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Construction camp introduces young students to careers, degree paths

goersab — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Construction camp introduces young students to careers, degree paths goersab June 16, 2026

Tour led by Boldt Company in Chippewa Falls gives campers a behind-the-scenes look at construction site

On a cloudy Tuesday morning, eight middle school Construction Pathways campers with ��Ͽ� Polytechnic’s summer STEAM experience watched a crane lift an air conditioning unit onto the new Aspirus Clinic that is being built in Chippewa Falls.

The site tour, led by the Boldt Company, introduced the campers to different career opportunities in the construction industry, including project management, skilled trades, labor, engineering, safety, and more, as well as what being a construction management student at ��Ͽ� Polytechnic might be like.

STEAM Construction campers and instructors with their final projects

“Students gained a better understanding of how a construction site operates with a behind-the-scenes look at how projects are planned, built and managed from the ground up. They discovered career paths in construction, woodworking and other skilled trades they may be interested in pursuing in the future,” said technology education senior Annika Schlueter, who taught the camp.

The construction campers are just some of the more than 500 children from around the region and country who are traveling to ��Ͽ� Polytechnic to join the Middle School STEAM and High School STEAM week-long experiences this summer.

STEAM Construction campers received a site tour by the Boldt Company / Annika Schlueter

Introducing young campers to career paths in science, technology, engineering, and art and design fits hand-in-hand with ��Ͽ� Polytechnic’s mission of preparing its students for the workforce, as 99% of recent graduates were employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation.

New experiences in the Woods Lab

In the Jarvis Hall Wood Prototyping Lab, the campers created their own wooden cutting boards, crafted from black walnut, ash, cherry, and maple, and personalized them with laser engraving technology.

Instructor Annika Schlueter helps a camper cut pieces for cutting board. / Annika Schlueter

Through the hands-on project, they learned foundational skills in woodworking, like tool safety and how projects are designed, managed and completed from start to finish. They used a full range of the lab’s machine, including table saws, routers, an overhead sander, a CNC (computer numerical control) machine and a laser engraver.

“Along with these hard skills, they developed important life skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, responsibility and time management,” Schlueter said. “Students gained skills they can use both in their future careers and in their everyday lives. By completing projects and working through challenges, they built confidence and gained valuable skills that will benefit them long after the class is over.”

Teaching Assistant Marrissa Haglund helps a camper with the CNC machine.

Most of the campers had done small woodworking projects before, but using the CNC machine was an all new experience. Levi Ryan, who traveled from Texas to attend the camp, didn’t even know the machine existed. “Seeing what all of the different machines can do was the best part,” he said.

Caleb Larson, of Baldwin, joined the camp to be able to work with his hands. He enjoyed “seeing all of the work come together, especially at the construction site visit.”

Campers and Schlueter prepare to use the laser engraver on a cutting board

While waiting for glue to dry or for the CNC machine or laser engraver to be available or for classmates to complete the sanding process on their cutting boards, there was time for extra projects.

“Keeping the kids busy was the hardest part,” Schlueter said. “We did a lot of additional projects on the fly, like resin-pour coasters and keychains, and other laser-engraved wood designs as gifts.”

Prepared to lead in the classroom

Originally, the STEAM construction camp was going to be taught by engineering technology Assistant Professor Kevin Dietsche, but his schedule did not line up, so he offered the camp to Schlueter. Schlueter, who serves as a lab assistant in the Woods Lab, has completed her pre-student teaching and will begin student teaching next spring. The construction camp was her first experience leading a classroom.

Campers sand their cutting boards in preparation for sealing them.

Marrissa Haglund, who also serves as a lab assistant, was asked to be a teaching assistant for the camp. Haglund fell in love with the Woods Lab after taking a couple of engineering technology courses. She graduated in May with a B.S. in business administration.

“This opportunity has given me confidence, experience, and application in my field, and I think it is a great program for the students,” Schlueter said. “This camp not only offered me technical experience but also a lot of soft skills with coordination, communication and organization. I did a lot of budgeting and planning to get ready for the camp, so it could be as time-effective as possible. I’m very thankful that I was given the opportunity to be the instructor.”

Campers, Schlueter and Haglund seal their cutting boards.

Additional STEAM camps this summer include experiences in:

Science & Health: Freshwater science, fish conservation, anatomy, molecular ecology, psychology and gardening

Technology: 3D-printing, robotics and virtual reality

Engineering: Packaging and plastics engineering

Art & Design: Claymation, comics, game design, fashion, cinema production, interior design and drawing.

The STEAM programs are sponsored by the Menomonie, Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire school districts, the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, the National Science Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Xcel Energy and the ��Ͽ� Foundation & Alumni Association, in partnership with Continuing Education & Conferences.

Haglund helps campers mix coloring to add to their resin-pour keychains. / Annika Schlueter

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Tour led by Boldt Company in Chippewa Falls gives campers a behind-the-scenes look at construction site

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Tour led by Boldt Company in Chippewa Falls gives campers a behind-the-scenes look at construction site STEAM Construction Camp

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Graphic design, graphic communications students win international TAGA Student Choice Award

goersab — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:35:00 +0000

Graphic design, graphic communications students win international TAGA Student Choice Awardgoersab June 11, 2026

Interdisciplinary team of graphic communications, graphic media, print management students’ ‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ celebrates print media

Abbey Goers

In an international competition designed to celebrate the way print media brings people together across the globe, a team of ��Ͽ� Polytechnic students won the coveted TAGA Student Choice Award at the 2026 Technical Association of the Graphic Arts, Helmut Kipphan Student Chapter Competition. The award was announced in April during a watch party hosted by Konica Minolta, in Chicago.

The winning team is made up of students in the B.S. graphic communications and B.F.A. graphic design and interactive media programs and the graphic media and print management minor. Their design, “Mail Across Minneapolis,” inspired by postcards, is a folding carton mailbox made of paperboard. Their submission included the final deliverable, a journal publication, and detailed production notes, which reinforced their skills in design, technical execution, project management and collaboration.

Sam Mireles-Melgarejo, Theodore Cerny, Becky Gaspord, Red Moser, Mallory Jakubiak, advisor Bethany Wheeler and Ariel Kissel, pose in front of the Konica Minolta building with the T / Becky Gaspord and Ariel Kissel

“Students are pushing new ideas, and industry folks are genuinely interested. It feels collaborative, not just competitive,” said TAGA President Birgit Plautz, adding that TAGA helps “connect new ideas with what’s actually happening in the industry,” creating opportunities for student work to influence real-world practices.

