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Menomonie Culver ��. Clue-themed Flavor of the Day, Brewery Nonic ��. limited-edition brew will support Blue Devils at homecoming

goersab — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:25:00 +0000

Menomonie Culver ��. Clue-themed Flavor of the Day, Brewery Nonic ��. limited-edition brew will support Blue Devils at homecominggoersab October 8, 2026

Fundraisers, family-oriented activities, athletic events set for alumni, community Oct. 15-18

Abbey Goers

The game ��. afoot at �� Polytechnic ��. 2026 homecoming, Thursday, Oct. 15, to Sunday, Oct. 18. With a Clue-based weekend theme, alumni, students, supporters, and community members anticipate the annual parade and football game on Saturday.

The community is also invited to two special events supporting students, in collaboration with Menomonie Culver ��. and Brewery Nonic, as well as a Stout Clock Party featuring a Made@Stout Pop-Up Market with creations made by students, faculty and staff.

All events are open to the public. �� Polytechnic staff will be available at the homecoming welcome table Oct. 16, 1 to 4:30 p.m., and Oct. 17, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Alumni Clock Tower Plaza, to provide more details about events happening around campus.

This year marks �� Polytechnic ��. 110th homecoming, with its first homecoming held in 1917.

The Clue Devil Files: The Homecoming Custard Flavor Mystery

For the third year in a row, Menomonie Culver ��. has created a homecoming flavor for �� Polytechnic. The Clue-themed Flavor of the Day will be served on Oct. 16 and Oct. 17 at both Menomonie locations, and 100% of Flavor of the Day sales will go to support StoutProud Fund, providing important resources to meet the evolving needs of �� Polytechnic.

Can you guess the Flavor of the Day before ordering a dish for yourself? Four clues. One flavor. A sweet suspect is closing in on Menomonie, and every Blue Devil is a detective now.

Case File #1: The victim was smooth, cool, and found at the scene without a trace of color. Witnesses say it was the foundation of the whole operation. Nothing exciting about it ... or so they thought.
Case File #2: Blood-red evidence has been found at the scene. But don’t panic. Investigators confirm it ��. fresh, sweet, and picked with care. Not a crime of passion ... more like a crime of produce.
Case File #3: A dark figure was seen making a quick getaway, leaving a trail across the scene. Whoever did it moves in slow, deliberate streaks. Tip line update: the suspect is dark, smooth, and always leaves things a little messier than they found them.
Case File #4: The final piece of evidence is in, and it ��. a sticky situation. Fluffy, white, and impossible to shake off, this one clings to everything it touches. Sounds like our culprit has a soft side.

Limited-edition homecoming brew with Brewery Nonic

The second annual limited-edition homecoming brews will be available in a dulce de leche stout and a sour wheat with optional fruit infusions, through a special collaboration with Brewery Nonic, owned by alum Ryan Verdon (’13).

Purchase a signature homecoming glass, and receive the first pour of one limited-edition brew for free. Best of all, 50% of the proceeds support the StoutProud Fund, helping advance the university's strategic priorities and enhance the polytechnic experience.

Glasses can be purchased online and picked up at the following:

Cheers to Stout! prehomecoming celebration: Oct. 15, 5 to 7 p.m. (Brewery Nonic)
Homecoming welcome table: Oct. 16, 1 to 4:30 p.m. (Alumni Clock Tower Plaza)
Homecoming welcome table: Oct. 17, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Alumni Clock Tower Plaza)

Homecoming parade and community events on Saturday

Saturday will start with some preparade fun at the Stout Clock Party from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Alumni Clock Tower Plaza, with face painting, balloon art, and more, including a Made@�� Pop-Up Market. Made@�� supports Blue Devil creators, makers and entrepreneurs by creating opportunities to showcase and sell their products and connect with the community.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at 10th Avenue E. and Broadway Street S. The route goes through downtown and then south on Third Street E. through campus toward the Sports and Fitness Center, ending at 13th Avenue. Watch the parade livestream on YouTube.

Enjoy a self-guided stroll through campus from 9 a.m. to noon, featuring highlighted stops that showcase �� Polytechnic ��. spaces, history and creativity, including an art walk with works by students and faculty.

Downtown Menomonie will host the second Downtown Fall Frolic, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Shop sidewalk sales, get one-day-only deals at downtown shops and enter a free raffle to win Downtown Menomonie experience packages.

Athletics and recreation events

The annual Soapbox Derby, featuring student-made cars, will be on Monday, Oct. 12. Construction will occur from noon to 3:30 p.m. on the Memorial Student Center south lawn, followed by judging. The race is set to start afterward on campus, on the corner of 10th Avenue E. and Sixth Street.

Cheer on the Blue Devils at two games on Oct. 17. Purchase tickets at the games, or watch the Blue Devils’ games online on the WIAC Network.

Football vs. UW-Whitewater: 1 p.m. (Williams Stadium)
Men ��. soccer vs. UW-Platteville: 1 p.m. (Nelson Field)

Alumni events

Two special events for alumni are planned. The �� Polytechnic Alumni Awards Celebration will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, in the Memorial Student Center ballrooms. Purchase a ticket to attend. Distinguished alumni and supporters recognized will be:

Distinguished Alumni awardee Joseph G. Rossmeier ('65) is recognized for his leadership at higher education institutions, improving the success of students.
Luminary Alumni awardee Howard Lee ('68, '69) is recognized for his service to the Menomonie community and his inspirational mentorship in the field of education.
Rising Leader Alumni awardee Jacob Schwitzer ('20) is recognized for changing the way people experience culture, storytelling and connection through video games.
Chancellor ��. Award recipients Ronald and Joyce Wanek are recognized for their philanthropy and the ongoing partnership between the university, the Wanek family and their business, Ashley Furniture Industries, based in Arcadia.
University Partner awardee Green Bay Packaging reflects the university ��. mission of applied learning, industry and community partnerships, and workforce development.

On Oct. 17, Breakfast at the Buck features a breakfast for alumni from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Silver Dollar, 315 Main St. E. Register online.

A dozen different events for students are listed on the Connect app.

Students, staff turn community into a canvas during Murals in Menomonie

Muralists from around the U.S. and world join university artists and volunteers for public art event

A mural walk, art & design exhibitions

Stroll through downtown to view the Murals in Menomonie, created during a Walldogs celebration in June. The 13 murals by national artists depict many local historic individuals, events and institutions, including Swiss Miss hot cocoa, the Menomonie Blue Caps Base Ball Club, and the Knapp, Stout & Co. lumber business, co-owned by the father of university founder James Huff Stout.

Stout ��. most enduring legacy – the educational institution he founded – is depicted in a mural on the east side of the Administration Building, facing Alumni Clock Tower Plaza. Painted archways bearing the phrases “Forward from our founding” and “Forever to our future” frame a panoramic depiction of campus landmarks.

Acclaimed Wisconsin painter Fred Stonehouse ��. exhibition “Emblem and Epigraph/Curses and Catchphrases: Fred Stonehouse, Paintings 2015-2025” is at Furlong Gallery.

Gallery 209 in the Applied Arts Building has the “Skizzenbuch Exhibition.” Skizzenbuch, a German word that translates to sketchbook, will offer a glimpse of work in progress by School of Art & Design students and is curated by students.

The Library Art Lab, on the first floor of the Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center, features selected works from “Fieldwork,” an exhibition with artwork by more than 40 students that took place in June at Q.arma Gallery in Minneapolis.

The fall 2026 art installation in the Outpost Art Gallery will be unveiled at 3 p.m. on Oct.16, at the South Hall Courtyard.

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�� Polytechnic guarantees Minnesota high school students admission, reciprocal tuition

New Guaranteed Admission program streamlines degree paths for qualifying students at region ��. only polytechnic university

Menomonie Culver ��. Clue-themed Flavor of the Day, Brewery Nonic ��. limited-edition brew will support Blue Devils at homecoming

Fundraisers, family-oriented activities, athletic events set for alumni, community Oct. 15-18

U.S. News & World Report gives �� Polytechnic high marks for engineering programs, affordability in Midwest

New ‘Best Colleges’ list ranks Stout among top 25 public regional universities in Midwest

Fundraisers, family-oriented activities, athletic events set for alumni, community Oct. 15-18 �� Polytechnic homecoming Clock Tower Party

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Make your plans today to be at Homecoming, October 24-26, 2025!

