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Career-connected learning: SkillsUSA brings nearly 400 middle, high school students to ��

goersab — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Career-connected learning: SkillsUSA brings nearly 400 middle, high school students to ��goersab February 25, 2026

Engineering, technical, design competitions prepare young people for future careers

Nearly 400 students from 41 middle schools and high schools across the state will put their engineering, technical and design knowledge to the test at the SkillsUSA Regional Competition at ��, Thursday, Feb. 26, and Friday, Feb. 27.

Students will compete in more than 35 events hosted by Continuing Education and Conferences. Using industry-standard machinery, devices and software across campus labs, competitors’ hands-on experiences help prepare them for their future careers – a goal at the core of Wisconsin ��. ��.

�� students will also build their leadership skills as they help coordinate judging and develop many of the challenges, such as the Team Engineering Challenge. Technical events include 3D printing, additive manufacturing, automotive service technology, carpentry, CO2 dragster, electronics technology, entrepreneurship, mechatronics, medical terminology, precision machining technology, robotics, photography and video production, welding and more.

Events are coordinated and judged by �� faculty, staff and students, SkillsUSA advisors, technology educators and alumni.

Media are welcome to cover the competition. Contact Youth Program Manager Tiffany Hoage at hoaget@uwstout.edu for a full schedule and location of events.

The competition will also host a Future-Ready Workforce Summit from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 26. Area business leaders, human resource directors, and recruiters from across Wisconsin will participate with SkillsUSA Wisconsin team members to discuss the challenges of finding and recruiting skilled employees and how SkillsUSA Wisconsin can partner with organizations and school districts to provide a pipeline of skilled and qualified future workers.

Career-connected learning in action

Career and technical student organizations (CTSOs), like SkillsUSA, are what ��. working in education, said SkillsUSA Wisconsin State Director Jake Mihm, technology and engineering consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

“When we think about career-connected learning and developing the whole child to be college and career ready, CTSOs are the perfect fit to round out a student ��. professional endeavors. Thank you to �� for hosting this event for more than 40 years,” he said.

Mihm, a 1998 �� education in technology and engineering alum, hopes the competition helps students:

Gain a sense of purpose and connectedness to what they are learning in their technology and engineering courses.
Gain a sense that there is more to learn outside of high school and that there is a wonderful variety of opportunities for them beyond secondary education.
Have a positive experience on a Universities of Wisconsin campus.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Students build leadership skills

Many student volunteers are members of student organizations, such as the Student Construction Association and the Technology and Engineering Education Collegiate Association, which provides leadership opportunities for future educators.

Students Jessica Heckenkamp and Lilly Douty are leading two volunteer efforts this year. Heckenkamp, a double major in manufacturing engineering and mechanical engineering, is the logistics lead for the Team Engineering Challenge, working with engineering technology Program Director Abhi Ghosh. Douty, a hotel, restaurant and tourism management major, is a SkillsUSA Wisconsin alum and has been helping to plan the regional competition.

“I hope the competitors take away from the challenge are the benefits of being able to solve a problem promptly, the value of teamwork, and gracious professionalism, which is the ability to be competitive whilst being a good sport,” Heckenkamp said. “The biggest benefits I see from young students getting to work within Stout are exposure to the college work environment and the confidence that they will get from knowing they can continue their learning and expand their skills up to the college level.”

For Douty, an events management minor, it ��. been a nostalgic experience planning the event. “It has reconnected me with my old SkillsUSA advisor and brought back many other sweet memories. It ��. been great to apply my HRTM skills I’ve learned in class to this event coordinator position. I plan to pursue a career in event management after college, so both HRTM and this campus position are equipping me for the future,” she said.

As a SkillsUSA alum, Douty ��. biggest takeaway from participating in the competition was the connections she made. “I connected with like-minded students from all over Wisconsin, many of whom are still close friends,” she said. “Beyond the friendships, I developed valuable skills such as public speaking, leadership and project management. Competing and collaborating pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me gain confidence in my abilities, both personally and professionally.”

The annual SkillsUSA State Competition will be held April 7-8, in Madison. �� faculty and students will be running the Team Engineering Challenge at the state competition.

SkillsUSA is a nationwide organization that provides educational programs, events, and competitions focused on career and technical education. Founded in 1973, Wisconsin SkillsUSA has 166 high school and middle school chapters. Its talent pipeline covers more than 110 trades, technical, and skilled service occupations, mostly related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

��'s College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management offers 26 undergraduate and 11 Graduate Studies degree programs, eight academic departments, the School of Management and the Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering.

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Engineering, technical, design competitions prepare young people for future careers SkillsUSA Regional Competition

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College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Excitement, accomplishment and potential are three words that probably best describe what you will experience here.

Tiffany Hoage

As the Youth Program Manager at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin ��. ��, I design and lead initiatives that help young learners discover their strengths, spark curiosity, and see themselves as innovators and problem-solvers.

Through programs such as STEAM summer camps, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), SkillsUSA, and Science Olympiad, students explore emerging fields, build technical and transferable skills, and gain confidence in their academic and career pathways.

By collaborating with faculty, student leaders, PK-12 and higher education partners, industry, and youth-serving organizations, I help expand access to high-impact experiences that develop future-ready talent and strengthen communities.

If you are interested in partnering, I welcome the opportunity to connect and explore how we can create meaningful impact together.

Bio Introduction: Youth Program Manager at UW–Stout collaborating with schools, industry, and community partners to advance PK-12 career exploration and workforce readiness.

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Degree: Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences

University: Mayo Clinic Graduate School

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Degree: B.S. Applied Science (Laboratory Management)

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Co-op Q&A: Amber Kuhn, IBM, Rochester, Minnesota

goersab — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:40:00 +0000

Co-op Q&A: Amber Kuhn, IBM, Rochester, Minnesotagoersab February 4, 2026

Computer science senior hired as a hardware developer before graduation

IBM, the largest industrial research organization in the world, has been at the forefront of innovative technology and systems for more than a century. Advancing from its earliest electric accounting machines to partnerships in space travel and cloud computing, IBM is a leader in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

At IBM in Rochester, Minnesota, �� computer science senior Amber Kuhn is completing her cooperative learning experience as a hardware development intern.

Kuhn, of Andover, Minnesota, will graduate in May 2026 and has accepted a full-time hardware development position at IBM, where she plans to continue growing her skills in industry while gaining deeper experience in large-scale systems and engineering practices, she said.

“This internship has reinforced my interest in the field of computer science and confirmed that I am on the right career path. I am grateful for the support from both �� and IBM, and I am excited to continue learning and contributing as I move into a full-time role.”

What interests you most about computer science?

What interests me most about computer science is the combination of problem-solving, logic and creativity. I enjoy building systems that have real-world applications, especially when software interfaces directly with hardware. I find it especially rewarding to take abstract concepts and turn them into functional, reliable solutions.

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

I hope to make an impact by contributing to well-designed, reliable systems and by building tools that improve efficiency and reduce errors for both engineers and users.

Long-term, I want to be involved in work that bridges software and hardware and that has tangible, real-world impact. Enterprise computing systems are a strong example of software and hardware with significant real-world impact. Large-scale server hardware, combined with low-level software, firmware, and automation tools, supports industries such as health care, finance, government, cloud services and research. These systems are critical because they must be highly reliable, secure, and scalable to support essential services and large volumes of data.

Through my internship experience, I’ve seen how internal software tools and automation can make a meaningful difference by streamlining workflows, reducing configuration errors, and improving system reliability. While these tools may not be customer-facing, they have a broad impact by supporting the engineers and technicians who build and maintain complex systems.

I hope to contribute to fields that rely on dependable infrastructure and high-performance systems, particularly enterprise computing and hardware-software integration. I am especially interested in building tools and systems that support technical teams and help ensure that critical technologies people rely on every day function reliably and efficiently.

What are your main roles as an intern with IBM?

My main roles include supporting hardware development and testing, assisting with automation and tooling, working with cross-functional teams, and contributing to projects that improve reliability, usability and efficiency of engineering workflows.

One project I worked on involved developing and improving internal tools to automate test setup and configuration, making bench setups more consistent and reducing manual errors. I also assisted with hardware-related testing and documentation efforts that helped streamline workflows for engineers and technicians.