TAGA Student Choice Award team members were:

Mallory Jakubiak, of Shakopee, Minnesota
Red Moser, of Manitowoc
Trevor Anderson, of Menomonie
Ariel Kissel, of Neenah
Theo Cerny, of Maple Grove, Minnesota
Brynn Hessel, of South Range

“Competitions like these are so beneficial for students to participate in because their open-ended structure leaves a lot of room for the students to decide what direction to take the projects. This allows them the flexibility to make something they are really passionate about and something they can be really proud of,” said graphic communications Program Director Bethany Wheeler.

Other participating student chapters were from Ball State University, California Polytechnic State University, Clemson University, Ferris State University, Illinois State University, Rochester Institute of Technology and Toronto Metropolitan University.

TAGA’s Vice President of Education Celeste Calkins noted, “These students are the future of this industry,” highlighting the importance of providing opportunities for them to grow, connect and exchange ideas.

‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ winning design

During the ideation phase, the team chose to focus on mail in general, noting different types of mail through the iconography in their journal publication, including letters, bills, postcards, newspapers, packages and more.

Becky Gaspord, Ariel Kissel, Mallory Jakubiak, Theodore Cerny, Sam Mireles-Melgarejo and Red Moser at Mittera / Ariel Kissel

“We wanted our journal publication to look like a letter arriving in the mail. We cut a sleeve that looked like an envelope to hold the journal and added small details such as a cut-out window to see the address and recipient on the back, like you would an actual letter,” said Kissel, who will serve as ��Ͽ� Polytechnic TAGA chapter president in 2027-28 during her senior year.

Working in various labs across campus, the team used Adobe Illustrator and InDesign in the GCOM computer labs. They designed and cut out stamps according to official U.S. stamp regulations and requirements and made an ink stamp for the envelope, like the United States Postal Service would place on mail and packages. They used the 3D Printing Lab to make wax seals, as well as the Packaging Lab to cut out the mailboxes and assemble them using an industrial glue gun.

“We decided our overall package design would be a mailbox. We made more stickers to place on the outside to decorate, as someone might actually do to customize their own mailbox, and added a small detail of the address. We wrote ‘2026’ as though it were the house number and made the street name ‘��Ͽ� Street,’” Kissel said.

TAGA student tour Mittera / Ariel Kissel

Kissel thinks working in a cross-disciplinary team was really helpful. “We were able to bounce ideas off of each other and build on them as we worked. When we ran into issues, which we did quite often through the process, we found our best method was to adjust what we were doing and try again,” she said.

A big issue the team faced was the splitting of the spines of the journal. They initially planned on printing two journals on one block, binding them, and then splitting them in half when trimming the blocks. “Every time we split the block in half, the pressure being applied by the blade would cause the spine to split,” Kissel explained. “As a team, we bounced off ideas of possible solutions, and when we had something we thought might work, we gave it a try. We repeated the process until we found a solution.”

��Ͽ� Polytechnic’s TAGA chapter toured multiple facilities while in Chicago for the award watch party, including Mittera, Specialty Print Communications and Konica Minolta.

TAGA student tour Mittera / Ariel Kissel

This was the chapter’s first time in a decade entering the TAGA competition. “It’s been an extremely rewarding experience to assemble a team of students so passionate about showing off their skills and abilities by competing in this competition. The pieces they produced were incredible, and I couldn’t be prouder of the projects they were able to complete,” Wheeler said. “I’m thrilled to guide this team through a successful competition after many years without a TAGA chapter. I know our projects and team will continue to grow and dazzle the TAGA judges as we recruit more students and strive to showcase the very best of what we do at Stout.”

Kissel was extremely proud to be able to show the team’s work to the other competing chapters. “I was even more proud to be a part of the team to bring home an award after a 10-year hiatus! It was an honor to work with such talented designers,” she said.

Kissel has a summer internship at OEC Graphics, in Oshkosh, helping with quality checks on label and carton designs for BP Lubricants products.

“The biggest lesson I’ve been able to apply so far is to work with my team. I’m only one person, and I can really only do so much,” she said. “The same goes for the rest of my peers on the team. We each are given our positions to ensure things run smoothly and efficiently. By working all together, we really are a well-oiled machine (pun intended).”

TAGA student chapters play an important role in shaping how students understand the graphic communications industry and their place within it. Participation in the competition exposes students to current trends, emerging technologies, and evolving industry needs. The experience also underscores the role of research in driving innovation, encouraging students to think beyond individual projects and consider broader industry applications.

��Ͽ� Polytechnic’s graphic communications program blends design, technology and business strategy to prepare students for careers in printing, packaging, publishing, and related industries, emphasizing the university’s applied learning and industry collaboration.

With an average starting salary of $50,000, 100% of recent graphic communications graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, according to Career Services’ annual First Destination Report.

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Interdisciplinary team of graphic communications, graphic media, print management students’ ‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ celebrates print media GCOM, TAGA Student Choice Award team

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Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille, B.S. Business Administration

giffeyt — Thu, 21 May 2026 15:34:00 +0000

Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille, B.S. Business Administration giffeyt May 21, 2026

Hired before graduation at Redpath and Company as a tax associate

Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille (’26) 

Hometown: Cannon Falls, Minnesota 
Degree: B.S. Business Administration with a concentration in Management Accounting
Minors: Investment & Finance, Economics

Rosella Wille was inspired to attend ��Ͽ� by successful alumni who spoke highly of their experiences at Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University. Now, after her own noteworthy academic and athletic career, Wille herself is poised to become one of those outstanding alums.

As an incoming student, Wille said, “I saw the opportunity to gain a quality, hands-on education through internships and real-world projects that would help me build my skills and prepare for my career.”

Wille was among more than 1,000 students who crossed the commencement stage on May 16. In addition to earning a B.S. in business administration and completing three internships, Wille played forward on the women’s basketball team, reaching the NCAA Division III Final Four in 2025 and earning Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship Team honors this spring.

“Being part of a competitive team taught me strong time management as I balanced practices, travel and academics,” Wille said. “It also strengthened my teamwork, accountability and ability to stay focused on shared goals under pressure. Those skills have made a big impact on my overall college experience and will carry into my career.”

Wille also served as student assistant coach for the Blue Devils women’s flag football team, which won the inaugural Midwest College Women’s Flag Football League Championship in 2025.

“That experience allowed me to step into a leadership role and mentor other athletes,” she said. “Coaching helped me develop stronger communication skills, patience and the ability to motivate and support others.”

