SUNY Oneonta Student Hailey Gould Completes Experiential Learning Project

SUNY Oneonta student Hailey Gould, of Farmingdale, NY, has completed an experiential learning project titled "Leatherstocking Quilts Fashion Internships."

Throughout the calendar year, SUNY Oneonta students put their classroom knowledge into action as they complete a wide range of experiential learning projects across every academic discipline. Whether studying fashion trends, conducting biological research, analyzing historical archives, working in professional accounting settings or participating in community-based fieldwork, students are gaining real-world experience that prepares them for career success.

These opportunities are supported through the university's Experiential Learning Center, located on the main floor of the Hunt Union. The center connects students with internships, research opportunities, global education experiences, volunteer programs and sustainability initiatives. By emphasizing hands-on engagement and practical skill development, the center ensures that experiential learning is woven into every major at SUNY Oneonta.

"Interning at Leatherstocking Quilts was a non-traditional path to better understanding the management, merchandising and advertising components of running a small business. Through hands-on experience and supervised projects, my role at Leatherstocking Quilts allowed me to gain insight around the necessary requirements of successful outreach," said Gould, who is majoring in Fashion and Textiles.

"This presentation was created by me, Miss Hailey Gould. I devised a comprehensive overview of what services our company provides, company values, loyalty programs and more. This presentation doubled as a packing list for Jeanne. The packing list helped Jeanne to set up an engaging, temporary storefront at the trunk show to promote brand awareness and sales. This detailed outline also provides reminders for upcoming events where (LSQ) Leatherstocking Quilts will be collaborating with other local businesses to host fun events such as denim tote bag making with All American Sweet Spot.

"I was re-introduced to organizational fun. Creating this presentation, sectioning the important messages for customers, and preparing a necessary list for all materials gave me a guide and strategy to be used for school, work and everyday life. It's a crucial step to prepare before events to reduce stress and execute an intentional presentation. Without this, presentations and events can be disappointing for the customer and the business. Through preparation, the business can accurately represent themselves instead of leaving it up to fate.

"The next project is creating an eye-catching banner for Shop Hop. Shop Hop is a promotional quilting event intended to help local quilt shops gain publicity and generate substantial revenue. The banner is complete. However, finding an object or post to hang the banner has been more challenging. My hope is to have it hanging on a post, not just in the window."

Students benefit from a robust network of campus offices housed within the Experiential Learning Center. The Career Planning and Networking Center helps students secure internships in locations such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Albany and Los Angeles, as well as with local businesses and nonprofits. The Office of Global Education offers programs ranging from 10-day faculty-led trips to full-year study abroad experiences, while the Office of Student Research and Creative Activity supports student research through grants and opportunities to present at the annual Student Research and Creative Activity Showcase.

SUNY Oneonta invests heavily in helping students access these opportunities. Each year, the university awards more than $120,000 in grants to support student research, internships and travel to professional conferences. In addition, 23 study abroad and experiential scholarships help students participate in faculty-led programs, national competitions and industry events. Since the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year, the Career Planning and Networking Center has distributed over $319,500 in internship stipends to more than 400 students.

To view these students click here: https://oneonta.meritpages.com/achievements/SUNY-Oneonta-Student-Hailey-Gould-Completes-Experiential-Learning-Project/202842