Natalie Benenati
She/her
SUNY Oneonta: Anthropology Major with Minors in Dance and Museum Studies
Why CGP: I love museums and the program was a part of the school I am an alumna from. I was introduced to the program through a few of my professors in the Anthropology Department at SUNY Oneonta.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: The people and the lake.
Favorite museum: Maschantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
Favorite class: Research and Fieldwork
Camden Breckenridge
THEY/HE
Mount Holyoke College: History
Why CGP: I chose CGP for its fantastic reputation, alumni network, and experienced professors
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: The farmers market is pretty great!
Favorite museum: Opera del Duomo Museum in Florence Italy
Favorite class: Cultural Encounters
Madden Brown
She/her
Salem State University: Philosophy and History with a concentration in Public History, minor in Spanish
Why CGP: I picked CGP because of the community and alumni network. I found myself drawn to the program through its oral history initiatives.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: How walkable it is!
Favorite museum: National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, d.c.
Favorite class: Big Ideas! (Major Historical Issues)
Hadley Chan
They/she
SUNY Oneonta: Physics major
Why CGP: In hopes to get experience and networking
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: It’s walkable and good community
Favorite museum: The New York State Museum or the Museum of Innovation and Science
Favorite class: Digital Technologies or Collections
Carlos Cueva Caro
HE/HIM
Salem State University: History Major with a concentration in Public History, Sociology Minor
Why CGP: I was looking for a program that would give me lots of hands-on experience and let me try different areas of museum work
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: Hyde Hall and the Glimmerglass Park
Favorite museum: Tenement Museum
Favorite class: Cultural Encounters or Big Ideas
Kayla Dostie
She/her
Pace University NYC and Arizona State University (Online): BA in Art History and an Associate’s Degree in Fine Arts
Why CGP: I wanted practical experience/learning and a smaller classroom setting. I heard great things about the program, and grew up 40 minutes from the area.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: The community and the lake!
Favorite museum: Castello di Compiano and Windsor Castle Museum (I love castles)
Favorite class: “Big Ideas” (Major Historical Issues)
Jordan Eddy
she/they
SUNY Oneonta: Anthropology w/ Museum Studies Minor
Why CGP: Museums are a wonderful tool for preserving and communicating experiences and ideas that may be lost or forgotten with the passage of time, and Cooperstown was the town I went to for my eye doctor appointments when I was a kid. The ideals aligned and proximity won out.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: Easily the Farmer’s Market. Local businesses with diverse wares all gathering in one place not for competition, but community building, is always delightful to participate in.
Favorite museum: The Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, MA.
Favorite class: Given my extensive one semester of experience, so far it’s gotta be Citizen Science.
Lucas Gillespie
he/him
Hobart and William Smith Colleges: History
Why CGP: I picked CGP for its reputation within the museum field as well as its small cohort size. I also liked their approach to learning about all aspects of museum work.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: My favorite thing about Cooperstown is the architecture. There are so many interesting and beautiful homes to look at!
Favorite museum: My favorite museum is the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Favorite class: So far, my favorite class has been “Culture and Collections” with Dr. Robin Campbell
John Hern
He/him
Hamilton College: Literature
Why CGP: In searching for a program that would allow me to combine my varied academic interests, CGP stood out as not only a well-respected program, but as one that would allow me to share my interests with others. While I did look at a number of other programs, CGP was the one that I kept coming back to.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: All the little shops in town
Favorite museum: Museum of the Earth
Favorite class: Citizen Science
Alexander Klindt
he/him
SUNY Oneonta: History
Why CGP: This program offers so much experiential learning in and out of the classroom as well as so many connections around the country
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: The feel of a small town but with the benefit that something is always going on.
Favorite museum: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center
Favorite class: The Visitor Experience
Claire Knowlton
She/her
Ball State University: History with a Minor in Art History
Why CGP: CGP appealed to me because it combined academics with real-world experience, which felt like the best way to figure out my next steps.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: Cooperstown’s charm and walkable size make it a really comfortable place to live and learn.
Favorite museum: The National Museum of American History is my favorite because its iconic film-related exhibits reflect my undergraduate experience as a film major.