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Your Connection to �� Polytechnic Doesn’t End at Graduation

The �� Foundation & Alumni Association connects alumni, students, and supporters through meaningful experiences, lifelong relationships, and opportunities to make a difference. Together, we celebrate what it means to be #StoutProud—championing the polytechnic advantage and the impact of our community around the world.

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Build relationships with fellow Blue Devils through events and experiences across the country. From campus traditions to regional gatherings, our events and engagement opportunities bring the #StoutProud community together to reconnect, learn and celebrate our #StoutProud community.

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Foundation & Alumni News

Menomonie Culver ��. Clue-themed Flavor of the Day, Brewery Nonic ��. limited-edition brew will support Blue Devils at homecoming

Fundraisers, family-oriented activities, athletic events set for alumni, community Oct. 15-18

Flexsteel, Ashley, Room & Board, KI among furniture makers benefiting from industrial & product design grads’ skills

�� Polytechnic alum on industry publication ��. ‘40 Under 40’ list

Distinguished alum, educator Albrecht credits �� 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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�� Polytechnic AI-driven tools enhance access to historical information

goersab — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:08:00 +0000

�� Polytechnic AI-driven tools enhance access to historical informationgoersab September 30, 2026

Applied mathematics student, archivist build resources for researchers, genealogists, community members

Abbey Goers

At �� Polytechnic ��. University Archives and Area Research Center, thousands of handwritten records, such as genealogical surname cards, court files and naturalization documents, hold decades of regional history that are effectively locked away in cursive scripts that make the records difficult to search.

This summer, applied mathematics and computer science senior Jake See began the first phase of a project – the Automated Handwriting-Transcription Tool – to bring these materials, and the information they hold, to researchers.

“The archives is exploring how artificial intelligence and other computational tools can support the work of preserving and providing access to historical records. The handwriting recognition project is one part of a broader effort to explore how new technical tools can assist archival work. A successful handwriting recognition system could make historical records faster to process and easier to search and review,” See said.

AMCS senior Jake See, Head Archivist Victoria Stewart and Emerging Technologies Archivist David Statz

During his internship, See applied classroom concepts and independent research toward the real-world problem of the barriers of manual transcription within archival research, and contributed to the university archives’ research and innovation goals.

His internship was a subcomponent of Emerging Technologies Archivist David Statz ��. project, the Local AI Classification and Metadata Engine, which looks at the archives’ unorganized digital folders and produces natural language descriptions of each file, identifying what an image or document contains and suggesting a likely category for sorting and searching.

“The projects aim to spare archivists and researchers the slow, manual process and time of transcribing records one card at a time. By creating these tools, additionally, these materials become searchable for students, genealogists and community members who can’t visit in person,” said Statz, who contributed technical expertise to See in his project.

Automated Handwriting-Transcription Tool

Over his 200-hour internship, See established the technical groundwork for an automated handwriting-transcription tool built entirely on free, open-source software.

“One challenge facing the archives is the large amount of handwritten material in its collections. While many of these records have been digitized as images, the information within those images cannot easily be searched without first being converted into machine-readable text,” he said.

Jake See gathers additional cards in the University Archives.

Using handwritten genealogical records from the archives as an initial collection, the project has involved two main stages.

The first stage was developing a computer vision pipeline to turn raw archival scans into usable data for handwriting recognition. Using image-processing and computer vision techniques, See developed a system that identifies and extracts individual record cards from scanned pages, locates the relevant fields within each card, distinguishes handwritten content from the preprinted form, removes unwanted printed elements, and segments the remaining handwriting into individual lines.

See developed tools for reviewing the pipeline ��. output and manually adjusting crops when necessary, as well as a provenance system to keep the processed data traceable back through its source records. He also developed tools for transcribing and auditing the resulting images, producing a curated dataset of more than 1,500 handwritten lines.

See ��. project focused on index cards from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s that recorded birth, death and marriage announcements from the Dunn County News during those decades. The initial sample of approximately 2,400 cards – a mere fraction of the total amount contained in the archives – was selected by Statz as a standardized, consistent handwritten record for the project. Head Archivist Victoria Stewart framed the project by sorting the cards to isolate and only collect the birth, death and marriage cards since those most closely align with the county records for the initial sample. After sorting, Stewart and archives employee Renee Smith scanned the cards for See ��. use.

“These cards (in their current form) live in boxes and bags in the closed stacks. Researchers would have to manually search the cards to find this information or manually search the newspaper. In working with students, I can advise on archival practices and the limitations or restrictions of access for the analog materials. The students then create and build new technologies to bring my vision of access to life,” Stewart said.

Jake See and David Statz at the CZUR digital scanner.

The second stage uses the prepared images to develop the handwriting recognition system itself. The project combines OpenCV, an open-source computer vision library used extensively in the image-processing pipeline, with PyLaia, an open-source handwritten text recognition framework used to train a model to convert the segmented handwriting into text. There is also a record-keeping system that traces every processed image back to its original document, as well as tools for transcribing and auditing the results.

The complete data and model-training pipeline has been validated, and the project is moving into training and evaluating its first baseline recognition model.

“Human review was built into the process from the beginning, combining the efficiency of automated processing with human verification and oversight. Because accuracy and the integrity of historical records are essential, human oversight remains an important part of the process. These tools are intended to supplement human expertise by automating repetitive work while keeping people involved in reviewing and verifying the results,” See said.

The scanning of cards also continues as more samples can be uploaded to the database. With a new CZUR scanner – an overhead, camera-based digital scanner – archives can scan and download an item in 1.5 seconds, saving countless hours of work.

Examples of the cards Jake See scanned to train the transcription tool.

See plans to share the tools as free, open-source software once complete. Because the work is built on openly available, non-commercial technology rather than subscription services, other libraries and archives, particularly smaller institutions with limited staff and budgets, could adapt it for their own handwritten collections.

“Jake ��. work establishes the foundational tool on which the archives will build as the tool becomes more complex to review more elaborate, cursive scripts found in other historical documents. The open-source foundation promotes transparency, sustainability and collaboration across teaching, research and administration,” Statz added.

Collaborations creating student opportunities

See ��. internship was built upon an ongoing collaboration between the archives and the university ��. mathematics, statistics and computer science department, initiated by Stewart to create opportunities for students to gain hands-on technical experience while developing tools that address real needs within the archives.

Mathematics and computer science Professor Seth Dutter had advised archives staff on the overall project in the earliest stages of development and recommended See for the internship based on his coursework performance and completion, technical skill and excitement for the project. Understanding the value and importance of the internship, Library Director Roxanne Backowski provided support to hire and fully fund the internship.

“The partnership gives students an opportunity to gain substantial experience in areas such as software engineering, computer vision and machine learning while working through the challenges of developing a real system from end to end. That experience can help prepare students for technical careers or further study while allowing them to apply what they learn in the classroom to projects that directly support the archives’ work,” See said.

Statz thinks student internships play a central role in providing them with hands-on experience with real AI systems while advancing campus priorities in artificial intelligence.

“Applied learning is one of �� Polytechnic ��. defining strengths. Jake ��. internship provides an excellent example of how students gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies while addressing real-world challenges,” he said.

Local AI Classification and Metadata Engine

Wandering up and down the archive aisles, Statz gazed at the hundreds of aging ledgers, boxes of documents and photos, and countless other objects and thought about the archives’ digital files.

He was struck by an inspiring question: Could a digital folder of completely unlabeled images and documents with no metadata or tags – descriptive data of digital objects used to search for or categorize the objects – be turned into something structured and searchable, all without relying on commercial artificial intelligence platforms or uploading files to the cloud?

The answer is yes. Statz ��. goal for the Local AI Classification and Metadata Engine is to offer a sustainable, modular open-source AI engine that adapts to any context where unstructured images or documents need interpretation and generates clear, meaningful descriptions.

The Old Wilson House Mansion in downtown Menomonie, as it originally appeared before being remodeled.

“Everything happens locally, with no data leaving the machine. It ��. fast, private and flexible. We created this because manual tagging takes time and rarely stays consistent. Archives, libraries and departments often have backlogs of unclassified material that can’t easily be searched or reused. This tool gives those projects a head start – a structured lens on what ��. there – so teams can focus on review and refinement rather than starting from scratch,” Statz said.

