Class of 2026’s Abington Experience: Internships launch careers

Editor's note: Penn State Abington students graduating this May are sharing their Abington Experience, the roadmap that is launching them from campus to career. Each vignette will focus on a pillar of the Abington Experience: Brief academic travel, internships, research with faculty and leadership development.

ABINGTON, Pa. — Three soon-to-be Penn State Abington alums reflected on the impact of their internships as they prepare to launch into the professional world. By tapping into the campus Career Development staff's resources and expertise and their own initiative, they acquired valuable professional skills, explored career paths, and made professional connections.

Vasily Osipov

Majors: Criminal justice and cybersecurity analytics and operations. He also earned a National Security Agency certificate from Penn State.

What’s next: Working as probation services technician at the U.S. Probation Office.

Internship impact: Osipov’s three-semester internship at the federal Probation Office included one semester with the unit’s information technology team, and it led to a full-time position that will begin after graduation on May 8. He also participated in campus opportunities that supported his leadership development.

“I served as the director of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Student Government Association and represented our campus at the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments,” he said.

Lorenz Merard

Major: Project and supply chain management. He also earned an SAP Enterprise Resource Planning Certificate.

What’s next? The first-generation college graduate is targeting procurement and supply chain analyst positions while serving on the board of governors of The Traffic Club of Philadelphia, a transportation, supply chain and logistics industry organization in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Internship Impact: Merard's internship at global chemical manufacturer Arkema validated his career choice and gave him concrete skills to highlight in job interviews.

"This wasn’t a coffee-and-meetings internship, I was working with real data and projects, he said. “I had a lot of small conversations with people at Arekama who gave me advice on my career. My internship propelled me forward.”

The Abington Experience also provided valuable leadership development. He served as the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments' academic director.

"It made me comfortable talking to a group and speaking up and not leaving my opinions to the side. I met a lot of different people with different ideas," he said. "It helped me learn to say what's on my mind, which also works in a corporate meetings where if you don't speak up, you’re not seen as productive."

Madelyn Rottloff

Major: Accounting

What’s next: Full-time position at Brixmor, where she completed her internship.

Internship Impact: Through Nittany Lion Careers, Rottloff connected with Brixmor Property Group, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, and she rotated through 10 accounting teams last summer.

“This internship wasn’t just a learning opportunity — it was a launchpad for my career. I’ve gained valuable skills, practical experience, and a deeper understanding of the industry that I know will shape the way I approach my professional journey moving forward,” she said.

“I’m so grateful to Brixmor for creating an environment where growth and curiosity are encouraged every single day,” Rottloff continued. “Using the career services at Abington can be super helpful in achieving this, and I wouldn’t have been able to get there without them.”

About Penn State Abington

Penn State Abington, home to nearly 3,000 students and just minutes from Philadelphia, offers 26 four-year majors and 14 NCAA Division III athletics teams. The Abington Experience launches students from campus to career through internships, leadership development, short-term academic travel and faculty-led research. Penn State Abington — where the city’s energy meets the best of the suburbs.