These projects were primarily designed to support enterprise computing and infrastructure development. While the tools and testing work I contributed to were internal-facing, they directly support hardware platforms that are used across many industries, including health care, finance, cloud computing, government and research.

My team ��. work fits into a much larger system at IBM, where every part of the supply chain, from hardware design and manufacturing to testing, integration, and deployment, plays a critical role in delivering reliable systems. Each team contributes a piece that ensures these platforms can meet the needs of a wide range of industries and use cases.

By improving test automation, configuration consistency, and documentation, the work helps ensure that hardware systems are reliable, scalable, and ready for deployment in environments where downtime or errors can have serious consequences. In that sense, the impact extends beyond a single field and supports industries that rely on high-performance, dependable computing systems to operate critical applications.

The projects also supported engineering and technical teams directly, helping them work more efficiently and accurately, which ultimately improves the quality of the systems delivered to customers across these industries.

What do you enjoy most about your internship?

What I enjoy most is working on meaningful, real-world problems alongside experienced engineers. I appreciate being trusted with responsibility and having the opportunity to learn how large-scale systems are designed, tested and maintained in an industry environment.

What is challenging about your internship, and how do you face those challenges?

The most challenging aspect is the complexity of the systems and the steep learning curve that comes with enterprise-level hardware and software integration.

I face these challenges by asking questions, seeking feedback, reviewing documentation and breaking problems down into manageable pieces. I’ve learned to be persistent and proactive when troubleshooting.

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

�� . hands-on, applied learning approach has been especially valuable. Courses in software development, databases, and web programming, along with project-based assignments, have prepared me to work on real systems.

Projects where I designed full applications from backend to frontend stand out the most, as they closely mirror the work I’ve done during my internship.

A strong example of this preparation is my capstone project, Rock the Wall, which I completed the semester before starting my internship. Rock the Wall is a full-stack, web-based route management system designed for the Stout Adventures Rock Climbing Wall. The application was created to replace a manual Excel-based process used to track climbing routes and employee hours, which was time-consuming, error-prone and difficult to manage collaboratively.

The application serves multiple end users. Climbers can view currently set routes, track their progress, see leaderboards and climbing rankings, and leave feedback on routes. Employees can add, edit, or retire routes and log their setting hours, while managers have additional administrative tools to manage user roles and oversee wall activity. The system was built using JavaScript and PrimeVue for the frontend, Firebase for authentication, PostgreSQL for the database and GitHub for version control.

Designing Rock the Wall required me to think critically about user roles, data modeling, authentication, and usability, skills that directly transferred to my internship work. Building a complete application from backend to frontend gave me confidence working on production-level systems and reinforced the importance of clean architecture, collaboration and user-centered design. This experience has been foundational in helping me contribute meaningfully in a professional software development setting.

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�� marketing and business education students apply learning to make DECA conference succeed

giffeyt — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000

�� marketing and business education students apply learning to make DECA conference succeedgiffeyt January 20, 2026

Future teachers organize on-campus competition for high schoolers

Tom Giffey

While the 2026 DECA District I Career Development Conference was held just over a week ago, students in �� . marketing and business education program are already planning next year ��. event.

For 54 years, �� has hosted the conference, which prepares high school marketing students for future careers by challenging them to apply critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills to individual and team events. Likewise, �� students in the Marketing and Business Education Association (MBEA) are challenged to develop and coordinate the conference, which drew more than 500 students from 18 regional high schools to campus on Jan. 10.

Professor Debbie Stanislawski

“The most challenging aspect of the DECA event is preparing to implement a large-scale conference,” said Professor Debbie Stanislawski, program director for B.S. marketing and business education and adviser to the MBEA. “Coordinating logistics and ensuring everything runs smoothly requires significant planning and teamwork.”

Among those doing that coordinating this year was senior Ali Hruby, a marketing and business education major from Kennan. She agreed that the immense amount of time and effort required to organize the event are a challenge. “However, I really enjoy working with my colleagues during the setup process and seeing the conference run successfully,” she said.

Through chapters in high schools and colleges worldwide, DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. It has over 250,000 members in more than 3,900 high school chapters and 203 collegiate chapters. At the district event, participants competed in 20 individual and eight team events, encompassing topics such as accounting, entrepreneurship, business finance, restaurant and food service management, retail merchandising, sports and entertainment marketing, and more.

More than 500 students from 18 area high schools attended the Jan. 10 conference at ��.

Twelve-month effort

But long before the day of the conference, �� students had been hard at work for months, embodying the university ��. polytechnic mission by applying their skills to plan all aspects of the conference.

“Volunteering for DECA at �� is an incredible opportunity for marketing and business education majors,” said senior AnuTye Her of Eau Claire, president of the �� MBEA. “It allows students to gain valuable insight into how DECA operates while experiencing it from an adviser ��. perspective.”

After evaluating the just-completed conference, student organizers will make plans for the following year, including securing access to Memorial Student Center. Once the fall semester begins, MBEA members and officers will meet biweekly to keep the process moving.

Stanislawski said that coordinating the event “requires a diverse set of skills that mirror the real-world demands of teaching, advising and leadership.” MBEA students must do everything from implementing registration systems and setting prices to ordering awards and organizing opening and closing sessions — which includes securing keynote speakers and even making speeches to the attendees themselves. During the conference, she added, �� students help run the competitive events, facilitate social activities, make sure the awards ceremony goes smoothly and more.

�� freshman Victoria Birnschein was one of numerous marketing and business education majors who helped at the conference.

Hruby has helped plan the DECA conference for two years. “The day of the event is very busy and fast-paced,” she said. “We begin by making sure everything is set up and ready to go. As schools arrive, students gather in the Great Hall for the welcome session. Throughout the day, we help direct students, troubleshoot issues and ensure the schedule stays on track.”

This year, as social coordinator, Hruby helped keep the high school students occupied as they nervously awaited the events’ results. “My favorite part is watching students participate in their competitions and then seeing their excitement during the awards ceremony when their hard work is recognized,” she said.

Shaelee DeWitt, a sophomore marketing and business education major from Mondovi, said the conference was a hectic but fun-filled day. Though she was a first-time volunteer, not only did DeWitt help introduce keynote speakers, including Chancellor Katherine Frank, but she also helped tabulate competitors’ scores.

“I am excited for DECA Districts 2027 and can’t wait to make some improvements from this past year to make it even better experience for the students,” she said.

Winners and runners-up in each category advanced to the State Career Development Conference competition from Monday, Feb. 23, to Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva.

High school marketing students took part in events that tested their skills in accounting, entrepreneurship and much more.

Embodying the polytechnic approach

For Stanislawski, one of the most enjoyable parts of the conference is seeing the numerous �� graduates who are now high school DECA advisers. “Watching them lead and teach in their own classrooms is incredibly rewarding — it ��. a real showcase of the program ��. impact,” she said. “These interactions highlight how the hands-on experiences they had as students prepared them to become confident educators and DECA advisers, which is exactly what our polytechnic approach is all about.”

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Most gratifying, however, is seeing students — both high school competitors and college organizers — succeed through their roles in the conference.

“This hands-on experience not only provides insight into what it will be like to guide students as future DECA advisers, but it also aligns with �� . polytechnic mission — giving students practical, real-world preparation for their careers as marketing and business teachers,” she said.

The marketing and business education program is part of �� . School of Education, which offers nine undergraduate and five graduate programs, including on-campus and online options, along with five certificates and three certifications.

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Hero Caption: Shelby Johnson, a December 2025 graduate in B.S. marketing and business education, volunteered at the 2026 DECA District I Career Development Conference.

Debbie Stanislawski

Debbie Stanislawski is ��'s Program Director for Marketing and Business Education (MBE). In this role, she provides academic advising to all students in the MBE major, leads curriculum development and implementation, and teaches courses on assessment, curriculum design, and instruction. Debbie also oversees clinical experiences for aspiring educators. Additionally, she teaches leadership courses within the doctoral program and mentors graduate students in career and technical education, guiding them through their thesis and dissertation work. Before joining ��, Debbie gained valuable experience teaching middle and high school business in Wisconsin and Illinois. Her time in the PK-12 education system ignited her passion for preparing future educators. Debbie's research interests include instructional technology, particularly in exploring how educators at �� integrate generative AI into their coursework. She is also deeply involved in research focused on the comprehensive preparation of future teachers for their roles in career and technical education. In her free time, Debbie enjoys kayaking, hiking, training hunting dogs, and traveling.