For example, when fed a photo of the Old Wilson House Mansion in downtown Menomonie, the tool was able to label the image as depicting “a large Victorian-style house with a pointed roof, a chimney and a porch. The presence of a tree in front of the house suggests that the house is located in a yard. The architectural style and the time period are estimated to be from the 19th century. The house appears to be a significant landmark, possibly a historical site or a well-preserved example of Victorian-era architecture.”

The newly created label will help researchers more quickly find this historical photo using keyword and metadata searches, such as “Victorian-style house,” in the archives’ digital collection.

A home constructed within Ray Hall is being transported to its permanent foundation.

Statz ��. first success was with a prototype completed in May 2025. It runs on three local language models and performs image, text and optical character recognition analysis through automation instructions written in Python, a computer programming language often used to build websites and software. The resulting descriptions are then processed through a local database that groups related terms and concepts, allowing the system to narrow and rank potential category matches before final selection. That version remains the foundation for all future scaling.

In June 2025, a simplified institutional version was built to demonstrate feasibility using Ollama, an open-source tool that runs AI models locally.

“Together, the two trials showed that independent local AI classification is both practical and effective. The next step is to scale the system for broader use,” Statz said. “Once the base system is fully operational, it can be expanded with automated ingestion workflows and other enhancements to improve speed, efficiency and ease of use from the end user ��. perspective.”

Statz has collaborated with the BOSE research cluster at UW-Eau Claire, which provides the power to experiment with larger models and multimodal workflows.

From engineering to communication and counseling, manufacturing, marketing and design, construction, supply chain and more, �� Polytechnic is preparing graduates to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving workforce by embedding AI training in all of its degree programs. The university ��. AI Innovations Committee, centers, and services collaborate with community, business and industry partners to help Wisconsin leverage AI-driven solutions that put it ahead of the curve.

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�� Polytechnic chemistry professors’ patent detects amino acid linked to M.S., rheumatoid arthritis, cancer

giffeyt — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000

�� Polytechnic chemistry professors’ patent detects amino acid linked to M.S., rheumatoid arthritis, cancergiffeyt September 28, 2026

Faculty, student research paves way for patented biochemical discovery

Tom Giffey

More than a decade of work by two �� Polytechnic faculty members and their student researchers has led to a newly patented process that allows for the easy detection of an amino acid linked to multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and potentially cancer.

Biochemistry Professor Jennifer Grant and chemistry Professor Dmitry Kadnikov recently received official word from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that their patent for an improved chemical probe for detecting citrulline has been formally granted. This amino acid is an indicator of autoimmune diseases, such as M.S., as well as a number of neurological disorders, cancer and immunity in general.

Despite its importance – citrulline also plays a role in DNA transcription – it is difficult to detect: The modification that creates citrulline only adds the weight of one hydrogen atom to a protein, and available chemical probes were cumbersome and costly. Researchers were discouraged by these factors, and citrulline detection remained a rarely explored subject.

Grant has been intrigued by citrulline since she worked as a postdoctoral fellow 20 years ago. She saw how a chemical process to detect citrulline more easily could work in theory but learned that the sole researcher who had been investigating the process had moved on to other topics.

“I started thinking about this, and I realized I’ve got a pretty good organic chemist as a colleague,” she recalled – and thus began a more than decade-long partnership with Kadnikov to develop the new detection process.

�� Polytechnic Professors Jennifer Grant, left, and Dmitry Kadnikov successfully applied for and received a patent.

The now-patented process occurs in two steps: First, a small, sensitive chemical probe latches onto the citrulline. Then, a chemical tag is added, attaching to the probe and making it easier to detect. Crucially, the kind of tag can be modified to meet a researcher ��. needs. It may be an antigen, a nanoparticle or even a fluorescent tag useful for imaging. Grant compares the process to a factory using interchangeable parts.

“Once we have the citrulline roped in, so to speak, we add any reagent we want to,” she explained. “That is the real novelty of the project.”

The professors’ research has been boosted by grants from WiSys, the Universities of Wisconsin technology transfer agency, and the work of numerous �� Polytechnic students who have assisted with research in their labs. For example, two biochemistry alumni – Dylan Meyer, now a senior research scientist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Justin Olson, a senior data scientist at Alpha Theory – co-authored a scientific paper with Grant. The paper, published in the journal Computational Biology and Chemistry in 2017, identified several motifs – specific sites on a protein residue that are converted to citrulline.

Such undergraduate research experiences aren’t exceptions at �� Polytechnic, where applied learning and research are core to the university ��. polytechnic identity. On campus, labs and studios outnumber traditional classrooms by a 3-to-1 ratio, and 100% of Blue Devils graduate with applied learning experiences.

In addition to their expertise in the lab, Kadnikov and Grant had to cultivate patience during the patent process. Their application was submitted in 2020, published in 2022 and cleared the final technical and legal hurdles just this year. Now that it has been approved, the professors hope the invention will be used by scientists around the world researching autoimmune diseases and other ailments.

Grant also looks forward to continuing work on citrulline at �� Polytechnic.

“As a biochemist, where my first thought is to try and understand the natural system, I wasn’t ever setting out to get a patent – so this is a real milestone,” she said.

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Faculty, student research paves way for patented biochemical discovery Professors Jennifer Grant and Dmitry Kadnikov in �� Polytechnic lab

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Hero Caption: Professor Jennifer Grant works with students in the proteomics lab at �� Polytechnic.

Jennifer Grant

Teaching Interests: Proteomics (Bio425); Biochemistry (Chem311); General Chemistry (Chem135); Human Biology Lecture & Laboratory (Bio132); Biochemistry Lecture & Laboratory (Chem311); Introduction to Biotechnology (Bio210, Online); Advanced Biotechnology (Bio470); Introductory Biology (Bio101); General Chemistry (Chem 135); Biology of Aging (Bio125)

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Degree: Ph.D. Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology

University: University of Wisconsin Medical School

Degree: M.S. Biochemistry

University: Case Western Reserve University Medical School

Degree: B.A. Biochemistry

University: Oberlin College

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Hundreds of national employers seek �� Polytechnic students, alumni to meet hiring needs

goersab — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Hundreds of national employers seek �� Polytechnic students, alumni to meet hiring needsgoersab September 21, 2026

Industry panels on AI, video production career pathways among new additions to week-long Career Conference

Abbey Goers

Recruiters from hundreds of companies across the United States will travel to �� Polytechnic to interview students and alumni for co-ops, internships and post-graduation professional positions during the university ��. four-day Career Conference Week.

More than 2,000 Blue Devils will connect with leading employers in engineering, packaging, plastics, design, hospitality and more at six industry-focused fairs from Monday, Sept. 21, to Thursday, Sept. 24, hosted by Career Services at the Memorial Student Center.

More than 125 Fortune 500 companies have hired �� Polytechnic graduates in the past five years. Some of these employers attending the conference include 3M, Boston Scientific, DR Horton, Fastenal, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Hilton, JLL, Northwestern Mutual Insurance, Parker Hannifin, Sanmina and Xcel Energy.

New this year is the addition of a Design Career Fair. “Our expanding strengths in the areas of 2D and 3D design, modeling, concept art, product and human-centered design, advertising and interactive design, naturally led to the inclusion of such a focused event,” said Career Services Director Bryan Barts. “With our graduates applying their skills across industries from medical devices, entertainment, consumer products and streaming media to manufacturing, technology and apparel design, we hope to build clear, intentional connections and career pathways between students and industry.”

Also new this year are two career education panels that support �� Polytechnic ��. approach to career engagement: an AI in Careers panel with the university ��. AI Fellows and a Video Production Career Pathway panel.

“These two distinct panels will showcase and include opportunities for students to learn from industry experts who will share topics and insights to assist them with career development, while making connections with alumni, new professionals, companies, and career pathways,” Barts said.

Students start with ‘strong fundamental foundation built’

Many of the recruiters attending the Career Conference represent businesses that have formed deeper connections with �� Polytechnic, including through the Career Services Partnership Program (CSPP).

CSPP partners are Aspirus Inc., Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Belmark, Inc., Blast Cleaning Technologies, ConAgra, CTech Manufacturing, EVCO Plastics, Fastenal, Greenheck Group, Heartland Business Systems, The John Roberts Company, Kwik Trip, Market & Johnson, Menards, Phillips-Medisize, Skyward, Sundt, United States Marine Corps, Wilderness Resort and Xcel Energy.

