Endicott Athletics Alumni Spotlight - Jenna Bortolotti B.F.A. '11

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If you’re a current Endicott student-athlete and balancing school work, internship, practice, and games, you’re probably wondering what your post-graduation life will be like and if all the hard work you’re putting now is going to be worth it. Maybe you’re a prospective student-athlete in high school and thinking about whether Endicott is the right place for you or maybe you’re an alumnus of the College interested to find out what classmates are up to. Whatever your angle is, we’ve got insight into the whereabouts and happenings of some of our favorite Endicott student-athlete alumni.

This week, we got in touch with former Endicott softball pitcher Jenna Bortolotti '11 who graduated with a degree in Interior Design and has found full-time employment with Boston area companies ADD, Inc. and Ritz Associates. Along with capitalizing on her college internships that prepared her for postgraduate career, Bortolotti has pursued a lifelong dream of becoming a singer/songwriter under the pseudonym Jenna Lotti, turning her notebooks full of poetry from long softball roadtrips into an EP that she released in March 2014 along with co-producer and friend Josh Friedman. Jenna and her boyfriend/guitarist Chris Facey finished an east coast tour that included venues in Boston, Cambridge, New York, Rhode Island, Maine, and West Virginia. Currently in the middle of a local tour in and around the Boston area, Jenna will soon begin working on writing for her next project. 

Before her interior design and singer/songwriter career, Bortolotti dominated the circle for an Endicott softball team that was at the tail end of a streak of eight-straight CCC Championships. From 2008-11, the length of Bortolotti's collegiate career, the Gulls won four CCC Championships and earned four NCAA Division III Regional Tournament automatic bids including a regional finals run in 2008. Bortolotti was a major catalyst in the program's success during those years, compiling a 63-17 overall record, a 2.08 ERA, 66 complete games, 24 shutouts, 356 career strikeouts, and a .238 opponent batting average against. She was twice named CCC Pitcher of the Year and All-CCC First Team in 2010 and 2011. She also earned NFCA Division III All-New England Second Team honors in 2010. 

Find out more about Jenna Bortolotti from our brief question and answer session with her.

Jenna Bortolotti is Endicott's all-time wins leader (63-17) and led the Gulls to four CCC Championships from 2008-11.

Jenna Bortolotti (now Lotti), B.F.A. in Interior Design '11
Sport: Softball
Hometown / High School: Milton, Mass. / Milton
Current Employer & Job Title: Ritz Associates - Designer & currently pursuing professional singing career
Previous Employers: ADD Inc.

How did your major, classes, professors, and education at Endicott contribute to your post-graduation career?              

I can’t say enough positive things about the classes and professors at Endicott. Majoring in Interior Design means you have to learn how to sketch, learn CAD, Revit, Photoshop, Sketch Up and 3D Max just to name a few. All of these tools are not conquered overnight by any means, but the skill set I left Endicott with is remarkable. The professors are outstanding, approachable, and personable people who have a passion for design and creativity. I couldn’t have asked for more.  

What internships did you participate in at Endicott?

I participated in three internships while enrolled at Endicott. My first internship was with a small residential interior design firm called Kate Dickerson Design. My second one was with an architectural design firm, Sally Weston Associates and my third was with a restaurant and hospitality design firm called CKI Design Studio.

How did your internships at Endicott contribute to your post-graduation career?

My internships were crucial when it came to contributing to my post-graduation career. The internship program is not only a resume and portfolio booster, but also helps you figure out what you like, dislike, and what you excel at in your field. The amount of experience gained from internships really prepped me for "the real world". I was lucky because during my senior year, I interned for CKI Design Studio and they offered to have me start over the summer before my actual internship was required to start. That gave me about 8 months of professional design experience right before graduating. After completing three internships, my portfolio and resume were strong and that allowed me to land my first job at ADD, Inc. 

What were some of your most memorable experiences as a student-athlete at Endicott?

My most memorable moments as a student athlete at Endicott were when I was with my team on and off the field. My teammates were and still are my sisters. The amount of time you spend with one another is kind of insane and you do become a family. Winning the CCC’s, bus rides, pasta parties, nights out, team dinners in the Callahan...I would give anything to go back for a week.  

Jenna Lotti's nine-track EP entitled Tunnel Vision came out in March 2014 and features her first single "Red Line Love."

Do you maintain contact with Endicott or athletic department (i.e. communication with former coach, Alumni Association, Young Alumni)? If so, how are you still involved with Endicott?

Coach V, Kula and LC are very special people to me. We keep in touch every once in a while. I know if I ever needed anything I could call them no matter how much time has gone by and visa versa.

Do you have any additional post-graduation accomplishments you would like to highlight?

Since graduation, I have not only taken on a full time job as an interior designer but also as a singer/ songwriter. My true passion in life has always been music. I released my debut album, Tunnel Vision, in March of 2014 under a shorter and more memorable version of my name, Jenna Lotti. My boyfriend/guitarist and I completed our first East Coast acoustic tour promoting the album this past summer. We played in Boston, Cambridge, New York City, Rhode Island, West Virginia and we even made a stop and played at Endicott! The album includes nine original tracks written and produced by me. Currently, I am writing for the next project and just finished filming two new music videos. My website is www.jennalotti.com.

Jenna Lotti - Red Line Love [Official Music Video]