Full Name: Debbie Stanislawski

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PHOTO ESSAY: ‘Good Design is Invisible’

goersab — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 13:30:00 +0000

PHOTO ESSAY: ‘Good Design is Invisible’goersab January 7, 2026

Industrial & Product Design students combine engineer-thinking and artistic expression

Abbey Goers

The warm, sweet, earthy smell of fresh sawdust, the roaring sound of bandsaws and ventilation hoses, and the shush-shush-shush rhythm of sandpaper on wood grain greet you as you walk down the long ramp tucked away on the first floor of the Applied Arts Building.

Tie your hair back and put on your safety glasses, because you’re about to enter �� . Process Lab. Each year, one thousand School of Art & Design students visit the Process Lab – a space for them to bring their creative concepts to fruition.

This week, industrial and product design students are building their final projects – “entryway assistants” – for their Product Form and Visualization course, led by Associate Professor Dan Neubauer.

Their entryway assistants need to at least hold one coat or other items their clients deem important. The project encompasses the full design process – market research, concept sketches, form studies, iterations, low-fidelity prototypes, and final models built of wood and metal.

“The unwritten course objective is the life skills that they’re building,” Neubauer said. Quoting design expert Don Norman, he adds that, “Good design is invisible,” meaning the “best designs are those that seamlessly integrate into our lives.”

Aaron Burnham agrees. “Most good designs we use, we don’t even notice. We don’t even think twice about,” he said.

Think of how often you enter and leave your home. How often do you hang up your coat or remove it from a hook to throw it on before stepping out into the cold? How often do you use an item as simple as a coat hook and not even appreciate its simplicity and utility?

Burnham ��. entryway assistant design is based on a link in a chain. “I was inspired by the simple shape and desire to create something that was sculptural and visually appealing, even when it isn’t being used as a coat hanger. It was important to me to create something that served multiple purposes, both functional and purely aesthetic,” he said.

He has two designs – one is 8 inches tall and the second is 16 inches. He initially thought of creating a 36-inch-tall chain link but went with the smaller sizes to keep it simple, while providing options.

Burnham is building the links of cherrywood and curved stainless steel pipes, with a chrome finish. The metal pipes are sunk into the cherrywood to join the two elements together.

The links are fixed to the wall via two posts inserted into the back of the link, so that it will sit out from the wall, giving it depth and making it appear as if the coats are floating as they rest atop the design.

Burnham researched CB2, a sister company of Crate & Barrel, but with a more eclectic vibe, he said. Many of CB2 ��. designs have Greek and Latin names, and Burnham is hoping to find a link – no pun intended – to the word “chain” as he decides on a name for his entryway assistant, which he ��. building for his fiancé, Hannah, and their home.

Across the lab, Alex Koszarek ��. freestanding 6-foot-tall oak-frame coat rack is designed for college students living in shared houses. The coat rack is 36 inches wide and 12 inches deep and can hold six jackets and six pairs of shoes. The sides of the frame are arched.

“My goal was to make something functional for tight, chaotic student spaces – something that would support coats, backpacks, shoes and other essentials without feeling bulky,” she said.

She researched IKEA as her design company, “focusing on their warm, organic aesthetic, and simple forms and clean lines that feel at home in any interior,” she said. She ��. waiting for inspiration to strike to name her design – possibly a Swedish name to follow IKEA ��. model?

To shape the coat hooks, Koszarek cuts and bends 16-gauge metal plates and mills out the oak frame, so the plates sit flush within. Working with Machinist Doug Stodola, she inserts countersinks to secure the plates to the frame.

She cuts and planes slats for the two shoe shelves and meticulously spaces the slats, forming a balanced latticework. Each shelf has a curved edge.

“The curved arch forms and layered shelves come from wanting the piece to feel friendly and easy to use,” she said. To create the arch forms, Instrument Shop Coordinator Deano Samens crafted a custom steamer for Koszarek – based on the concept of a garment steamer hooked up to a PVC pipe. The oak planks are placed in a pipe, which is filled with hot water. The wood is steamed for eight hours in a steamer. The planks are then clamped onto a curved wooden frame – crafted by Koszarek – to dry, forming the arch.

“Students learn that an idea might look nice on their laptop or sketchbook, but now the challenge begins of ‘how do you make it?’ How do you turn a concept into a real object?” Samens said. “That ��. the cool part about Stout ��. polytechnic model: Students are actively engaged in the making process.

“In their future careers, they may work with engineers who might say something can’t be done, but here, the designers can say, ‘Yes, it can. I’ve done it before.’ It ��. key that they learn their limitations here, as well as the steps they can take to succeed. These students have a grasp on what is possible,” Samens added.

The Process Lab is more than a wood shop. In one corner of the room, you notice heavy plastic curtains and the sharp smell of heat on metal. Inside the welding area, you don on a green flame-resistant welding jacket and helmet.

“The benefit of the Process Lab is that all the students are creating in one room. Everything they need to complete their projects is right here,” Neubauer said. “If I need to show or demo a tool, we can gather in one space. And if they need my assistance, I’m right here. We don’t have to walk across campus to another facility. Our classroom is right upstairs, and we come down to the lab when we’re ready for the build process.”

At a welding table, Jackson Killinger ignites a torch and practices connecting trial T-bars in preparation for creating metal shelving.

Having previously worked as a welder, Killinger ��. 83-inch-tall design is heavily constructed of metal. His entryway assistant mounts over the top of a window frame, with a wooden shelf that rests on top and another that rests on the windowsill. Two metal shelves sit at angles toward the base of the frame, serving as shoe racks.

His entryway assistant is inspired by Room & Board and Crate & Barrel designs, with clean, angular lines and a modern look. It is a gift for his wife, Caroline. As his client for the project, “She ��. given a lot of input to my design,” he said. Maybe he’ll name his design for her?

‘Engineer-thinking and artistic expression’

As a welder and woodworker, Killinger likes to work with his hands. “Industrial design allows me to be creative and use my skills. It ��. a good middle area, where I can have a reliable career,” he said.

Koszarek has always been drawn to hands-on problem-solving and creating objects that people interact with daily.

“Growing up, I analyzed how certain things were made, and I started thinking about how this thing could be made easier for interactions. Industrial and product design is a healthy mix between engineer-thinking and artistic expression, and that ��. what truly pulled me into the program,” she said.

On the flipside, up until about two years ago, Burnham didn’t know that industrial and product design was a career field.

“What drew me to industrial design was the fact that I would have the opportunity to work on projects that could create an impact on people ��. lives and solve problems that others might not recognize. I can work to understand people and apply that understanding in iterative and creative ways,” he said.

�� . School of Art & Design 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. �� also has a new program in game and media studies.

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Dan Neubauer is an Associate Professor of Industrial Design with over ten years of teaching experience in higher education. His academic and professional focus centers on sustainable design practices, specializing in the application and development of non-petroleum-based materials. Neubauer brings expertise in materials research, manufacturing processes, and furniture design, bridging innovative material exploration with practical, human-centered applications.

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Polaris, School of Education directors encourage grads to be proud as they ‘improve our world’

goersab — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:51:04 +0000

Polaris, School of Education directors encourage grads to be proud as they ‘improve our world’goersab December 22, 2025

Students share messages of community, kindness, belonging with graduates at Dec. 20 ceremony

Abbey Goers

Two alumni guest speakers and three students addressed 527 of their peers as they celebrated graduation from �� – Wisconsin ��. �� – on Dec. 20. During two ceremonies in Johnson Fieldhouse, the alumni speakers encouraged graduates to embrace the unknown and be proud of their Stout journeys as they positively impact their communities and the world:

Polaris Inc. Director of Industrial Design Michael Leighton (’02), B.F.A. industrial design, addressed College of Arts and Human Sciences and College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management undergraduates.
�� . Associate Dean and School of Education Director Shannon Donnelly (’00, ’05), B.S. vocational rehabilitation and M.S. education, addressed Graduate Studies graduates.