Belmark, Inc.

Belmark, Inc. has seen the fundamentals and concepts around graphics in the packaging industry remain consistent for quite some time. However, the rise of artificial intelligence will have an impact on the tools and automation capabilities that drive quality and efficiency.

“The willingness to embrace technology advancements is what will give people in our industry a competitive advantage. Custom AI-built solutions are at our fingertips, and prioritizing development will set companies and individuals apart from their competition over the next few years,” said Belmark Graphics Manager Brad Butkovich.

The �� Polytechnic students Butkovich has interacted with have a strong fundamental foundation built, he added. “Understanding the concepts around how graphics impacts production and relevant hands-on experience with our industry standard software gives any new employee a head start,” he said. “ I believe graphics’ role in the printing industry will evolve rapidly over the next few years. Mentally preparing students for constant change as they enter the workforce will be critical to their success. Individuals who can adapt and embrace change will rise to the top.”

Belmark, headquartered in De Pere, manufactures pressure-sensitive labels, flexible packaging and folding cartons for a broad range of industries, bringing customers the creativity, energy and problem-solving to help build their brands through innovative packaging solutions. �� Polytechnic packaging, graphic communications, graphic design, and risk management and safety majors are encouraged to talk to Belmark and other employers on the Tuesday of Career Conference Week.

Career Conference Week and additional recruitment events

Students and alumni are encouraged to attend any and all Career Conference days.

Monday: Computing: Cybersecurity and Information Technology
Tuesday morning: Packaging: Print, Production and Design
Tuesday afternoon: Engineering: Science and Sustainability
Wednesday: Construction: Design, Build, Manage
Thursday morning: Design: Art, Entertainment, Gaming and Media
Thursday afternoon: Management: Business, Wellness, Hospitality and Human Sciences

On top of Career Services’ biannual Career Conference Week, students are invited to join several more programs and events throughout the year, including the Built Environment Career Fair, Human Sciences Day, Government & Nonprofit Career Fair, Internship Draft Day and Art & Design Week.

The Spring 2027 Career Conference will be held Monday, Feb. 22, to Thursday, Feb. 25, 2027.

The Cooperative Education and Internship Program (CEIP) helps coordinate students’ required experiential learning components and builds partnerships between employers, students, and university faculty and staff. Nearly 1,000 students enroll each year in CEIP, completing hands-on co-ops and internships at more than 900 sites across the country – more than one-third of which lead to accepted job offers. Fully 99% of recent graduates were employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, and 77.4% of spring 2026 graduates were hired prior to graduation.

More than 27,000 �� Polytechnic students have benefited from CEIP since its inception in 1982. The program received a Stewards of Place award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, “for its outstanding results and potential to influence and serve as a model for other institutions.”

Career Services

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Co-op Q&A: Aranthza Gonzalez, North Shore Healthcare, Milwaukee

‘Supporting employees is not separate from organizational performance – it is part of creating a stronger and more sustainable organization.’

Co-op Q&A: Julia Pollitt, Reflective Roots Psychotherapy & Healing, Baldwin

‘I have grown incredibly passionate about diverse interventions for treating various psychological illnesses and struggles.’

Hundreds of national employers seek �� Polytechnic students, alumni to meet hiring needs

Industry panels on AI, video production career pathways among new additions to week-long Career Conference

Industry panels on AI, video production career pathways among new additions to week-long Career Conference Career Conference

MarCom

Career Conference Week

One of the largest conferences in the Midwest, preparing Blue Devils to be career ready on day one.

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Before They Started Stout: Polytechnic students do more before ‘Day One’

giffeyt — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:46:45 +0000

Before They Started Stout: Polytechnic students do more before ‘Day One’giffeyt September 3, 2026

Whether it ��. space-oriented research, welding prowess or Science Olympiad success, Blue Devils arrive with talent and motivation

Tom Giffey

Because of its polytechnic focus on applied learning, industry collaborations, and career-oriented experiences, students at �� Polytechnic are poised to Do More on Day One. In fact, they often do more even before Day One: Diving into applied research that could impact space missions. Building high-value industrial skills on the shop floor. Winning national scholarships for success in STEM competitions.

These experiences exemplify the ambition and talent of students who are drawn to be Blue Devils. Meet three �� Polytechnic undergraduates who have been busy doing more before, during and after Day One.

Student Reese Hufnagel spoke about her research at the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Scientific Assembly in Florence, Italy, in August. / Submitted photo

Starting early with space-bound research

If she is asked to write an essay on her summer vacation, Reese Hufnagel of Anoka, Minnesota, would have plenty of material: This summer, she spent 10 weeks interning at NASA. She made presentations at space conferences in Italy and the United States. She and her business partner and research mentor, Professor Matthew Ray, submitted a provisional patent for their work designing materials to mitigate the risk of space debris crashing to earth.

Now she ��. beginning her third and final year at �� Polytechnic, and the coming semester will not only be filled with courses and lab work but also with submitting new research proposals, conducting materials tests, pursuing an internship for next summer and applying to graduate schools.

Hufnagel ��. �� Polytechnic experience exemplifies the university ��. “Do More on Day One” slogan: She started working on research before classes began during her first year – or, as she put it, on “Day Negative Two.” Hufnagel, who will graduate with a B.S. chemistry degree in May, was drawn to the university for both its size and its polytechnic focus, both of which have allowed her to work closely with faculty.

“The thing that mattered most to me was finding something that felt like a good fit, where I was comfortable,” she said. “I knew the way I learned best was through physically doing things, so the polytechnic aspect really stood out to me.”

Falling space debris poses an escalating risk as spacecraft get stronger and more heat resistant

Student Reese Hufnagel and Professor Matthew Ray examine the material solutions and ‘designing for demise’ to counter public safety risks.

Hufnagel was intrigued by the possibility of studying materials science at �� Polytechnic, and her mother, a school counselor, helped her contact Ray. He had an opening in his lab, and Hufnagel had lab experience from earning her associate ��. degree while in high school.

“He asked me directly, ‘What do you want to do?” recalled Hufnagel, “and I said ‘space.’ Any way we can connect it (to research), I will be there.” The connection they found was the problem of space debris surviving reentry – something that is becoming more common both because of the exponential increase in rocket launches and the fact that newer carbon-fiber materials don’t burn up as easily as older rocket components.

For the past two years, Hufnagel and Ray have focused on creating a catalytic additive that, when integrated into carbon-fiber materials, can cause them to disintegrate when they reach a specific trigger temperature. This research led them to form a business partnership, Aurora Catalytic.

“Once we realized that there was commercialization potential with it, then we basically just wanted to see how far we could take it,” Hufnagel said. It was on behalf of Aurora Catalytic that she spoke at both the Wisconsin Space Conference in Kenosha and the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Scientific Assembly in Florence, Italy, where she made connections with scientists from around the world.

Before attending the conferences, Hufnagel interned at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, conducting validation tests on equipment for a probe slated to be sent to Venus.

Hufnagel said these opportunities would have been unlikely if she was an undergraduate at another institution. “It allowed me to start doing something that I wanted to do right away,” she said of the university ��. polytechnic approach. “And you can’t do that at other schools.”

Isaah Holden has balanced his mechanical engineering studies at �� Polytechnic with his employment at OEM Fabricators. / Submitted photo

Love of welding leads to engineering program

While a junior at Unity High School, Isaah Holden of Luck took a welding class and fell in love. He progressed quickly, practicing multiple techniques during extra hours in an open lab. Within months, through the Youth Apprenticeship Program he landed a job with Schaffer Manufacturing, a metal fabrication business in nearby Milltown. Through on-the-job training, Holden learned how to read blueprints, fit parts and size up welds. Eventually, he earned his American Welding Society D1.1 qualification, and after graduating high school was hired by OEM Fabricators.

“It was really just a gradual progression of on-the-job training, being obsessed with welding, and having people around me who supported me that paved the way to where I am now,” he said.

Holden knows that welders are in high demand and can be well-paid, especially when working on pipelines or in oil fields. But he also knew the occupation had drawbacks: It ��. dirty, physically demanding and potentially dangerous.

To give himself additional career options, Holden enrolled at �� Polytechnic based on the reputation of the engineering program.

