Ramblers in LA Tank Take on the Big Apple During 36-Hour Power Internship

After they touched down in the Big Apple, Ramblers dove right into their itinerary. Their first stop was at PayPal to meet with Gavin Sullivan '13, who serves as PayPal's senior director of North American channel partnerships. Ramblers toured the PayPal offices as Gavin shared the path he took to get to his current role. For Sullivan, mentorship played an important role in his development as a young leader. He encouraged students to build strong professional relationships that will help them learn and grow as they progress in their careers.

Students headed back to the hotel to recharge before they ended the day at a special alumni networking reception at The Elgin in Manhattan. Throughout the evening, students mixed and mingled with over 70 New York-area alumni, connecting over their shared Rambler experiences.

"The alumni were super easy to talk to and I now have connections to successful Loyola alums in a multitude of industries that can be a help to me in the future when looking for an internship or trying to get a job," recalled Patrick Reaves '26.

"It was so cool to see that even in a completely different city, over 70 alumni gathered. It really shows how special the community is," added Teddy Kurtzweil '26.

Students started their second day bright and early with a tour of fashion brand Loeffler Randall, hosted by CEO and co-founder Brian Murphy '89 and Gabrielle Brosnan '21, who works in merchandising for the company. During their visit, students got an in-depth overview of the fashion industry. Brosnan, who has just finished her degree at Marist University, also provided students with valuable insights into life as a young professional. Brosnan knows the power of the Loyola Academy network better than anyone else; it was through her Loyola Academy connections that she got in touch with Murphy when she started at Marist, which led to her landing an internship at Loeffler Randall. Since her graduation, she has moved into a full-time role with the fashion brand.

In the afternoon, students were split into two groups for career shadowing. One group visited Halsey Health to shadow Co-CEO Peter Sullivan '07. Throughout their visit, Sullivan shared his personal entrepreneurship journey and how he started his own business. He advised students to be creative when forging their career paths, noting that there are many different avenues students can take to achieve their professional goals.

The second group stopped by Morgan Stanley to meet Martin Hunter '12, a private banking associate at the company. While there, Ramblers received a crash course in wealth management before Hunter introduced them to his colleagues, which gave students a glimpse into the different roles that contribute to Morgan Stanley's day-to-day operations. One of Hunter's colleagues even gave the students helpful tips on interviewing for internships at the company.

"Getting a front row seat inside businesses like PayPal, Loeffler Randall, and Morgan Stanley is an unbelievable opportunity and a moment I will remember forever," said Henry Lemmon '26. "The knowledge gained about interviews, internships, and other things business-related is invaluable."

After shadowing, Ramblers made their way back to the airport to catch their flight home. With the 36-hour power internship behind them, Ramblers reflected on all that they experienced and will take with them in the future.

"The trip to New York City was an unforgettable experience. I loved seeing just how broad the Loyola alumni network really is. Each activity expanded my understanding of the job market and made me realize that I don’t have to follow a traditional or picture-perfect path. There are so many careers out there that I had never even considered," explained Mayode Oluwole '25, who received this year's Willer Family Accelerator Award, which recognizes the commitment of a student to the program.

"This power internship was an amazing opportunity, and I’m so grateful to have been able to attend. After graduating just last week, it was so nice to be able to feel welcomed to the Loyola alumni network, and it was so amazing seeing how Loyola is omnipresent even outside of the Chicago area," added Evan Ehman '25. “This trip made me optimistic for college and for post-grad, and proved that I will find Loyola connections and amazing job opportunities anywhere I go."

We are grateful to our New York-area alumni for providing an exceptional, world-class experience for our students. The 36-hour power internship is always a wonderful reminder of the power of the alumni network and the friendships we form during our four years at Loyola Academy.

Want to learn more about LA Tank? Contact Director of Alumni Relations Ashley Sanks '10 at asanks@loy.org or 847.9202.2439.