The three student speakers shared messages on the strength of community, sharing simple acts of kindness and belonging, and being a voice for others:

Sophia Moore, of Red Wing, Minnesota, B.S. applied social science, CAHS speaker.
Grace Rucker, of Oronoco, Minnesota, B.S. real estate property management and B.S. hotel, restaurant & tourism management, CSTEMM speaker.
Hanahh Eggum, of Menomonie, M.S. training & talent development, Graduate Studies speaker.

Embrace life ��. uncertainties

In his experiences in design, Leighton said he “found moments of uncertainty to be some of the most valuable, rewarding, surprising and impactful in my life and in my career.”

Michael Leighton, undergraduate ceremony alumni speaker

He offered graduates ideas that helped him navigate, embrace and get the most out of life ��. uncertainties:

“Stay curious: If you approach challenges with youthful curiosity, I guarantee you will learn something of value and surprise yourself along the way, while becoming increasingly comfortable with uncertainty.”
“Pursue your passion: Leverage, chase, and pursue your passion. It will guide your own unique path and be a reminder of what is most important to you.”
“Small hinges swing big doors: Never underestimate the value of the impact you can make in this world. The work you do and your actions and contributions matter.”
“Invest in your community: Paying it forward and taking a proactive, caring interest by contributing to the wellness of your community is worth the effort, and you will get back more than you give. An investment in your community is an investment in yourself.”

“It is now the obligation you own as a graduate of this great institution, to apply your knowledge, skills and craft to tackle life ��. challenges in ways that improve our world for us, our neighbors and for generations to come,” Leighton said.

#StoutProud is a way of life

When Donnelly first came to �� 30 years ago as an undergraduate and member of the women ��. basketball team, she admitted she was far more interested in being an athlete-student than a student-athlete. She had no idea what to major in, much less what career path to follow. But a conversation with a professor changed her life.

Shannon Donnelly, Graduate Studies ceremony alumni speaker

“She said, ‘If your plans of playing in the WNBA don’t work out, I think you should consider being a teacher.’ She suggested an intro class; I took it, and now I’m in my 26th year as an educator. All because a Stout professor saw something in me that I hadn’t yet seen in myself,” said Donnelly, whose first teaching job was in special education.

Donnelly soon returned to �� for her master ��. degree. “The relationships I had built and the support I experienced made it clear – there was no place else I’d rather be,” she said.

She has served in several leadership roles within education, including director of pupil services, high school principal and superintendent. And last spring, she jumped at the opportunity to return to �� yet again, this time as director of the School of Education.

“I didn’t hesitate. Coming back to the place that shaped my entire adult life was truly a dream come true,” said Donnelly, who on her first day back on campus “felt the true meaning of being Stout Proud. It ��. not just a slogan – it ��. a way of life.”

This core feeling was at the heart of her message to students: “Wherever you go, Stout Proud will forever be part of your journey.”

‘We lift each other up.’

Moore reminded her fellow graduates that �� “isn’t just a place where we earned a degree. It ��. where we learned what it means to support and be supported. To show up for one another. To build something bigger than ourselves.

Sophia Moore, CAHS student commencement speaker

“That became my legacy at this university. Being the loudest voice in any room, if it meant being a light for students who once felt like I did. Becoming a beacon for the lost. A wrecking ball to barriers that stood in their way,” said Moore, who was the director of Legislative Affairs with Stout Student Association.

“While Stout has been a cornerstone for teaching us what it means to take part in a community bigger than ourselves, I implore you to explore what this truly means to you,” she added.

“Our community at Stout is made up of people from many corners of the world, every background imaginable and every walk of life. And yet, we found connection, we learned from one another, challenged each other and grew together.

“That ��. the kind of community that doesn’t fade after graduation. That ��. the kind of community that carries us forward into our careers, into our neighborhoods, into the next chapters of our lives. It reminds us that no matter how big the world feels, we are never truly alone. We carry each other with us. We lift each other up,” Moore said.

Go in kindness

Rucker asked her fellow graduates to reflect on what makes them unique and what their purpose is. Reflecting on her own purpose, she shared a moment from her internship as a Disney cast member when she worked with Make-A-Wish children.

Grace Rucker, CSTEMM student commencement speaker

“There was one little girl I’ll never forget. Her family came to watch the fireworks, but every reserved viewing area was full. It had been a long, hot day, and sometimes the magic at Disney can start to feel routine – but not that night,” Rucker said.

She asked another cast member to cover her station, while she escorted the little girl and her family to one of the best spots she knew – a quiet bridge near Cinderella ��. carriage, tucked away from the commotion.

“I knelt down to her level, let her choose buttons and stickers and made sure her family had everything they needed. Then she looked up at me and asked, ‘Can I give you a hug?’ She wrapped her arms around me and whispered, ‘This is even better than I imagined,’” Rucker remembered.

From that moment, Rucker will forever carry a lesson: “Our purpose is often found in simple acts of kindness. That spirit of caring, of creating joy for others, is what I see reflected in all of us here today,” she said, looking out across the Class of 2025. “We share the same Stout values: resilience, creativity, professionalism and the drive to make things better.”

Helping others feel belonging

When Eggum transferred to �� during her undergraduate degree, she thought she would complete her classes, graduate and move on. “What I didn’t know then is that �� had very different plans for me,” she said.

Hanahh Eggum, Graduate Studies student commencement speaker

“Because of ��, I found my voice. I discovered passions I didn’t know I had. I uncovered strengths I didn’t realize were mine. This university didn’t just change my path; it changed who I believed I could become. And today, standing here, I am, and always will be, StoutProud,” she said.

Eggum returned to �� to manage Stoutfitters, the university bookstore. Her career then pivoted, and she went on to earn her master ��. degree. She is now the orientation coordinator and project manager for the Dean of Students Office, managing projects that strengthen communication, improve operational processes and enhance student experiences.

“My hope is simple: to help others feel the same belonging and encouragement and possibility that I found here,” Eggum said, encouraging graduates to “take every opportunity, even the ones that feel small, unexpected or uncertain, because you never know where it will lead you.

“As we graduate, we have the opportunity to extend that same support to others. To lead with compassion. To build workplaces and communities where people feel valued. To create change in ways both big and small. To use our voices, especially on days when someone else hasn’t yet found theirs.”

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Interior design program partners with Helping Hand pantry to highlight ‘essential campus resource’

goersab — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:16:07 +0000

Interior design program partners with Helping Hand pantry to highlight ‘essential campus resource’goersab December 16, 2025

Student design team reimagines pantry space to ensure peers have comfortable, warm experience

Abbey Goers

Two interior design students at �� are working to ensure their peers have a more efficient, comfortable and warm experience at Helping Hand Food+ Pantry, the university ��. student pantry.

Emma Walstra and Klaire Johnson – project co-leads who form the EWKJ Interiors team – reimagined the pantry space to create an “atmosphere that reflects the care �� places in serving its students.”

Jacqueline Bonneville, Emma Walstra, Lindsy Tomski, Klaire Johnson and Karrin Ruch

Their three-week-long project was part of Lecturer Lindsy Tomski ��. Educational, Civic, and Cultural Interior Design Studio course, which partnered with the pantry to simulate a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Students analyzed site conditions; met with pantry co-directors Associate Dean of Students Jacqueline Bonneville and Dean of Students Executive Assistant Karrin Ruch; and developed full design service proposals, including budgets, timelines and general design strategies.

“Our partnership with the pantry is a great opportunity for students to practice flexible design solutions. It provides students with invaluable, real-world design experience, while highlighting an essential campus community resource. We’re proud to support their mission and look forward to the continued impact of our collaboration,” Tomski said.

Among the studio course proposals, EWKJ Interiors’ design was selected for the redesign of the 480-square-foot pantry, which offers food, personal hygiene items, winter coats, school supplies and other items.

“Klaire and Emma ��. work reflects the heart of our interior design program and marks the beginning of many meaningful contributions ahead,” Tomski said.