�� mechanical engineering major Isaah Holden, inset, and an example of his welding work. / Submitted photo

“The first time I stepped on campus was the day of orientation,” said Holden, who expects to graduate this fall with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. “I really liked how small it was compared to some larger universities. I also liked how the engineering department really invested in labs for the students. It wasn’t like all you were going to be learning was textbook material: You actually apply the things you’ve been learning.”

Throughout his college career, Holden has continued to work at OEM Fabricators. “I started at OEM as a welder and eventually worked my way into engineering as I progressed through my mechanical engineering degree at Stout,” he said. “Having a welding background has helped me a lot because I understand both sides of manufacturing. I can design something on the computer, but I also understand what it actually takes to build and weld it out on the shop floor.”

Holden credits his �� Polytechnic experience with giving him this dual perspective.

“Stout has prepared me really well through the hands-on classes and projects we have done,” he said. “I’ve gained a ton of experience with several different manufacturing techniques and engineering methods that involve different types of analysis. College also teaches you how to work through the struggle and the grind, and that you can do and manage hard things. I think Stout ��. mechanical engineering program has been a really good balance of all that.”

�� Polytechic first-year student William Engel was drawn to the university because of its packaging program.

Science Olympiad standout drawn to packaging

William Engel, an incoming freshman from Boyceville, excelled as a competitor in Science Olympiad, earning nearly 170 medals and nine state championships in the STEM-based competition.

Earlier this year, he was chosen from among more than 4,000 applicants as one of five winners of a $10,000 Science Olympiad Founders’ Scholarship, with other recipients heading to schools such as Michigan State, University of Pennsylvania and University of Texas. Engel was the first Wisconsin student to ever receive the honor.

What really sparked his interest in science and technology, however, was a trip to IKEA. While hunting through the store for a desk for his brother, Engel became fascinated with how IKEA products were packaged, from the shape of the boxes that held the company ��. furnishings to their strategic placement on pallets. Packaging, he learned, was an entire discipline of its own – a discipline, he discovered, he could pursue at �� Polytechnic.

�� Polytechnic student William Engel at a Science Olympiad competition. / Submitted photo

In fact, the university ��. B.S. packaging program is ranked No. 3 in the nation, something Engel learned while touring �� Polytechnic in advance of the Wisconsin Science Olympiad State Tournament, which was held on campus last year. “We were shown the mechanical engineering, plastics, and the packaging labs, while also meeting with the professors along with students who all were passionate about their fields and simply loved being at Stout,” Engel said.

“I really like that Stout is a polytechnic university and emphasizes experiential learning,” he continued. “I find hands-on work to be extremely beneficial for learning. While on the packaging program tour I was amazed that Stout holds such a high ranking.”

After eight years competing in Science Olympiad, Engel knows a lot about high rankings. “Science Olympiad helped me build important skills by teaching me how to work under pressure, and problem solve with limited materials,” he said.

Engel also enjoyed interacting with other Science Olympiad coaches and competitors: “It ��. fun to collaborate with other schools to improve not only our skills but to share our knowledge with other teams as well.”

Now, he ��. looking forward to similar collaboration in a polytechnic environment. Even before he began classes this semester, Engel said, he had the opportunity to connect with professors in the packaging program.

As the semester begins, Engel said, “I am excited to start learning more and getting hands-on experience in my major, and to also get to know more people from other places across the state.”

Student Highlights

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Mireles-Melgarejo ��. designs inspired by effects of agricultural industry on immigrant workers, Mexican beverage tradition

Menomonie Market Food Co-op meals boosted by animation faculty, students’ commercial

Collaboration captures local business ��. vision, recognizes ‘value of human-made art’

Whether it ��. space-oriented research, welding prowess or Science Olympiad success Blue Devils arrive with talent and motivation Student Reese Hufnagel during NASA internship summer 2026

B.S. Chemistry

Our B.S. Chemistry program prepares you to synthesize and characterize new materials and effectively scale commercial production processes.

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B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Our B.S. Mechanical Engineering program covers mechanics, kinematics, thermal/fluid sciences, materials sciences, and more.

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B.S. Packaging

Our B.S. Packaging program provides hands-on training in package printing and design, business, quality management, and research and development.

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Hero Caption: �� Polytechnic student Reese Hufnagel during her summer internship at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. / Submitted photo

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Board of Regents approves promotions, tenure for 18 �� Polytechnic faculty members

giffeyt — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Board of Regents approves promotions, tenure for 18 �� Polytechnic faculty members giffeyt August 26, 2026

Changes in status take effect as 2026-27 academic year begins

Tom Giffey

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents has approved promotions and tenure recommendations for 18 �� Polytechnic faculty members effective for the 2026-27 academic year.

The professors and their departments are:

Professor Min DeGruson, left, works with a student in the Packaging Materials Lab.

Promoted to professor

Daniel Atyim, visual and performing arts

Julie Beston, biology

Min DeGruson, engineering and technology

Rickie-Ann Legleitner, English, philosophy and communication studies

Kimberly Loken, design

Cody Reimer, English, philosophy and communication studies

Tyler Skorczewski, mathematics, statistics and computer science

Tami Weiss, teaching, learning and leadership

Assistant Professor Keif Oss, right, with cinematographer Shana Hagan, who visited �� Polytechnic as part of Canon ��. Explorers of Light program.

Promoted to assistant professor with tenure

Ahmed El-Magrous, mathematics, statistics and computer science

Somi Hynes, counseling, rehabilitation and human services

Keif Oss, design

Afroza Polin, mathematics, statistics and computer science

Associate Professor Nicole Hayes works with high school students to test the water at Gilbert Creek.

Promoted to associate professor with tenure

Kelly Droege, operations and management

Nicole Hayes, biology

Courtney Juelich, social science

Derek Sturgill, mathematics, statistics and computer science

Yuan Xing, engineering and technology

Tenure

Latha Ramakrishnan, chemistry and physics

The 2026-27 academic year began Aug. 17. August Opening activities, including campuswide Engagement Sessions for faculty and staff, will run through Aug. 27. Classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 2.

As of the beginning of the academic year, �� Polytechnic had 233 faculty members and 182 instructional academic staff.

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Changes in status take effect as 2026-27 academic year begins Professor Min DeGruson and student

2026 teaching excellence awards celebrate 10 faculty, staff members

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Rising Leader Award: Jacob Schwitzer (’20)

goersab — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:05:00 +0000

Rising Leader Award: Jacob Schwitzer (’20)goersab August 26, 2026

‘It means the world to me to see young people connect with stories that reflect their own communities and experiences.’

Jacob Schwitzer (’20) has been named �� Polytechnic ��. Rising Leader for helping Indigenous students feel seen and bringing modern Menominee stories into classrooms and communities, changing the way people experience culture, storytelling and connection through video games.

Rising Leader Award recipient Jacob Schwitzer

His game, Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming, immerses players in the story of a Menominee family returning to their reservation for the Annual Contest Powwow. Along the way, players explore language, family and tradition, guided by a story that is both deeply personal and culturally authentic.

“I hope Native students feel seen in a medium that doesn’t often share our stories. And I hope others gain a deeper understanding of what modern Indigenous life looks like,” said Schwitzer, of Shawano, a first descendant of the Menominee Nation, who grew up on Legend Lake near Keshena, on the Menominee Indian Reservation.

“It is a special, humbling honor to receive the Rising Leader Award from the �� Foundation & Alumni Association. I would not be here without the support of my family, friends and community,” Schwitzer said.

“I’m especially grateful to Barb Miller, former director of �� Polytechnic ��. Multicultural Student Services, for nominating me for this award. Barb is a member of the Menominee Tribe as well, and I have been blessed to know her for the better part of 10 years. Her guidance and support during my time at Stout helped me succeed and kept me on the right path. Through her nomination, I know I am still on that right path and hope I can continue to repay the kindness she has shown me. Māēc Wāēwāēnen (Thank you so much), Barb!” he said.

Schwitzer and the creators of Powwow Bound at the game launch at the 57th Menominee Nation Contest Powwow, with Director of Television of PBS Wisconsin Jon Miskowski.

Schwitzer ��. path to creating meaningful, community-centered games led him to �� Polytechnic ��. computer science program. After earning his degree, along with a concentration in game design and development and a minor in mathematics, Schwitzer struggled to find a job in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While looking for a full-time job, he was able to participate in a summer internship program at the College of Menominee Nation ��. Sustainable Development Institute.

