TCNJ

7 FALL/WINTER 2026 NOAH BELLER '10, TCNJ'S INTERN- SHIP COORDINATOR for kinesiology and health sciences, calls Hamilton PT a crucial fixture in the college's placement program. Therapists include students in discussions about assessments, care decisions, and the scientific reasoning behind each choice. In turn, students observe evaluations, therapy sessions, and progress assessments, giving them a clearer understanding of the profession and the graduate educa- tion it requires. "Our previous interns have been absolutely thrilled with their supervisors' dedication to educating them," Beller says. "That kind of applied learning is the most valuable experience an undergraduate can get. Interns leave with an understanding of the 'why,' not just the 'how.'" When students encounter the same concepts later in their studies, their time at Hamilton PT helps them connect the dots. "It's a joy to be part of their growth," Laurinaitis says. Juliana Ciccone '25 became a part- time rehabilitation aide at the clinic after completing her internship. Nolan Dindial '22 took a similar path. For his senior capstone, he worked with an occupational therapist to design a rehabilitation tool for a patient recovering from a stroke. Years later, the clinic still uses it. "I'm a firm believer that the lessons I've learned at Hamilton PT can't be taught in a classroom," says Dindial, who is completing prerequisites for physician assistant school while remaining on staff as a rehabilitation tech and physical therapy aide. Occasionally, the generational divide produces its own lesson. Laurinaitis once told a TCNJ student that he had attended Trenton State, only to receive a puzzled look. "That's when I realized they were about 5 when the name changed," he says. The students he works with today weren't even born then. For Laurinaitis, ties to the college continue beyond Hamilton PT. He recently joined a men's soccer alumni career night to speak with current players about the transition from college to working life. At the practice, that bond is renewed whenever another TCNJ student or recent graduate arrives ready to learn. "Because the students come from TCNJ," Laurinaitis says, "it holds something special to me." — Michelle Rivera HANNAH YOON Scott Giallella, Fred York, and Mark Laurinaitis at Hamilton Physical Therapy "The lessons I've learned at Hamilton PT can't be taught in a classroom." — Nolan Dindial '22

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