A mood board and layout from Klaire Johnson and Emma Walstra's design proposal

When the official design and implementation process begins, Walstra and Johnson will gain meaningful experience in project management, coordination, and client relations, and will follow common practice in commercial architecture. Tomski also hopes the team will be able to collaborate with other disciplines across the School of Art & Design – such as graphic design to revisit ideas for a new panty logo and construction for any building needs.

With a cross-disciplinary approach, Walstra and Johnson can “help direct and deliver a truly holistic refresh for the pantry space. My role will be to guide them – not direct them – as they navigate the stages of this collaboration,” Tomski said.

Walstra and Johnson are excited to work on a real-world project with real clients, expanding their skills, refining their design process and working on their professional development. “This opportunity has been the most engaging project so far since we will be able to see tangible results and assist the food pantry with creating something bigger than ourselves,” Johnson said.

Helping Hand, which opened in 2018, is open to all �� students. It is located at University Services room 111 and operates with the support of volunteers from the Dean of Students Office and the Stout Student Association.

Donations can be made to Helping Hand Food+ Pantry during pantry hours or by appointment. The pantry is funded through the �� Foundation. Monetary gifts are also accepted. All funds go to purchasing food or supplies.

“The pantry does not exist without the student volunteers and the incredible generosity of our faculty and staff and the �� Foundation,” Bonneville said.

A welcoming space, designed for students

The project began last summer, when Bonneville reached out to School of Art & Design Director Aaron Durst to share the collaborative idea with faculty, in hopes that students or classes would wish to elevate the pantry space, allowing it to continue to meet the ever-increasing needs of students. Tomski jumped at the opportunity for her students to participate in the real-life proposal project.

EWKJ Interiors’ design was inspired by the pantry ��. request to create a more welcoming space, one that incorporated �� . visual identity and polytechnic spirit.

A flexible storage solution from Klaire Johnson and Emma Walstra's design proposal

“We chose a color palette that featured the Stout blues from the university logo. Our color and material palette also incorporates light wood, seen throughout the university ��. public spaces, such as our classrooms and the Memorial Student Center,” said Johnson, of Wabasha, Minnesota.

“The pops of orange complement those blues and are incorporated through signage or decorative plants to add color. By introducing biophilic elements, such as potted plants, we can create a more natural, welcoming and comforting environment,” said Walstra, of Waupun.

The small space and tight budget were the most challenging aspects of the design. The space limited the furniture and shelving configurations. EWKJ Interiors explored multiple layout options and considered circulation and accessibility before landing on a final floor plan. Their proposed design solutions “reimagined a space without breaking the bank, so the food pantry can use its funds for resources for the students,” Johnson said.

“The location is also subject to change, so it was challenging to make the space feel permanent while also using temporary design solutions, such as peel-and-stick tile, portable shelves, and decorative fixtures that are easy to install and uninstall,” added Walstra.

Walstra and Johnson also teamed up for the 2024 Fashion Without Fabric, when they won first place for their design “The Prime Divine.

Improving lives through creativity

Growing up, Walstra enjoyed playing Minecraft and creating structures within the game. “When I was looking into careers, I figured that interior design would be something I would be really passionate about because I could be creative while making an impact on people ��. lives and on the environment,” she said.

Johnson was always drawn to arts and crafts and wanted to incorporate that creativity into a future career. “In middle school, I was researching different career paths I could pursue. Architecture and interior design instantly caught my eye because I could combine creativity with making the built environment better for everyone in terms of aesthetics, accessibility and health,” she said.

A layout and flowchart from Klaire Johnson and Emma Walstra's design proposal

Both students will graduate in spring 2027. Walstra would like to work with a firm that focuses on restaurant design, earn sustainability certifications, and possibly take the NCIDQ exam, the industry ��. leading credential. “I hope to make an impact in the field by bringing new ideas and innovative thinking that will create meaningful and sustainable spaces,” she said.

Johnson plans to pursue a career in workplace and hospitality design, with a focus on retail, restaurant and office environments.

“I am especially interested in creating spaces that foster community and reflect the culture of the people who use them, while supporting the employees who bring them to life. My goal is to contribute to professional organizations that help spread resources and knowledge about the field to aspiring designers, as communication, opportunities and connections are the foundation of the career,” said Johnson, who hopes to someday start her own business.

“I like to have the freedom of creating spaces that feel my own and contribute innovative, sustainable and accessible design solutions that really take projects to the next level with an excellent support team by my side,” she said.

�� . School of Art & Design is one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. It 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. �� also has a new program in game and media studies.

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Student design team reimagines pantry space to ensure peers have comfortable, warm experience Interior design, Helping Hand Pantry project

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Jacqueline Bonneville

Jacqueline has been working in the areas of student affairs since graduating with her bachelor degree in 1994 from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

She worked at South Dakota State University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and now the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She has worked in the areas of housing, counseling, first-year programing, academic advising, orientation, conduct and dean of students office.

Jacqueline coordinated orientation at �� from 2000-2003. She then worked at UW-Eau Claire in advising, orientation and as their Assistant Dean of Students until returning to �� in 2017.

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�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

giffeyt — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry eventgiffeyt December 9, 2025

PC game ��. win highlights �� . globally ranked program

Tom Giffey

The creators of a computer game about a doomed submarine had a real-life sinking feeling last May as the date of the Stout Game Expo (SGX) approached. After months of work on the claustrophobic, cooperative game Dread Not, the team of 15 University of Wisconsin-Stout students were facing problems with their code which had broken an otherwise polished game.

It was a stressful situation, recalled Ryan Thiede, the game ��. art manager and original pitch creator. Not only was the game a capstone project for these soon-to-be graduates, but it was scheduled to be shared with hundreds of attendees at SGX, the region ��. largest game expo.

Fortunately, what Thiede described as “late-night heroics” from lead coder Ben Rowan and gameplay coder Jacob Richardt got the two-player networked game working, and it went on to win two awards, Audience Choice and Best Art, at the spring event.

“It ��. a crazy story, but it says something for the tenacity and drive from the people on the team,” added Thiede, who graduated in May with a degree in game design and development-art. “We went from an unplayable game to an award-winning capstone project, essentially, overnight.”

Six months later, the Dread Not team received more accolades, winning the award for best student entry at M+DEV, the largest game industry conference in the Midwest, which drew 1,500 attendees to Madison Nov. 7-8 and featured two days of expert-led panels and speakers, game showcases, workshops and networking. M+DEV served as a platform for the creativity, skill and scholarship generated by �� . globally and nationally ranked game design program.

At least 90 M+DEV attendees were either current students, alumni or faculty of ��. These included two faculty members and three alumni who made presentations and several dozen alumni who exhibited games, including three teams of recent graduates who shared recent capstone projects: Dread Not as well as Tubular!! and Mega Dimension Ripper 9000.

The latest student-built games will be ready for players at the fall semester SGX, which will run 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the Great Hall of Memorial Student Center on the �� campus.

Visitors play Dread Not, a game created in a �� game design capstone course, at the spring 2025 Stout Game Expo (SGX).

Expo showcases top-ranked program

M+DEV, which is organized annually by the Wisconsin Games Alliance, bills itself as “the hub for indie and AAA developers, industry professionals, students and casual gamers.” The event ��. sponsors include ��, whose undergraduate game design program is ranked No. 5 in the Midwest and No. 24 in the world by Princeton Review.

Unique among public universities in Wisconsin, �� offers bachelor ��. degrees in both the art and science of gaming: namely the B.F.A. game design and development-art and the B.S. computer science (game design and development concentration). Graduate students in the M.F.A. design program also can choose a game design focus.

�� is also home to the new B.S. game and media studies program, the only game-oriented media studies program in Wisconsin. The university also offers an esports coaching minor and was the first public university in Wisconsin to launch a varsity esports program.

M+DEV provides a valuable opportunity for the �� students, faculty and alumni to connect with each other and the game development community at large while gaining visibility for their projects, said Professor Andrew Williams.

Professor Andrew Williams

“Anytime you can get people to interact with your work, you are reaching your intended audience, and you learn how to improve your craft,” Williams said. “Game development is an incremental process and the more opportunities you have to talk with your players and build that community around your project, the better!”

