Kathrin Ress of Solorno, Italy, graduated this spring after dedicated service to the Campus School, working  alongside Michael Nash, the original EagleEyes user and resident BC expert. The two became fast friends. Kathrin was a star BC basketball player and was recently drafted into the WNBA by the Minnesota Linx. This Spring, the B.E.A.T. interviewed Kathrin about her experience with Michael and the EagleEyes program.

What sort of responsibilities do you have at the Campus School?
Well, I took the class Working with Special Needs Students with Professor Scanlon, so I emailed him last year after the class ended, asking him if he knew of any volunteer opportunities or any jobs dealing with special education students. I already knew about the Campus School so I went to visit, and from there I got involved with the Campus School. I worked for them last summer after talking to Dr. DiMattia [Campus School Director].

Who do you work with? Which faculty and which students?
Since this past summer I have worked with Michael. Also, Maureen Gates and Joe Appleyard have been great faculty mentors.

What sort of disabilities do the students have that you work with?
Mike has cerebral palsy, so he is in a wheel chair and comes in every day to learn and help develop the EagleEyes program.

What is a typical day like for you while working with the EagleEyes program?
I come in and work with Mike who actually does most of the work. This summer I did research to find sites that can be used with the wire system [EagleEyes box] and the Camera Mouse.
 
When/how often do you work at the Campus School?
This summer I would work everyday. Then during the fall I
worked two days a week, while now it is more difficult since I am in season with the basketball team, but I try to go in every time I can.

What's your favorite part about working at the Campus School and with EagleEyes?
The EagleEyes staff is great. They are wonderful people that care about their students. I love how it is a reciprocal relationship: the students learn from us while we learn tons from them as well. Everybody is there to make each other better.

Anything else you'd like to share about your experience with the Campus School and EagleEyes?
I just think that all the people at the Campus School as well as all of the EagleEyes staff are great people, and I think it is remarkable what they do there. I really enjoyed working with these people and learned so much from them. Being from Italy and so involved in sports, I never really knew much about special education, but coming here and having the opportunity to work with these people and students has been a great experience that I will take with me as I leave BC. I just want to thank everyone for giving me this opportunity!