Hockey-loving exercise science grad nets experience-driven hat trick through internship, campus work and RSOs
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—As Ariana Burgeson, B.S.'25, proudly displays her Western Michigan University diploma, ornate nails decorated with tiny NCAA championship trophies peek out over the top of the certificate's jacket.
"I might not get a ring, but at least I can put the trophy on my ring finger," she laughs, relishing her front-row seat to the Western hockey team's national title run while interning as a student athletic trainer.
"Being part of a historic season with WMU hockey and winning the program's first national championship was an incredible honor, but what I'll remember most are the hours of hard work, the lessons in leadership and resilience, and the people who became family along the way."
On a mission
Burgeson knew in high school she wanted to pursue a career in exercise science. A family connection made Western a natural place to start her college search.
"My grandparents met here, so Western was always a special place," she says. "Plus, Western had so many opportunities for scholarships, which was big for me putting myself through school."
Taking a closer look at the University's exercise science program and its three different major options—in clinical/pre-professional, human performance and strength and conditioning—sealed her future as a Bronco.
"I loved the three pathways and how there were so many options to get into your specialty," she says. "I also loved the Experience-Driven Learning and how quickly you can get started. I was able to complete a field experience class my first semester. Second semester you can take clinical exercise physiology. You're in a lab learning how to take blood pressure manually; you're reading EKGs. You're doing hands-on tasks right away."
Getting to jump headfirst into her major also helped Burgeson shift her education into high gear, finishing her degree a full year ahead of schedule.
"Being able to get into my specialty right away really helped accelerate my education here," she says. "I've always been someone who likes to do things as soon as possible, so why not graduate a year early?"
Scoring career goals
For a hockey fan who aspires to be a head athletic trainer in the National Hockey League, it doesn't get much better than earning college credit to immerse yourself in your passion. Burgeson didn't waste any time seeking out an opportunity to do just that, scoring her internship with the WMU hockey team her second year on campus.
"I got to do a lot of just simple observing at first, but as (the trainer) started to trust me more, I was able to be the one on the bench during practice while he did administrative work. I started becoming more of a presence in the treatment room, being able to see players and take care of them and send them off to practice," she says. "I remember thinking, 'If this is going to be my job, I'm never going to work a day in my life!’"
The internship not only confirmed her career choice but gave her a leg up on future plans.
"When I was applying to graduate programs, I was able to right off the bat say I have experience in a Division I NCAA setting. Not many people can say they had that experience at such a high level," says Burgeson, who will begin the exercise science master's program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha this summer.
Through her WMU hockey network, Burgeson also had the opportunity to shadow the athletic trainer for the Grand Rapids Griffins, a professional American Hockey League team and affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.
"All of the connections I've gotten through Western have been amazing," she says. "Everybody knows WMU hockey and respects the program, and they know I've been trusted to work with really high-caliber athletes."
A holistic education
While she spent countless hours in the training room and hockey rink racking up career experience, Burgeson also grew as a leader and professional at Western through campus employment and involvement in registered student organizations (RSOs).
As a student ambassador for the College of Education and Human Development, she cultivated strong connections with faculty and staff, from advisers to instructors to the dean. It helped her build professional proficiencies like organization, communication and event planning. Plus she got to talk to countless prospective students and families about one of her favorite things: Western.
"I got to be on student panels where prospective students would ask me questions, and I realized I had a lot of experience that I could pass on," she says. "As I became one of the more experienced ambassadors on the team, I would train these new hires and eventually became the lead student ambassador."
Burgeson helped facilitate a number of events for the College of Education and Human Development, from admissions open houses to alumni networking panels and a VIP experience for prospective students at the MODA fashion show.
"One of the things I really loved about the job was making other peoples' experiences and allowing them to make connections so they could see themselves at Western," she says.
Her supervisor Tayler Mercil, manager of recruitment and outreach in the College of Education and Human Development, also made sure Burgeson was getting as much out of the job as the school was.
"She was always encouraging professional development and wanted us to really grow into the position and build our resumes," Burgeson says. "When there were things we wanted to take the lead on, she advocated for us so we could talk about it in future interviews. So, the position was really big for me in terms of growing and becoming more confident in myself."
A leadership position on Western's College Panhellenic Council, which supports seven sororities on campus, also fulfilled a sense of purpose for Burgeson, building a sense of belonging among the organizations on campus while also engaging in community service.
"I did a lot of meaningful work," she says. "Every single chapter on campus has a philanthropic cause that they raise money for. My sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, worked within the Kalamazoo area on causes related to people experiencing homelessness and youth involved in the foster care system."
As the council's director of campus activities and programming, Burgeson helped organize Greek Week, a weeklong philanthropy competition between sororities and fraternities that raised thousands of dollars and thousands of pounds of food for a local nonprofit. "It was really cool to feel like we were making a difference in the community we live in."
Having opportunities to give back, build career connections and develop transferable skills by staying engaged on campus rounded out Burgeson's college career and prepared her to thrive in her next chapter.
"WMU provided amazing networking opportunities, helped me find my support system and inspired me to grow in more ways than one," she says. "I'm proud to officially graduate from Western Michigan University—and even prouder of everything these years taught me. This experience shaped who I am today, and I"ll carry these lessons and memories with me into every step of what's next."
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