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Engineering, technology professor researches impact of AI on students’ creativity, problem-solving

goersab — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:41:28 +0000

Engineering, technology professor researches impact of AI on students’ creativity, problem-solvinggoersab October 15, 2026

Future engineers use Meshy software for AI rapid prototyping of kindergartens’ ideal toys

Abbey Goers

The Alternative Uses Task, designed by psychologist J.P. Guilford in 1967, is a psychometric test used to measure divergent thinking, a core element of human creativity. It evaluates an individual ��. ability to brainstorm unique solutions to an open-ended problem.

With this method of measuring creativity in mind, �� Polytechnic engineering and technology Assistant Professor Kevin Dietsche is researching the impact of AI on undergraduate students’ creativity and problem-solving growth during a pilot study in his Design for Industry course.

“AI and emerging technology become tools that we use to foster creativity. But the question is, will AI aid in or harm the students’ creative process?” Dietsche said. “It ��. part of the experiential learning process – to show if a new method can work. There ��. no failure, but it ��. a test to see what works best; of finding a different approach. We’re looking for continuous improvement and to showcase our university ��. polytechnic advantage through research.”

The Design for Industry students used Meshy, an online AI software, for mid- and high-level fidelity rapid prototyping. Recently, 11 kindergartners from St. Paul ��. School in Menomonie visited the future engineers in the university ��. Woods Lab. They paired up to draw and build low-fidelity prototypes of their ideal toys, using arts and craft supplies.

The students then used Meshy to turn the sketches and photos of the initial toy prototypes into printable 3D models. Soon, they will meet with the kindergarteners again to see if the models accurately capture their young clients’ visions.

“The printed prototypes are part of the larger goal in the product development cycle to move students towards a manufacturable wooden toy, as the wood is the end product material that consumers are looking for. Meshy and AI are there to help them work through and flex their problem-solving muscles and work through iterations more efficiently,” Dietsche said.

The final prototypes will be manufactured out of ash wood donated by the City of Menomonie ��. Urban Forestry Board.

Benefits or setbacks of using AI for rapid prototyping on student creativity

Dietsche ��. research is part of a three-year, cross-disciplinary project supported by the G.A. Taft Manufacturing Engineering Endowed Professorship. Meshy was purchased through the professorship.

During next spring semester ��. course, one group of students will use AI, and one will not. Technology education seniors Annika Schlueter, of Oconto, and Miranda Johnstone, of Milwaukee, will serve as Dietsche ��. co-principal investigators. They predict each group will experience pros and cons and that the use of AI will have multiple effects.

Schlueter and Johnstone see the benefits of using AI for rapid prototyping. They think it can make the ideation and design process faster and allow users to focus more on other aspects of engineering design and development. However, while Schlueter supports finding ways to positively embrace AI in the classroom, Johnstone contends that it can hinder some learning experiences critical for students.

Schlueter, a teaching assistant in the Woods Lab in Jarvis Hall Tech Wing, thinks that platforms specifically designed for prototyping such as Meshy, are going to be career-changing in the future, especially for engineers. “I believe AI will be used more for rapid prototyping in large companies to help get ideas to customers as quickly as possible. I think the implementation of programs like Meshy in future classes could be a great asset because it would allow fast prototypes to be created, with the use of digital manufacturing to bring those ideas to life right away,” she said.

Johnstone believes that using AI can negatively impact how creative problem solving takes place and in turn effect how students learn. “Understanding how AI impacts people in their critical and creative thinking is important to know how it can/should/should not be used to advance society. There is something important about cultivating a learning environment where students learn through trial and error, failure, experimentation, and discovery; a learning space that doesn’t necessarily exist when AI is used,” she said.

In past iterations of this project, Schlueter has often seen students wanting to create toys that already exist to some extent, like monster trucks or dolls. “I think the use of generative AI software can really broaden their ideas and help them create things that don’t already exist. AI could take common interests of the kindergartners and combine them into something completely different, which may create something very interesting to see and research,” she said.

Johnstone thinks that AI may yield more ideas for toy generation, but they will not be any more creatively successful than those created by people without using AI. “I predict that students who go through the creative thinking process to generate a toy idea on their own will, afterward, have a more well-rounded and creative mindset than those who used the AI to generate solutions for them, simply because they went through that generation phase on their own,” she said.

They will present their preliminary findings at the Wisconsin Technology Education Association conference next spring.

Kids’ and their college friends’ toy designs

Encouraged by Dietsche to be as creative as they wanted to be, the kindergarten and college student pairs made toys with paper straws, Play-Doh, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, markers and craft foam.

Here are some of their designs:

Jace and Tristan formed a T-rex head out of green and brown Play-Doh and mounted it on the top of a cardboard race car that will eat bugs. Because Jace likes dinosaurs but doesn’t like bugs, of course.
Murdock and Michael constructed a brown truck. The kindergartner and college friend made a good team, helping each other pick up Play-Doh bits that rolled off the table.
Karis, Silu and Brendan made a magical purple and pink glitter-spraying wand, topped with a heart.
Raegan and Trenton crafted a red unicorn on cardboard wheels. Even the kids noticed that cars and animals are popular themes.
Josie and Dio created a brown and black bunny, inspired by Josie ��. own bunny, Shyly.
Madelyn and Mackenzie rolled out strips of Play-Doh and made a rainbow desk for Barbie and a chair with a seat in the shape of a sun – a very cheerful spot to study for the world ��. most famous doll.
Everett, Nolan and Caleb crafted blue and green ancient Greek-style helmets with red visors made of Play-Doh for miniature warriors.
Zyla and Andrea built Bob the Turtle. He ��. purple and pink with googly eyes and looks like a good animal friend to talk to.

