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Canon selects �� for exclusive Explorers of Light program with award-winning cinematographer

giffeyt — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Canon selects �� for exclusive Explorers of Light program with award-winning cinematographergiffeyt April 23, 2026

Shana Hagan, ASC, has worked on everything from Oscar-winning documentaries to hit sitcoms

Shana Hagan, right, is shown filming actress Amy Poehler for an episode of "Parks and Recreation." / Photo courtesy Shana Hagan

Cinematographer Shana Hagan, ASC, whose work ranges from Academy Award-winning documentaries to hit TV sitcoms, brought professional advice and hands-on inspiration to �� recently as part of Canon ��. Explorers of Light program.

The Canon program, which recruits world-class cinematographers and photographers as brand ambassadors, only visits about 10 campuses annually. Hagan came to �� April 13-15, speaking to video production students about her career, holding a screening of her work, working with video and photo classes on topics such as editing and production, and reviewing student portfolios.

Hagan was among the first six cinematographers added to the Explorers of Light program in 2024. Her 30-year resume as a cinematographer and director of photography includes work on TV series like NBC ��. “Parks and Recreation” and HBO ��. Peabody and Emmy-winning “Somebody Somewhere”; documentaries such as “Queen of Versailles,” “Taylor Swift: Miss Americana” and the Oscar-winning “Breathing Lessons.” Hagan won an Emmy for her work on the documentary “Little Richard: I Am Everything,” and was nominated for an Emmy for the hit reality series “Survivor.”

“My week at �� has proven to me that the future is bright,” Hagan said. “I was absolutely blown away with the quality of work from the students. I admire their passion for filmmaking and their thirst for knowledge.”

�� Lecturer Co O'Neill, left, and cinematographer Shana Hagan watch video monitors during a student-led video production exercise.

Cinematographer shares professional skills

Hagan offered lectures and hands-on workshops during her visit, focusing on topics such as camera coverage, lensing choices, lighting techniques and set etiquette. During a workshop with B.S. video production seniors on April 14, Hagan covered all these subjects and more while helping students record a short mockumentary-style video.

As Hagan offered suggestions, about 20 students adjusted lighting, prepared cameras and monitors, hoisted boom mics, and performed in the brief sketch, which will be used to introduce students’ films during the upcoming School of Art & Design Senior Show on Friday, May 8. During a break in the action, Assistant Professor Keif Oss explained that the workshop allowed Hagan to demonstrate her mockumentary-making skills. Among her many Hollywood credits are mockumentary-style series such as “Parks and Recreation,” “Arrested Development” and “Welcome to Flatch.”

“Embrace the imperfections,” Hagan told the students before they began multiple takes of the sketch. “Sometimes the imperfect makes it feel more real.”

Cinematographer Shana Hagan, right, consults a script with �� video production students Luka Sunjic, center, and Sam Cheney, left.

Early in the process, Hagan advised the camera operators to stand in the space and watch a take of the scene unfold with only their eyes, not through a monitor or camera eyepiece. “The No. 1 rule on set is to pay attention,” she explained.

The director of the classroom project, senior Luka Sunjic of New Berlin, said it was a privilege to work with someone who had such extensive industry experience.

“Shana was so knowledgeable and down-to-earth, and she really cares about the medium,” Sunjic said. “I learned a lot about her style. I think what I appreciate most about Shana and her work is how she is able to use cinematography to convey emotion in the frame.”

Sunjic, who will graduate in May, said he attended nearly every event Hagan held on campus. “Shana offered a unique perspective into the industry and offered a lot of helpful advice that I will take with me after graduation,” he said.

Cinematographer Shana Hagan, left, and Assistant Professor Keif Oss, consult before Hagan shares some of her film work with students.

Canon builds strong relationship with ��

Oss, who is program director for the video production program, said �� has built a strong relationship with Canon over the past six years, hosting annual fall visits that include hands-on production workshops using the latest cameras and lenses.

“Canon tends to choose schools where students demonstrate strong engagement and enthusiasm for the craft, which our students have continually shown during these interactions,” Oss said. “I frequently hear the engagement level by �� video production students stands out in a national crowd.”

