SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — For Katie Wank, a second-year business major with an accounting option at Penn State Schuylkill, numbers have always added up to opportunity. This summer, Wank put her skills to the test through the campus’s Co-Op Program, interning at Orwigsburg Borough.
Wank, of Pottsville, said her interest in accounting started early.
“I’ve always been good at math and knew I wanted to do something with numbers,” she said. “I took a CLEP accounting class in high school and fell in love with the subject. I love it when everything is correct, and the debits equal the credits.”
During her internship, Wank gained firsthand experience in municipal finance, learning how a borough operates behind the scenes. Her daily tasks included processing utility bills, handling positive pay, reconciling bank accounts, assisting with payroll, and balancing cash drawers. She also worked on rental payments and escrow accounts, sharpening her accounting skills in a real-world setting.
One of the most memorable parts of the internship, Wank said, was learning the borough’s system, CUSSI, and eventually managing utility bills independently while a supervisor was away on vacation.
“Being trusted to do that on my own showed me how much I had learned,” she said.
The experience also highlighted the importance of collaboration in the workplace for her.
“I learned why it’s important to work well together and support one another,” she said. “The borough staff did a great job of teamwork, and that made a big impression on me.”
Wank said she credits the Co-Op Program for preparing her to succeed in the internship. Through her courses, she built a strong resume, developed her interview skills, and practiced her elevator pitch. She also gained confidence in professional settings, including career fairs.
“The Co-Op Program helped me succeed by giving me the tools I needed before even walking into the internship,” she said.
The experience also gave her clarity about her career goals.
“My internship made me love accounting even more,” Wank said. “It helped me realize I want to pursue public accounting and become a CPA, rather than work in private accounting.”
On campus, Wank is deeply involved in student life. She serves as president of the Blue and White Society, family relations chair for THON, social media chair for Future Business Leaders of America, and participates in Lion Ambassadors, Women in Leadership, and the Beekeeping Club. She also works as a peer tutor and peer academic coach.
Looking ahead, Wank plans to graduate and begin working at a CPA firm while preparing for the CPA exam.
Her advice for fellow students considering Co-Op is simple: Take the leap.
“It’s totally worth it, and it can never hurt to give it a try,” she said. “In the end, it will help you reach your goals.”
Learn more about the Co-Op Program at Penn State Schuylkill.