When it came time to select a college to attend, Megan Konkel didn’t have to do much research about Viterbo. She was already very familiar with it.

“I grew up around Viterbo and never met anyone from the university I didn’t like,” said Konkel, the daughter of Viterbo assistant director of academic advising Lisa Konkel. “The community was a big reason I decided to come here. People look out for one each other, and everyone is really nice.”

Konkel was looking for a field of study that involved her affinity for mathematics and art. Add in her technology and problem-solving skills, and computer science was the perfect major.

“There are many different areas in the computer science world in which I can combine all those things,” she said.

Now a junior, Konkel has already taken classes in front end development, networking, and databases. She also has gained hands on experience working for the Viterbo IIT department and as the web developer for Touchstone, the student literary and art magazine. This practical experience and the recommendation of a faculty member helped her land a paid internship this summer at HVAC company Multistack, LLC in Sparta, where she will work on internal tools and web development.

Konkel also has a minor in engineering, which she said is perfect for computer science majors.

“The program’s emphasis on project lifecycle will be a great help on the job and in my career, especially if I want to eventually go into leadership,” she said.

Outside of her classes, Konkel founded the university’s computer science club, served as the art editor for Touchstone, and works in the university’s Fine Arts Center box office. She also enjoys knitting, video games, drawing, and painting. She is happy to already have a summer job in the field.

“They seem like a great company and I’m really looking forward to working with them,” said Konkel.