Taking part in intensive workshops with an award-winning professional of Hagan ��. caliber is a clear demonstration of �� . polytechnic identity, Oss added.

“Bringing consistent, outside industry expertise into the classroom strengthens the connection between theory and practice, ensuring students gain immediately relevant, career-ready skills,” he said. “This kind of engagement adds meaningful value across every aspect of what defines a polytechnic education.”

Hagan said she advises students to get as much experience as possible in school and to work on as many projects as they can, taking each as an opportunity to make a new connection, hone a new skill or use a new piece of equipment.

“I love that this next generation of filmmakers has so many opportunities for work,” she said. “Studios and networks along with streamers and other online platforms provide so many different avenues for an incredibly diverse variety of content.”

�� . 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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Hero Caption: Cinematographer Shana Hagan, right, works with video production major Sam Cheney during a recent visit to ��.

Keif Oss

Keif has an M.S. in Career and Technical Education and an MFA in Digital Filmmaking. He is an Assistant Professor of video production and serving as Program Director for the B.S. Video Production degree. Keif teaches a variety of courses in video production and photography with both narrative and commercial aspects.

Keif has worked on a range of professional and commercial video projects as a senior video producer and owner/independent contractor of A Creative Advocate, LLC. His work includes television/web advertising, documentary, motion graphics and a variety of marketing-oriented materials. Keif ��. expertise and creative contributions include work for 100+ clients including Mayo Clinic, Seventh Generation, State Farm Insurance, Royal Credit Union and others.

Keif has also worked on short and feature film projects in various capacities including writing, producing, directing, camera operation and post-production/VFX.

Full Name: Keif T. Oss

Job Title: Assistant Professor / Program Director

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Area of Expertise: Video Production Cinema Production Photography Graphic Communications Cross-Media Graphics Technologies

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

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Curriculum Vitae: Keif T. Oss CV (408.56 KB)

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Degree: M.F.A. Digital Filmmaking

University: Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Filmmaking

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University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: B.S. Graphic Communications Management

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Recent �� graphic design graduate helps alumni business rebrand, prepare for expansion

giffeyt — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Recent �� graphic design graduate helps alumni business rebrand, prepare for expansiongiffeyt April 22, 2026

Polytechnic partnership empowers Minnesota company ��. update

Tom Giffey

�� . polytechnic approach gave industrial and product design alum Trevor James the skills to create his own business and carve out a niche in large-scale graphic installations. It ��. also what prompted him to connect with his alma mater when he wanted to rebrand and expand that business.

Now, with the help of recent graphic design and interactive media graduate Opal Lawrence, James’ Minnesota-based business, Amplify Graphic Installations, has undergone a relaunch.

James, a 2002 graduate, said his �� industrial and product design education helped him create a career in the graphics installation industry, first working for several companies while developing a broad skillset that reflected his experience at ��.

“�� has a polytechnic, hands-on way of doing things, which I’ve always just loved,” he said. “When anybody says, ‘Hey can you do this?,’ I say, ‘I’ll be able to figure it out.’”

Amplify Graphic Installations specializes in large scale commercial branding. / Submitted photo

In 2013, James started his own business, originally called Artistinu, which now includes his wife, Kristin, and another employee. Originally focused on installing vehicle wraps, the business has grown and evolved, with 80% of their work now involves brick-and-mortar installations. They use a variety of applications – including vinyl, acrylic, 3D letters, banners, wayfinding, silicon edge graphics (SEG) frames, and more – and mainly do installations for commercial businesses in Minnesota and beyond, including high-profile clients such as Wells Fargo, Target and US Bank Stadium. One client thought highly enough of the team that they flew them to New York to install graphics in Times Square.

Recently, James decided to rebrand the business as Amplify Graphic Installations, which is both more descriptive of what the company does and more easily spelled than Aristinu. It ��. all part of an effort to expand, he explained, which will allow him to spend more time on operations and growth and less time on installation.

However, other than hiring someone to design a new logo a few years ago, the couple didn’t make headway on the project. Ultimately, Kristin wondered, “How can we economically work with somebody to help us do a full rebrand?”

The answer came when they reached out to ��.

December 2025 �� graduate Opal Lawrence, shown with her senior capstone project.