Williams, whose game art has previously won awards at M+DEV, returned this year as a speaker. His presentation — evocatively titled “Building the Plane While Flying It: The Rapid Development of an AI-Powered Educational Game Series” — highlighted how a company he works with, immersionED, is using AI to create engaging history content for elementary through high school students. Through roleplaying as fictional historical characters in 70 scenarios, students can develop their historical thinking skills, Williams said.

“In the industry, AI use is highly varied as there is no ‘standard practice’ yet since we are just learning how it could be beneficial to speeding up workflows,” Williams said. “We may be moving into a new phase of its use as the industry is starting to understand it is not a solution to every problem.”

Other M+DEV presenters included Michael Tetzlaff, assistant professor of computer science, and �� alumni Jacob Schwitzer, B.S. computer science (game design & development concentration); Sam Baeseman, B.F.A. game design & development-art; and Mary Benetti, B.F.A. game design & development-art.

Benetti, graduated in 2021 and worked for four years at Field Day Lab, a digital learning game studio in Madison. At M+DEV, she delivered a presentation about how to create game art that looks beautiful even on computers and VR devices with lower technical specifications.

Benetti developed an interest in educational games during her �� coursework, which also gave her an understanding of the entire pipeline of a game project, from concept to release.

“I always felt a strong sense of community with the Stout game program, whether you're a current student or alumni,” she said. “The program also has a very motivated and positive set of faculty that push students to keep growing their skills, and M+DEV is the place to do it.”

She continued: “M+DEV provides a space to connect with like-minded creatives, be inspired by unique game projects, and learn about game skills and the industry through presentations. It ��. incredibly encouraging to see all the amazing projects underway in the Midwest too — there is a lot of talent in the area. The value of M+DEV has remained as strong as it was when I was a student. I go there to learn, grow and connect.”

In the game Dread Not, players must cooperate to survive in a sinking submarine. / Contributed image

Winning game an ‘intense experience’

Thiede, who now works as a 3D artist for Las Vegas-based Game Breakdown, conceived the idea that became Dread Not as a capstone project and pitched it to his fellow students last year. His goal was to create something that could be enjoyed by players of all ages — including people who don’t consider themselves “gamers” — and that fostered collaboration.

“It was a project that was meant to immerse and connect two people through an intense 10-minute experience,” Thiede said. The two players, a pilot and a mechanic, must cooperate quickly and effectively to solve multiple problems — namely dwindling oxygen levels and an angry sea monster — and reach the surface before their submarine ��. oxygen runs out.

And just as the game players must cooperate to succeed, so did the 15 �� students who created the game. At the helm was Sarah Ziebarth, who as the game ��. producer kept the project on schedule, balancing the team ��. workload while also completing her own lighting design and project marketing responsibilities.

Ziebarth, who graduated in May with dual majors in game design and development-art and computer science, praised how the students cooperated over the course of two semesters to overcome obstacles, add features and optimize the game.

“The game design and development program at Stout has always done an exceptional job of making sure both sides of development (art and computer science) work together in multiple classes throughout their college careers and thus learn the important skills of teamwork and communication,” Ziebarth said.

Thiede agreed, adding that �� . program allowed him to explore many different paths in the game design field. “The layout of courses grants you time to experiment to see what you like, as well as plunge deep into what you may choose to focus on: 2D art, 3D art, VFX, lighting, animation, technical art, etc.,” he said. “All are possible at Stout.”

Thiede said he was pleasantly surprised when, while chatting with industry friends at M+DEV, he was suddenly whisked to the stage to receive an award for Dread Not.

“Genuinely, I pictured my career to be filled with people telling me what to do, and me just doing it,” he reflected. “I never imagined having an idea of mine make it this far. The reason it has is because of the people I worked with at Stout — the professors, but more importantly, my teammates.”

Professor Seth Berrier, far left, and Associate Professor Kim Loken, far right, stand with some of the �� alumni who created Dread Not at the M+DEV conference in Madison. / Submitted photo

Associate Professor Kim Loken, who was co-instructor for the capstone course alongside Professor Seth Berrier, praised the Dread Not team for their success.

“Unlike the held-together-by-duct-tape world of their game, this team was high-performing and well-organized with clear goals, excellent communication and exceptional craft,” Loken said. “Their networked game, damage system and puzzle design challenged the programmers, and the artists excelled with a rigorously researched and realized 3D environment, enriched by a diegetic backstory and wry character details. We’re proud of the continued commitment they’ve shown to their work, polishing it over the summer for a Steam release and continuing to exhibit their work for direct engagement with players.”

Since its June release on Steam, the largest digital distribution platform for PC games, Dread Not has been downloaded more than 250,000 times.

Other members of the Dread Not team included B.F.A. game design and development-art majors Zach Adler, Eleanor Berg, Gabe Anderson, Elaine Kelling, Samuel Lambert, Ben Moon, and Jon Wolfe, and B.S. computer science majors Guinness Bruce, Graham Higdon, Victor Mondragon, Nathan Morgan-Shimmin, Jacob Richardt, and Ben Rowan. The team also collaborated with 11 students from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, who contributed original music, sound effects and voice talent.

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Hero Caption: �� game design alumni celebrate their winning game, Dread Not, at November's M+DEV game conference in Madison. / Submitted photo

Kim Loken

Kim Loken's industry experience spans civic, commercial, and residential projects. Her approach to each is further informed by a storytelling mindset cultivated in work for film and theater. In her prior architecture practice, she helmed a variety of adaptive reuse, historic preservation and new construction projects. More recent work focuses on the use of games as systems for analyzing complex problems, particularly those related to environmental issues. Teaching invigorates her practice and provides the opportunity to mentor young designers in a variety of disciplines.

Teaching Interests: Design thinking, interdisciplinary design, large-scale collaborative projects

Research Interests: Phenomenology, narrative-driven design

Professional Interests: Place-making, critical regionalism, cultural history and adaptive re-use

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Seth Berrier

Seth earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2012 where he worked with Professor Meyer in the disciplines of computer graphics and visualization. He also holds a B.A. in Music from the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University in Indianapolis. He is a classically trained tenor and an active participant in community theater in and around the Chippewa Valley.

Teaching Interests: Introductory programming courses, data structures and algorithms, software engineering, and computer graphics.

Research Interests: Seth is interested in using the visual power of graphics and visualization to bridge the pure technical disciplines of math and computer science with design and the arts. He has interests in design disciplines ranging from architecture to fashion and game design and seeks to develop new tools that enable the creative processes in these fields. He is also interested in advancing the primitive world of music visualization through the disciplines of formal music theory and form and analysis. In computer science, he is most interested in image based rendering and light field acquisition, photogrammetry and light fields for digital heritage, real-time photo-realistic rendering with graphics hardware and high-level shading languages.

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Curriculum Vitae: Dr. Seth F. Berrier CV (128.16 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Computer Science

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: M.S. Computer Science

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: B.A. Music

University: Butler University

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Designed to the Max: Studio art major wins Wisconsin State Park sticker design contest

goersab — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Designed to the Max: Studio art major wins Wisconsin State Park sticker design contestgoersab December 9, 2025

Logterman ��. design inspired by adventures with family dog

Abbey Goers

With a design inspired by her adventures with her black lab, Max, �� studio art major Jaelyn Logterman won the 2026 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission pass design contest, recently announced by the state ��. Department of Natural Resources.

“It is a privilege to know that my artwork will be displayed on a great deal of vehicles across Wisconsin,” Logterman said. More than half a million vehicles, to be precise. In 2023, a record-setting year, 518,846 Wisconsin state park stickers were sold. Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas receive more than 20 million visits a year.

Jaelyn Logterman with her dog, Max / Jaelyn Logterman

“Max has come along on every family trip. As a family, we enjoy visiting surrounding rivers, lakes and parks,” she said. “Chasing Max around throughout his adventures has helped keep my feet wet throughout my childhood.”

With more than 15,000 lakes, 43,000 miles of rivers and scenic Great Lakes shorelines, Wisconsin offers plenty of opportunities for watery adventures.

Logterman grew up near scenic Lake Geneva, in southern Wisconsin. It was the natural beauty around Menomonie that drew her to ��, as well as its School of Art & Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest.

