Bucknell Students Are Making the Most of Their Extended Winter Break

After a semester like no other, Bucknell students have embarked on a winter break unlike any before.

They left Bucknell as scheduled on Nov. 20 and will return for the first day of classes on Feb. 1, a schedule that creates a winter break more than twice the normal length.

In their 73 days away from campus, students will enjoy a hard-earned opportunity to relax, recharge and celebrate the successful completion of an on-campus semester during a global pandemic.

Many Bucknell students have opted to maximize this extra time, devoting their 10-plus weeks away to impactful research projects, lifelong hobbies and resume-building internships.

Anna Cristini '23, a management major from Ridgway, Pa., knows the satisfaction that comes from forming genuine connections with others. It's why she wants to pursue a career in human resources after graduating, and it's why she chose Bucknell.

"Having gone to high school in a small town, I was used to forming strong connections with my teachers," she says. "I knew the college I chose would need to offer that. Each time I visited Bucknell or spoke to current students, I heard so many stories about the amazing professors at the school and their constant drive to help students succeed."

Helping others succeed is part of a human resources professional's mantra, too. Over winter break, Cristini is working as an HR intern at Varischetti Holdings LP in Western Pennsylvania. She'll be helping set up a new HR system designed to streamline time-consuming tasks like onboarding new employees.

At its heart, Cristini's internship is about solving problems in an environment where no two days are alike.

"Bucknell has genuinely prepared me in a number of ways, but I think the most significant way has been through the University's constant encouragement to think creatively and use teachings from different disciplines," she says. "I don't think I would be able to problem-solve effectively without my experiences in courses such as geology, economics and even art history."

To view these students click here: https://bucknell.meritpages.com/achievements/Bucknell-Students-Are-Making-the-Most-of-Their-Extended-Winter-Break/129439