After graduation, Wille will begin her career as a tax associate at Redpath and Company and make a fast break toward her next goal: studying for and completing the CPA exam.

Rosella Wille (22) was a forward on the women's basketball team, which reached the NCAA Division III Final Four in 2025.

How do you hope to make an impact in your field?

I hope to make an impact in my field by building strong relationships with individuals and providing trustworthy guidance to help them feel more confident about their finances. Taxes and accounting can be stressful or confusing for many people, so I want to be someone clients can rely on to explain things clearly and support their financial goals. Ultimately, I want to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives beyond just preparing returns by helping them make informed decisions for their future.

How has ��Ͽ� prepared you to work in your field?

��Ͽ� has prepared me well for a career in accounting by providing professors who came directly from the field and brought their real-world experiences into lectures and labs. Learning from their perspectives helped me understand how accounting concepts apply in practice, not just theory.

The business program also required me to take courses across multiple areas like human resources, business law, management and marketing. That broad foundation will help me better understand my clients’ business and collaborate with coworkers from different departments. Overall, Stout has helped me build both my technical knowledge and the well-rounded business perspective needed to succeed in my career.

What did you learn from your internship experiences?

During my college career, I completed three internships. Two were in Menomonie and one was in Minneapolis. My first internship was at a bookkeeping company, where I built a strong foundation in the basics of bookkeeping and developed strong attention to detail.

My second internship was in Minneapolis at Foundation X, where I was introduced to philanthropy and the nonprofit space. I learned how strategic giving can make a meaningful impact and how individuals and families align their financial goals with causes they care about. That experience opened my eyes to the importance of thoughtful charitable planning and finding better, more effective ways to do good.

Lastly, I worked as a finance intern at Waznik Heike Group, where I helped prepare for client meetings and learned more about financial advising and client relationships. That role reinforced how important trust, preparation and communication are when working directly with individuals.

The greatest lesson I took from my internships is that you won’t know everything starting out and that’s OK. What matters most is being eager to learn, asking questions and staying open to feedback. I realized that everyone around you has something valuable to teach you, and growth comes from being willing to continuously improve.

What stands out about your ��Ͽ� experience?

My ��Ͽ� experience stands out to me because of the professors. They are genuinely invested in their students, not just academically but personally and professionally as well. They truly want you to understand the material and succeed beyond the classroom. Their willingness to share real-world experiences, offer guidance and make themselves available for questions made a big difference in my learning and overall college experience.

What challenges did you face in earning your degree, and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I faced in earning my degree was not knowing exactly what I wanted to do at first. I changed my major a couple of times while trying to figure out where I truly fit. Instead of seeing that as a setback, I used it as an opportunity to explore different classes and speak with mentors, professors and professionals to gain clarity.

Over time, those conversations and experiences led me to this specific degree and career path. I also learned to put less pressure on myself to have everything figured out right away. Once I started focusing on learning and enjoying the journey, rather than stressing about having a perfect plan, everything began to fall into place.

What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?

I am most proud of being a student athlete on the women’s basketball team. Our season ran through both the fall and spring semesters, so I never really had an off season during the academic year. Balancing practices, games, travel and a full course load was challenging at times, but I stayed disciplined and put my head down to get the work done.

That experience pushed me to grow in ways beyond the classroom. It strengthened my work ethic, resilience and ability to manage my time effectively. Finishing my degree while competing at a high level is something I am truly proud of because it reflects the commitment and perseverance I brought to my college experience.

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Celebrate our graduates as they cross the commencement stage and reflect on the journey that brought them here

Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille, B.S. Business Administration

Hired before graduation at Redpath and Company as a tax associate

Inspiring Graduate: Thomas Shamla, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Hired before graduation at Absolut Manufacturing

Hired before graduation at Redpath and Company as a tax associate Inspiring Graduate Rosella Wille on commencement stage

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Distinguished alum, educator Albrecht credits ��Ͽ� for preparing graduates who ‘step forward’

Student speakers at May 16 ceremonies encourage peers to act with compassion, courage, and to continue learning

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Construction students among finalists in national ABC Competition

goersab — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:07:53 +0000

Construction students among finalists in national ABC Competitiongoersab May 20, 2026

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City project gives glimpse into real world construction management

Abbey Goers

��Ͽ� construction management students competed against the nation’s top students during Associated Builders and Contractors’ hallmark annual event, the Construction Management Competition, held this spring in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The ABC competition gives students a glimpse into the real world of construction, testing their project management, estimating, safety, quality control and presentation skills. This year’s project was the Salt Lake City Convention Center’s Hyatt Regency Hotel – a nearly 700,000-square-foot venue located in the heart of downtown.

Senior Lecturer Jim Bunkelman, Riley Hibner, Megan Schatz, Ian Farrell, Anna Odisho, Rep. Clint Moses and Sen. Jesse James in ��Ͽ�’s Construction Lab.

“The construction industry needs to bring in 349,000 new workers this year just to meet demand, and that includes experienced young construction management professionals like these because they can solve real-world problems so contractors can build quality infrastructure,” said ABC National Board of Directors Chair Thomas “Murph” Murphy.

Of the 31 national teams, ��Ͽ� was among the final nine invited to present in the third phase of the competition, which included a presentation and Q&A with a panel of 40 industry experts.

��Ͽ�’s ABC team members were:

Evan Ambourn, of Eau Claire
Rorie Boettcher, of Eau Claire
Ian Farrell, of Waukesha
Riley Hibner, of Portage
Kameron Konsela, of Minneapolis
Sarah Meyers, of Plover
Anna Odisho, of Roselle, Illinois
Megan Schatz, of Brookfield

“Acting like our own contracting company, the ABC competition gave us a real-life project, where we could work as a group to build a proposal that a true industry company would create – from breaking ground to completion,” said Schatz, the team lead.

“This team demonstrated exceptional dedication and skills from day one. They took a complex project and vision, executing it with precision and professionalism. I have no doubt that the skills they’ve honed during this project will serve them incredibly well in their upcoming professional careers,” said Senior Lecturer James Bunkelman.

Sarah Meyers, Rorie Boettcher, Kameron Konsela, Megan Schatz, Ian Farrell and Evan Ambourn at the ABC Student Competition / Megan Schatz

Recently, the team was presented with a proclamation on behalf of the Wisconsin State Legislature by Sen. Jesse James and Rep. Clint Moses, a ��Ͽ� psychology alum. They were joined by John Schulze, ABC Wisconsin Director of Legal and Government Affairs, and Bunkelman.

