Campus Connection

Alum leads team of interns at local company

Amanda Hytry always feels like she’s surrounded by her fellow interns at the Trane Co., even when she’s on the UWL campus. “I see the lanyards all the time,” she says. It’s a common sight, because every year the air conditioning solutions company provides dozens of opportunities for students in a variety of roles. For Hytry, that is in compliance accountancy, working under the guidance of Angel Klankowski — a 1998 graduate. “Internships give these students such an edge,” says Klankowski. Klankowski has been an accountant for 20 years, including 11 years with Trane, yet she still has a need to learn. That curiosity is something she looks for in her interns, rather than someone who’s just there for the 9-5 job. “We expect them to be ready for any full-time job,” she says. “If I can teach myself out of a job, I did my job.” She’s well on her way to doing that. Both graduating interns in Klankowski’s department, including Hytry, have careers already lined up. Hytry connected with her future employer at a career fair put on by UWL’s Career Services. “Without Career Services, I don’t think I could do as much as I did.” So, in a few months, Klankowski will turn back to her alma mater for new interns. “Our department would not function without them,” she says. “The caliber of students from UWL is beyond what can be expected.”