Stephen Harrison ’20: A Year At the Helm of the Weinermobile

Like many recent college graduates, Stephen Harrison '20 spent a postgrad year travelling across the country. However, Harrison was one of very few doing it in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile!

After a whirlwind interview process that took him from Zoom calls to Madison, Wisconsin, Harrison was one of twelve people (out of 7,500 applicants) to find himself behind the wheel of one of America’s most iconic vehicles for a year-long program. “My mom sent me an article about Oscar Mayer hiring new ‘Hotdoggers’ to drive the Wienermobile,” he laughs. “At first I thought it was just a fun story, but the more I read, the more I realized it fit me perfectly — travel, adventure, communication, marketing. It checked all the boxes.”

The year on the road was equal parts exhausting and exhilarating. “There’s no real routine,” he recalls. “One week you’re in New Orleans; the next you’re in Los Angeles. You’re working events Thursday through Sunday, driving long distances on Mondays, and exploring new cities in between. It was a constant lesson in flexibility.”

He spent the year paired with two different fellow Hotdoggers, crisscrossing the country, visiting national parks, and meeting people from all walks of life. “I probably spent more time with those two partners that year than with anyone else in my life,” Harrison admits. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it also showed me how much I love connecting with people wherever I go.”

Harrison grew up in Havertown and attended St. Margaret’s. With two older sisters involved in Cape & Sword, the Prep was a familiar place. By the time the decision for high school came, Harrison knew where he belonged.

Cape & Sword remained central to his four years, but it was the broader Prep community that left the deepest impression. “Kairos was probably the most impactful experience I had,” Harrison reflects. “Even though I didn’t get to lead one at the Prep because of COVID, I was able to do it later at Boston College.” 

Mentors like Spanish teacher Ms. Gina Gulli encouraged him to explore non-traditional interests, from the Harry Potter Club to co-founding a Survivor-themed student group. He also recalls the guidance of the college counseling office — especially Ms. Kelly McGlynn and Mrs. Courtney Pinto — who provided both practical support and a welcoming space during the often uncertain college application process.

When it came to choosing a college, Harrison felt an immediate connection at Boston College. “From the moment I stepped on campus, I just knew,” he says. “It had everything I was looking for: the Jesuit tradition, the right size, and access to a great city like Boston while not necessarily being in the city.”

At BC, Harrison majored in communications and picked up minors in math and marketing. He also found fulfillment in campus life, becoming involved in the Admissions program and other student formation organizations. “The transition to college was tough, especially starting during COVID,” he says. “These programs allowed me to support other students who were going through what I had just experienced.”

Today, Harrison is back at Boston College pursuing a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs, while also serving as a graduate assistant in the Office of Student Involvement. His story was recently featured in the Boston College Magazine.