“We appreciate ��Ͽ� students’ engagement and their achievements. They were up against some very big schools, and they held their own,” Schulze said. Competing universities included Clemson, Purdue and Michigan State. Louisiana State University won first place.

A project to reimagine a city skyline

The Hyatt Regency Salt Lake is a 25-story hotel, with 517 guestrooms, more than 60,000 square feet of meeting space, a lobby and reception area, a fitness center, multiple restaurants, a market, an outdoor pool, an event terrace and underground parking. The glass façade helps shape the city’s skyline.

The ABC student teams were provided access to the project by ABC member contractor Hensel Phelps, which has already completed the project.

��Ͽ� "Stout Builders" ABC Competition Top Performers title slide / Megan Schatz

The first phase of the competition was to research and prepare a proposal. The process took two-and-a-half months, and ��Ͽ�’s final proposal was 120 pages long. Logistics was the biggest challenge, with Odisho handling much of the research.

“Since our project was in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, there was not a lot of room for a project trailer, let alone a laydown of space for all the materials. The convention center also needed to be fully operational during the duration of the construction. So, safety was a large factor, as we’d be hoisting large pieces of steel and other material. It is also on the corner of two busy roads, so we had to time deliveries and plan what lanes of traffic we could change during construction,” said Schatz, who serves as vice president of the Student Construction Association, as well as director of public relations for Sigma Lambda Chi, the construction honors society.

For the project’s second phase, the 31 teams convened at Salt Lake City Convention Center for a six-hour-long day, where they were given five addenda and changes they needed to incorporate into their proposals. The addenda reflected both fictional and actual events that happened during the construction of the hotel.

“Some of the addenda we were given were: a build-out of the restaurant on the sixth floor, the final build-out of the top five floors for the NBA All-Star Game, adding balancing water valves that were missed originally, and an earthquake that hit Salt Lake City,” Schatz said.

Ian Farrell, Evan Ambourn, Megan Schatz and Sarah Meyers present during phase three of the ABC Student Competition / Megan Schatz

Phase three was the final presentation, in which the ��Ͽ� ABC Team was one of nine finalists. “Presenting in front of the judges and audience was such an accomplishment. I’m incredibly grateful to have been able to complete this project with such a dedicated and committed team. We learned not only more about the industry but also grew as a team and had a fun time doing it,” Schatz said.

Graduates from ��Ͽ�’s B.S. construction management program reported a 100% employment rate within six months of graduation and an average starting salary of $70,000, according to the latest university First Destination Report.

��Ͽ�’s School of Management offers 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates that build students' leadership skills in operations and management, business, hospitality and technology innovation, and military science fields.

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Construction camp introduces young students to careers, degree paths

Tour led by Boldt Company in Chippewa Falls gives campers a behind-the-scenes look at construction site

Construction students among finalists in national ABC Competition

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City project gives glimpse into real world construction management

Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro project supports construction students’ industry experiences

Collaboration encourages students to consider impacts of infrastructure on greater community

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City project gives glimpse into real world construction management ABC Construction competition team, 2026

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Hero Caption: This year’s ABC Competition project was the Salt Lake City Convention Center’s Hyatt Regency Hotel – a nearly 700,000-square-foot venue located in the heart of downtown.

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Degree: M.S. Construction Management

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Outstanding Student Leaders empower others, bring people together, build relationships

goersab — Mon, 18 May 2026 16:43:39 +0000

Outstanding Student Leaders empower others, bring people together, build relationshipsgoersab May 18, 2026

Bender, Lueck also receive Wood Medallion, highest nonacademic honor

Abbey Goers

Alongside more than 100 of their peers, three ��Ͽ� students were honored as Outstanding Student Leaders of the Year at the annual Leadership Awards on May 6, for their commitment, involvement and service around campus and the Menomonie community:

Brett Bender, a computer networking and information technology major from Rio
Melody Lueck, a graphic design and interactive media major from Fort Atkinson
Gabe Cauwels, a business administration major from St. Paul.

Each outstanding student feels that their ��Ͽ� experiences and opportunities have prepared them to make an impact after graduation.

“��Ͽ� has given me a starting point for how I can continue making an impact wherever I go,” Bender said. “The hands-on opportunities and empowerment I’ve been given to make change have allowed me the ability to start the long process of honing my leadership skills – something that will never be finished.”

2026 Outstanding Student Leaders of the Year recipients Brett Bender, Melody Lueck and Gabe Cauwels

Seniors Bender and Lueck, who will graduate this fall, also received the Samuel E. Wood Medallion, the university’s highest nonacademic honor for students. Fourteen seniors were honored with the medallion this year.

“To be recognized among so many talented peers is humbling, but to me, these awards mean much more than an individual achievement. They are a testament to the growth I’ve experienced here at ��Ͽ� and the incredible community I’ve been surrounded by,” Bender said.

Lueck agreed, adding, “These recognitions reflect the impact I have been able to make within the ��Ͽ� campus and community throughout my four years here. As I begin my final semester this fall, I hope to continue making a meaningful difference and leave the same positive impact that has shaped my experience so far.”

Leadership is about opening doors for others

Bender is a student supervisor with the Event Technology Crew in the Student Centers and a resident advisor within HKMC Hall. When Bender came to ��Ͽ�, he knew he wanted to make an impact, but he wasn’t sure how.

“Through the support of my peers and the opportunities I’ve received, ��Ͽ� started to feel like home,” Bender said. “The opportunities I’ve been given are invaluable and irreplaceable. They’ve allowed me to grow not only as a leader in professional settings, but as an individual. Without the opportunities that I’ve been able to take advantage of, I do not believe that I would be as successful of a student as I am today. I will always hold the experiences I’ve had near and dear to my heart.”

Bender believes that “Leadership is about opening doors for others and creating a space where everyone feels empowered to contribute. For me, student leadership means a lot of things. It ranges from feeling empowered and enabled, to conflict resolution and compromise. Following graduation, I hope that wherever I go, I will be able to make those around me feel empowered, and that no matter how small the voice, everyone has a voice.”

Bringing people together in meaningful ways

Lueck is an executive producer with Blue Devil Productions, serves as president of the American Institute of Graphic Arts student organization, is the designer and secondary event coordinator of People’s Organization of Network Gaming (PONG), a First-Year Orientation assistant and a Week One Orientation leader.

“I truly enjoy creating events and experiences that positively impact the ��Ͽ� community and bring people together in meaningful ways,” Lueck said. “These opportunities have meant so much to me throughout my time here. Without them, I may never have discovered this passion.”

