In addition to the roughly 1,400 language school students on campus this summer, there are close to 200 summer workers who are staying at Middlebury for at least part of their summer to work a wide variety of positions around campus. Who are they? What are they doing here? Are they aware that school ended over two months ago? What do they look like? What are their favorite condiments? Below are a small sample of students and their stories.
Jack Maher
Class of 2012
Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Economics
Favorite Candy: Sour Patch Kids
Favorite Movie: Gladiator
Favorite Condiment: Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce
Summer Position: Neuroscience Research Technician
Description: We’re researching testosterone and its effects on spatial vs. reference, aka muscle, memory in rats.
Additional comments: If you love being outside during the summer, Midd is the place to be: Swimming, volleyball, TONS of soccer, running, frisbee, hopscotch, etc. You name the activity and someone will want to do it too.
Ari Lattanzi
Class of 2013
Hometown: Los Altos, CA
Double Major: Latin American Studies, Political Science
Minor: Global Health
Favorite Sports: Rugby & Soccer
Favorite Veggies: Carrots and Broccoli
Summer Position: Middlebury College Organic Garden intern
Description: I get to play with dirt, sow seeds, pull weeds, and harvest fruits and veggies, along with working on other fun garden projects such as renovating the firepit.
Outside of work: I’m a firefighter and an EMT, and I’ve been working in these capacities as much as possible. I’ve been to the swimming holes in the area as much as possible!
Additional: I Love Middlebury in the summer!
Melissa Shapiro
Class of 2013
Hometown: Chappaqua, NY
Major: Human Ecology (Environmental Studies-Anthropology)
Favorite Tree: Willow (the weeping kind)
Favorite Animal: African Elephants
Summer position: Middlebury Community Care Coalition (MCCC) Summer Intern
Description: I help run the community lunch and dinner programs which offer free meals to those with lower incomes and those living in poverty. I also manage a small town garden and work on a farm as part of MCCC’s Farm-to-Table initiative, which aims to introduce fresh produce to community lunch and dinner participants.
Outside of work: I have taken advantage of some quintessential Vermont activities, such as day hikes, berry picking, and music and hot-air balloon festivals!
Additional: I do miss the usual snow-covered campus…but I’ve loved spending so much time outdoors (while in flip-flops!)
Jennifer Nelthropp
Class of 2012
Hometown: St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Major: History
Favorite Cruzan Word: Chups!
Favorite Baby Animal: Sea turtle
Favorite Popsicle Color/Flavor: Pink
Summer position: Language Schools Office Assistant
Description: At the Language School Offices, student workers are in charge of making arrival packets, welcoming students, helping coordinate the visits of numerous language school guests, general administrative duties, etc.
Outside of work: Swimming, pretending to not be good at games and then actually being good at them.
Wyatt Komarin
Class of 2012
Hometown: Roxbury, Connecticut
Favorite Kitchen Appliance: Panini Machine
Favorite Insult: Turd-burgler
Summer Position: Solar Decathlon Architecture Co-Lead
Description: We are designing and building a solar powered house for an international competition. I design things, I hammer things, and I buy things.
Outside of work: I enjoy frolicking in waterfalls, going to the gym, and hiking about.
Martine Stewart
Class of 2012
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA
Major: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Favorite kitchen gadget I still don’t have: Immersion blender
Favorite funny summer tan: Chacos
Favorite admissions employee: Paul Hildebrand
Summer position: Molecular biology research
Description: I study a genes that mice need to be fertile (humans have the same gene, it’s just that they’re harder to study). Lately I’m studying protein interactions. It mostly involves mixing really small volumes of liquid in really specific ways.
Outside of work: I’ve done lots of swimming, cooking, settling Catan, goat-sitting, parties, volleyball, singing, writing letters.
Additional: Middlebury without homework and with positive temperatures is ideal. It’s hard not to have a great time.
Max Odland
Class of 2012
Hometown: Croton-on-Hudson, New York
Major: Conservation Biology
Favorite garden tool: Scythe, followed by stirrup hoe
Favorite martial art: Capoeira
Favorite small adorable mammal: Woodland jumping mouse
Summer position(s): Research Assistant for the Middlebury College Lands Ecological Evaluation
Description of what you do: I explore, describe, and map natural communities on the college’s forested lands in the green mountains. The end goal is a report that will highlight ecologically important and interesting areas and help the college to make better land management decisions.
What have you done outside of work this summer: I’ve spent a lot of time getting to know the swimming holes in the area, hiking, playing music, and generally living it up.