Bears in the City
Current students had a chance to network with young Ursinus alumni who work in Philadelphia during a special event in Center City on July 24.
The event, an extension of the Philadelphia Experience and sponsored by the offices of student affairs and career and professional development, took place at the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia on Broad Street.
“It’s important to show current students with similar interests what they can do once they graduate,” said Harry Bambi ’11, a global marketing program manager for Market Research Partners. “You can take your major and apply it to many things and I find that so many students still use their Ursinus background in their jobs, no matter their degree.”
More than 40 current students and alumni attended the event, which was also attended by Ursinus President Brock Blomberg and Rob Wonderling, president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and chair of the Ursinus board of trustees.
PhillyX allows Ursinus students to live, study and work in Philadelphia for a semester. Students create their own personal experience by matching Ursinus classes taught in Philadelphia with internships and independent study.
For current Ursinus students like Sam Sjosten ’20, a politics and applied economics major, the Bears in the City event was a chance to talk to recent Ursinus graduates about their career paths and life after Ursinus.
“This event is very advantageous to Ursinus students, especially for those who wish to pursue jobs or internships in the city,” said Sjosten, who is currently interning at the Montgomery County courthouse and plans to participate in PhillyX during the fall 2018 semester. “Getting to meet young alumni and explore opportunities for internships or jobs was something that I really wanted to take advantage of because it gives you an idea of what real work experience in Philadelphia is like.”
Rachel Brown ’15, a junior associate for SteegeThomson Communications, said, “Ursinus prepared me well to take on the city and to take on career opportunities after college. Seeing the successful young alumni at this event and hearing how well-prepared they were after Ursinus shows current students the real advantage of their Ursinus education.” —By Ed Moorhouse