Student leadership is extremely important to Lueck. “Making a positive impact, whether that be with my colleagues or the campus community as a whole, has given me the drive to succeed in college. I hope to continue having this passion, positively impacting others as I continue into my career,” she said.

Building relationships across all majors

Cauwels serves as the Service Club at Stout president and the vice president of finance for the American Marketing Association student chapter. He works as an involvement specialist in the Involvement Center.

“These opportunities on campus have helped me build relationships with people not just in my major but across all majors, as well as allow me to make a positive impact on the local and distant communities and develop my professional skills,” Cauwels said.

“Student leadership has truly made me more sure of myself and helped me balance responsibilities in a variety of settings. I plan on taking the problem-solving skills I have gained from these experiences and applying them to whatever I do outside of school,” he added.

Samuel E. Wood Medallion and Leadership Award recipients

Less than 1% of full-time students receive the Wood Medallion. It is presented to seniors who have contributed to student activities and have demonstrated leadership and scholastic ability. Winners are selected by a committee of faculty, staff and students.

2026 Wood Medallion recipients

Other Wood Medallion recipients were:

Emily Avila, interior design, Hudson
Alexis Bellotti, animation and digital media, Kaukauna
Sumnima Devkota, psychology, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bergen Haag, industrial and product design, St. Paul
Cara Jenquin, individualized studies, Menomonie
Madelyn King, hotel, restaurant and tourism management, real estate property management, Brownville
Madi Klaja, packaging, Hudson
Melissa Kosharek, computer science, Dickeyville
Kloie Potts, family and consumer sciences education, Elkhorn
Noah Rosenberger, hotel, restaurant and tourism management, Sauk Rapids
Kayne Whitney, cybersecurity, Waunakee
Maria Winkelman, professional communication and emerging media, St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Samuel E. Wood was a longtime assistant chancellor for Student Services/Dean of Students Office. He retired in 1991 and died in February 2013.

Additional awards presented were:

Student Employee of the Year, three winners: Drew Albert, Event Technology Crew; Maria Winkelman, Involvement Center; and Nolan Zachgo, Math Teaching and Learning Center.
Student Staff Team of the Year, three winners: Student Center’s Event Technology Crew; Writing Center’s peer writing consultants; and Math Teaching and Learning Center’s teaching assistants.
Student Organization of the Year, three winners: Barbecue Eaters and Enthusiasts Federation, DND Club and Service Club at Stout.
Student Organization Event of the Year, three winners: Philosophy Club’s “Does God Exist? A Student Debate”; Craft Club’s “Make Your Own Keychains”; Service Club at Stout’s “Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat.”
Bill Siedlecki Advisor of the Year, two winners: Danielle Clarizio, International Club; and Fred Prassas, Institute of Real Estate Management.
Twenty-four students received the Outstanding Cooperative Education and Internship Program Student of the Year.

The Leadership Awards ceremony is sponsored by the Involvement Center, Stout Student Association and Career Services.

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Capstone projects demonstrate mechanical, manufacturing know-how, leadership skills

Bender, Lueck also receive Wood Medallion, highest nonacademic honor 2026 Samuel E. Wood Medallion recipients

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Co-op Q&A: Scott Stewart, NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes in Beloit

goersab — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Co-op Q&A: Scott Stewart, NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes in Beloitgoersab May 12, 2026

‘Supply chains connect everything – materials, information and people all work together.’

Radioisotopes play a crucial role in health care, enabling accurate 3D imaging diagnostics to help detect and treat cancer, heart disease, thyroid issues and other diseases. With more than 50 million nuclear medicine procedures performed annually worldwide, according to the World Nuclear Association, the need for the rapid production and time-sensitive delivery of radioisotopes is high.

NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes is a radiopharmaceutical company in Beloit that develops and distributes these lifesaving products. Recently, ��Ͽ� supply chain management major Scott Stewart completed a cooperative experience at NorthStar as a supply chain analyst intern.

Stewart, who has a second major in business administration, was interested in working with NorthStar Medical “because of its innovation in health care and its role in producing radiopharmaceuticals that improve patient outcomes, along with the opportunity to work in a complex, highly regulated industry,” he said.

Stewart, of Twin Lakes, was one of 24 ��Ͽ� students who received the university’s 2026 Outstanding Cooperative Education and Internship Program Student of the Year Award. He will graduate in May 2027.

How do you hope to make an impact in your field?

What interests me most about supply chain is how it connects everything – how materials, information, and people all work together to keep operations running efficiently and the impact those decisions have on overall performance.

I hope to improve efficiency and communication within supply chain organizations by identifying gaps and implementing better systems and processes.

What were your main roles at NorthStar Medical?

As a supply chain analyst intern, my main roles included supporting procurement and planning, creating purchase orders in Sage X3, assisting with inventory forecasting, and contributing to process improvement projects.

One major project I helped with involved mapping material process flows across the company to improve visibility and reduce confusion in operations. Another project involved researching and evaluating production scheduling software, where I recommended a new system to improve efficiency and planning. The new system is currently being implemented.

What do you enjoy most about your internship?

I enjoyed the hands-on experience and working cross-functionally with different departments and seeing how my work directly supported operations.

What was challenging about your internship, and how did you face those challenges?

A key challenge was the learning curve in a highly technical industry. I overcame this by asking questions, collaborating with teams and taking time to fully understand processes before making decisions.

How will your courses and experiences at Stout help you make an impact in your career?

Courses like Principles of Logistics and Procurement, Sourcing and Supply Chain Management have been especially helpful in building my understanding of how supply chains operate and how decisions impact efficiency.

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Top 50 ranking on ‘Best Value Public Universities’ list adds to ��Ͽ� Polytechnic accolades

University ranked at the top based on high median earnings, graduation rates, affordable tuition

Co-op Q&A: Noah Klenner, Nicolet Plastics and Harley-Davidson

‘My internships built on the strong foundation Stout has given me by showing me how concepts are used in actual production environments.’

Co-op Q&A: Ayush Patel, SMK Global, New Jersey

‘This experience confirmed that I want to build my career in food safety and quality assurance.’

‘Supply chains connect everything – materials, information and people all work together.’ Scott Stewart at NorthStar

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Career Services’ annual First Destination Report declared that 100% of recent supply chain management graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, with an average starting salary of $62,000.

This past year, more than 980 students participated in co-ops and internships through Career Services at nearly 600 employers in 28 states and three international locations.