�� Polytechnic ��. Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering is home to five ABET-accredited programs that also include computer and electrical engineering, engineering technology and plastics engineering, as well as a sixth bachelor ��. program in packaging. A master ��. in manufacturing engineering is available on campus or online.

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Future engineers use Meshy software for AI rapid prototyping of kindergartens’ ideal toys Engineering Technology, Kevin Dietsche GA Taft, fall 2026

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Kevin Dietsche

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Graphic design, interactive media senior awarded national AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship

goersab — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:11:38 +0000

Graphic design, interactive media senior awarded national AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarshipgoersab October 12, 2026

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

Abbey Goers

Communication design connects people to ideas or products through the power of storytelling, offering an entire experience in just a few short words or images. It is more than an advertisement. It is meant to cause people to pause and consider what they are seeing, with the aim of informing, inspiring, or stirring an emotional or behavioral response.

�� Polytechnic graphic design and interactive media senior Sam Mireles-Melgarejo was recently awarded a national AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship for her communication designs: a three-part poster series advocating for immigration reform on behalf of farmworkers and bilingual packaging inspired by Pajarete, a Mexican beverage tradition.

“I was honored to receive this scholarship, which will allow me the time to be more involved in important conversations surrounding social justice, representation, and design, while worrying less about the cost of college experiences,” said Mireles-Melgarejo, who has minors in graphic media and print management and Spanish.

GDIM senior Sam Mireles-Melgarejo was awarded a national AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship.

Nine award winners and five honorable mentions were selected from 204 applications. Among the winners were students from large art institutions, including Savannah College of Art and Design, Columbia University and Otis College of Art and Design.

“While our program is well known in the region, Sam ��. scholarship award proves that �� Polytechnic students produce work on par with the best in the country. Our graphic design and interactive media students embody the polytechnic experience by applying their skills across multiple media and collaborating with adjacent disciplines. Sam ��. projects and portfolio are great examples of the high-quality work coming from the Midwest,” said GDIM Program Director Katie Lupton.

AIGA, the professional association of design, together with DxD (Diversify by Design), are in the 31st year of the scholarship program, which encourages social and environmental responsibility and cultural awareness in the next generation of artists and designers.

Poster series strives to start productive conversations

Growing up in Abbotsford, in rural Wisconsin, Mireles-Melgarejo saw firsthand the effects of the agricultural industry on immigrant workers, who make up a large percentage of the industry but without the same rights as American-born farmers.

Mireles-Melgarejo ��. poster series depicts the harms and dangers that immigrant farmworkers face, despite being an essential part of the workforce, and is meant to advocate for social dialogue and productive conversations.

The series' red poster states, “They take the heat so you can eat.”

“Although this is a very complex issue, starting with acknowledging what these workers do for the food supply merits more than working in exploitative conditions without proper protections, both on a greater social scale and in the farm environment,” Mireles-Melgarejo said. “When viewing these posters, I’d like people to take a step back and take in the bigger picture. We are all people working together to keep our systems running, but I’d like to invite people to draw back the curtain behind why it is important to take care of those who put food on the table, regardless of status.”

Her main source of inspiration was the relationship between immigrant farmworkers and the environments they work in. Reminiscent of spaghetti western movie posters and film credits, the series has bold colors and graphics and features photos of immigrant workers in fields and orchards and phrases that cause the reader to pause:

A red poster states, “They take the heat so you can eat.”
A green poster states, “They kill the pests but get no rest.”
A blue poster states, “They work the farm but face more harm.”

Each poster also offers facts and statistics to accompany the statements, as well as a call to visit Farm Aid for more information.

“I tried to find organizations that have put the effort and resources into gathering the information necessary to advocate for this mission. Farm Aid, the organization that is featured in this series, is a nonprofit music festival that works to expand knowledge about agriculture, food justice, and taking actions to change the system for a more equitable and vibrant American farming industry,” Mireles-Melgarejo said.

“Among those viewing this series would be people who are drawn to advocate for food justice or those who may be unfamiliar with the difficulties of farming in general. This series tugs to a very specific situation, with the people working in these conditions still being moms, dads, sisters, brothers and neighbors,” she added.

Campana Pajarete shares traditions, offers representation

Mireles-Melgarejo created the brand Campana, Spanish for bell, to package Pajarete, a traditional Mexican crème liquor. Pajarete is made with raw milk, high alcohol by volume (ABV) sugar cane distillate, chocolate, sugar and instant coffee. Campana offers a safer and more accessible alternative to the experience, made with processed milk and a lower ABV content.

Sam Mireles-Melgarejo ��. bilingual packaging for Campana, inspired by Pajarete, a Mexican beverage tradition.

“What was once an alcoholic beverage that represented herdsmen ��. early day of work has now transitioned into a drink that represents gathering and community,” she said. “Campana encapsulates the social gathering that the origins of this drink have evolved into, with the target audiences being those who have tried the beverage in its traditional form, and are looking for a safer, more accessible alternative, or those who are looking to know more about the story of its Mexican traditions.”

Mireles-Melgarejo created the logo for Campana by carving a relief stamp of a cow and small birds, representing herdsmen ��. early mornings. The terracotta milk bottle features a bilingual label explaining the traditions behind Pajarete, including an outline of the state of Jalisco, where it originated. It ��. packaged inside a burlap bag tied with twine and a bell, also representing the start of the day.

“The bilingual packaging is meant to reach a broader audience and help them connect to the product beyond their personal desires. It helps people to see a representation of themselves, acknowledges their existence in the world and offers the preservation of their rich history,” Mireles-Melgarejo said.

Sam Mireles-Melgarejo ��. logo and wordmark ideation for Campana.