“I continued the work I had done for my previous internships at that institute, creating virtual reality (VR) applications that blend Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge with ongoing ecological research at Penn State University,” Schwitzer said.

After completing his work over the summer, Schwitzer continued his job search and found his current role at Nebraska Public Media as a software developer, creating interactive experiences through VR, web applications and 360-degree video documentaries.

“Eventually, my role grew to include designing, developing and producing video games for Nebraska Public Media, resulting in my first professional production, Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming,” Schwitzer said. “Powwow Bound is a deeply personal project based around my tribe ��. culture and traditions with the express purpose of creating a modern, authentic depiction of Indigenous peoples in video games.”

Schwitzer with PBS Wisconsin co-producer Angelina Shi at the Powwow Bound game launch

The game was inspired by Schwitzer ��. mom, Lela Schwitzer, an enrolled Menominee and first-grade teacher. “She is always looking for meaningful resources to help teach Act 31, Wisconsin ��. requirement to teach students about Wisconsin ��. Indigenous peoples. When the opportunity arrived to make a game about my tribe, the Menominee Nation, I knew that I wanted to create something that depicts us in a modern, authentic context,” he said.

Schwitzer started by ideating with his family. Together, they outlined how to showcase their culture and discussed how this could benefit classroom and general use. Schwitzer then brought it back to the teams in Nebraska and Wisconsin to further develop it with them and other tribal members.

Community collaboration and authenticity were integral to the development process. A Menominee writer, cultural advisers and Menominee language speakers helped ensure accuracy and depth. Nicholas Schwitzer (’20), Jacob ��. twin brother, served as character designer, making sure the characters reflected Menominee identity without relying on stereotypes. His younger brother Matthew lent his voice to the project, and his mother, Lela, helped develop the accompanying educator guide.

Schwitzer and the creators of Powwow Bound launched their game at the 57th Annual Menominee Contest Powwow in 2025. They were joined by PBS Wisconsin Director of Television Jon Miskowski and co-producer Angelina Shi.

“It means the world to me to see young people connect with stories that reflect their own communities and experiences. I was especially happy to hear young players talk about the characters and locations with joyful familiarity. Hearing them say, ‘They look like me!’ and ‘I dance like that!’ showed me that we accomplished our goal of authentically depicting the tribe. Kids deserve to see earnest depictions of their own lives to ensure that they feel seen and heard, so I’m glad that this game can accomplish that for young Indigenous players,” Schwitzer said.

The impact of the game has been immediate. Young Indigenous players have seen themselves represented in its characters and storylines, while educators are using it to support Act 31 instruction. Players of all backgrounds are gaining a deeper understanding of Menominee culture and traditions.

Schwitzer was invited to join the Digital Immersion cohort of public media workers developing digital-first projects and was named one of Current: News for Public Media ��. 2023 Rising Stars. He has presented his work on Powwow Bound at game development conferences around the country. “These opportunities would not have been possible without the support I’ve received from Nebraska Public Media and the education I received from �� Polytechnic. I am grateful for the support I received from my co-workers, my family and my tribe in the creation of this game,” he said.

The �� Polytechnic Native American Student Organization Executive Board from Schwitzer's senior year.

Schwitzer ��. leadership skills have grown immensely since taking on this project. He ��. learned to better communicate across game development disciplines, gained hands-on experience with project management and maintaining project goals, and discovered how to align the vision of a project across multiple collaborative entities.

“As I continue to work through new projects, my newfound skills have allowed me to better collaborate with my co-workers and have broadened my horizons for my role at Nebraska Public Media,” he said. “My goals are to continue creating games that fulfill the mission of public media; to enrich the lives of our communities and educate the members within them. I am hopeful that I can do so by supporting the work of my co-workers and eventually stepping back up to the plate for the next production I will lead.

“I see my role in the industry as an advocate for the good that public media and independent game developers can accomplish with the appropriate support. I am hopeful that my work at Nebraska Public Media and our partnership with PBS Wisconsin can continue to show what is possible if we work collaboratively. I am hopeful that I can invite independent developers into that circle and create games that add value to our players’ lives,” he said.

Longterm, Schwitzer would like to develop a process that allows independent game developers to promote and distribute their work through public media, like Nebraska Public Media ��. existing approach to independent film distribution. “I believe that this approach shines a light on smaller games with immense value that can bring joy to our audiences,” he added.

Schwitzer thinks his applied learning experiences in �� Polytechnic ��. game design and development program allowed him to gain the necessary skills needed to succeed in his career in game development and public media. “By working on game projects every year of my schooling, I refined my programming, communication and collaboration skills. That combination of hard and soft skills set me up for success when I joined the industry after graduating,” he said.

Jacob Schwitzer with the Stout Student Association's Sustainability Committee

The mindset that has helped Schwitzer be successful is one of his favorite movie quotes from “Back to the Future.” “‘If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.’ That approach of dedicating one ��. mind to a goal and finding all possible pathways to achieving it has helped me so much through college and in my early career.

“It is also important to ask for support when you need it. I have asked my friends, family and community for help many times, whether it ��. been to bounce ideas off each other, asking for guidance on how to approach a difficult process or gathering feedback for games I’ve developed. I’ve been grateful to receive that external support and provide it for others as well,” he said.

Whenever he faces setbacks in life, Schwitzer remembers a lesson learned in Professor Aaron Durst ��. Jazz Band: Improvise.

“Improvising does not mean panicking and randomly picking a new course of action; it means being constantly aware of any situation and ideating what to do if you suddenly need to change plans. When something doesn’t go as you expect or takes an uncertain turn, pivot your plan to address the challenge head-on. You cannot ignore the issue and expect it to resolve itself. You can only move forward by incorporating the change and overcoming it,” he said.

A challenge Schwitzer encountered early in his career was taking on too many responsibilities at one time and quickly burning himself out. “I was young and eager to prove myself at work, but I failed to recognize that I could share the work with others in my department,” he said. “This taught me that a balanced workload is a healthy workload and that, over time, you will eventually train yourself to tackle multiple heavier workloads in a healthy and productive way.”

Schwitzer stays connected with the �� Polytechnic community by keeping in touch with friends and supports game design classmates’ projects online and in person. He also connects with students at various state and national conferences. “I’ve been grateful to connect with them, share my experiences in the industry with them, and offer them advice for what to look out for after graduating,” he said.

For students looking to enter the games industry, he said, “Our industry is wide reaching and there are many unique approaches for students to utilize their degrees. In a time when it feels like the industry is shrinking and job losses are especially prevalent, students should look for opportunities that are off the beaten path of mainstream games,” Schwitzer said. “I was able to find my current role because of my experience with VR and step into Nebraska Public Media to assist with their interest in exploring 360-degree video and immersive experiences. That opportunity, and my game development knowledge, allowed our station to feel comfortable in experimenting with games, leading to this project and our new games-centric vision for our department.”

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Fundraisers, family-oriented activities, athletic events set for alumni, community Oct. 15-18

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#StoutProud: Kayla Boyd ('19)

Kayla Boyd ’19 is working to bring oysters back to Mobile Bay, restoring an ecosystem that supports wildlife, shorelines and coastal communities.

‘It means the world to me to see young people connect with stories that reflect their own communities and experiences.’ Jacob Schwitzer

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#StoutProud: Jacob Schwitzer ('20)

Jacob Schwitzer '20 is using interactive storytelling to help Indigenous students feel seen and bring modern Menominee stories into classrooms and communities.

Is content a Story?: Yes

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Flexsteel, Ashley, Room & Board, KI among furniture makers benefiting from industrial & product design grads’ skills

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Distinguished alum, educator Albrecht credits �� 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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2026 teaching excellence awards celebrate 10 faculty, staff members

goersab — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:15:55 +0000

2026 teaching excellence awards celebrate 10 faculty, staff membersgoersab August 18, 2026

Teachers, advisors recognized for supporting student success, scholarly research engagements, creating inclusive classroom experiences

Abbey Goers

Ten �� Polytechnic faculty and staff members have been recognized by their colleagues as Outstanding Teachers, Outstanding Graduate Faculty and Advisors of the Year.

Reflective of the university ��. FOCUS2030 Enduring Goals, these awards recognize honorees for their teaching excellence and celebrate their dedication to and lasting impact on student success, their scholarly research and approaches, their contributions to the university and surrounding community, and more.