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Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro project supports construction students’ industry experiences

goersab — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro project supports construction students’ industry experiencesgoersab May 12, 2026

Collaboration encourages students to consider impacts of infrastructure on greater community

Abbey Goers

Donning hard hats and safety vests, construction management and risk control students from ��Ͽ� recently stood at the base of the Cedar Falls Hydroelectric plant and peered up at the 60-foot-tall dam that creates the 1,800-acre Tainter Lake, north of Menomonie.

Cedar Falls Hydro is one of 19 hydroelectric facilities in Wisconsin operated by Xcel Energy, with a total generating capacity of about 272 megawatts of renewable and carbon-free electricity.

Xcel Energy is in the midst of a multi-year, $50 million+ project designed to improve the safety and increase spillway capacity of the Cedar Falls Hydro Dam. The phased upgrade first involves upgrades to the spillway, including tie-back anchors and mass concrete infill work. Future phases involve installing upstream cofferdams to install new spillway gates and constructing a downstream stilling basin to help reduce erosion of the riverbed at the dam.

Students in the Heavy Construction Methods & Equipment class, led by Assistant Professor Janelle Skoyen Hestekin and Lecturer John Beckfield, visited the site to see Xcel Energy’s project in operation and witness real-world applications surrounding the major community asset and capital project.

“Xcel Energy supports investment in educating the next generation of construction professionals by providing exposure to real-world construction projects and practical work experiences with ��Ͽ� students interested in the field of engineering, design and construction,” said Xcel Energy Project Manager Anthony Witkowski.

Prior to their visit, students worked together as a mock construction company to develop a broad-based construction plan for a mass concrete infill project, inspired by the Cedar Falls Hydro project. They presented their plan, which included materials, equipment, scheduling, staffing, permits, environmental quality, safety and job hazard analysis, and cost estimates to Witkowski and other Xcel Energy staff at the Cedar Falls site.

“It is clear the students put a significant amount of thought and preparation into their presentations in the areas of construction planning, construction safety, project scheduling and project cost estimating. I appreciated the clear written and verbal communication presented by the students,” Witkowski said.

Xcel Energy is an active member of ��Ͽ�’s Construction Industry Advisory Committee, from which the collaboration and learning opportunity arose. Hestekin adapted her course structure to incorporate the project and guided students throughout the process.

The class project kicked off with a visit from Witkowski and Dean Steines, chief dam safety engineer – hydro operations, who introduced the project background and design goals to the students from the owner’s perspective. They also met with Shane McFadden, CEO of Engineering & Construction Innovations, Inc. (ECI), the project's prime contractor, and ECI project staff to compare their planned approach to how ECI is actively completing the work.

“The project exposed students to the heavy civil sector of construction work, where new talent is needed to grow the workforce. A sincere thank you to Xcel Energy for offering this opportunity to the students,” said Hestekin, who is looking forward to additional opportunities for students to collaborate at the Cedar Falls site and other nearby facilities.

Students from Associate Professors Calvin Chen’s Building Electrical and Control Systems class and Assistant Professor Ashely Der’s Construction Safety / Risk Control class also visited the site to see the operations of the power distribution network to the nearby cities, and safety management procedures, such as hot work – welding, cutting, soldering, and other tasks that produce heat, sparks or flame – and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), a safety procedure used to protect workers by preventing the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment.

Presenting a complete construction plan

The Cedar Falls dam, constructed in 1910, is one of a few remaining Ambursen dams – hollow dams with open sections between the buttresses on the downstream side of the dam. It is the hollow sections that will be filled with mass concrete, which was the focus of the students’ presentation.

Their broad-based construction plan and estimate for a mass concrete infill project, presented to Xcel Energy as the owner, included staff wages, material and machinery costs, transportation of material, equipment and personnel, and overhead costs.

The students’ simulated work would consist of four separate concrete pours in each of the dam’s 18 bays, with work beginning on Aug. 10 and completion on Nov. 12, taking into account rainfall, river flow and potential temperature-related concrete issues.

Their safety plan listed OSHA safety training requirements; the inspection of equipment, causeway, the local road and dam; and more.

Allie Hubbard, of Forest Lake, Minnesota, Ben Larson, of West Salem, and Blake Bargender, of Abbotsford, think the project was the most beneficial experience in the course, allowing them to visualize their classroom learning in a real-world setting.

“What stood out most was experiencing the project as if we were part of an actual company. I gained a better understanding of how important communication is across all team roles. I also learned the importance of maintaining strong relationships with subcontractors, since the construction industry is highly interconnected,” said Hubbard, who is also majoring in interior design.

Being able to visit the site and talk to the people actually working on the project gave Larson a new perspective and helped him see what the student group did well on their project and what they could have done better, Larson said.

Bargender plans to one day serve as a project manager for a commercial construction company. “This research project, presentation, and site visit significantly helped me prepare for my future career because it simulated a very realistic situation of estimating and planning in the role of a project manager,” he said.

Students contributing to the greater community

Xcel Energy’s long-standing partnership with ��Ͽ� continues to grow in meaningful ways, said Community Relations Manager Tim Bartels. “We are pleased to connect students directly with real-world infrastructure and community assets. We’re especially proud that these collaborations support broader commitment to sustainability, giving students the opportunity to engage with projects that advance clean energy and the communities we serve,” he said.

Hubbard thinks that with industry partners and collaborators, like Xcel, that encourage hands-on learning, “Stout students can continue to make lasting impacts on community and environmental projects by applying what we learn in class to real-world situations. Projects like the hydro facility show how we can contribute to the greater community. I am most interested in the opportunity to contribute to how our world is built in the future and to make a lasting impact on the places people use every day,” she said.

Larson and Bargender agreed and added that students can also make an impact on community or environmental projects by getting involved with student organizations, like the Student Construction Association, Women in Construction, and Sigma Lambda Chi, and by volunteering or joining a construction competition team to gain real experience.

“The more you put in, the more you get out of it,” Larson said. “What I like most about my construction management major is how many opportunities it opens up. In our program, we are exposed to a little bit of everything. So, when we graduate, there are so many directions within the industry. I like that flexibility and the fact that the possibilities are pretty much endless.”

As a construction management and interior design double major, Hubbard enjoys being a part of the entire process “from the very beginning, meeting with clients, understanding their needs and wants, and then bringing their vision to life. It’s especially rewarding to guide clients through the process and ultimately hand over the keys to a finished structure they can be excited about,” she said.

Xcel Energy provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Its spillway modernization project was approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in 2021, with the multi-year project beginning in 2022. The project is part of Xcel Energy’s investment in a cleaner electric system, as it drives toward 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.