“What I like most about the studio art program at �� is the range of different course options, the hands-on experiences and the accommodating professors,” she said.

Max explores a lakeshore / Jaelyn Logterman

The DNR-sponsored design contest is open to Wisconsin high school-age students. Logterman entered the 2026 contest last spring through a graphic design class as a senior at Delavan-Darien High School. The annual contest, now in its 35th year, received more than 150 submissions for the 2026 vehicle pass design.

In 2025, the Wisconsin State Park System, with more than 60 state parks, forests and recreation areas, celebrated its 125th anniversary.

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Designed to the Max: Studio art major wins Wisconsin State Park sticker design contest

Logterman ��. design inspired by adventures with family dog

December 9, 2025

Sabbatical recap: Charles Matson Lume, Studio Art, 2024-25

Celebrating a shared commitment and love of making art within community

September 16, 2025

Trailblazer Alumni Award: Leslie Barlow (’11)

'The arts aren’t just about aesthetics — they’re a tool for communication, reflection and change.'

August 27, 2025

Logterman ��. design inspired by adventures with family dog Jaelyn Logterman's design

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B.F.A. Studio Art

Train to become a successful studio artist. Apply your knowledge, techniques, and methods while pursuing a concentration in a studio art discipline.

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Game Expo, Senior Show, STEMM Student Expo cap fall semester with public demos, showcases

goersab — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 17:23:57 +0000

Game Expo, Senior Show, STEMM Student Expo cap fall semester with public demos, showcasesgoersab December 8, 2025

Students design custom controllers for unique racing games, puzzles, AR experiences

Abbey Goers

An Aesop ��. fables-inspired racing game, a haunted hotel and a futuristic repair shop are all on the menu for players at the Stout Game Expo, western Wisconsin ��. largest game developers’ event, featuring the creative works of about 250 University of Wisconsin-Stout students. SGX is from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall.

Come play games — from cozy tabletop experiences to intense 3D races and multiplayer competitions — all created by first-year to senior students in game design and development-art and the game design concentration in computer science, as well as M.F.A. in design students. All digital games will be available to play online after Dec. 10.

Students in the Exploratory Game Design courses, taught by Karl Koehle and Michael Tetzlaff, are exploring unique gaming experiences, including alternate controllers for their games:

AES-RACE: A cooperative four-player racing game based loosely on Aesop ��. fable “The Tortoise and the Hare.”
Hazard Hotel: A single-player puzzle game, in which a character is directed through an old, haunted hotel with the goal of repairing it.
Retro Repair: An augmented reality (AR) experience, where players repair gaming consoles in a futuristic, cutting-edge, zero-gravity workshop.
Clean Break: A comical two-player game, where one is a dinner plate trying to roll to the dishwasher, and the other, Mr. Ferguson, a crazy old man with a broom, tries to smash it.
Stars & Spurs: A playful shape-drawing adventure, where players control characters in a child-like imaginary play scene by drawing shapes and gestures into a Wacom digital drawing tablet.

Koehle teaches game design-art in the School of Art & Design, and Tetzlaff teaches game design-computer science in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management. Students work in teams, collaborating across degrees to develop their games.

“Michael and I had a collaborative teaching effort,” Koehle said. “Our classes were scheduled to meet during the same time, allowing us to provide critique and insights to each other ��. teams and assist students based on our own disciplines throughout the semester.”

The instructors selected the challenging design constraint to create unique gaming experiences, inspired by the novel interfaces and games on display at the “Alt+Control GDC” exhibit at the international Game Developers Conference.

Also running this week are the STEMM Student Expo from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall and ballrooms. Explore 300-plus STEMM students’ research in more than 100 projects across a dozen fields of study. The event is coordinated by the Hospitality Convention/Meeting Planning class.

The School of Art & Design Senior Show will feature capstone projects by more than 100 seniors from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. SOAD students will display their creative works in exhibits throughout Applied Arts and Micheels Hall.

AES-RACE

In Aes-Race, players race against each other as turtles and rabbits in three-wheel rickshaw tuk-tuk vehicles. Aiden Rogowski and Aidan Musil developed the physical steering controllers out of wood, PVC, microcontrollers and sensors. Caleb Budde led the racetrack development by programming tools to quickly revise the course design.

Two teams of two compete to complete three laps. Each team has a driver who steers, collects items, and performs tricks and drifts for speed boosters, while the saboteur places obstacles – like an exploding glue bottle – to hinder opponents and clear their own path. The game features custom controllers and takes place within five main levels – Funky Forest, Silly Swamp, Dizzy Desert, Whimsical Winter and Forest Mixed Tape.

Rogowski constructed the steering controllers at home – painted green for the tortoise team and pink for the rabbit team. They resemble bicycle handles, which turn via a caster swivel joint. A small sensor measures rotations processed by a microcontroller hidden beneath that updates player movements on screen.

Artists include Odessa Barreyro, who proposed the game idea, and KC Caron and Jess Haapoja. Programmers also include Jack Decker and Max Mike. The team collaborated on audio design with students at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Hazard Hotel

The development of the Hazard Hotel controller was led by Zak Suhajda, whose role was interface design, electronics and programming. Spencer Betchey was one of the programmers assembling the scenes and programmed interactions among the team.

To repair the haunted Hazard Hotel, the player acts as “The New Guy,” using an electrical switchboard to divert power and activate machinery as they slowly work their way to the top of the hotel.

“What makes this game unique is that the interface resembles a wire switchboard – think of an old-time telephone operator – to power the doors, elevator, lights, etc., in the video game environment,” Koehle said.

Suhajda ��. idea for the switchboard came about while working with Arduino controllers. “I wanted to create something simple, something that my dad would like to play,” he said.

Artists include Ben Musser, Antonio Garcia and Gregg Hammel, who created 2D and 3D art and puzzles. Programming was done by Donovan Hecimovich, Thomas Stolz and Sam Schreiter. The concept for the puzzle game was based on elements of four game ideas developed by the team earlier in the semester.

Retro Repair

Chloe Ferguson, an M.F.A. in design student, is the lead developer of the augmented reality experience, Retro Repair. The game focuses on the theme of “Right to Repair,” which gives consumers the legal right to freely maintain, repair, or modify their own products, such as automobiles, electronics and farm equipment, instead of having the original manufacturer provide repair service.

In this AR space, the player is a repair technician from the future, who uses tools to repair old, proprietary consoles. Tools at their disposal are a screwdriver, heat torch and wire cutters. They repair each console around the proprietary restrictions in their AR workshop.

Developers also include Connor Donnelly and Alex Lietha. The team mimicked the shape and feel of old consoles as well as an arcade-inspired color theme to give a nostalgic sense to their futuristic game.

“This is a collaborative process, a project based on teamwork,” Ferguson emphasized. “As a master ��. in design student, I can concentrate on the artistic aspects, while working with Connor and Alex, who are more versed in programming.”

Ferguson and Donnelly have both participated in the “Right to Repair” in a sense. Ferguson enjoys the creative freedom of building custom desktop computers, and Donnelly has adapted consoles and charging ports to suit his preferences. “The frustration we felt with some devices helped inform our design of our game. We can help to make things more accessible,” Donnelly said.

Stars & Spurs developers include artists Sam Kiewel, Seth Shaw and Jackson Hinshaw. Programmers Kara Defoe, Andrew Jones, Jasper Knutson, Iris Parke and Onyx Severin.

Clean Break! developers include artists Justin Bonelli, Maddie Honaker, Madi Moseng and Ethan Skoog. Programmers are Jack Belcher, Alex Tlougan, Riley Gaetz, Devon Russin and Dani Matthiesen.

�� . game design and animation lab spaces include a state-of-the-art Vicon Motion Capture Studio, along with many other labs, studios and galleries.

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Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty

February 16, 2026

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Computer science senior hired as a hardware developer before graduation

February 4, 2026

Royal Credit Union internship gives �� grad student opportunity to apply skills in data science, machine learning

M.S. applied computer science student finds workplaces experience aligns with coursework

January 29, 2026

Students design custom controllers for unique racing games, puzzles, AR experiences Game design, AES-RACE

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B.F.A. Game Design & Development - Art

Our collaborative program will teach you to develop 2D and 3D videogame and tabletop game assets using industry-standard software and hardware.

