Zachary Shaver began his internship in the Marketing and Communications Department a few weeks ago. The Rockford, Illinois, native moved to Janesville when he was 15 and graduated from Parker High School. Here at Blackhawk Technical College, he is enrolled in the Business Management program.

“I was drawn to this area because of the large array of topics the program covers. Being a program with a wide view of business has allowed me to pick what I want to focus on in the future,” Shaver said. “ My favorite course I have taken here at Blackhawk has been marketing. It gave me a broad view of how marketing affects everyday life for both a business and a consumer. It especially interested me seeing how marketing is seen everywhere in the world, no matter where you are.”

Shaver said juggling full-time school and full-time work has had him running like the title character of his favorite movie, “Forrest Gump.”

“Although this has been a challenge at times, it has also allowed me to enhance skills like time management,” he said.

Of all the achievements he’s made at Blackhawk, Shaver is most proud of landing his role as the marketing intern, he said.

“The internship has helped me close in on what I want to do in my professional career. It has been an amazing experience so far, and I am very grateful to have it,” he said. “Blackhawk helps prepare you for the real world with hands-on learning and different job opportunities both at the school and in the community. My advice for anyone considering Blackhawk is to do it!”

What’s next for Shaver?

“I plan to graduate in the fall of 2026. After Blackhawk, I intend on getting my bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.”

And after that, maybe he’ll get a chance to knock that visit to Sweden off his bucket list.