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Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro project supports construction students’ industry experiences

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Collaboration encourages students to consider impacts of infrastructure on greater community Construction management students at Xcel Energy's Cedar Halls Hydro Dam

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Janelle Skoyen Hestekin

Courses I've taught in the Construction Management program include AEC131 - Architectural Graphics, AEC273 - Concrete and Masonry Technology and AEC357 - Site Engineering.

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Spring 2026 commencement scheduled May 16 for more than 1,000 graduates

goersab — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:25:05 +0000

Spring 2026 commencement scheduled May 16 for more than 1,000 graduatesgoersab May 4, 2026

Chancellor, Distinguished Alum, students to speak in three ceremonies at Johnson Fieldhouse

Abbey Goers

Spring commencement will be held for 1,067 graduates on Saturday, May 16, at ��Ͽ�. A total of 849 undergraduate and 218 graduate students will receive degrees during three ceremonies at Johnson Fieldhouse:

9:30 a.m.: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management
1:30 p.m.: College of Arts & Human Sciences
5 p.m.: Graduate Studies

The ceremonies can also be seen via livestream on the ��Ͽ� commencement website and at the Memorial Student Center.

Provost Glendalí Rodríguez will host the ceremonies. Chancellor Katherine Frank will provide remarks to the graduates and confer degrees.

Outstanding and retired educator Bryan Albrecht, a three-time ��Ͽ� alum, will serve as guest alum speaker at each ceremony. Albrecht is a recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Wisconsin Association for Career and Technical Education, as well as ��Ͽ�’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

Three graduating students will also address the Class of 2026:

Noah Rosenberger, of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, B.S. hotel, restaurant and tourism management, CSTEMM speaker.
Sumnima Devkota, of Kathmandu, Nepal, B.S. psychology, CAHS speaker.
Cory Bloomer, of Stevens Point, M.S. risk control and safety management, Graduate Studies speaker.

The ceremonies will include music by an octet of ��Ͽ� choir members directed by Jean Enyeart.

More information

Students and members of the ��Ͽ� community can share comments and photos on ��Ͽ� social media platforms using the hashtag #StoutGrad2026. Diplomas will be mailed to students four to six weeks after final grades are issued.

For more information, contact Commencement Coordinator Bethany Risler, 715-232-1279, or email commencement@uwstout.edu.

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Inspiring Graduates Share Their ��Ͽ� Polytechnic Experiences

Celebrate our graduates as they cross the commencement stage and reflect on the journey that brought them here

Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille, B.S. Business Administration

Hired before graduation at Redpath and Company as a tax associate

Inspiring Graduate: Thomas Shamla, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Hired before graduation at Absolut Manufacturing

Chancellor, Distinguished Alum, students to speak in three ceremonies at Johnson Fieldhouse Spring commencement

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WiSys Innovation On Ramp, Big Idea entrepreneurship competition connects students with industry leaders

goersab — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:35:20 +0000

WiSys Innovation On Ramp, Big Idea entrepreneurship competition connects students with industry leadersgoersab April 23, 2026

GEM student Pemberton’s FitCore app idea helps college students achieve a work-life balance

Abbey Goers

Golf enterprise management major Drew Pemberton pitched his FitCore App idea at the 2026 WiSys Big Idea Tournament, an entrepreneurship competition open to undergraduate and graduate students. He was one of 13 students representing nine Universities of Wisconsin schools.

Drew Pemberton at the WiSys Big Idea Tournament. / Kim Nimsgern

Pemberton participated in WiSys Innovation On Ramp last fall and pitched his FitCore idea at ��Ͽ�’s Innovation On Ramp Showcase, the university’s Big Idea Pitch Tournament Qualifier, where he earned second place to serve as the alternative ��Ͽ� representative at the Big Idea Tournament.

As the digital world continues to expand, FitCore is a fully automated fitness program designed to improve activity rates and maximize a user’s productivity each week. “To help college students and adults balance a busy work-life schedule, FitCore’s main goal is to allow these individuals to be able to exercise without stressing to find time to go to the gym, pay for an instructor, etc.,” Pemberton said.

As a participant in On Ramp and WiSys Big Idea, Pemberton was able to acquire a greater understanding of what it’s like to take on any entrepreneurial goal. “Being able to connect with professors, industry leaders, and other students from around the state has been a great opportunity to acquire new ideas and learn from different perspectives,” he said. “As a participant in WiSys, I went into the presentations with no prior experience and came out of it feeling much more prepared and confident speaking to audiences about personal ideas.”

Student entrepreneurs at the WiSys Big Idea Tournament. / Kim Nimsgern

Pemberton will graduate in May 2027 and hopes to make an impact in the golf industry by working with high-end resorts or private clubs.

“I hope to lead a team and push others to go beyond what they’re comfortable doing. I strive to carry everything I’ve gained at Stout into the professional world and build my career around the advantages and support from the professors and lessons learned in the hospitality program,” he said.

The WiSys Big Idea Tournament teaches students cutting-edge lean startup business development tools, provides business mentorship and allows participants to compete at a state level for a chance to win seed funding for their idea.

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GEM student Pemberton’s FitCore app idea helps college students achieve a work-life balance WiSys Big Idea competitor Drew Pemberton

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Institute for Supply Management names Kole Mewhorter ('22) to 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars

goersab — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:35:22 +0000

Institute for Supply Management names Kole Mewhorter ('22) to 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Starsgoersab March 31, 2026

Alum honored among international young professionals who stand out as future leaders, passionate problem-solvers

Abbey Goers

Kole Mewhorter, a business administration and supply chain management alum from ��Ͽ�, is being honored as an Institute for Supply Management 2025 ISM 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Star.

Mewhorter, a demand planner at H.B. Fuller, a leading global adhesives provider headquartered in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, is among the 30 exceptional young professionals awarded by ISM for making a measurable impact across supply chain, procurement and operations roles worldwide.

“These rising leaders reflect the strength and future of the supply management profession,” said Debbie Fogel-Monnissen, interim chief executive officer of ISM. “Their curiosity, discipline and commitment to continuous improvement are helping organizations navigate complexity and build more resilient, forward-looking supply chains.”

Now in its 12th year, the ISM 30 Under 30 program recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership, collaboration, innovation and a commitment to advancing the supply management profession.

