'When the professors saw my passion, they were excited for me to be able to do this'
Ella Egan '27 (BUS) won the jackpot as an Olympic intern, with assignments to accompany guests to both the U.S. Men's and U.S. Women's championship hockey games.
"The atmosphere was intense and so much fun,'' says Egan, a junior majoring in business management. "Watching the hockey rivalry between the USA and Canada, and then cheering as our teams both won gold medals, was definitely the most memorable moments of the trip.''
"To hear our National Anthem play after the victories was really, really powerful and unforgettable,'' she says.
Egan returned to Storrs on Tuesday following a two-week assignment at the Winter Olympics in Italy as an intern and hospitality guide for NBCUniversal, the official U.S. broadcaster of the games. In her role, she accompanied high-profile guests to Olympic competitions and on sightseeing and cultural excursions.
Egan had planned to share her UConn spirit with the people she met at the Olympics. On a coach bus headed to one of the games, she announced to 40 guests that she was from UConn, and would be cheering for former Husky and Buffalo Sabres player Tage Thompson, a member of Team USA. When Thompson scored a critical goal in that game, the semifinal match against Slovakia, everyone congratulated Egan on his success.
Experience Opened Her Eyes to More Business Careers
Egan and her extended family are all avid fans of the Olympics, and usually 20 or more of them gather around the TV to cheer for the U.S. athletes in the international competition. Two years ago, she attended the Olympics in Paris.
"I love the Olympics because it brings people together,'' she says. "I thought the experience in Italy would be great, and it was even better than anticipated. I was very busy, but in the best way.''
The internship introduced Egan to a varied to professional people, and to business career paths that she hadn't previously considered.
"The careers I was exposed to were fascinating. It definitely broadened my horizons about different facets of business, talking to people about their careers and the stepping stones that brought them there,'' she says. "The opportunity to work with NBC was fantastic. Everyone was very supportive and it was something a really enjoyed.''
Although prohibited from disclosing who she met, Egan says she had some valuable personal conversations and made some connections that will help her in the future.
Egan, a native of Bethel, says the business acumen she's developed at UConn, and her experience studying abroad in London for a semester, gave her the confidence to navigate life in a foreign country, despite speaking little Italian.
She also enjoyed working with 13 NBC interns from universities across the country.
"We all became very close very fast,'' she says. "I have 13 great new friendships and so many memories. Leaving Italy behind was very difficult. I loved the country and I hope to return again soon.''
'Professors Were Excited for Me'
Still a bit jetlagged after her trip, and with plenty of academic work to catch up on, Egan says she appreciated the support from faculty.
To other students considering an international internship or an extracurricular pursuit like hers, Egan would encourage them to push forward. Despite the trip falling in the middle of the semester, her professors were happy to help her juggle the academic disruption.
"You'll learn so much about business in foreign countries and the opportunities are unlike anything else. Don't put yourself in a box; put yourself out there. It's worthwhile,'' she says. "The university will make it work for you. When the professors saw my passion, they were excited for me to be able to do this.''