She researched firsthand accounts of the creation and meaningfulness of Pajarete through social media posts and stories. She also conducted a competitive analysis of similar products in the market, including Clase Azul, an ultra-premium tequila bottled in hand-painted ceramic decanters and capped with an iconic bell; and Five Farms, a farm-to-table cream liqueur made in County Cork, Ireland.

“I wanted to find out how to create a packaging experience that did Campana Pajarete justice without saturating the market with something expected. The design for Campana ��. packaging uses textures, like terracotta, familiar to Mexican artisanry, and a design that attracts with organic illustrations,” said Mireles-Melgarejo, who plans to graduate in fall 2027 or spring 2028 and is considering careers in prepress, color management, web design or packaging.

“Special thanks to the graphic design department and Nagesh Shinde for challenging my creative limits, the Multicultural Student Services office, Avigdor Edminster, Cortney Benjamin, and M. James Heu for their support in my endeavors and in the scholarship application process,” she added.

�� Polytechnic ��. School of Art & Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest, offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, as well as an M.F.A. in design.

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Mireles-Melgarejo ��. designs inspired by effects of agricultural industry on immigrant workers, Mexican beverage tradition Sam Mireles-Melgarejo, award-winning poster series

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Hero Caption: Graphic design and interactive media senior Sam Mireles-Melgarejo's award-winning three-part poster series advocating for immigration reform on behalf of farmworkers.

Katie Lupton

Katie Lupton is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and Interactive Media. She teaches graphic design, focusing on print, typography, experiential design, and design thinking courses. Lupton is the faculty advisor for the �� AIGA Student Group. She started her teaching career as a lecturer at �� and adjunct instructor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. After five years, she moved to the Myrtle Beach area and taught at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina.

Her studio practice combines print, pattern, packaging, and product design. The work aims to investigate relationships between design constraints and parameters within systems. The tactile nature of the work is heavily influenced by play and participation and how both can be incorporated into design solutions.

Lupton's work has been exhibited at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Can Can Wonderland (the first arts-based public benefit corporation in Minnesota), U.S. Bank Stadium, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, University of Wisconsin-Stout, and Coastal Carolina University.

Full Name: Katie Lupton

Job Title: Assistant Professor / Program Director

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Area of Expertise: Print Design Experiential Design Typography

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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Degree: M.F.A. Visual Studies (Graphic Design)

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

goersab — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 14:50:00 +0000

Menomonie Market Food Co-op meals boosted by animation faculty, students’ commercialgoersab October 6, 2026

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

Abbey Goers

Menomonie Market Food Co-op has seen a boost in guests recently after launching an animated commercial on social media, promoting its $6 Monday Value Meals. Available at both the Menomonie and Eau Claire locations, the meals provide a healthy, affordable option with fresh, local ingredients, and can be enjoyed in their family-friendly dining areas or as a take-home option.

The 45-second animated commercial was made in collaboration with �� Polytechnic animation and digital media students Alyssa Hills and Lin Fullen as part of their field experience at Aurora Bell Tower Studios LLC, owned by Assistant Professor Jesse Woodward.

Under the direction of Woodward, Hills and Fullen served as background artists, animators and illustrators.

“We’ve received a fantastic response to the commercial on social media, and we continue to see a steady stream of customers coming in for the meals. Jesse, Alyssa and Lin ��. encouragement, friendly demeanor and expert guidance truly set the tone. They absolutely captured our vision, perfectly representing our co-op as the friendly, fun and welcoming space that we strive to be every day,” said Marketing Manager April Aken, who, along with team member Measha Vieth, did voiceovers for the animation.

Animation and backgrounds by Alyssa Hills

For other businesses looking to collaborate with �� Polytechnic faculty and students, Aken said, “Go for it. They are an incredibly creative, kind and talented group. Supporting local talent is essential to a thriving community. Now, more than ever, it is important to recognize the value of human-made art and the unique heart and personality it brings to a business. You can truly see the time, love and labor they poured into this project, and it has made a wonderful impact.”

The commercial is featured on the Menomonie Market ��. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages.

“At our polytechnic university, working with a client and producing a professional animation gives students the opportunity to take what they learn and bring it into the industry. It gives students more to show on their resumes and portfolio websites. Of course, employers like to see the final animation, but they love to see the artist ��. creative and problem-solving processes too,” Woodward said.

Connecting with audiences through animation

In the animation, viewers are greeted by warm smiles and warm food. A group of friends – six animated fruits and vegetables – gathers around a table and invites others to join them at the Menomonie Market.

Hills thinks the animation element brought a spark to the commercial that other media couldn’t. “Animation is, in my opinion, undervalued as a medium. There are certain things that you can accomplish with animation that wouldn’t be as successful with other mediums. Connecting with broad audiences, for instance, becomes easier by creating engaging animations. With animation, you also have more freedom to execute effects and tell a story exactly how you want it. It ��. not like you see walking, talking food people in real life! But you can see them with animation,” she said.

Fullen ��. inspiration was the mixing of the Menomonie Market ��. values and the animation team ��. own ideas to bring the project to life. “Before we even touched a pen to page or presented our first ideas, we did market research. During the first few days of preproduction, I looked at common marketing ads for both local small-town shops and large branded companies to get an idea of what could be expected of us and to be prepared with questions that could lead to a more perfect idea of a final product. Then we looked into the Menomonie Market ��. past advisements to gain a better understanding of expectations and values the company might hold,” she said.

In the animation, Hills wanted the characters and the Menomonie Market to look as approachable as possible. She researched the organization and its value: Everyone is welcome. “That really influenced my creative decisions. I feel as though the heart of this animation was community, which is something that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I hope to continue to work on projects that are positive for the collective,” she said.

