William Smith field hockey's Zoe Ugarteche and Hobart alpine skiing's Luke Ward were two of three Hobart and William Smith students recently selected for the prestigious Bickley International Internship Award, helping support their academic growth while in Spain and the United Kingdom.
 
Established in 2012, the Bickley International Internship Award was created through a gift from Ian and Kimberly Bickley P'14. The fund is used to supplement classroom education with internship experience, in retail or consumer industries, abroad or with a U.S. company's international division.

Ugarteche is a three-year member of the William Smith field hockey team. She has played in 49 career games for the Herons, recording five points on three assists and a goal. In her junior season, Ugarteche played in all 19 games, dishing out three assists, including a helper on the game-winning goal against Oswego. She is a two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad selection as well as a two-time Liberty League All-Academic pick. On campus, Ugarteche also serves as a teaching fellow for the French, Francophone and Italian Studies Department.

The architectural studies major from Buenos Aires, Argentina, will intern at RC59 in Valencia, Spain. The architecture firm specializes in renovation work in homes and office construction. In her role, Ugarteche will work alongside the company's architects on various projects, contributing to 2D drawings, 3D renderings, reports, measurements and budget development. She will also assist the lead architect during site visits.

"This internship is an essential part of my journey toward becoming a well-rounded architect," says Ugarteche. "By working in Valencia, I will not only gain technical expertise and cultural competence but also contribute to the ongoing success of the firm through my dedication, creativity and willingness to learn."

Ward is a three-year member of the Hobart Alpine ski team and was a member of the inaugural roster in 2023. In 2024, he was named to the USCSA Mideast Conference Second Team as well as earning the team's MVP award. This season, Ward played a key role in the Statesmen's fifth place finish at the USCSA National Championships. On campus, he is also a member of the Delta Chi fraternity and the HWS Jazz Ensemble. Ward spent the fall of 2024 studying abroad in Berlin, Germany, where he worked at the Hertie School of Governance's recruiting and marketing offices.

The business management and entrepreneurship major from Sudbury, Massachusetts, will serve as a business development intern at Oxford Photovoltaics, a solar panel company in Oxford, United Kingdom, dedicated to creating high-efficiency panels. In this role, Ward will contribute to a project focused on analyzing the cost of energy production. He will also collaborate with the chief communications and sustainability officer to develop and evaluate new market strategies aimed at expanding the company's reach.

"This internship aligns with my areas of study and passions of business management and entrepreneurship, and environmental science," says Ward. "Additionally, I feel that having a global perspective in business is important to success, and interning in the U.K. is the perfect opportunity."