Graduation Speaker Katelyn Kosar: Internships Shaped Career Goals

CBA senior Katelyn Kosar will be the student speaker at the Fall Commencement ceremony on Friday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. She is graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management, summa cum laude, with a second major in Integrated Marketing Communication.

Hometown: Madison, Ohio

Graduate: Madison High School

What's next? I will begin as a brand marketing analyst with The J.M. Smucker Company in January.

Q: Campus involvement?

A: My campus involvement has been my favorite part of my time at The University of Akron. I began with the Institute for Leadership Advancement. During this experience, another freshman and I took on the role of creating Leadership Development Groups and developing a 12-week program for students on campus. I was also a New Roo Weekend leader and shared my experiences and knowledge with incoming freshmen throughout their first weekend on campus. The most meaningful on-campus experience for me was my position as a peer advisor in the Career Center. I had the opportunity to learn many skills in developing myself as a professional, while assisting a diverse student body with their own career goals.

Q: Did you do an internship or co-op? How did that help you prepare for a career?

A: I had three internships during my education at The University of Akron. Internships were the most influential part of helping me prepare for my career. The best way to learn for me is through hands-on experiences. Taking part in several internships helped me to learn exactly what I liked and didn’t like in my career path, and shaped me into the professional I strive to be today.

Q: How do you describe your Akron Experience?

A: My Akron Experience was unforgettable. I have been presented with the opportunity to meet a multitude of people, which has been more than beneficial to me as a person. Coming to Akron for school was a great choice because it gave me the chance to have new and diverse experiences. It has been wonderful to have people around me that want me to succeed and will do everything they can to help me along the way.