Hills and Fullen used Toon Boom Harmony, an industry-standard software for 2D animation, which Woodward teaches in his classes. They used Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, and Procreate to create highly detailed food illustrations and other animation. For sound recording and video editing, Woodward used Adobe Audition and Adobe Premiere, while the composer and music producer Apearl Kristiana used the program called Fruity Loops.

Turnaround and style guide for the Lemon character by Alyssa Hills

During their field experience, Hills and Fullen used the animation skills they’d developed in their courses, as well as managing deadlines, communicating with a creative team, and translating their client ��. desires into an advertisement they appreciate.

For both future animators, it was a special and unique experience creating the Menomonie Market commercial, and they’re thankful for Woodward and the market for the opportunity. “I really appreciate that a local organization connected with local artists to create something with human minds, hands and hearts. That in itself elevated the animation. I feel like it was a great way to help foster community and support the Menomonie Market as well as Stout students,” said Hills, who will graduate in December. This experience has interested her in pursuing promotional animations for local businesses as well as in Madison or the Twin Cities.

“The Menomonie Market is a local business that operates on the support of its locals. Stout, while also local, can provide a service in seeking to educate the population and, by extension, improve the local area. When those two mix, they create opportunities that are mutually beneficial for the company and the college, with students gaining hands-on learning experience,” Fullen said.

“The biggest piece of advice I can give to other students is to keep your head up high and believe that you'll make it. You may not make it where you want to go, but if I learned anything from this internship, if you persist, you’ll still end up doing something you love. Keep going!” she added.

�� Polytechnic ��. School of Art & Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest, offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, as well as an M.F.A. in design.

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Collaboration captures local business ��. vision, recognizes ‘value of human-made art’ Animation and backgrounds by Alyssa Hills for Menomonie Market Food Co-op commercial

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Jesse Woodward

Jesse Woodward is an assistant professor of Animation & Digital Media. He teaches various animation and 3D modeling courses, along with some design foundational courses. As the supervisor of the Vicon Motion Capture Studio, Jesse manages the graduate assistant and thrives to implement motion capture into the animation and game design programs. With experience teaching at his own high school, Jesse enjoys participating in the STEAM Summer Experience, and introducing them to industry-standard software and animation techniques. He is the faculty advisor for the student organization: Tea Time Animation Club.

Before teaching at ��, Jesse worked on several animations and visual effects projects including: “Star Trek Renegades” (Film VFX Animation), “Sonder” (Animated Short Film), “Sweet Friendship” (Animated Short Film), and “The Darkening” (Game Animation).

   Currently, Jesse is working on:
   -Director and producer of “Glow” (Animation Short Film)
  Aurora Bell Tower Studios
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   -Animator & digital artist on an unannounced Sci-Fi Film with Tim Russ as director and Jon Macht as producer

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Degree: M.F.A. Animation & Visual Effects

University: Academy of Art University

Degree: B.S. Communication

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National art competition victory puts �� Polytechnic student ��. autumn illustration on greeting card

giffeyt — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:30:00 +0000

National art competition victory puts �� Polytechnic student ��. autumn illustration on greeting card giffeyt October 5, 2026

Student wins $10,000 scholarship, blends artistic talent with interest in hospitality, architecture

Tom Giffey

An autumn-themed artwork by a University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic student will soon be featured on a greeting card produced by the Gallery Collection, a leading national publisher of holiday and greeting cards.

Aubrey Cronce, a sophomore from Wausau, also won a $10,000 scholarship as part of the 19th annual contest sponsored by the New Jersey-based company. Her artwork, a mixed-media illustration of decorative pumpkins created with graphite and color pencil, was chosen from nearly 6,000 entries nationwide.

Aubrey Cronce / Submitted photo

Cronce said she was elated and shocked when she was told she had won the competition. “I absolutely adore the idea that my art is displayed on a greeting card because this way my art is being shared and appreciated beyond the art room,” she said. “All art should be appreciated, but it becomes difficult when its environment is limited. Being on a greeting card is the perfect way to share my artistic skill and efforts with others through the holidays with their loved ones across the country!”

The competition invited U.S. high school and college students to submit original artwork or photography, with the winner receiving a scholarship and having his or her design featured on a Gallery Collection greeting card.

“When we launched the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest in 2007, our goal was to celebrate creativity while helping students invest in their futures," said Leslie Leifer, chief marketing officer of Prudent Publishing Company Inc., which owns the Gallery Collection. “Nineteen years later, we’ve awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships and have been inspired by thousands of students who have shared their talent, imagination and unique perspectives.”

"Midsummer Spark" by Aubrey Cronce / Submitted image

Artist ��. work displayed in Washington, D.C.

Cronce has loved painting and drawing in a variety of mediums since early childhood, and her artwork has been displayed in venues ranging from the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and Aspirus Hospital in her hometown of Wausau to the U.S. Capitol after winning the Congressional Art Competition for Wisconsin ��. Seventh Congressional District.

“I love making art that makes a statement, and so my favorite style and theme of artwork of mine is patriotic,” she said, noting that her painting displayed in Washington, D.C., featured a little girl holding a sparkler in front of the American flag. “I am a very patriotic individual and love talking about tradition and respect for our country, military and elders.”

"Gone, But Not Forgotten" by Aubrey Cronce / Submitted image

Cronce originally planned to be a graphic design or interior design major when she enrolled at �� Polytechnic. Ultimately, she decided to pursue a B.S. real estate property management degree with an architecture minor.

“I loved the Polytechnic aspect that Stout offered because I believe I am a very determined and hands-on individual,” she said. “I am fast-paced when it comes to learning and completing tasks and work, so naturally Stout piqued my academic interest.”

As Wisconsin ��. ��, �� Polytechnic places a focus on applied learning, and Cronce said her affinity for art intersects with her chosen career path in real estate.

