to the academic rigors they put me through. I will be forever grateful to Springfield College (and to my parents) for giving me the opportunity to learn and connect with such esteemed doctors who I am proud to be able to now call my colleagues and friends.

Daniel Atkinson ’12 - Applied Exercise Science, Strength & Conditioning

Daniel Atkinson ’12
Applied Exercise Science, Strength & Conditioning
Personal Trainer, Bodyscapes Fitness, Brookline, Mass.
Internship Site: Athletic Performance Enhancement Center, Medway, Mass.

When I came to Springfield College, I had a strong passion for all things exercise science.  I soon realized that my enthusiasm for this field is shared by both the applied exercise science faculty, as well as by my peers. I had the opportunity to learn from faculty who are leaders in the field, and who continue to contribute to the field through research, program development, community outreach, and publications.  Professors were eager to discuss complex subject matter outside of the classroom, and bridge the gap between the practical and theoretical.  With all of this knowledge and applicable experience, I was able to get the internship I wanted, working with athletes and law enforcement, and quickly earned the respect of the staff I worked with.  I cannot thank the Springfield College faculty, staff, and community enough for the support and help they have given me in my journey thus far.

Meredith Trumbull ’11 - Applied Exercise Science, Spa/Wellness Management

Meredith Trumbull ’11
Applied Exercise Science, Spa/Wellness Management
Assistant Manager, Spa at the MGM Grad Foxwoods (G Spa)
Internship Site: Spa at the MGM Grand Foxwoods (G Spa)

My internship experience was more than I could have asked for. I was fortunate enough to have great “teammates” who love their jobs and to meet wonderful clients who really have an understanding about the benefits of the spa. Once [Dean of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Charles Redmond] brought up the idea of selecting spa and wellness management as my concentration, I immediately fell in love with the idea and took steps to conduct my internship at the G Spa at the MGM Grand Foxwoods.

At my internship, I got to shadow someone in all of the departments within the spa (aesthetics, therapists, and hair stylists), which helped me to quickly realize that the personal training path I had been on was not for me. I wanted to be able to work in an exciting atmosphere, but was still passionate about being able to work with people to improve their overall health and wellness, spirit, mind, and body.  After working at other jobs and internships, I couldn’t shake the feeling that G Spa was the right fit for me. The spa director (also a Springfield College alum) and the spa manager took me under their wings and truly helped open my eyes to pursuing this as a long-term career path. They also demonstrated exceptional leadership and management, which is important to me. I am grateful to Dean Redmond and to the department as a whole for helping to inspire me to pursue such a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Internship Sponsor: Judi LaBranche '92, G'94 - Former Executive Director, Scantic Valley YMCA

Judi LaBranche
Former Executive Director, Scantic Valley YMCA

The students that interned at the Scantic Valley YMCA from Springfield College were strong contributors to our members and our programs.  Not only were they prepared with the book knowledge and understanding, but also came willing to learn and work hard.  The interactions with the participants were meaningful and impactful. One undergraduate student was able to assist us in our pilot design of our cancer rehab program, which assisted us in becoming part of the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program.  The quality of the students we received was outstanding.  It was a gift to be able to work with students from the applied exercise science program.

Internship Sponsor: Jeff Oliver - Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, Holy Cross College

Jeff Oliver
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, Holy Cross College

As an understaffed college strength and conditioning program, we depend heavily upon our interns to walk in on day one and be ready to coach.  We look forward to the interns that come from Springfield College because they are exactly that:  ready.  I've often said that having an intern from Springfield College is like going to a seminar or reading a new book in the field. Each semester, we find the new interns have a new and up-to-date perspective, and they contribute a great deal to our program.  We have never had a Springfield College student that hasn't brought us new and exciting ideas that we don't use.

Internship Sponsors: Steve Conca - Owner, Conca Sport and Fitness

Steve Conca
Owner, Conca Sport and Fitness

Springfield College interns at both the undergraduate and graduate levels are a tremendous asset to our business.  The knowledge and professionalism they bring into our training center is a testament to the solid academic foundation and the real-world, hands-on training that the Springfield College exercise science program promotes.

Internship Sponsors: Eunice Lisk ’82 - Director of Cardiac Rehab Griffin Hospital

Internship Sponsors

Eunice Lisk ’82
Director of Cardiac Rehab
Griffin Hospital

I see many students from a wide array of colleges and universities who come to serve our organization as interns. I can say with confidence that the student who joined us from Springfield College was by far one of the best prepared. As a graduate of Springfield College, I also know how well prepared I was when I first began my career upon graduating from the College.

Within a week, our Springfield College intern was able to start getting work done. The biggest compliment I can give to an intern is when I actually forget that they are students and begin to think of them as staff, and this is exactly what happened with our intern from Springfield College.

Though the student came in and immediately got his feet wet, it was extremely important to me that he still learned and developed through participating in this internship. We communicated regularly, and I would often check in with him to see how he was doing, whether or not he had any questions, etc. Aside from being so well prepared in terms of his knowledge base, he was also enthusiastic and eager to learn.

I am pleased to know that his time with us was the next step in his professional development. He gained real world experience and learned things about patient care that you can’t truly understand until you’re actually doing it. Springfield College sent us an individual who is a perfect example of someone who came in prepared, but who also was eager to learn when it came to real-world applications. I cannot express how impressed I was with both his knowledge and commitment to the field.

Michelle O'Hala ’11 - Applied Exercise Science, Personal Training

ESSS Testimonial Internship Site:
HealthWorks at Yankee Candle through MediFit

I really couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling internship experience. The team at HealthWorks treated me as a full-time employee who worked alongside them, rather than as an intern who only could do basic tasks. I was given full responsibility of teaching my own group exercise class, creating personal exercise programs, administering exercise tests and body measurements, performing various health screenings, and analyzing that data to compare the health of the Yankee Candle population from year to year, as well as becoming a friendly face for the fitness center members. I had no idea how much knowledge I had actually taken in at Springfield College until I was put to the test at Yankee Candle. Corporate fitness is becoming increasingly popular in the nation and at Springfield College. My advisor, [Springfield College Professor of Exercise Science and Sport Studies] Richard Wood, Ph.D., was the one who, knowing what my strengths and interests were, inspired me to pursue the path of corporate fitness, and it was the perfect fit

Having the ability to motivate people to exercise to better their lives either before or after a full day at work has become one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. My most memorable times at Yankee Candle would be working one on one with a certain client. He had been inactive since high school, but was ready to finally make a change in his life. Every day, he would come in with a smile on his face and a “nothing can get in my way” attitude. It was truly a privilege to work with him. After only one week, he stated how much more energy he had at work and how much easier it was to climb up the stairs. After one month, he told me he could tighten his belt by one more buckle, and at that moment, I realized that this is, without a doubt, the career path I'm supposed to be taking.