What better place to spend a portion of your summer than at a winery in Verona, Italy? That’s where Christina Solazzo, a sophomore sociology major from Clearwater, Florida wound up, courtesy of an APEX (Academic Planning and Experiential Learning) Fellowship from The College of Wooster.
Christina’s internship was focused on the sales & marketing for Tabarrini Winery. She was responsible for editing multiple documents that were sent to importers and other clients, enabling her to learn the intricacies of selling wine. Coming from an Italian family where she was constantly surrounded by pasta and wine, and having a father who was an importer of wine from Tabarrini, her internship provided a first hand experience of the business. She now believes that to truly sell wine, you need to understand not only the culture and people who buy the products, but the creators as well.
She was able to work closely with her advisor and design her internship to inform her Independent Study project (Wooster’s nationally acclaimed undergraduate research experience). “My APEX Fellowship has helped me improve my ability to communicate with others and go far beyond the benefits of a boosted resume,” she said, “I was able to spend hours doing what I love [and] benefitted from this experience so much so that I know I’ll go home an entirely new person.”
By Kanika Issar ’15