“Similarities between my artistic skills and my courses really overlap when it comes to residential renovation and property management as well as the architecture, detail and intention of homes,” she said. “I look forward to more classes this year that will follow this interest of mine.”

After graduation, Cronce plans to pursue a career in real estate with a brokerage or real estate firm in her hometown. According to the university ��. most recent First Destination Report, 100% of graduates of the real estate property management program were employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation, and they reported average starting salaries of $56,000.

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Engineering, technology professor researches impact of AI on students’ creativity, problem-solving

Future engineers use Meshy software for AI rapid prototyping of kindergartens’ ideal toys

Graphic design, interactive media senior awarded national AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship

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’

Student wins $10,000 scholarship, blends artistic talent with interest in hospitality, architecture Winning artwork by Aubrey Cronce

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Hero Caption: This mixed media illustration by �� Polytechnic student Aubrey Cronce was selected as the winner of a nationwide contest by Gallery Collection. / Submitted photo

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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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Applied mathematics student, archivist build resources for researchers, genealogists, community members Jake See, Victoria Stewart and David Statz

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�� Polytechnic esports student athletes bring their talent to coaching roles at Durand-Arkansaw High School

giffeyt — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:30:00 +0000

�� Polytechnic esports student athletes bring their talent to coaching roles at Durand-Arkansaw High Schoolgiffeyt September 23, 2026

Partnership reflects polytechnic principles, provides leadership experience

Two �� Polytechnic esports student athletes will bring their competitive and leadership experience to the high school level after being selected as coaches by Durand-Arkansaw School District for the 2026-27 esports season. Jonathan Myszka and Sam Mead have been recruited to serve as esports coaches for Durand-Arkansaw High School, bringing collegiate competitive experience, leadership and mentorship to the school ��. growing esports program.

DAHS Esports Coach Kaitlyn Bero, 2025 National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors (NAECAD) K12 Coach of the Year and Wisconsin High School Esports Association (WIHSEA) president, said the relationship began through connections with �� Polytechnic esports and later strengthened through visits to campus and continued collaboration.

“When the opportunity arose to bring in an assistant coach while knowing �� Polytechnic offers an esports coaching minor, it seemed like an amazing fit for both of our programs,” Bero said.

Myszka, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, competes for the university ��. Valorant team. Earlier this year, Myszka was hired as the Valorant coach at DAHS after completing his freshman season with the Blue Devils. During the spring 2026 WIHSEA season, Myszka helped students improve their competitive skills while emphasizing teamwork, communication, leadership and sportsmanship. Myszka has now accepted another coaching position at Durand-Arkansaw with their Fortnite team for the winter 2026 season.

Durand-Arkansaw High School's esports team and their coaches pose in the �� Polytechnic Esports Arena. / Submitted photo

“Coach Myszka not only met but exceeded expectations,” Bero said. “Myszka took time to plan drills, video on demand reviews and lessons that met each individual team member where they were. He encouraged students to take on leadership roles, speak out and speak up, making sure every voice was heard. Myszka not only encouraged growth of the team ��. skills in Valorant, but pushed them to be successful in academics and hold themselves and their teammates accountable. It ��. because of this success that we’re excited for the opportunity to work with more �� Polytechnic esports athletes in the future. I know that students coming out of the �� Polytechnic program not only care about the game, but the player behind the machine as well.”

Jonathan Myszka

Likewise, Durand-Arkansaw students said the student coach helped boost their esports program.

“Having Coach Myzska help me learn Valorant was awesome,” said high school senior Jae Hayden. “He was easy to talk to and really encouraging, which made the game way less intimidating. I’m glad he was part of my introduction to esports. It helps to have a coach in the room who can point out what ��. holding you back. Having them there really encourages the team to improve, and they can show us how to do that.”

Building on the success of Myszka ��. work with the program, Durand-Arkansaw is also looking forward to working during the fall season with Mead, a senior majoring in animation and digital media. Mead competes for the university ��. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team and brings extensive competitive and leadership experience, including a multi-year high school career, more than three years competing for �� Polytechnic esports, service as captain of the university ��. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team, and experience leading youth summer camps.

Sam Mead

“I’m most excited to give these players a fun, productive and hopefully successful season,” Mead said of the upcoming opportunity. “High school esports is something I remember quite fondly, and I would like to give that outlook to other young esports players. I plan to implement a lot of practice methods that we use here at �� Polytechnic. Video on demand or VOD review is key to the improvement process, but knowing how to properly watch past recorded gameplay is a hard practice to master. I plan to teach these players a lot of good strategies to do so.”

These positions reflect the growing connection between collegiate and high school esports, creating opportunities for student-athletes to develop leadership and coaching skills while supporting younger players in their competitive and personal growth. The coaching positions also showcase the career and leadership opportunities being created through collegiate esports programs.

�� Polytechnic Head Coach Aaron Froelich said he was excited about the continued collaboration with Durand-Arkansaw High School. “This partnership reflects our commitment to the polytechnic principles at �� Polytechnic while providing meaningful leadership opportunities for our students,” he said.

Froelich said both Myszka and Mead are well suited for coaching roles.

“Both of these student-athletes are going to be fantastic leaders and mentors at the high school level,” he said. “They bring high-level competitive experience along with the personalities and character needed to coach youth activities.”

The hires reflect how the university ��. polytechnic approach extends into esports, which provides students opportunities to apply coaching, leadership and program development skills in real-world settings. The partnership also highlights the growing impact of esports beyond competition, providing �� Polytechnic student-athletes with hands-on coaching experience while creating new opportunities for Durand-Arkansaw students to develop as competitors, teammates and leaders. Both programs hope the collaboration will continue to create pathways from high school esports participation to collegiate competition and career development.

