Computer Science major, Zoheb Lokhandwala joined almost 100 Mason students in the first-ever Take a Patriot to Work Day on Nov. 7. Students went behind the scenes for several hours at three dozen federal and global employers in the Washington, D.C., region, including the State Department, Lockheed Martin, Freddie Mac, Hyatt and Marriott hotels, the Washington Post, USA Today and Gannett Digital, as well as other key local businesses and nonprofits.
Kristi Bobbett, a senior human resources business partner with Gannett Digital (located just outside the nation's capital), says the company joined Take a Patriot to Work Day to expose George Mason students to Gannett Digital's environment, and to find potential interns for a 2015 summer internship program. She was impressed with Mason students Kent Lee and Zoheb Lokhandwala as they followed the digital development process.
"Both students were extremely professional and asked good questions," says Bobbett. "They were both engaged in what the developers were discussing."
Lokhandwala saw it as a valuable day-in-the-life experience. The junior from Richmond, Va., is working on a bachelor's degree in computer science. He hopes to become a software developer/engineer, and found out just what's involved in a typical workday for a software developer at Gannett Digital, including checking out a virtual reality project.
Christine Cruzvergara, assistant dean and executive director of University Career Services in the Division of University Life, came up with the idea for Take a Patriot to Work Day as a way of engaging students in hands-on learning. In some cases, that involves connecting students to alumni who are working in some of the host companies, while in other cases, it means bringing employers on board who are working with Mason for the first time.
The Take a Patriot to Work Day project was managed by Rachael Miner, University Career Services assistant director of experiential learning. A similar exploration made all the difference for Miner when she was in college. She'd hoped to become a nurse practitioner, but ended up changing her major after job shadowing at a nursing clinic and at a hospital. Miner went on to earn her master's degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in higher education from Mason this summer. In fact, managing the Take a Patriot to Work Day became part of her final project for her master's degree.
Miner says Take a Patriot to Work Day went so well, it may be held each semester. "Our goal is to expand on all counts moving forward," she says.