LA Tank Takes NYC

“The students quickly realized the impact that attending high school at Loyola Academy had on the alumni they met, as it was verbalized in different ways by each and every graduate they came across,” says Assistant Principal for Student Services Lauren Bonner. “Furthermore, the value of Loyola's alumni network became deeply ingrained in the students who traveled to New York for this unique opportunity. The commonality of being a Rambler built strong bonds between our students and the alumni who generously gave of their time and talents during the power internship.”

The trip began at America Media, the leading provider of editorial content for “thinking Catholics—and those who want to know what Catholics are thinking.” Its flagship magazine, America, has been published continuously since 1909, making it one of the oldest periodicals in the United States today. A tour and workshops gave Ramblers the opportunity to see what it’s like to create a podcast, manage social media platforms, and get a sneak peek of the magazine’s next feature story.

That evening, the group attended a networking dinner at Vedder Price, an international business-focused law firm, hosted by Josh Dunn ’99. Ramblers had great conversations with a number of young alumni including Bobby Huffman '08, Colleen Shaw '07, Peter Sullivan '07, Jackie Sershon ’07, Tim Harvey '06 and Jack Joyce ’07.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how little any of this ‘business stuff’ crossed my mind when I was in high school,” says Joyce, who had dinner with the group at Vedder Price. “With a trip like this, Loyola is giving its students a real, tangible opportunity to think in ways that will build a foundation they can take into college and then into their professional careers. That is huge. In essence, they’ve been given a massive head-start. And a trip to NYC only adds to the momentum.”

The next morning, David Wagener ’72 and Bob Case ’72 hosted the Ramblers for breakfast at the Harvard Club, a private social club in midtown Manhattan. Alumni Dan Cashion ’88 and Dan Hoinacki ’88 and career guides Olivia Weiss ’11, Will Lederer ’14 and Kate Ansani ’12 also joined the group.

"I had the opportunity of connecting with Loyola alumni who operate at the most prestigious legal and finance firms in the country," shares Mike Kadus '19. "These mentors gave me advice to take with me in college and the rest of my career, as well as enjoyable stories from Loyola's past." 

After breakfast the group split up for career specific shadow opportunities. Eden Kavanagh ’21, Francesca Hill ’20 and Grace Cutler ’20 joined Olivia Weiss ’11, brand marketing manager, at Vogue; Mike Kadus ’19, Kathleen Wannemacher ’21 and Megan Berti ’20 shadowed Ryan Newell ’11, private equity associate, and Will Lederer '14, analyst, at The Blackstone Group; and Ellen Naughton ’19, Erin Sheahan ’21 and Catherine Power ’19 worked with Kate Ansani ’12, sales planner, at the Bleacher Report.

Francesca Hill's experience at Vogue—meeting individuals in editing, makeup, and film and even seeing esteemed Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour—is one she won't soon forget. "The entire trip was a great success," she says. "Meeting with alumni, shadowing careers, and doing plenty of networking was not only a beneficial experience for us as juniors and seniors, but a beneficial experience for ourselves in the future."  

“I was so grateful to be a part of this trip because it made me realize that Loyola has such an awesome community to rely on post graduation,” says Catherine Power ’19. “It eases some of the stress about employment after college knowing I have people to contact and connect with.”