BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott College is a pioneer in requiring comprehensive internship experiences in every program of study for undergraduate students. Hannah Merritt (West Hartford, Conn.), who is a senior on the women's soccer team and a sport management major at Endicott, is currently interning with the Boston Bruins Foundation. Here's a look into her internship experience.

ECGULLS: Describe your overall internship experience. 

MERRITT: So far, my internship experience is amazing and one of my favorite internships I have done so far in my career. I mean who wouldn't love working for the Bruins?! I am currently interning with the Boston Bruins Foundation, so I have many different responsibilities. Some of these include communicating with fans and supporters regarding donation, scoreboard, Zamboni, and mascot requests, assisting in organizing and conducting various Bruins events, and managing the Foundation's table during home games. At the beginning of my internship, we had two events right away, Pucks and Paddles and the Bfit Challenge, so I was immediately immersed in the work and given multiple tasks to take on. When you are involved in these events and the table during games, it is such a rewarding feeling at the end of the day. Seeing a fan's or a child's face when they get to meet the players or win a signed item, is an awesome experience to be apart of. I have met and connected with so many people during my time so far with the Bruins, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the semester with the team has in store!

ECGULLS: What have you learned from your internship?

MERRITT: From my internship, I have learned to get out of my comfort zone a little more and to use what I have learned from previous internships/classes. Even so, I have learned a lot more about what goes on behind the scenes in a professional sports front office. Even though I have interned with sports teams in my past internships, I believe that I am learning more valuable lessons and skills to help me grow personally and professionally in the sports industry from the Bruins organization. I am learning from professionals that have been in this industry for many years, which is also great for networking. I have learned day-to-day tasks and how to organize and prepare for big events. My communication, time management skills, and my ability to quickly adapt to changes have become better as well. Being in sports, not every day is the same which I learned early on in my career and when working for a big name sports team, the team is a reflection of your work. I look forward to the many more lessons I will learn during my internship.

ECGULLS: How will this internship help you in your career moving forward?

MERRITT: My goal before starting college and the internship process was to one day work with a professional sports team. Getting this opportunity to work with the Boston Bruins has been an amazing experience so far. It has helped me solidify where I want to work and what kind of work I want to do for the rest of my career. It has given me the confidence to be able to reach out to any sports team going forward for possible job opportunities after graduation. I have networked with many people within the organization that I can go to for guidance and connections. I believe that this internship with the Bruins Foundation is going to help my career immensely in the future and I am excited to see what is to come from this experience.

ECGULLS: What kind of networking have you done at your internship?

MERRITT: In our office, every department is in one big room, so I have gotten to know many of the professionals in each department. It is interesting to learn what each person does and be able to listen to their conversations within their department. I have networked with people that have come and gone from the organization and could connect me with possible teams/employers in the future. I have also networked with fans and supporters that reach out to the Foundation. Even so, I am interning with other students that do not attend Endicott and we are creating great relationships personally and professionally.

ECGULLS: Do you have a favorite experience or story from your internship? If so, what was it?

MERRITT: My favorite experience from my internship so far was our very first event, Pucks and Paddles. This event was a ping pong tournament with fans and the players. It was such a cool event to be involved with. The event raised an enormous amount of money for the Foundation and created lasting memories for many Bruins' fans. My favorite part of the event was watching the players and fans interact with each other, and the fact that a game of ping pong creates such a bond between the players and fans, it is something you cannot put a price tag on. I always valued being a part of an organization that is bigger than just the sport itself, which is why I love interning with the Boston Bruins Foundation.

THE ENDICOTT INTERNSHIP MODEL

A philosophy of "learning by doing" permeates the college curriculum in which students are encouraged to integrate theory and practice in all of their studies.

Through their experiences in internships students will be prepared to:

• Apply, integrate, and evaluate knowledge within a particular academic discipline
• Develop competencies for careers and community service
• Explore career options and gain field experience
• Foster personal growth through increased self-confidence, interpersonal skills, an understanding of self and others, and a heightened awareness of ethical standards
• Improve the ability to learn in a self-directed manner

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(Photo Credit - Hannah Merritt '20)