Engaging with businesses of all sizes

The inquiry reached �� . Office of Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement, which supports the university ��. polytechnic mission by catalyzing applied learning to help businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and community organizations.

External Partner Outreach Manager Sarah Sippl coordinated a meeting between the couple and Associated Dean Aaron Durst, director of �� . School of Art & Design, and Assistant Professor Katie Lupton, program director for the B.F.A. graphic design and interactive media program. Lupton identified Lawrence, a former student, as the perfect candidate to complete the work.

“She ��. going to get it done, she ��. a great designer, she ��. super reliable,” Lupton recalled saying. “This is going to be a home run.”

The partners created and signed a scope-of-work agreement, and Lawrence was brought on as a limited-term employee to help Amplify Graphic Installations upgrade its brand. It needed new print materials, such as business cards and brochures. But it also needed a refreshed website, redesigned to highlight the business ��. new name and branding and to emphasize its accreditation as a 3M Preferred Graphics Installer, which indicates workers have passed advanced tests and specialize in installing specialized graphics such as those on walls, windows and fleets of vehicles. In addition, the business needed its social media channels – including LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook – to match the new look.

Inspiring Graduate: Opal Lawrence, B.F.A. Graphic Design & Interactive Media

Perfecting her portfolio, bringing thoughtfulness to design

Lawrence said she was pleased that Lupton, who she had as a professor for several classes, including her senior capstone course, thought of her for the opportunity. She talked with Trevor and Kristin and got to know them, their business and what they wanted to do with it. The team soon established weekly check-ins to discuss the project ��. progress.

“They already had a logo, but they needed everything else to have that new identity,” explained Lawrence, who graduated in December with a B.F.A. in graphic design and interactive media. Because of her coursework and professional experience – including a current internship with Forma, a Menomonie-based multidisciplinary design company – Lawrence had the know-how to create printed materials as well as the technical skills to reboot the company ��. online presence.

“This is not a weeklong, ‘cram it in and get it done’ process,” Trevor explained. “Opal does a lot of different things, and then we talk about them, she makes whatever changes are needed, and we move on to the next thing.”

An image from Amplify Graphic Designs' new website, created by �� graduate Opal Lawrence.

Business relaunches with new look

“It ��. been very good, everybody ��. been on the top of their game – very professional,” Trevor added. Lawrence has helped not only with adopting the logo, colors and branding but also with important behind-the-scenes details such as changing email addresses.

The experience has helped Lawrence apply and polish a wide range of skills. “It ��. been cool being able to handle and manage the communication side of things,” she said. “I’m doing the work, but I’m also setting up the meetings and confirming with them what they’re looking for. It ��. been interesting to have that very rounded experience – doing it all.”

Now, after several months of work, Amplify Graphic Installations has relaunched with its new name and new look.

“Working with Opal and learning about things that they can do with their design process and the business has been really great for Trevor and Kristin,” Lupton said. “I feel like it ��. been a positive experience and a great first example of projects for the future."

“There definitely could be more relationships and partnerships like this,” she continued, adding that businesses may not realize they can form such beneficial connections with ��.

These partnerships – whether class-based or stand-alone – are coordinated through the Office of Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the office at 715-232-2397 or corprelations@uwstout.edu.

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Hero Caption: Trevor James, a 2002 �� alum, recently contacted his alma mater for help rebranding his business.

Sarah Sippl

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John Deere will benefit from sustainable plastic research conducted by �� students, faculty

giffeyt — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

John Deere will benefit from sustainable plastic research conducted by �� students, facultygiffeyt April 9, 2026

Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process

Tom Giffey

John Deere machinery has been recognizable for its distinctive green color for more than a century. Student and faculty researchers at �� are working to ensure that John Deere is also known for a different kind of green: sustainability.

Led by Professor Wei Zheng, student research assistants in the B.S. plastics engineering program have been working over the past two academic years to study how John Deere might be able to use recycled plastic polymers to manufacture vehicles.

Zheng is an active member of the Society of Plastics Engineers, and it was through that organization that she formed connections with engineers from John Deere, which is based in Moline, Illinois. The relationship led to a research contract between the Fortune 500 company and ��, which was facilitated by the university ��. Office of Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement.

