Beavers All

I'm a Beaver. You're a Beaver. We’re Beavers All. And when we get together, we do the Beaver Call.
B E A - V E R Beavers. Beavers. Go Beavers!

Bluffton has been known as The Beavers since the late 1920s when long-time coach A.C. Burcky noted that Beavers are resourceful, accomplish more with less (“works with twigs, building up large things from small”) and work to leave the world a better place (“never does things any worse than its ancestors did.”)
Let us celebrate the many ways that we are Beavers All!  

Lindsey Shaw appreciated the personal interactions of the nursing profession, and the pace of nursing in the ER.

Purpose in the ER

After gaining experience in the Blanchard Valley Health System emergency room, nursing major Lindsey Shaw confirmed her occupational fit.


In preparation for a career in health care, Caleb Bell became an EMT, participated in a summer research program at St Rita’s and shadowed several doctors.

Support for med school

Caleb Bell received a $5,000 award supporting future physicians. The Dr. John Kraft Award is a loan which is canceled upon completion of the first year of medical school.


English major Deborah Yoder envisions an optimistic future in “The Water Collectors.”

Solar Punk sci-fi

Deborah Yoder '23 earned departmental honors authoring science fiction short stories. "The Water Collectors" addresses issues such as sustainability and climate change through an optimistic lens.


Ella Wiley plans to begin her education career in Columbus, Ohio.

Making an impact

The hardest goodbye came on the last day of student teaching for Ella Wiley, elementary education graduate. She gained experience dealing with difficult situations and knowing when to be stern.


After graduation, Sarah Woods will be joining the team at Crime Victim Services as a relationship violence survivor advocate, where she will help domestic violence victims who are who are going through court proceedings.

Nonprofit field

Sarah Woods wanted to pursue a business degree but was unsure what direction it would lead her. After completing four internships, she now is focused on nonprofit management.


“Your work ethic; having good communication with customers, partners and coworkers; showing up on time and being reliable. They really emphasize the business world,” said Davis.

Consistency is key

Business is all about what you put into it. How much work you’re willing to do… [At my internship,] they’ve done a good job emphasizing what it takes to succeed.”


Starting as a semester-long intern, Ethan Stearns continued to work as a Bluffton University sports information assistant for the full year.

SI assistant

The internship is teaching me about how open my communication needs to be just so that I can get my job done and make everyone else's job easier, too."


After graduation, Andrea Peralta Morales plans to take advantage of a program allowing international students to work in the United States for a year following graduation to gain additional experience.

Marketing success

Andrea Peralta Morales '23, an international student from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, was introduced to marketing through her family's business. She is honing her skills through multiple internships.


“I learned what specific aspects go into recruiting someone and basically how to be a good recruiting coach and finding the right people for your team.”

Football intern

Grace Fillinger's '23 ultimate goal is becoming an athletic director, but after her internship she developed an interest in recruiting and could see herself as a recruiter after graduation.


Lesniewski is gaining practical experience in criminal justice and psychology fields this semester as an intern with the United States Marshals Services based out of Toledo, Ohio.

US Marshal intern

We want to see the world as a peaceful place, but some individuals have bad tendencies. It’s good to know there are good people who can handle these situations.”


Carson Kindred went into his internship expecting to mostly observe but walked away with practical knowledge including therapy and rehabilitation experience.

More than observing

Carson Kindred gained practical knowledge, including therapy and rehabilitation experience, from an internship with the Findlay High School strength and conditioning football coach.


As an exercise science major, Haley Byrnes gained experience as an athletic training intern for Bluffton's football team.

Support for the future

I felt like I was another athletic trainer. Every time we traveled to another school where there was a graduate program, [I was] introduced to their trainers as a prospective student."


Sydney's internship confirmed her career choice, and following graduation she plans to pursue a career in cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiac health

Sydney Zinkon gained hands-on experience as an intern in the cardiac pulmonary rehabilitation unit working with patients who had asthma or lasting issues due to COVID 19.


Sara Hivera Rios learned the importance of teamwork through her remote marketing internships.

Remote internships

International student Sarah Rivera Rios '23 from Honduras gained academic credit while supporting small businesses and women leadership. She gained social media marketing experience through two remote internships.


Sammi Urban said the top characteristics she aspires to be in a future coach is to be stern but fun, demonstrate discipline but not be over the top, and most importantly, to be a good listener.

Future in coaching

Something unexpected Sammi Urban learned during the internship was the amount of time each college coach invests in their program from scheduling, budgeting, and everything in between.


Introducing the performers behind J. Denny and Jenny: Laura Irwin, Anton Miller, Ashley Eachus, Darius Boeke and Madison Staton.

It can now be told

Perhaps one of the most tightly guarded secrets at Bluffton is the identities of J. Denny and Jenny Beaver. Who were in the mascot suits in 2022-23?


Jacob Boelkens applies learning from the business studies classroom to an internship with the Bluffton Bread Company.

Rolling in the dough

It’s one thing to see it in class, but it’s another thing to actually see it in an actual workplace setting, it all makes sense when put together.”


During Rachel Hellman’s internship she helped in creative projects for The Met as well as design projects for Lima Senior softball team and travel team.

