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Discovering His Potential: Israel’s CWS Experience with the Crushers

As students return to work this September, many are excited to make an impact, build new skills, and grow through hands-on experiences. While some students are returning to familiar workplaces, others are stepping into brand-new opportunities.

Israel ’28 is returning to the Lake Erie Crushers for his second year, and his supervisor is just as excited to have him back. Israel is excited to return and continue growing in his role, building on the skills and relationships he developed during his first year. His return is a great example of the meaningful connections that can develop through the Corporate Work Study experience. At the Crushers, Israel works with the Facility Operations and Marketing Department, where he participates in meetings focused on fan engagement, helps with events, and confidently shares his voice during meetings.

“We have built on the skills he established last year,” Tracy explained. One example is Israel’s work with donations. He created an organized system to track donations, building on his previous experience while taking on greater responsibility within the organization. Israel’s connection to the Crushers also extends beyond his CWS experience. He worked at the Crushers’ stadium over the summer, giving him additional opportunities to learn, build relationships, and become familiar with the organization from a different perspective. Through that experience, he learned the ins and outs of the stadium and gained a deeper understanding of how the organization operates, knowledge he can now bring back to his CWS role.

What impresses Tracy the most about Israel is his professionalism. At school, Israel can often be found spending his free time in the art room. He tends to keep to himself and is more reserved in the classroom, but that changes when he steps into the workplace. At work, Israel has found a level of comfort that allows him to engage with his coworkers, share his ideas, and take an active role in meetings. Tracy has seen firsthand how Israel’s confidence has grown since his first year with the Crushers, and she continues to see him step into new opportunities and responsibilities.

For Israel, the Crushers have become more than just a CWS placement. Through his experience, he has discovered a different side of himself. He has become more confident and built many professional relationships that he will be able to leverage in the future. His journey reflects the impact of Corporate Work Study and the opportunities it creates for students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and see what they are capable of. As Tracy shared, “I have seen firsthand what this program can do for students. It helps them experience different fields.”