Beginning in August 2024, students and faculty have tested and molded batches of different types of recycled plastic to see if they meet the manufacturer ��. needs.

“John Deere is asking two key questions,” Zheng said. “Can recycled polymers be used to manufacture these parts? And can those parts meet performance requirements?”

The research is part of the company ��. commitment to incorporating more recyclable and renewable materials into its products so it can be ahead of the curve in its industry, she said.

Student research assistant Ryan Xu measures plastic samples.

Students create, test samples

This semester, two student research assistants have worked on the project. One of them, junior Stephanie Kuhn, explained that the process begins with pellets of different types of recycled plastic polymer that are fed into a massive injection molding machine in the Plastics Engineering Lab inside Jarvis Hall Technology Wing.

Heat and friction melt the pellets, which are forced into a mold where they take the desired shape. Once completed, these pieces are cut precisely into various testing specimens by Instrument Shop Supervisor John Buss, who also assists with machine-related issues.

Next, students subject the specimens to a range of tests, including evaluating their short- and long-term mechanical behavior under stress, as well as their thermal and physical properties to assess overall performance.

Kuhn, who is pursuing a double major in B.S. plastics engineering and B.S. mechanical engineering, said having an opportunity to do this kind of work as an undergraduate is what attracted her to ��.

“I just love being able to use all the machines hands-on. It helps being able to see and use the equipment,” Kuhn said. While already familiar with the injection units and testing equipment from her coursework, taking part in the research helped Kuhn better understand how the equipment operates, reinforcing what she learned.

Likewise, the importance of the research has been highlighted by Kuhn ��. classwork, which has emphasized the need for increasing the use of recyclable plastics. “It has definitely opened my eyes that we need to learn to be more sustainable,” she said. “If John Deere begins to use this, hopefully other manufacturers will, too.”

Sabbatical recap: Wei Zheng, Plastics Engineering, 2024-25

Building biodegradable, sustainable plastics

This semester ��. other research assistant, Ryan Xu, a Menomonie High School senior who is already taking classes at ��, said he appreciates the applied nature of the project, including being able to use advanced equipment and analyze data.

Professor Adam Kramschuster has also helped with the John Deere research project by setting up, optimizing and troubleshooting the injection molding process for manufacturing the samples. This work has involved training the student research assistants and helping with the machine during the molding trials.

“I love working with students. It ��. why I am here, and I enjoy it when they learn and take responsibility as their knowledge base grows,” Kramschuster said.

“Our labs are exceptional,” he continued, “and the opportunity to use them for industry projects is ideal in that the students get even more real-world training during their undergraduate experience.”

Student research assistants Ryan Xu, left, and Stephanie Kuhn work with an injection molding machine in ��'s Plastics Engineering Lab.

Sustainability key to professor ��. research

The kind of research happening in the Plastics Engineering Lab isn’t uncommon at ��. In fact, applied learning and research are among the pillars of the university ��. polytechnic identity, which also include business and industry collaboration and career-focused experience – all three of which are part of the John Deere project.

Zheng noted that two of her prior research assistants leveraged their experience on the project to find jobs in the plastics industry at EVCO and Phillips Medisize. “This project helped them to solidify their injection molding and material testing skills, giving them a clear advantage in the job market,” she said.

The research, she added, will continue through at least this August. “John Deere is quite pleased with the results we have generated so far,” she said. “John Deere has been very supportive throughout the process, including providing Stout the plaque mold and materials, as well as sharing their technical expertise. They even connected us with material suppliers and molders.”

Zheng ��. work on behalf of John Deere complements her ongoing research focus on sustainability. During the 2024-25 academic year, Zheng conducted sabbatical research in advancing sustainability in the field of plastics, focusing on the biodegradation of plastic materials and the recycling of thermosetting materials. Typically, thermoset plastics have undergone a curing process that prevents them from being remelted or reshaped, posing a challenge in the recycling process. However, plastics engineers and chemists researching the reverse crosslinking process are developing ways to break the chemical bonds, allowing thermosetting plastics to be recycled. Part of Zheng ��. research focused on finding ways to reverse the process, increasing the recyclability of this kind of plastic.

