Recent UK Graduate Combines Coursework and Internships to "see success."

Video Produced by UK Public Relations & Marketing

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 21, 2013) –  You may think of summer break as a time of relaxation and fun for college students.  More and more students, though, are using their summer "breaks" to complete internships so they can find success both inside and outside of the classroom. 

Recent University of Kentucky graduate Stephen Bilas spent his first summer of college as an intern at General Electric (GE) in Louisville.  The Louisville native, who double-majored in both management and finance, says the experience went hand-in-hand with what he was learning in the classroom at Gatton College of Business and Economics.

"It was a very good opportunity to kind of build on the skills I had been developing my freshman year, and then learn how they are applied in an actual real-world setting working with others," Bilas said. 

That internship led to a second stint at GE the following summer. 

"I was able to learn a lot about the management side and working with people," said Bilas.  "It allowed me to see the inner workings of a big corporation because GE has different divisions all over the world, not just appliances and not just consumer and industrial."

Bilas, who served as Student Government President during the past year, says he went head-to-head with college students from across the country during his internships.  He says his real-world experience, combined with his education at UK helped him secure a job upon graduating earlier this month. 

"In September I will be heading to Michigan to work for the Whirlpool Corporation in their Real Whirled Sales Leadership Program, said Bilas.  "Upon completion of the 10-week program I will work to develop sales performances in various regions throughout North America.  My internship experience throughout my career at UK in addition to my education in the classroom gave me the skills and the credibility to compete nationally for this premiere program."  

Watch the video above to find out why he says his experience at UK helped him perform so well in such a competitive environment. 

TO OBTAIN VIDEO INFORMATION:  Amy Jones, (859) 257-1754, amy.jones2@uky.edu