Favorite class: My favorite class was Big Ideas with Dr. Will Walker because it exposed me to real-world issues museums are actively grappling with today.
Molly Lewis
THEY/THEM
Western Michigan University: Technical Costume Design
Why CGP: I liked the small class sizes and some of the faculty I interacted with. SUNY offered me a lot of financial aid that made the choice fiscally easy.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: I love the art community here. There are a lot of unique artists living here who are full to the brim with fascinating stories and beautiful art.
Favorite museum: Kalamazoo Air and Space Museum
Favorite class: American Music
Ben Lindenauer
he/him
Mount Saint Mary College: Mathematics
Why CGP: I heard many good things and it was in a good location for me
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: Small, friendly town where most everyone is familiar with each other
Favorite museum: Museum of Science, Boston
Favorite class: Digital Technology in Museums or Science Museum Methods
Olivia Neumann
She/HER
SUNY Oneonta: Double major in History and Anthropology
Why CGP: The vast opportunities (i.e., internships, field trips, networking), small but close community, and beautiful location..
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: The welcoming and supportive community.
Favorite museum: Hard choice but I will just say living history museums in general.
Favorite class: Big Ideas
William Park
He/him
Idaho State University: Biology and Natural History
Why CGP: Ideal location because of the small town feel and close to a lot of big cities plus baseball!
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: How beautiful it is around here
Favorite museum: The Strong National Museum of Play
Favorite class: Big Ideas
Ruby Pastrana
She/her
Western Carolina University: Anthropology
Why CGP: I picked CGP based off its reputation for those wanting to work in museums. The location is also very similar to where I went to undergrad so the transition was not as harsh as it could have been.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: My favorite thing about Cooperstown is how quiet it is. Coming from a big city, it’s nice to not hear cars coming from the highway as you’re trying to fall asleep.
Favorite museum: The North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, NC.
Favorite class: Culture and Collections
Laura Polglase
she/her
University of Georgia: History
Why CGP: I wanted to attend a program that prioritized immersive, real-life experiences and project-based learning. I was also drawn to CGP’s commitment to diversity and inclusion! .
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: The nature. Particularly the fall season, it is so beautiful here!
Favorite museum: National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Favorite class: Major Historical Issues
Whitney V. Ribeiro
THEY/THEM
Brown University: B.A in Geology-Biology
Why CGP: It was recommended by friends in the museum field.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: The library!
Favorite museum: The Dinosaur State Park, Connecticut
Favorite class: Collections, Acquisitions, Care, and Management of Natural History Museums and Science Collections
Adelaide Riedesel
she/her
University of Central Florida: Anthropology
Why CGP: For the expansive alumni network and affordability!
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: The overall Gilmore Girls small town aesthetic
Favorite museum: Victoria and Albert Museum in London
Favorite class: Professional Seminar (Field Trips)
Griffin Rose
HE/HIM
SUNY Geneseo: Geological Sciences
Why CGP: It is a local program that seemed interesting, and I was very ready to go back to school
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: I like the small town vibe
Favorite museum: Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia
Favorite class: My favorite class so far has been Citizen Science with Erik
Grace Sanchez
She/her
George Washington University: Archaeology and Anthropology
Why CGP: Good reputation
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: Glimmerglass Lake
Favorite museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Favorite class: Professional Seminar
Thomas Truckenmiller
HE/HIM
SUNY Geneseo: History Major
Why CGP: I picked CGP for the opportunity to work with professionals.
Favorite thing about Cooperstown: The surrounding nature.
Favorite museum: The Adirondack Experience
Favorite class: Culture and Collections
Courtney Van Houten
She/her
Vanderbilt University: Medicine, Health, and Society
Why CGP: I came to CGP because of its commitment to community-centered, hands-on learning. I wanted to be in a program with an emphasis on inclusive storytelling and engagement in addition to the practical museum curriculum. Favorite thing about Cooperstown: I love that the area has so many outdoor spaces and trails; there are lots of ways to experience the different seasons
Favorite museum: The collection of museums in Tombstone, AZ
Favorite class: Engaging with Controversial Topics in Science Museums
Welcome Weekend 