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Partnership reflects polytechnic principles, provides leadership experience Durand-Arkansaw esports team at Stout arena with coach Jonathan Myszka

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Hero Caption: �� Polytechnic student Jonathan Myszka, back, coaches the Durand-Arkansaw High School Valorant esports team.

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School of Art & Design students take over Q.arma with juried ‘Fieldwork’ exhibition

goersab — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:50:00 +0000

School of Art & Design students take over Q.arma with juried ‘Fieldwork’ exhibition goersab September 16, 2026

Fine arts students display nearly 60 contemporary works in three-story exhibition in Minneapolis

Abbey Goers

Cradled in straps of pale linen, supported by a copper-piping frame, rests a foot-long double-headed spoon, forged and fastened to the lower portion of a white-tailed deer leg and hoof. Around the corner, adhered to the gallery wall, are rune-like letterings created with tape – shapes that seem so familiar, yet so alien. And the posterior view of a skeleton painted with bleach is stretched across richly textured mauve fabric near the slumped figure of a soft, headless man-like 3D creature.

For two weeks this summer, 46 emerging artists in �� Polytechnic ��. School of Art & Design took over three floors of the Q.arma Building in Minneapolis for “Fieldwork,” a curated exhibition featuring 57 works of art spanning painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, comics, photography, ceramics and metals.

Travis Bennett's 'Untitled (Dining Object No. 1)'

“The top-to-bottom ‘Fieldwork’ exhibit at Q.arma was a unique opportunity for our students to come together,” said Senior Lecturer Darren Tesar, program director of B.F.A. studio art and B.S. arts administration and entrepreneurship. “It showed that our studio art program and the School of Art & Design is a leading institution of contemporary art. We are not bound by dogma or tradition. It ��. important for people to see our students’ full range and complexity.”

Selected works from “Fieldwork” will be on display through October at the university ��. Library Art Lab, on the first floor of the Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center.

Engaging in every aspect of an exhibition

Alongside faculty, recent B.F.A. studio art graduates Ashley Hannasch and Xander McFaul helped install “Fieldwork.” They thought the Q.arma experience was a unique opportunity to engage in every aspect of an exhibition in a setting outside of the university – from transportation to curating to installation and final gallery preparations.

McFaul, of St. Paul, whose pieces in the show were “Pink, Pink, Pink, Pink, Pink Moon” and “This Is Our Last Song,” said, “This is significant on my resume and opens the door to more Twin Cities opportunities in my future. I encourage students to apply to as many of these opportunities as possible, as well as start curating their own shows in their own spaces and communities.”

A detail of Xander McFaul's 'Pink, Pink, Pink, Pink, Pink Moon'

Hannasch, of Lakeville, Minnesota, agreed. “Working alongside faculty and students strengthened my confidence in exhibition planning and gave me a deeper understanding of the collaborative nature of working in a gallery,” she said. “I encourage current students to seek opportunities both within and beyond the university, trust their instincts, and build relationships with fellow artists.”

Hannasch, whose exhibit piece was “Spineless,” noted, “I believe artists grow strongest when we communicate, collaborate and support one another as a community.”

Ashley Hannasch's 'Spineless,' bleach on fabric

Two current students, Travis Bennett and Cora Kauffman, think “Fieldwork” was a great opportunity to showcase their work to a bigger audience outside of campus.

“It helped me understand how my work exists within a larger gallery space and gave me more experience for future exhibitions,” said Bennett, a fashion design and development and studio art major, concentrating in metals and contemporary art jewelry.

Bennett, of Hager City, creates artwork with a Midwestern-Gothic flair, inspired by his material-based investigation of the relationship between the body, animals and objects of utility. His piece in “Fieldwork” was titled “Untitled (Dining Object No. 1).”

“Growing up in the rural Midwest has influenced my work a lot. I thought about the way we harvest our food, and I wanted to transform a deer's foot, something that is a byproduct of hunting, into a utensil and case that feels both functional and uncomfortable,” he said.

Cora Kauffman's 'Before you even know it,' packing tape

Kauffman is inspired by forms of language. “After my semester abroad in Japan, I knew I had to continue this line of work. I thought about the forms present in the written Japanese language and how to create something that invokes these forms while remaining as ephemeral as spoken language is,” she said. Her “Fieldwork” piece, “Before you even know it,” consisted of several site-specific installations of rune-like letters.

Kauffman, a studio art major from Chippewa Falls, was awarded a solo thesis show at the university ��. Gallery 209 this fall. “This experience was a great opportunity for me to learn how an exhibition is organized and installed. I was also able to learn how to manage my time as I installed my piece in the gallery,” she said.

Ella Borchert's 'Soft Male Figure,' soft sculpture

Collaborations to create trajectory

“Fieldwork” emphasized the university ��. commitment to preparing students for professional careers in the arts, highlighting the making, collaboration, curation, installation and professional practices that shape contemporary artists.

The exhibit included a juried collection by intermediate and advanced studio art courses, an independently organized exhibit by the student-run Fine Arts Association, and a series of pop-up presentations and sales by the Print Club, Comix Club, Metals Guild and more.

Sabrina Hagberg's 'Shards of My Reflection,' oil on wood

Tesar and Professor Alex DeArmond knew Q.arma had a history of exhibiting emerging artists’ works. “Owner Jono Query has a passion for providing art spaces to students, knowing how difficult opportunities can be after graduation. We wanted to create a connection. Studio art seemed to be the best vehicle for an exhibit,” Tesar said. “If we’re going to show our strength as part of the university, we need to show our work professionally in spaces like Q.arma. We need to provide access and opportunities outside of our campus for our students and create a trajectory for them for after graduation.”

