This is part of #EberlyAmazingStudents, a series from the IUP Eberly College of Business and Information Technology that focuses on students who are involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities.
This week we meet Bob Kanick, a junior at IUP who is majoring in accounting as part of the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology’s Business Honors program. Bob is the vice president of the Student Accounting Association, a member of the Phi Gamma Nu Business Fraternity, and a student worker in the Eberly College Dean’s Office. He currently is working as a credit analyst intern at First Commonwealth Bank.
“I choose IUP for multiple reasons,“ said Bob. “I am a ‘local,’ and I graduated from Indiana Area High School. Some people may opt to go away to college, but I saw staying in Indiana as an advantage. I was already familiar with the campus and had multiple older friends that were already attending IUP. This took some of the pressure off the first semester.
“Eberly is an AACSB-accredited business school. This really stood out to me because I already knew I wanted to be a business major. This accreditation is very impressive and sets Eberly apart from many schools around the world.
“In addition to the AACSB accreditation is the Business Honors Program. Once I found out about this program, I immediately applied. This program allows students to take 30 credits together as a cohort, and I found this as an amazing opportunity to work together on coursework and develop strong personal relationships with my classmates.”
Bob’s father also graduated from IUP. “My dad had a great experience as a student at IUP, and I saw firsthand how prepared he was to succeed in the business world. I know that I am getting the education that I need to compete successfully in the job market and to succeed in a professional position.”
Bob explained, “I have had many very good experiences while studying in Eberly. The best experiences have been meeting many awesome business students that have become my friends. Being in Eberly feels less like a college building and more like being on Wall Street. As you walk in you see the big digital screen with up-to-date real economic events. You also see flags from every region of the world. It is truly a multicultural experience.
“Along with meeting students, the faculty in Eberly are amazing. They are always more than helpful and take time to listen to your problems or issues. Eberly also tends to have smaller class sizes, which is really nice because the professors know you by name and you do not feel like just a number.”
Bob has enjoyed his time participating in student organizations. He has been a part of the Student Accounting Association for three years.
“You can join this organization as a freshman and take advantage of numerous professional development programs,” said Bob. “SAA has given me countless networking opportunities as well as leadership opportunities. Phi Gamma Nu has also given me the opportunity to meet some amazing people along with the chance to work on many fun philanthropic events such as the turkey bowl, canned food drive, and Into the Streets.”
For three years, Bob has been a student worker in Eberly. “I highly recommend that students start to look for on-campus positions early. Working for the dean and associate dean, I was able to learn the building and meet almost every professor and department head. I learned a lot about the college, campus, and operations associated with running higher education. The administrators, faculty, and staff have all helped me countless times throughout my college career.”
Bob believes that participating in the Eberly Business Honors program has been a highlight of his college career. “I have become friends with every single student in my cohort. Everyone in your cohort is a business major, so more than likely you are going to have classes with them outside the program. I can truly say that my friends in my cohort have been one of my best resources. I can always ask for homework help or try to find a study buddy through this group of people.
“We also had the opportunity to travel to India this past December. This was an eye-opening experience that I will never forget. We learned so much about how business works in India, along with how the people live. Not only did we learn about India, but I think a lot of students learned more about themselves. If anything, this trip brought us closer together as a cohort.”
Bob explained to us a little about his future. “As I am only a junior, I definitely want to finish out my undergrad strong and learn as much as I can. I am currently taking advantage of Eberly’s Early MBA program, which allows me to get started early on my MBA. I recommend that undergraduate students check into this program! With this program, it is then possible to get an MBA in just one more year of schooling. I thought about it hard, and this opportunity was just too good to pass up, so I am going to continue my schooling for another year here at Eberly. Through my relationships with both SAA and the Eberly faculty, I am hoping to get a summer 2021 internship.”
To finish up this interview, Bob explained his core values. “I am a firm believer that if you work hard and are good to others then you will be rewarded in the long run. You always have to remember to keep your head high, and no matter what is going on in life, to always try to see the bright side. No matter what you are going through, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Definitely do not take anything for granted. College is four short years of your life, and you have to live it to the fullest and take advantage of it the best that you can. Networking is a key part of college and it might just land you your dream job. So, never pass up an opportunity to talk to an alumni or recruiter, and be sure to follow up with them!”
ABOUT #EBERLYAMAZINGSTUDENTS
The #EberlyAmazingStudents series features students who are involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities. Associate Dean Cyndy Strittmatter is overseeing the project. “We are proud of our students who balance their academics with extracurricular activities and recognize the commitment that it takes to excel at all levels. We look forward to sharing their accomplishments with the IUP community and beyond!”