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Sophie Regina ’23 grew up in Rockland County New York, not far from New York City. As a kid, she loved visiting the Bronx Zoo, the Museum of Natural History and other attractions related to animals and their environments.

“My grandparents were both New York City public school teachers so I kind of grew up really valuing science, nature and education,” she said.

It was partly her love of natural history that led her to �պ����� to pursue a major in environmental studies.

“I knew my strengths weren’t in science or math—I was better in subjects like history and writing,” Regina said. She took on two minors: community development and applied economics and applied design, and enrolled in as many classes as she could in public communication.

But it wasn’t until she stepped inside on the Burlington waterfront that she discovered how her disparate interests could play together. She’s in the midst of a year-long internship in ECHO’s development office, working on fundraising, grant writing and social media projects. Regina is especially enthused about fostering partnerships between ECHO and the many socially conscious and sustainable businesses in Vermont.

A senior graduating in May, the experience has her thinking about how the skillset she’s developing could apply to other business settings.

“The more time I spend at ECHO, the more the gears in my head are clicking, like ‘yes, I am developing these skills that I think could apply anywhere.'”

Worlds of opportunity

Vermont offers many opportunities for students to get a leg up on their careers through internships at organizations like ECHO. Erik Oliver, director of development and communications there, estimates that 65-75 students work at ECHO in a typical year. Many are college students from �պ����� and other area colleges. Others are high school students on the “E-Team” (ECHO’s teen leadership program) which offers paid internships to teens interested in STEM subjects to interact with visitors and lead activities. Participants also receive mentoring in nuts and bolts life skills.

“ECHO made a decision in 2019 that every intern would be paid,” Oliver said. “We felt it was important that ECHO take a leadership role in reducing financial barriers that might exclude deserving students.”

Oliver says ECHO’s emphasis on workforce development is really paying it forward. “We hear so many success stories from our alumni interns who are inspired by their experience here to forge successful careers. Some of them come back to work for us.”

While earning credit for a required senior capstone experience, Regina is also receiving a paid stipend for her ECHO internship. “Without it I’d need to work part-time. Getting credit for my capstone is pretty important for keeping a healthy work/life balance,” she said.