A foot in the door

Rachel Hellman '23, got her foot in the door at The Met during her Learning in Community class when she met the owner, Robert Nelson.


Kaylie Campbell is applying to graduate schools with the hopes of becoming a school psychologist or mental health therapist.

Reducing the stigma

I have always been interested in the human mind. When I originally came in undecided, I took Introduction to Psychology and became even more interested in it.”


Through a Bluffton Bread Company internship, Eli Grieser is learning that a small business does not necessarily mean it is easy to manage.

A taste of reality

Internships on and off-campus provide additional understanding for Eli Grieser, a business administration/marketing double major.


Theri Phetlhu landed a paid position with Double A Solutions through networking and started in June of 2022

Paid internship to job offer

A paid marketing internship with Toledo software company Double A Solutions may lead to a full-time job for Dec. 22 graduate Theri Phetlhu.


While Olivia (Lou) Westcott considers herself a proficient writer, she learned that for broadcast news, the writing style needs to be more conversational.

Broadcast news

Olivia (Lou) Westcott '23, a convergent media major, interned with WLIO-TV in Lima, Ohio to confirm her interests of pursuing a career in broadcast news.


Working with the Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity introduced Ella Zaborowski to an unexpected passion.

God's hands and feet

A summer internship introduced senior marketing major Ella Zaborowski to opportunities in nonprofit organizations.


Outside of work, Sara Poiry is involved in several clubs on campus including Brave Space, PEACE Club and Writers Club.

Digital animation

Sara Poiry '23, has the end goal of working at Disney and recognizes that the more experience they get, the better chance they have at succeeding.


Caleb Mikesell originally avoided looking at Bluffton University for his higher education.

Runs in the family

Caleb Mikesell's family is full of teachers. Many are also Bluffton graduates. In fact, Caleb will be a fifth-generation teacher and a fourth generation Bluffton graduate.


As a pre-art therapy major, Adrianna Ruiz Suarez combines two of her passions—art and psychology.

Kan Du internship

I realized my passion was helping people. I think that art is a medium that is not used enough for helping people be able to express themselves and open up."


Madisyn Sheppard is CPR trained and has several other health and safety certifications.

Trained for CPR

"I've been certified for the past two years. I just reacted really quickly, without a thought if this was my place or not; I just did it."


While Darius Boeke plans to become a mathematics teacher, experiences at Bluffton have opened him to the possibility of management roles.

Communication skills

"Not everyone understands math. As a future educator, I need to be able to explain things in different ways for different people. Some students need more from you than others."


Michael Stammen ’24

Using numbers

During summer 2022, Michael Stammen worked 40 hours a week for a paid business internship at SumiRiko Ohio; a position he has continued part-time this fall.


“I hadn’t really thought about working with juveniles when I decided to pursue criminal justice, but the reading and mentoring program broadened my horizons.”

Criminal justice

“I hadn’t really thought about working with juveniles when I decided to pursue criminal justice, but the reading and mentoring program broadened my horizons.”


“With no technology, no controversial topics really came up because it wasn’t on our minds. Instead, we talked about our lives,” said Irwin.

Alaskan wilderness

Laura Irwin ’23, a music education major, spent 30 days in the Alaskan wilderness with no technology or electricity. Instead, she relied on skills learned and connections formed.


Shelby Stammen explored a wide variety of dental practices and specialties in preparation to apply to dental school.

Job shadowing

A $1,500 Summer Discovery Grant allowed biology major Shelby Stammen to shadow dentists in the Lima area. Shadowing experience is a requirement to apply to dental schools.


Maakik Tucker worked with Fostoria High School student-athletes on academic eligibility and class scheduling.

Hometown intern

Maalik Tucker '23, a management major, let his roots run deep when he returned to his hometown for an internship with the Fostoria High School athletic department this summer.


An entry level position allows Ethan Ly to work alongside ER doctors.

A medical scribe

You get to see a lot of things. You help to organize and create patient charts, so it speeds up the doctors' work. It ends up benefiting both of us."


Cleveland Clinic cardiovascular intensive care clinical technician

Drawn to heart care

Lilly Cameron '23, a nursing major, is gaining valuable experience as a clinical technician at Cleveland Clinic's main campus in a cardiovascular intensive care unit.


Madeline Kidd ’24 gained public health experience during her summer internship.

Functional nutrition

"I learned [during my internship] that as a dietitian you have to be really involved in the community. There is a lot of outreach and engagement."


Courtney Weekley ’23

PR and marketing skills

“Planning is good, but never plan for it to happen as planned. You have to be on your toes because plans will change.” - Ohio State Fair intern


“I wanted to go to law school before doing my internships, but after spending this summer at the courthouse, I know that’s what I want to do with my life.”

Path confirmed

Nash Morgan '22, a criminal justice and psychology major, spent the summer preparing for a career in law. Morgan completed internships with a common pleas court and a village police department.


Grant Klinger ’25

Klinger gains experience

This summer, Grant Klinger '25, a medical laboratory science major from Bluffton, Ohio, confirmed his career goals and gained hands-on experience in his field.


Alexa Chung '25

Chung Aims to Teach

Alexa Chung '25, a Delphos, Ohio, native, is heading toward her own future in the classroom as a middle childhood education major at Bluffton University.


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