Ashley Hannasch's 'Spineless,' bleach on fabric; and Bryan Irish's 'Clothesline,' condoms, found objects, clothesline, clothespins

After the exhibition, which was held June 6-21, Tesar and other faculty realized how much students want more external professional, collaborative and entrepreneurial experiences.

“There ��. only so much that an in-class curriculum can do. The experience allowed us to fill a gap that we can’t provide in the classroom – for the students to see how art plays out across a wide range of organizational models. The collaboration between Stout and Q.arma provided access for students to see and act with economy and culture in the private sector,” Tesar said.

“Every single student could put on an exhibition. Younger students need to learn that they can’t just follow; they have to create these opportunities for themselves as well. And we need to help them recognize it takes a collection of people to make these possibilities happen,” they said. “Creating the experiences gives students that confidence – it gives them the know-how. They become aware of the nuance and simplicity of making things happen professionally.”

Meghan LeMay's 'Bouquet Twisters,' leather, PVA size liquid sealant, oil paint, wood

�� Polytechnic ��. School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest, offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, and an M.F.A. in design.

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Fine arts students display nearly 60 contemporary works in three-story exhibition in Minneapolis Q.arma, Xander McFaul, Pink, Pink, Pink, Pink, Pink Moon

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Hero Caption: Recent studio art graduate Xander McFaul displayed 'Pink, Pink, Pink, Pink, Pink Moon' at the 'Fieldwork' exhibition at Q.arma.

Darren Tesar

Darren Tesar ��. activity—visual, curatorial and textual—can be understood as simply as a prolonged proximity maintained between entities, materials and/or processes. Prolonged proximities that produce a kind of pidgin—a grammatically simplified means of communication that develops between two or more groups that do not have a language in common. The result is a production and maintenance of signs that are doubly non-native, meaning the author and object/subject are both made into partial objects.

This notion of partial plays off all three of its possible meanings, namely having a particular liking or fondness for something or someone, that, by nature of its sentimentality (a form of bias or prejudice), relates to being or affectation only in part, not total; incomplete.

Notable activities include: phantoms (1996), MnArtists, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 2024; CLING RING, MirrorLab, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 2022; _storation of limbs, MnArtists, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 2021; NCAF Development Grant, Taipei, Taiwan, 2020; Yoke Anima, Seohak Gallery, Jeonju, South Korea, 2019; Curator: unsupportive, N/A Gallery, Seoul, South Korea, 2019: VAF Fund, Midway Contemporary Art, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 2018; Guest Curator (with Wen Li Chen): he’ (FOGSTAND Gallery) Taiwan Academy, New York, NY, USA 2018; Rough Sleeper, Sadie Halie Projects, Minneapolis, MN, USA 2018; bar-mouthing, Sadie Halie Projects, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 2106; bar-mouthing, (Exhibition text, They Rephrased the Question for Another Answer: Chun Kaifeng), Fost Gallery, Singapore, 2016; fromming (Exhibition text for Death is the mother of beauty: Charles Matson Lume), New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, New York Mills, MN, 2015; Refining Commitment, Serpentine Magazine, USA & DE, 2015; Guest Curator: Absolving the Object: Kaifeng Chun, Richard Frater, Song-yun Kim, Latent Spaces, Singapore, 2015; Time after Time, Market Gallery, Glasgow, UK, 2014; Nameless Forms, Latent Spaces, Singapore, 2014; Refining Commitment, XMS Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan, 2013; Reverential, published for the exhibition, Della Liquidezza Della Terra, Milan, Italy, 2013; Resident Artist at Seoul Art Space_Geumcheon, Seoul, South Korea 2013

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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.”

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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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Bridging the Divide student leader Zeman hopes active listening can bring humility to political conversations

goersab — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:50:00 +0000

Bridging the Divide student leader Zeman hopes active listening can bring humility to political conversations goersab September 1, 2026

Thompson Center ��. leadership program invites university students to civil discourse discussions

Abbey Goers

�� Polytechnic junior Brooke Zeman will join a select cohort of student leaders from across the 13 Universities of Wisconsin who will conduct monthly civil discourse discussion groups on campuses this fall.

The cohort represents the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership ��. program, Bridging the Divide, which brings students of different ideological backgrounds together to foster civil discourse and reduce partisan division through small group conversations about current political issues.

The 13 student leaders range from sophomores to seniors and come from a variety of academic backgrounds.

Bridging the Divide hosts four events a semester at each of the 13 Universities of Wisconsin campuses. Each session is free, student-run, and includes dinner. All students are welcome.

�� Polytechnic ��. events will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Student Center Ballroom B. The first event, “Let ��. Talk World Affairs,” will be on Thursday, Sept. 10. Following events will be on Tuesday, Oct. 13, Thursday, Nov. 12 and Thursday, Dec. 3.

Active listening can bring humility to the conversation

Zeman, a business administration major from Ladysmith, has always been interested in politics but hasn’t always enjoyed conventional political spaces.

“Sometimes these spaces feel like it ��. you against the other person, and it can feel like it ��. more of a personal disagreement than a productive conversation. The first time I went to a Bridging the Divide event, the atmosphere felt way different. I felt like my opinions were valued, and disagreements weren’t personal attacks. After experiencing this, I knew I wanted to be involved in a program that actively promotes civic discourse,” said Zeman, who has minors in economics, investments and finance and philosophy.

The number one step Zeman thinks people can take to bridge the divide is to actively listen.

“When people actively listen to others, even if they think they 100% disagree, they start to notice more commonalities in thought. Overall, it brings more humility to the conversation as well,” she said. “I hope everyone leaves each event with a little bit of a better understanding of the topics. I also hope that Bridging the Divide ��. mission to improve civil discourse translates into every attendee ��. life, and everyone can help make political conversations more productive by listening.”

Center for Applied Ethics

Our mission is to increase and enhance ethical conversations across the campus community.

