Jenn Lemay ’17 hasn’t even started her internship with Macpage yet and she’s already helped the company’s bowling team win a tournament last month.

“After Macpage asked me back for a second interview, Professor Donato was talking to them and mentioned that I am a really good bowler,” she said. “The recruiter was really excited because they had a league and could use me.”

At her second interview in Augusta, she chatted with one of the three interviewees who was also on the company bowling team out of the Portland office. Shortly after accepting the internship, she was invited to play on the Macpage bowling team.

Last month, Lemay helped them win the championship. She bowled a 245 out of a possible score of 300 and had a lot of fun with her future colleagues.

“I looked at it as a networking opportunity. Even the COO of the company came down to bowl when I was there one week. He was only there for one game but he just wanted to come make an appearance and see people,” she said. “And it’s an awesome way for me to meet my new coworkers. They are so cool and relaxed and easy to get along with outside of the firm, and I’m really going into this job with an advantage.”

She says she will definitely feel more comfortable when she starts her new internship in January.

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When Lemay, a senior accounting major at Thomas, is not bowling or studying, she is also a part of the Student Philanthropy Team, Club Green, and Future Business Leader’s Phi Beta Lambda (PBL). She also works at the Alfond Athletic Center where she supervises 18 student employees.

Lemay will graduate with her Bachelor’s this May, and then she will return to Thomas for her Accelerated Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

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Lemay says she is so thankful for the networking opportunities she has had while at Thomas College.

Earlier this fall, Lemay was able to able to tour major accounting firms in Portland. The Professional and Career Development Office at Thomas College and accounting professors put the open houses together and bused interested students down to Portland. Lemay was able to tour six different firms.

“I was able to go and see the atmosphere of these firms, network with current employees, and ask questions,” she said. “I was able to see if I could picture myself working there some day or not.”

“Thomas even made business cards for us, so they remembered us. Face to name – huge advantage. I went to all of the open houses. I got to meet everybody before the interviews.”

Then, the next week recruiters from the various firms came to campus to do on-campus interviews.

“They interview with Thomas first before any other schools. And they even made offers right on the spot,” she said. “They keep coming back because they want Thomas students. They know we are prepared when we graduate. It was a very stressful few weeks but also very beneficial.”

Lemay says she is really thankful to Thomas College and her professors for offering these valuable opportunities to her.

“Networking and being a dedicated student, professors will really go out of their way for you. Professor Donato has really done that for me,” she said. “I wouldn’t have gotten that at a bigger school. Professors are willing to drive for you and push for you to succeed.”