Award recipients were recognized at the university ��. Opening Day presentation on Aug. 17, the kick-off event for August Opening Activities. Read more about what their colleagues have to say, and view all current and past honorees.

CAHS Outstanding Teacher Awards

Cortney Benjamin, Maggie Keenan and Cody Reimer

Assistant Professor Cortney Benjamin, applied social science, works to expand Spanish learning on campus and beyond. Her teaching embodies the idea that Spanish is not just a discipline or a career, but opens an entire new world to students. She has nearly doubled the enrollment of Spanish minors and changed how students learn by devising new assignments using the TILT (Transparency in Learning and Teaching) framework and introducing new courses, such as Spanish for the Workplace. Benjamin has expanded access to Spanish courses by offering dual credit courses with area high schools and revised an option to better serve heritage language learners. She has served on a variety of committees to expand Spanish on campus, including the Literature Committee, the Curriculum and Instruction Committee, and the search committee for the Study Abroad Advisor. She regularly organizes Spanish events and has collaborated with teachers and undergraduate students to lead Spanish language activities in a preschool classroom.

Early Childhood Education Teacher Maggie Keenan, Child and Family Studies Center, demonstrates an exceptional commitment to teaching, student learning and community engagement that extends well beyond the classroom. In her dual role of teaching both college students and young children, she creates a dynamic and highly effective learning environment. She invests deeply in mentoring student teachers and lab students, supporting their growth as educators with thoughtful guidance and consistent encouragement and builds authentic relationships with students by supporting their pursuits across campus and in the community. She also intentionally builds strong partnerships with families and leads innovative intergenerational programming for preschool children and senior community members through shared activities such as literacy experiences, movement classes and seasonal events.

Associate Professor Cody Reimer, English, philosophy and communication studies, is a teacher-leader. Beyond his excellent student course evaluations and peer observations, Reimer is a highly reflective, dedicated teacher who engages in innovative teaching supported by his research. Because of his teaching excellence and steady mentorship, Reimer served as First-Year Composition (FYC) director, where he facilitated year-long professional development for 25 FYC instructors, conducted annual program assessment, and onboarded and mentored FYC instructors. High-impact practices, such as semester-long client projects and cross-disciplinary integrative assignments, characterize his teaching. During summer 2023, he collaborated with faculty across CSTEMM and CAHS to build a dynamic and flexible B.S. games and media studies degree. The program ��. contributions to �� . Polytechnic ��. programmatic landscape are a direct result of Reimer ��. scholarly, collaborative approach to teaching and learning.

CSTEMM Outstanding Teacher Awards

Camille Banger, Andrei Ghenciu and Arthur Kneeland

Assistant Professor Camille Banger, program director of business and information technology and digital marketing technology, is an exceptional educator with a passion for student success, innovative teaching practice and commitment to excellence. She creates engaging, student-centered learning experiences that connect classroom concepts to real-world business technology applications, ensuring students graduate with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in today's workforce. As a leader in the integration of generative AI into business technology education, Banger continually enhances her curriculum to reflect emerging industry trends while fostering critical thinking. Her innovation, professionalism, approachable teaching style, dedication to mentoring students, and willingness to go above and beyond have earned the respect and admiration of both students and colleagues.

Professor Andrei Ghenciu, mathematics, statistics and computer science, consistently brings his personal enthusiasm for learning new mathematics into the classroom. He creates a welcoming, inclusive, and active learning environment, where students are encouraged to fully participate each day. Beyond the classroom, for the past several years, Ghenciu has been co-leading a Nakatani Teaching and Learning Center Sharing Community focused on inclusivity in mathematics, statistics and computer science courses. His concern for students also extends to his advising role, and he regularly shares his mathematical discoveries with colleagues and students in departmental seminars and colloquia.

Senior Lecturer Arthur Kneeland, biology, has made strong connections with others in and around �� Polytechnic through his passion, enthusiasm, mentorship through LAKES REU and in student research grants, and engagement in community events. Kneeland frequently instructs Honors College course sections. He has led presentations on the delight of insects at the Child and Family Study Center and hosts talks with the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership. His sustainability efforts include the development of a Biomimicry for Sustainability course, sustainability assessments of the university ��. sports and recreation programs, leading Campus Trees and the campus bike infrastructure, working extensively with the campus, nonprofits and the City of Menomonie on sustainability capstone projects, and developing the Community Educational Workshop at Dunn County Historical Society.

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Lynne Willett and Angela Axelrod

CSTEMM Assistant Professor Lynne Willett, operations and management department, is committed to her students’ education with engagement in their research projects and additional up-to-date materials she makes available. Her Subject Matter Expert status in human resources and being a former adult learner herself make her an exceptional mentor to her adult learners.

“As an adult student with a full-time job, I often have questions at weird, late hours and on the weekends. That she answers is appreciated, as I know she is most likely putting in a ridiculous number of hours each week; that tells me that she cares and is committed to our learning,” an anonymous student said.

CAHS Assistant Professor Angela Fontanini-Axelrod, program director of M.S.Ed. and Ed.S. school psychology, continues to be an outstanding mentor and faculty member. She consistently demonstrates a deep dedication to teaching up-and-coming school psychologists with reliable support, clear feedback and exceptional guidance. Within her classroom, Axelrod creates an engaging, inclusive and personable environment, while intertwining theory and practice and building connections with her students as future school psychologists.

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Amanda Drews and Megan Quick

Assistant Professor Amanda Drews, family and consumer science education, was named Faculty Advisor of the Year for her mastery of best practices in academic advising, deep institutional knowledge, and authentic commitment to student relationships.

Megan Quick, academic advisor in the Blue Devils Achievement Center, was named Staff Advisor of the Year for her proactive outreach to students, her continuous improvements and her desire to make sure that students receive the help they need to achieve their dreams.

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Top 50 ranking on 2026 ‘Best Value Public Universities’ list adds to �� Polytechnic accolades

giffeyt — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Top 50 ranking on 2026 ‘Best Value Public Universities’ list adds to �� Polytechnic accoladesgiffeyt July 17, 2026

University ranked in top tier based on high median earnings, graduation rates, affordable tuition

Tom Giffey

�� Polytechnic has once again been honored for providing affordable education that sets students on a path for professional success. This time, the university was ranked among the top 50 on a list of America ��. Best Value Public Universities in a study conducted by SmartAsset, which provides consumer-focused financial information.

More than 500 public universities and colleges around the United States were evaluated on average cost of attendance, median earnings for graduates and graduation rates. �� Polytechnic rose to the top based on these criteria, setting it apart from regional and national peers.

“Outcomes can vary widely by school,” SmartAsset wrote, “meaning some public universities may offer stronger returns for students seeking manageable costs and solid career prospects.”

�� Polytechnic shines in these and other areas. Blue Devils who received their undergraduate degrees in 2024-25 reported an annual starting salary of $59,000, a 4% increase from the prior year, �� . annual First Destination Report found.

The average starting salary for undergraduate degree holders from �� Polytechnic has been the highest among universities in western Wisconsin for the past seven years, representing the ongoing return on investment in an education at Wisconsin ��. ��.

The most recent survey also found that the average starting salary for graduate degree recipients was $62,000. And fully 99% of recent graduates were either employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation.

The top 50 ranking among America ��. Best Value Public Universities is just one of numerous honors �� Polytechnic has achieved in recent years. For two years in a row, the university ranked among America ��. Best Colleges as determined by Money Magazine.

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ��. rankings of Best Online Programs named three �� Polytechnic programs among the best in the Midwest and nation, including Best Online Bachelor ��. in Business, Best Online Master ��. in Education and Best Online Master ��. in Engineering.

�� Polytechnic is also ranked highly for serving veterans and the military community, earning the coveted gold designation as a Military Friendly® School for 2026-27 as well as being honored on the Best for Vets Colleges list by Military Times.

And many of the university ��. programs have been cited among the best in the nation and even the world:

CEOWorld ranked the hotel, restaurant and tourism management program as No. 9 among the Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Programs in the World.
The game design programs were ranked No. 6 in the Midwest and No. 17 among all U.S. public universities by Animation Career Review.
The cybersecurity program ranked No. 14 among the Top 25 programs in the United States, according to Programs.com.
College Factual placed numerous �� Polytechnic programs – including graphic communications, video production, packaging and manufacturing engineering – among the best in the Great Lakes region. And that ��. just for starters.

