Senior goes to bat in Cooperstown

Sara DeGaetano '07 in Cooperstown, NY with fellow Connecticut College alumnus Jeff Idelson '86, vice president of communications and education for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Spending the summer of 2006 in Cooperstown, N.Y. at the National Baseball Hall of Fame www.baseballhalloffame.org was more than just a dream for Sara DeGaetano '07. It was the experience of a lifetime.

Selected from more than 300 applicants to be one of 22 participants in the Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Youth Leadership Development, DeGaetano worked in the museum's education department.

She was one of about 300 Connecticut College students to hold internships in the United States and abroad last summer through a four-year career development program coordinated by the College's Office of Career-Enhancing Life Skills. Other students pursued their interest in such topics as women's health, Africa's political and social development, support for children in low-income school districts, rights for U.S. veterans, political communication and the media's impact on society.

The 2006 Cooperstown interns traveled from as far as California to work at the Hall of Fame. Typical summer projects for interns included public presentations, one-on-one interaction with full-time staff and writing assignments. These activities allowed interns to gain a broader perspective about the Museum's mission as well as a better understanding of the organization's structure.

DeGaetano's duties included planning activities for the museum's sixth annual All-Star Game party. Those in attendance were provided with a hot dog, beverages and snacks, and the opportunity to participate in a multitude of prize-bearing games and activities.

"It definitely took a lot of creativity and collaboration to put the All-Star Game gala together, but it wouldn't have been such a tremendous success without the enthusiasm and support of all the other interns and guests," said DeGaetano, a human development and elementary education major. "The goal was to put on a great event that everyone would enjoy and walk away from with some lasting memories, and I think we did [that]."

"I am walking away from the Hall of Fame with more than I ever expected when I began the program," DeGaetano said. "In addition to meeting and working with 21 other amazing interns and a fabulous staff, I have gained invaluable work experience in developing curriculum and lesson plans that can only come with the opportunity to work hands-on."

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