As the mix of excitement and relief from the culmination of a successful four years settles, Oles from the Class of 2026 are taking their next step. Fresh degrees in hand, many will enter the workforce, while others will attend graduate or professional school for additional training in their field. But career preparation and planning began years ago.

About 65 percent of the Class of 2026 completed internships during their four years at St. Olaf, and 21 percent of the class completed internships that were partially or fully supported by the Piper Center for Vocation and Career. 

Donor support is critical in providing these opportunities for students. Annually, nearly all of the opportunities offered through the Piper Center are supported directly by giving. From St. Olaf-sponsored cohort programs to Piper Center grant awards, support for experiential learning allows Oles to explore their interests and consider how they may translate into careers after graduation.

“This support enables students to prioritize professional development opportunities when they might otherwise have to focus on a job,” says Nathan Jacobi, Senior Associate Director, Career Development, Data and Operations.

Exposure starts early. Internships and similar career experiences are encouraged during a student’s first year through the St. Olaf Orientation to Academics and Resources (SOAR) program. Mentors stress the importance of gaining experience outside the classroom, trying things out, and discovering preferences, sometimes leading a student somewhere unexpected, as it did for Alex Bittner ’26.

“I came in wanting to be pre-med. I had a preconceived notion that I wouldn’t enjoy research, but Paul Jackson [professor of chemistry and environmental studies] talked a lot about vocation,” Bittner says.

After completing an environmental studies program abroad, Bittner’s mindset shifted.

“I realized I fell in love with the process of research. A professor gave me independence within a framework to lead my own research and entertained all the questions I had.”

Knowing he wanted to pursue oncology during medical school, Bittner decided to apply for the Mayo Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). He worked with the Piper Center on his submission and was accepted into the program. He researched pancreatic cancer and its metastasis, which was his area of interest. Next fall, Bittner will start a PhD in cancer biology at the University of Washington.

Students can also leverage the college’s deep-rooted connections to gain a competitive edge in their career exploration.

“The Piper Center works with employers and alumni to identify good-fit opportunities, leading to internships exclusive to St. Olaf students or where Oles are strongly considered because the employers know what students bring,” Jacobi says.

Kylie Gray ’26 interned with St. Olaf alum Tina Rexing ’95 at T-Rex Cookie, where she appreciated the opportunity to gain insight into the varied pieces of supporting a business.

“Interning for a small business was cool because you see the ‘behind the scenes’ of every role. I experienced budgeting, advertising, sales, and marketing,” Gray says. 

For her post-graduation job search, Gray leaned on the Piper Center to help prepare her for job interviews, which ultimately helped her land a role at an insurance brokerage and consulting firm in Bloomington.

“I’ll learn the technical skills as I go, but my internship and my time at St. Olaf prepared me for the soft skills like communication and relationship building,” Gray says.