Karen Hjelle was looking for a unique internship experience. Thanks to some help from a couple of Lakeland faculty members, she got one.
Hjelle is currently enjoying a three-month internship in Sitka, Alaska, where she’s working full time at the Westmark Sitka Hotel.
“It's been an awesome experience,” said Hjelle, who will be a senior accounting major at Lakeland University this fall. “It's nice because I’m able to experience all the beauty Alaska has to offer. And I’ve met a lot of great people.”
Talking last year with her advisor, Lakeland Assistant Professor of Accounting Brett Killion, Hjelle expressed an interest in completing an internship outside of Wisconsin. She had previously talked about her infatuation with Alaska, and then-Professor of Hospitality Management Chuck Stockman overheard.
Stockman, who is now retired from Lakeland and works at the Totem Square Hotel and Marina in Sitka, spoke with Killian, and Hjelle had her internship. Now she works with Stockman’s wife, Anna, an employee of the Westmark. The parent company of both properties even paid for Hjelle’s travel and set her up with inexpensive lodging mere minutes from the Westmark.
“I work half-time in accounting, and half-time on the front desk,” Hjelle said. “They wanted me to learn the front desk system, and how it works. The accounting involves direct billing and routing.”
Hjelle usually works a standard Monday-Friday, 8-5-type of week, which leaves her plenty of time to explore Alaska. Her mom and dad came to visit, and they enjoyed a spectacular hike and an ocean tour. They spotted sea lions, humpback whales, sea otters and dozens of bald eagles.
The curtains in Hjelle’s apartment are unusually thick, to keep out the sun. As she explained, it doesn’t get dark until almost midnight this time of year, and even then, it’s not totally dark.
Her experience at the bustling hotel has made Hjelle re-think her plan of pursuing a typical staff accounting job after graduation. She’s realized that she enjoys interacting with people. One of the people she works with in Alaska is Joseph List, a 2006 Lakeland grad who is the general manager of the hotel.
“Lakeland people are always willing to help other Lakeland people,” Hjelle said. “It’s so much a part of Lakeland. Even after college, Lakeland graduates are willing to reach out to and help current Lakeland students. It’s a great network.”
Hjelle is currently enjoying a three-month internship in Sitka, Alaska, where she’s working full time at the Westmark Sitka Hotel.
“It's been an awesome experience,” said Hjelle, who will be a senior accounting major at Lakeland University this fall. “It's nice because I’m able to experience all the beauty Alaska has to offer. And I’ve met a lot of great people.”
Talking last year with her advisor, Lakeland Assistant Professor of Accounting Brett Killion, Hjelle expressed an interest in completing an internship outside of Wisconsin. She had previously talked about her infatuation with Alaska, and then-Professor of Hospitality Management Chuck Stockman overheard.
Stockman, who is now retired from Lakeland and works at the Totem Square Hotel and Marina in Sitka, spoke with Killian, and Hjelle had her internship. Now she works with Stockman’s wife, Anna, an employee of the Westmark. The parent company of both properties even paid for Hjelle’s travel and set her up with inexpensive lodging mere minutes from the Westmark.
“I work half-time in accounting, and half-time on the front desk,” Hjelle said. “They wanted me to learn the front desk system, and how it works. The accounting involves direct billing and routing.”
Hjelle usually works a standard Monday-Friday, 8-5-type of week, which leaves her plenty of time to explore Alaska. Her mom and dad came to visit, and they enjoyed a spectacular hike and an ocean tour. They spotted sea lions, humpback whales, sea otters and dozens of bald eagles.
The curtains in Hjelle’s apartment are unusually thick, to keep out the sun. As she explained, it doesn’t get dark until almost midnight this time of year, and even then, it’s not totally dark.
Her experience at the bustling hotel has made Hjelle re-think her plan of pursuing a typical staff accounting job after graduation. She’s realized that she enjoys interacting with people. One of the people she works with in Alaska is Joseph List, a 2006 Lakeland grad who is the general manager of the hotel.
“Lakeland people are always willing to help other Lakeland people,” Hjelle said. “It’s so much a part of Lakeland. Even after college, Lakeland graduates are willing to reach out to and help current Lakeland students. It’s a great network.”