Mewhorter and other honorees will be celebrated at the Awards Gala during the ISM World Annual Conference, April 26-28 in Denver, Colorado. Honorees this year are from the United States, Brazil, France, India, Kenya, Malaysia and United Kingdom. They represent manufacturing, pharmaceutical, aerospace and defense, oil and gas, business services and other industries.

“Receiving this award means that there is a sense of what I am doing day-to-day is meaningful. Earning a global recognition justifies to me that I can continue to make a difference. I am proud of that,” said Mewhorter, a 2022 alum.

Continuing to push for innovation and improvement in supply chain

Through his work, Mewhorter reflects a deep sense of ownership, a forward-looking mindset and a commitment to elevating operational excellence. He began at H.B. Fuller as a buyer/scheduler a month after graduation and was promoted to demand planner seven months later.

Mewhorter continues to support improvement initiatives at H.B. Fuller, upholding the mission of Connecting What Matters. “This is done by bringing people, processes and products together to purposefully solve problems. A key part of this is with Supply Chain Excellence to become the best supplier to our customers,” he said.

H.B. Fuller partners with an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 clients and continues to establish more partnerships within the company.

During H.B. Fuller’s transition to a regionally led supply chain structure, Mewhorter played a key role in developing the North America regional demand planning team — one of the foundational building blocks of the company’s new operating model.

He independently created and implemented a standardized demand review process, setting clear performance expectations while meeting structure and forecasting guidelines, increasing accuracy in every business segment he works with.

“The North America demand planning team provides detailed insight into how we review our capacity/utilization, and where and how much stock we hold. It supports how much production needs to be scheduled, and how much raw materials our sourcing department needs to procure,” Mewhorter said. “It also impacts various projects that come up. Our demand planning department was not mature, and in the past two years or so, we have established ourselves as a respected seat at the table. I am proud of being a key contributor to that.”

Mewhorter also built a suite of key performance indicators (KPIs) and analytical tools, including integrated performance dashboards and enhanced reporting. These tools improved forecast visibility and enabled stronger operational decision-making.

Partnering closely with operations and commercial teams, he works directly with plant leadership, supply managers, and commercial directors to resolve complex issues and align customer demand with production capabilities and business strategy.

Mewhorter supported the rollout and adoption of a new stocking strategy framework and contributed to stock-keeping unit (SKU) rationalization initiatives. He has strengthened forecast-to-revenue alignment by collaborating with finance and commercial teams to develop more accurate, transparent methods for translating demand signals into revenue projections. He designs scalable tools, improves complex processes, and creates resources that accelerate learning and adoption across the company’s global supply chain organization.

To build alignment among different stakeholders, Mewhorter sets clear expectations around what type of information needs to be communicated and how, knowing that it is critical to understand the deliverables or information that each stakeholder requires.

“Overcommunicate everything,” he said. “It is better to pull people in versus leaving them out. They may have a different perspective or concern that could be critical. At H.B. Fuller, we pride ourselves on the ‘Power of Collaboration.’ This is not something that can be taught, but it is a culture.

“We have a culture that positively supports the idea of ‘We are in this together.’ It is amazing, and I wouldn’t be effective at my job if I did not regularly collaborate with various parties,” he said.

Mewhorter feels motivated to continue pushing for innovation and improvement in supply chain because there is always room for improvement, knowing that the work he has done has driven positive impacts.

“This motivates me to keep the ball rolling. I also am always thinking about the direction of our business, and to get there we need to continue to optimize our supply chain operations,” he said. “Supply chain is becoming more critical every day and the only constant in this profession is change. The companies that will thrive when there are economic changes are the ones that have strong supply chains. The people within their supply chain organizations need to adapt.

“I see the future of supply chain becoming one of the most critical departments within an organization. This is because of advancements in AI, new tools and technologies, and an ever-changing economic environment. Strong supply chain departments will persevere through difficult economic activity and effectively adopt new technology,” Mewhorter said.

Prepared to work anywhere and be a valuable employee

Originally, Mewhorter wanted to attend a university that was close to his hometown of Chippewa Falls, and he heard about ��Ͽ�’s business administration program. During his first semester in that program, he learned about supply chain and was immediately intrigued.

“I was mostly amazed with how supply chain deals with end-to-end business activity; from buying raw materials to shipping to the customer and everything in between,” he said. “From that point on, I pursued a double major in business administration and supply chain management. I knew I could work anywhere and be a valuable employee.”

Mewhorter felt challenged, encouraged and supported by his peers and professors, including Program Director Gene Gutman. “There was an aura that what you were going through was extremely difficult, but you could do it, and it would benefit you down the road. My experiences at Stout helped me to stay driven, collected, and effective in the workplace when difficult scenarios arise,” he said.

“I am StoutProud that I went to a university that challenged me more than other universities. I got firsthand experience with professionals that prepared me to be effective in the workplace. It wasn’t just lectures and exams. It was opportunities to think critically, problem-solve and execute on deliverables. The polytechnic approach is so effective, and I am grateful for that,” Mewhorter added.

Founded in 1915, the Institute for Supply Management is the leading not-for-profit professional supply management organization, with more than 200,000 members in more than 100 countries, managing about $1 trillion in corporate and government supply chain procurement annually.

ISM is committed to advancing the strategy and practice of integrated, end-to-end supply chain management through leading edge data-driven resources, community, and education to empower individuals, create organizational value and drive competitive advantage. Its vision is to foster a prosperous, sustainable world.

��Ͽ�’s School of Management offers 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates that build students' leadership skills in business, hospitality and technology innovation, military science, and operations and management fields.

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Co-op Q&A: Scott Stewart, NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes in Beloit

‘Supply chains connect everything – materials, information and people all work together.’

Institute for Supply Management names Kole Mewhorter ('22) to 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars

Supply chain alum honored among international young professionals who stand out as future leaders, passionate problem-solvers.

Inspiring Graduate: Nolan Harke, B.S. Supply Chain Management

‘I hope to make an impact by being a valuable team member who will lead by example and will make others around them better.’

Supply chain alum honored among international young professionals who stand out as future leaders, passionate problem-solvers. Kole Mewhorter

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Commencement

WiSys Innovation On Ramp, Big Idea entrepreneurship competition connects students with industry leaders

B.S. Golf Enterprise Management

Institute for Supply Management names Kole Mewhorter ('22) to 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars

Continuing to push for innovation and improvement in supply chain

Prepared to work anywhere and be a valuable employee

B.S. Supply Chain Management

B.S. Business Administration

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Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille, B.S. Business Administration

Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille (’26) 

Distinguished alum, educator Albrecht credits ��Ͽ� for preparing graduates who ‘step forward’