�� Polytechnic ��. Center for Applied Ethics Director Xan Bozzo, assistant professor of philosophy, will serve as Zeman ��. mentor during her student leadership role.

“Bridging the Divide ��. main goal is to foster civil discourse and reduce partisan division. My main task is to help Brooke achieve these aims, whether by navigating the logistics of putting on events on campus, recruiting for them or just serving as someone she can bounce ideas off of,” Bozzo said.

Bozzo sees the program ��. goals as being consistent with �� Polytechnic ��. applied learning focus. “The best way to help people work through tough conversations – and have fun doing it – is to do so in a supportive and encouraging environment,” he said. “There will be disagreement, and we may not reach consensus, but the aim is to learn from others and come to appreciate how open disagreement, when civil, is beneficial and worthwhile. It can even be something to look forward to.

“Bridging the Divide helps students put this into practice. At Stout, we don’t just talk about how to reduce partisan division; we model it in concrete ways. Bridging the Divide is one of the many ways we do this,” he added.

Bridging the Divide has engaged more than 3,900 students in civil discourse across the Universities of Wisconsin since the program began in 2024. Student leaders are chosen based on the strength of their academics and their written essays. They are awarded scholarships through the program.

�� Polytechnic ��. Center for Applied Ethics serves to increase and enhance ethics across the campus community. Its programs and offerings include an applied ethics certificate, discussion societies such as Philosophers' Café, book clubs, guest speakers and workshops, consultations, grants and research participation, and research opportunities.

The university ��. Menard Center for the Study of Institutions and Innovations regularly advertises Bridging the Divide events. It is a nonpartisan, nonideological academic center dedicated to the study and discussion of civil liberties and related institutions and innovations through scholarly inquiry, educational activities and community outreach.

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Thompson Center ��. leadership program invites university students to civil discourse discussions Brooke Zeman

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Co-op Q&A: Katelynn Peterson, Michels Construction Inc., Lomira, Wisconsin

goersab — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:25:00 +0000

Co-op Q&A: Katelynn Peterson, Michels Construction Inc., Lomira, Wisconsingoersab August 26, 2026

‘Having confidence in yourself, in your team, in your work, matters.’

Supply chain management, business administration and construction management are interconnected industries that transform ideas and resources into projects that improve the places where people live, work and gather. Supply chain professionals ensure that materials, services and resources move efficiently, while business professionals help organizations make strategic decisions and manage people, finances and operations. Construction professionals then bring those plans to life by creating the physical spaces that support businesses, families and communities.

Together, these fields offered �� Polytechnic student Katelynn Peterson opportunities to develop versatile skills, explore meaningful careers and see how her work can have a tangible impact. As a supply chain management major, she served as a business administration intern at Michels Construction Inc., in Lomira. She was one of the first interns placed in this role and managed more than 100 Michels interns.

Peterson was even given the opportunity to take a day trip on a private jet to Syracuse, New York, to watch Project Yankee, where Michels is testing deep foundation pouring for Micron ��. new microchip facility – a $100 billion, 680-acre-plus project.

“The opportunities are endless with Michels,” she said. “If you want to try something new or go somewhere for more experience, Michels is more than willing to put you where you need to be. This company is incredibly flexible in developing a strong career through support, networking and experience.”

Peterson, of New Richmond, expects to graduate in spring 2029, and plans to one day work at the corporate level in supply chain management.

“What interests me is the operations behind companies regarding transportation, logistics and quality management,” she said. “I hope to make an impact in my field by setting a positive, professional, and respectful standard, while finding the best protocols and operations within any project or company.”

Peterson was one of 745 �� Polytechnic students enrolled in Career Services' Cooperative Education and Internship Program this summer. CEIP ensures structure, support and collaborative partnerships between employers, students, faculty and staff.

What were your main roles as an intern at Michels Construction?

As a business administration intern, my main role was managing 115 of the 335 interns in the program. I used Excel to manage all the information. I monitored and managed their time clocks for payroll processing using ExakTime, tracked dashcam alerts with Samsara and audited their receipts for thousands of transactions in Corpay.

I had to navigate best operations for handling all of this for future business admins. Mass communicating to so many interns was challenging – sending proper protocols, policies, standards, training guides and more proved to be more than difficult. It was hard maneuvering all the communication consistently amongst the number of employees, but after finding the best system, it worked out very pleasantly.

What is a project you helped with at Michels Construction?

I created the Business Administration Playbook. It ��. a standard operating procedure (SOP) document that contained everything I did for the summer as a training guide for future business administration interns.

With two other interns placed in this role, it was a lot of organizing and navigating the best processes throughout the three months. We created the guide for those who may need it in the future.

What did you enjoy most about your internship?

I enjoyed the networking and professional relationships, as well as friendships that I made. This internship presented endless opportunities for me to experience more – even developing relationships with executives and presidents. This gave me the opportunity to watch testing be done on-site firsthand for Project Yankee for Micron.

Currently, Michels is testing foundation pouring for 80-foot caissons, which are underground cement pipes. They are testing about 10 of these pours before pouring the thousands to come. It was neat to see a challenge firsthand and watch the engineers navigate solutions and what to do going forward.

What advice would you give other students who are given large responsibilities?

Be confident! Having confidence in yourself, in your team, in your work, matters. Even if you aren’t sure about what you are doing, you can be confident in navigating the next best steps to get there. Others see this motivation, and it will only make them more confident in having you experience different things.

Do you think your courses and experiences at Stout will help you to make an impact?

Yes! I do think my courses and experiences at Stout will help me to make this impact. The Career Conference Week that Stout hosts twice a year has so much potential for any individual, with any opportunity, in any major. The engaging, hands-on courses are informative and provide both soft skills and technical skills.

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