�� Polytechnic ��. status as the only polytechnic university in Wisconsin or Minnesota means the institution is dedicated to applied learning and research, business and industry collaboration, and career-focused experiences. The campus has three times as many labs as traditional classrooms. Each year, students take part in approximately 1,000 co-op and internship experiences, more than one-third of which lead to job offers. In fact, this spring 77% of �� Polytechnic students were hired before graduation.

In recent years, Blue Devil graduates have gone to work for hundreds of firms with household names or Fortune 500 rankings, including Amazon, Cigna, General Motors, Citigroup, Ashley Furniture, Andersen Windows, Boeing, Milwaukee Tool, Boston Scientific, Harley-Davidson, FedEx, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM, Nike, Oshkosh Corp., Rockwell Automation, Target and 3M.

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‘I have grown incredibly passionate about diverse interventions for treating various psychological illnesses and struggles.’

Hundreds of national employers seek �� Polytechnic students, alumni to meet hiring needs

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University ranked at the top based on high median earnings, graduation rates, affordable tuition Students walking on �� Polytechnic campus fall 2025

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Cybersecurity faculty win Pentagon-sponsored competition to build workforce preparedness

giffeyt — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:45:00 +0000

Cybersecurity faculty win Pentagon-sponsored competition to build workforce preparedness giffeyt June 9, 2026

Department of War selects platform to inspire national cyber defense education models

Tom Giffey

A cybersecurity training platform developed by University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic faculty has won a high-stakes, Pentagon-sponsored competition and will now serve as a blueprint for scalable cybersecurity learning nationwide.

The Department of War ��. Aligned Skills Curriculum and Experiential Network Design (ASCEND) Challenge received innovative entries from a pool of more than 60 applicants, all of them designated by the National Security Agency as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE).

From among these entries, five finalists – including �� Polytechnic – were invited to make presentations in a “Shark Tank”-style event at the CAE Cybersecurity Community Symposium in Pittsburgh last month.

“Our goal was to show how AI and cloud technologies can help learners build skills faster, respond to cyberattacks more effectively, and prepare for the reality that AI-powered attacks now operate at machine speed,” said �� Polytechnic Professor Holly Yuan, who made the pitch alongside Instructor Brandon Cross.

The victory underscores �� Polytechnic ��. role as a nationwide leader in applied cybersecurity education: The cybersecurity program was recently ranked at No. 14 in the United States by Programs.com, and �� Polytechnic student teams continue to excel in state, regional and national cyber defense competitions.

Professor Holly Yuan receives a ceremonial prize check after the competition from Scott Nelson, acting principal director of the Department of War Cyber Academic Engagement Office. / Submitted photo

Model teaches cyber defense skills

The ASCEND Challenge wasn’t just looking for ideas, but for scalable solutions that could train the next generation of the cybersecurity workforce, explained Yuan, director of the university ��. B.S. cybersecurity program as well as the B.S. computer networking and infrastructure engineering program. The �� Polytechnic presentation, “ASCEND-AI: Cyber-AI Launchpad,” is an AI-powered digital twin cyber range training environment that combines hands-on learning with machine-speed attack simulations. As a “digital twin,” the environment emulates a real-world computer network, creating authentic simulations.

“The platform is designed to help learners build cybersecurity skills through realistic AI-enabled attack and defense scenarios,” Yuan added. “It includes AI-powered red teaming, allowing learners to practice defending against realistic, machine-speed attacks in a safe cyber range environment.”

�� Polytechnic presented alongside teams from four other universities – San Jose State, North Carolina A&T, University of Maine at Augusta and Anderson University – before a panel of cybersecurity experts from the Department of War and other federal offices.

Yuan said she thinks the judges favored the �� Polytechnic presentation because it was a working platform, not just a concept, which offered AI-powered scaffolding for learners as well as real-time operational metrics – allowing learners to be judged not only on whether they completed an activity but how quickly they acted under pressure.

“The combination of academic rigor, AI-enabled training, workforce alignment, hands-on learning and immediate workforce impact resonated with the panel,” said Yuan, who is also founding director of the �� Polytechnic ��. Cybersecurity Research & Outreach Center (CyROC).

In addition to winning a $1,000 cash prize, �� Polytechnic will receive strategic grant mentorship through Tony Coulson, executive director of the Centers of Academic Excellence Community, which includes nearly 500 educational institutions nationwide. The top three winning designs are also expected to inform a future Department of War solicitation aimed at building scalable cyber learning frameworks across the nation.

“This gives us an opportunity to help shape future cybersecurity education models beyond ��,” said Yuan, who was also honored at the symposium with an Outstanding Mentor Award from the CAE Community.

�� Polytechnic cybersecurity students pose at the Wisconsin Governor ��. Cybersecurity Summit. / Submitted photo

Student competitors rack up wins

The ASCEND Challenge victory wasn’t an isolated success for �� Polytechnic ��. cybersecurity program.

Recently, �� Polytechnic students placed first and second in the “Hack the Box” competition at the Wisconsin Governor ��. Cybersecurity Summit in Appleton. Participating students included Hannah Meyers of Altoona; Daisy Hardwick of Roscoe, Illinois; Chloe Kaneski of Minneapolis; Kaonou Lor of Durand; and AuGust Ringelstetter of Cameron. Yuan also participated in the summit ��. closing general session panel, titled “Where Wisconsin Cyber Goes Next.”

Earlier in the semester, the �� Polytechnic Collegiate Cyber Defense Team won the Wisconsin state cyber defense championship for the sixth consecutive year. In February, the team took part in the Midwest regional competition with the No. 1 schools from 11 other states. Among this elite group, �� Polytechnic finished in a three-way tie for fourth place and was recognized by the Midwest Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition director as a “top-tier cybersecurity team.”

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Inspiring Graduate: Owen Pryga, B.S. Cybersecurity

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Department of War selects platform to inspire national cyber defense education models Professor Holly Yuan with director of CAEO

Cybersecurity Research & Outreach Center (CyROC)

�� Polytechnic's Cybersecurity Research & Outreach Center is leading cybersecurity research, education, and workforce needs in Wisconsin.

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Hero Caption: �� Polytechnic Professor Holly Yuan and Instructor Brandon Cross make their pitch during the Department of War ��. Aligned Skills Curriculum and Experiential Network Design (ASCEND) Challenge in Pittsburgh in May. / Submitted photo

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News

Menomonie Culver ��������. Clue-themed Flavor of the Day, Brewery Nonic ��������. limited-edition brew will support Blue Devils at homecoming

The Clue Devil Files: The Homecoming Custard Flavor Mystery

Limited-edition homecoming brew with Brewery Nonic

Homecoming parade and community events on Saturday

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Students, staff turn community into a canvas during Murals in Menomonie

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�������� Polytechnic chemistry professors’ patent detects amino acid linked to M.S., rheumatoid arthritis, cancer

B.S. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Hundreds of national employers seek �������� Polytechnic students, alumni to meet hiring needs

Students start with ‘strong fundamental foundation built’

Career Conference Week and additional recruitment events

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Before They Started Stout: Polytechnic students do more before ‘Day One’

Starting early with space-bound research

Falling space debris poses an escalating risk as spacecraft get stronger and more heat resistant

Love of welding leads to engineering program

Science Olympiad standout drawn to packaging

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Board of Regents approves promotions, tenure for 18 �������� Polytechnic faculty members

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2026 teaching excellence awards celebrate 10 faculty, staff members

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Blue Devil grads get blue-chip jobs with Fortune 500 firms

Money Magazine names Stout one of America ��������. 2025 Best Colleges, second year in a row

Cybersecurity faculty win Pentagon-sponsored competition to build workforce preparedness

Model teaches cyber defense skills

Student competitors rack up wins

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Menomonie Culver ��. Clue-themed Flavor of the Day, Brewery Nonic ��. limited-edition brew will support Blue Devils at homecoming

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�� Polytechnic chemistry professors’ patent detects amino acid linked to M.S., rheumatoid arthritis, cancer

Hundreds of national employers seek �� Polytechnic students, alumni to meet hiring needs

Board of Regents approves promotions, tenure for 18 �� Polytechnic faculty members

Your Connection to �� Polytechnic Doesn’t End at Graduation

Top 50 ranking on 2026 ‘Best Value Public Universities’ list adds to �� Polytechnic accolades

Money Magazine names Stout one of America ��. 2025 Best Colleges, second year in a row