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B.S. Computer Science

Our B.S. Computer Science program offers project-based experiences and opportunities—from paid internships to hands-on Agile software development.

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Karl Koehle

Prior to ��, Karl worked over a decade producing animated video exhibits for use in trial. Cases included a variety of topics such as accident reconstruction, patent infringement, product liability, & demonstrative medical processes. He also devoted many years to athlete development as an alpine snowboard racing coach.

Karl joined �� in 2015 as a Lecturer in the Game Design program, teaching design foundation and game design classes. In 2023, he completed his master ��. degree at ��, and accepted the position of Assistant Professor. His thesis focused on affective responses in non-conventional human-computer interactions. Exploring the concepts of delightful design resulted in the production of two functional prototypes with novel interactions.

Teaching interests:
Game Art, 3D modeling, pixel art, exploratory games, senior capstone, course development for student engagement,
interdisciplinary collaborations, and mentorship through custom projects. Advisor for the Casual Gaming Club

Research Interests:
Delightful design, engagement, constructivism, and learning through play.
Current projects include both analog and digital systems, alternate controls, and interactive designs that surprise and delight.

Full Name: Karl Koehle

Job Title: Assistant Professor

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College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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Curriculum Vitae: Karl Koehle CV (122.52 KB)

Website: Pixel Art Map

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Design

University: University of Wisconsin–Stout

Degree: B.S. Film & Video Production – Animation

University: Grand Valley State University

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Michael Tetzlaff

Michael Tetzlaff is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin–Stout. He received his B.S. from Bethel University in St. Paul, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. His research interests include image-based computer graphics techniques and especially their applications in cultural heritage. He is the lead developer of Kintsugi 3D, an open-source software project for empirically based rendering of 3D cultural heritage artifacts captured using photogrammetry.

Full Name: Michael Tetzlaff

Job Title: Assistant Professor

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Interactive Computer Graphics Photogrammetry User Experience Design Game Design and Development

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science Department

Curriculum Vitae: Michael Tetzlaff CV (244.64 KB)

Website: Kintsugi 3D Project Website

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Computer Science

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: M.S. Computer Science

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: B.S. Computer Science

University: Bethel University

Degree: B.A. Physics

University: Bethel University

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SMART Scholarship recipient guaranteed employment upon graduation

goersab — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 15:02:19 +0000

SMART Scholarship recipient guaranteed employment upon graduation goersab November 17, 2025

Benningfield, mechanical engineering senior, honored to ‘protect our country’ as federal employee

Abbey Goers

�� mechanical engineering senior Heidi Benningfield received more than tuition and an internship through the U.S. military ��. SMART Scholarship program: After graduation, she ��. guaranteed a job with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program through the Department of War, previously known as the Department of Defense, covers Benningfield ��. full tuition and provides her with an annual stipend for room and board. She recently completed a three-month paid internship as a SMART Scholar Engineer with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

“I have a great respect for our military. To protect our country is an honor,” Benningfield said. “I knew I didn’t want to serve in the military, but I can serve in a different way as a federal DoW employee. Our mission is to support the war-fighter. In that way, I can make an impact to help protect our country.”

Benningfield, of Mokane, Missouri, will graduate in May 2026 and is guaranteed employment with the DoW. Her job will be at the Army ��. Redstone Arsenal Space and Missile Defense Technology Center in Huntsville. She hopes to earn her master ��. degree and carry out a career in defense systems.

The SMART scholarship program is a combined educational and workforce development opportunity for STEM students. The program ��. mission is to attract, recruit, develop, and retain top STEM talent for impactful civilian careers in the DoW, advancing national security and technical superiority through merit-based scholarships for service.

Supporting Space and Missile Defense Command divisions

What interests Benningfield most about engineering is how broad a field it is. “From design to 3D modeling, manufacturing and automation, to system design or sales, the positions are very broad – mechanical engineers do all of that. You can do and be so many things,” she said.

“I’m the type of person who likes to have her hands in every cookie jar. It ��. challenging. Nothing is easy or straightforward. But seeing something go from an idea to an actual implemented system is rewarding,” she added.

Defense systems also require all types of engineers, she said, from knowing the parameters of a project to understanding missile geometry for speed and velocity, or target accuracy and radar detection.

At the Space and Missile Defense Command, Benningfield interned in the Concepts and Analysis Lab, with a cohort of eight SMART scholarship recipients and full-time engineers.

She supported the Test Division and the Weapons & Protective Technologies Division. Her projects included building and integrating the systems and working on a test asset – the Finite Element Analysis, or FEA.

She also supported work on a two-stage light gas gun, testing scale models of missiles. “Much of my skills with the different tools we used came from different lab experiences at Stout,” she said.

With her full-time employment upon graduation, Benningfield will support those divisions for two years. After that, if she chooses to remain at the DoW, she may stay with her preferred division.

In summer 2024, Benningfield was a science undergraduate laboratory intern with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. She also worked on a project with Sierra Space in Madison, an aerospace and space technology company, machining a combustion chamber component.

Benningfield is a mechanical engineering tutor and has served as a lab assistant at �� . Machine Shop, assisting her peers with projects. “I like the hands-on work in the Machine Shop. Most engineers don’t know how to operate machines. The professors and lab assistants are always willing to help and take their own time to help. The professors want you to succeed,” she said.

She chose �� because it is the only NCAA Division III university that has both a mechanical engineering degree and a gymnastics team. She was on the team for two years and served as a student assistant coach for a year.

“I chose Stout because it felt like home. I felt like I could fit in here,” Benningfield said. “I like the small class sizes and the fact that you can meet one-on-one with professors. I’m grateful for my mentors here and the opportunities and polytechnic experiences Stout gave me.”

��'s 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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All stacked up: Ashley Furniture-sponsored project results in ‘better product’ developed by engineering seniors

Student team builds functional nonstandard pallet stacker to be implemented, replicated in company ��. facilities

January 5, 2026

Inspiring Graduate: Luke Mertens, B.S. Manufacturing Engineering, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Hired before graduation as a controls engineer at SMC Ltd.

December 23, 2025

SMART Scholarship recipient guaranteed employment upon graduation

�� mechanical engineering senior honored to ‘protect our country’ as federal employee

November 17, 2025

�� mechanical engineering senior honored to ‘protect our country’ as federal employee Heidi Benningfield

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

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Career-connected learning: SkillsUSA brings nearly 400 middle, high school students to ��������

Career-connected learning in action

Students build leadership skills

College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Co-op Q&A: Amber Kuhn, IBM, Rochester, Minnesota

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Cooperative Education & Internship Program

�������� marketing and business education students apply learning to make DECA conference succeed

Twelve-month effort

Embodying the polytechnic approach

Inspiring Graduate: Karolyn Waldman, M.S. Career & Technical Education

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‘Engineer-thinking and artistic expression’

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Materials & Process Lab

Polaris, School of Education directors encourage grads to be proud as they ‘improve our world’

Embrace life ��������. uncertainties

#StoutProud is a way of life

‘We lift each other up.’

Go in kindness

Helping others feel belonging

Fall commencement scheduled Dec. 20 for more than 525 graduates

Interior design program partners with Helping Hand pantry to highlight ‘essential campus resource’

A welcoming space, designed for students

Improving lives through creativity

B.F.A. Interior Design

Helping Hand Food+ Pantry

�������� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��������. biggest game industry event

Expo showcases top-ranked program

Winning game an ‘intense experience’

B.F.A. Game Design & Development - Art

B.S. Computer Science (Game Design & Development Concentration)

Designed to the Max: Studio art major wins Wisconsin State Park sticker design contest

B.F.A. Studio Art

Game Expo, Senior Show, STEMM Student Expo cap fall semester with public demos, showcases

AES-RACE

Hazard Hotel

Retro Repair

B.F.A. Game Design & Development - Art

B.S. Computer Science

SMART Scholarship recipient guaranteed employment upon graduation

Supporting Space and Missile Defense Command divisions

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Scholarships

Career-connected learning: SkillsUSA brings nearly 400 middle, high school students to ��

�� marketing and business education students apply learning to make DECA conference succeed

Embrace life ��. uncertainties

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event