Keenan Center internships help students build professional skills

Internships have become a cornerstone for many college students who want to gain hands-on experience and build their professional skills. At times, securing an internship can be competitive, but Ohio State students have a unique advantage through the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship.

Located at the heart of the university’s entrepreneurial community, the Keenan Center connects students to a wide range of opportunities, including internships with local startups—many of which are founded by fellow Buckeyes. The center offers programs designed to inspire students and support their growth as future business leaders.

Shannon Bradley, a program manager at the Keenan Center, said internship placements are guided by a student’s specific interests and skills. Interns typically work with both a startup and the Keenan Center.

“We have a whole range of projects available for students depending on their interests,” Bradley said. “There are projects that are more design related, engineering, coding and working on software and hardware, and some are marketing based—it truly is based on what fits the student best.”

Currently, the Keenan Center hosts 14 interns. Two of them—Kay Kuhon and Vaahin Chennamesetty—shared their experiences.

Designing with Purpose: Kay Kuhon’s Internship with Bazaar Collaborative

Kay Kuhon has served as an intern at the Keenan Center since February 2024, while also interning for Bazaar Collaborative, a local startup focused on supporting independent artists. As lead designer for the company, Kuhon helps artists place their work on sustainable products.

She connected with the opportunity through Sarah Hallock, the founder of Bazaar Collaborative.

“Sarah met me through school and introduced me to this opportunity,” Kuhon said. “She saw a lot of potential in me and connected me with the Keenan Center to start an internship so I could work directly with her company—and the rest was history.”

Kuhon said the internship helped her develop professionally and personally, especially in terms of networking.

“Before my internship, I didn’t know how to network at all—I was timid and always struggled with this,” she said. “My role taught me how to meet people and connect with professionals I can learn from or who could help me down the line.”

After graduating this spring, Kuhon will intern as a designer with Michael Kors over the summer.

Building Business Skills: Vaahin Chennamesetty’s Work with PlugOp

Vaahin Chennamesetty, a finance major, also interns at the Keenan Center and works with PlugOp, a startup offering software solutions for EV charging equipment. He found the opportunity during the spring of his freshman year while searching for a summer role. After interviewing with PlugOp, he was hired and later connected to the Keenan Center to continue developing his entrepreneurial skills.

As an intern, Chennamesetty focuses on sales and customer acquisition.

“For PlugOp, I help with their sales initiative—building a pipeline to increase their customer acquisitions,” he said. “I primarily help with lead generation to support the company’s growth.”

He noted that one of the most rewarding aspects of the internship has been building a network of like-minded peers and connecting with different startups.

“My favorite part about the internship is meeting other interns and connecting with all kinds of startups,” Chennamesetty said. “It’s helped me grow both professionally and personally, and I’ve been able to connect with people who want to see me succeed.”