Eight military-connected students, accompanied by two staff members from Veteran Career Services, recently returned from a week-long trip in Boston, Massachusetts for spring break. While they were able to take in the sights and culture of New England like most tourists, their purpose was learning more about the labor market they enter upon will enter upon graduating.
The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs fully funds two career immersion trips each year, one each semester, to a major metropolitan area where military-connected students are introduced to a variety of industries, companies and hiring partners. The students are able to take advantage of these impactful opportunities thanks to the generosity of Paul and Valerie Dottle and their family.
Military-connected students pose for a photo from the main set at WBZ News, Boston’s CBS station.
Syracuse University alumni are a prominent component in the success of these free career immersion trips. On this recent trip to Boston, students benefitted from the assistance of Betty Diaz G’22, a graduate of S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Diaz flung open the doors at WBZ-4, the local CBS station in Boston, paving the way for students to not only get a peek behind the cameras, but also learn about the unique work environment of local news.
“It is an honor to support OVMA’s mission in providing career-related immersion experiences for student veterans. One of the first meetings with CBS was held at the CBS New York station a few years ago. Many of the students learned so much about what goes into producing a live news telecast and all of the people behind scenes to create what audiences see on their television screens,” says Diaz, director of programs and operations at Paramount Veterans Network. “We wanted to recreate this experience at CBS Boston for new students. Our hope is that they walk away exposed to various media opportunities that they may not have considered as a viable option for their college majors.”
Students listen to a presentation at WinnCompanies in Boston.
Janina Rios ’24, a student veteran in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), has experienced the impact of the professional relationship between Paramount and OVMA first hand. Rios, a U.S. Army veteran, was hired through the Paramount Veterans Network to work on video production at CBS Viacom for a year as part of an internship program with Paramount. The experience has not only helped her better understand the workplace she may find herself in after graduation, but also better prepares her for a flourishing career.
“As someone with a background in television and film, visiting the CBS studio stood out as a highlight. Witnessing firsthand how technology has revolutionized the media industry was eye-opening,” says Rios. “Attending this trip was a transformative experience that broadened my perspective on career possibilities. It became apparent that versatility is key to thriving in such dynamic environments, where one must adapt and continually expand their abilities.”
For VPA sophomore Tojyea “T.J.” Matally ’26, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, the immersion trip to New England was his first outing with the OVMA. Matally was assigned to work in communications strategy and operations in the military, where he primarily served as a photographer. For him, the Massachusetts State House was the highlight of the places the group visited in Boston.
“The immersion trip was really informative and helpful as a reference guide for someone unfamiliar with the corporate or private sector,” Matally says. “Even though I have plans of entering the creative industry, it was useful seeing how all the components of a company operate to be a well-oiled machine.”
The immersion trips also offer the students an opportunity to enjoy the local area. Realizing that many of the military-connected students in attendance may have not had an opportunity to visit Boston before, the immersion trip included plenty of opportunity to experience the city’s historical culture.
Students visit the Massachusetts State House in Boston.
This particular trip also afforded the students an opportunity to visit the TD Garden arena to catch the Boston Bruins hockey team host the St. Louis Blues. While the Bruins weren’t victorious in the National Hockey League matchup, the students walked away from the trip with a newfound understanding of what life in Boston might look like should a job opportunity place them there after graduation.
Throughout the trip, the group took advantage of open doors at a variety of locations, learning about the working environment and labor market of Boston, as well as getting a general feel about what it might be like to live in the city. The seven businesses and organizations they visited throughout the week were
“These immersion trips offer invaluable experiences for our military-connected students,” explains Jennifer Pluta, director of Veteran Career Services at the OVMA. “They expose students to diverse working environments distinct from their military background, while also providing insight into current labor market trends.”
Another important value to these trips, Pluta says, is the ability for the students to meet hiring managers and industry professionals. Those opportunities have turned into quite a few job offers for students after graduation.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to preparing student veterans for successful integration into the job market post-graduation. We are deeply grateful for the OVMA’s donors and supporters whose generosity enables us to offer these opportunities at no cost, benefiting both our students and the businesses they aspire to join,” Pluta says.
For more information on career opportunities offered to military-connected students at Syracuse University, or learn more about the University’s commitment to supporting military-connected students achieve their academic goals, visit the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs. Those interested in supporting future career immersion trips can visit The Veteran and Military-Connected Student Career Immersion Program.