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Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process Plastics engineering students pose with injection molding machine

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Hero Caption: Student research assistants Stephanie Kuhn, left, and Ryan Xu hold samples in front of an injection molding machine in ��'s Plastics Engineering Lab.

Wei Zheng

Dr. Zheng is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Plastics Engineering Program at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Prior to joining ��, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She received a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University in 2008. She is the recipient of several state-funded grants including the WiSys Applied Research Grant and the G. A. Taft Professorship of ��.

Her current research focuses on the bio- and/or biodegradable polymers including rheology of polymer melts and glasses, physics of crystallization and glass transition, curing kinetics of reversible thermosets, and structure-property-processing relationship. She has published 32 refereed articles with more than 700 citations. Dr. Zheng has also been active in the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) including serving as the Councilor of the Applied Rheology Division of SPE and the President of Chinese American Society of Plastics Engineers.

Full Name: Wei Zheng

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Degree: Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

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Degree: B.S. Chemical Engineering

University: East China University of Science and Technology

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Room & Board furniture design competition carries �� students’ work from classroom to catalog

giffeyt — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Room & Board furniture design competition carries �� students’ work from classroom to cataloggiffeyt March 17, 2026

Decade-long partnership with Minneapolis furniture retailer creates real-world production possibilities for industrial & product design seniors

Tom Giffey

A decade-long partnership with Room & Board, a national furniture designer and retailer, has helped �� industrial and product design majors refine their skills under professional mentorship. Now, for the first time, a piece of furniture designed as part of the annual competition is available from Room & Board, creating a possible path for more Blue Devil creations to reach the retailer ��. catalog.

The competition is the brainchild of 2010 �� graduate Brian Linehan, a Room & Board merchandise and design manager. “The design competition started as an experimental exploration and turned into a pathway for future interns, full-time design hires, and a great way to stay connected to the community,” Linehan explained.

Originally envisioned as a group project, the program evolved into an individual competition that tapped into students’ growing awareness of – and passion for – the Room & Board brand. Winning designs have continued to improve as the competition has focused on specific product categories, ranging from lighting and storage to organization, media and bedroom furniture.

Micah Loder / Submitted photo

“These days it seems like all the students know exactly who they are designing for,” Linehan said. “Students come to the project kick-off with concepts already in their heads and questions they’re eager to get answers for. It ��. really been an amazing transformation.”

This year ��. competition was particularly special because it came as Room & Board was adding a coffee table designed by 2024 industrial and product design alum Micah Loder to its catalog.

Loder, now a research and development engineer at Dura Supreme Cabinetry in Howard Lake, Minnesota, said it was “incredibly surreal and rewarding” to see his class project, which he called Carver, become a real piece of furniture.

“I was really just overjoyed Room & Board saw the same vision I did when they saw the table next to their line of products,” Loder said. “Knowing any customer could walk through a Room & Board showroom and think the same thing I did when I first mocked it up: ‘This would look sweet as an accent in my living room.’”

�� alum Brian Linehan of Room & Board, left, discusses furniture designs with student Porter Christenson, right, as classmate Loyal Prach look on.

Competition bookends winning student ��. experience

The competition is part of the capstone course for soon-to-graduate industrial and product design majors. In keeping with �� . polytechnic approach — which encompasses applied learning, industry collaboration and career-focused experiences — the competition poses the real-world challenge of designing a piece of furniture that not only looks good but could potentially be manufactured and sold.

“Most capstone projects are geared towards inventing a new idea, creating something that changes the world, or embraces an exciting new manufacturing process,” Linehan said. “This project is really about form development, rather than re-invention. It definitely requires students to flex a less familiar muscle and stay within a tighter set of parameters.”

Industrial and product design senior Porter Christenson of Minneapolis said figuring out which conceptual risks to take with his design was the biggest challenge of the project.

“I spent a lot of time studying furniture trends and trying to understand how those trends could fit within Room & Board ��. visual brand language,” he said. “Large companies usually have a very established design language that they stick to pretty strictly, so there ��. always a balance between respecting that identity and pushing it forward.”

So, Christenson did his homework, interviewing Room & Board salespeople as well as staff from other furniture showrooms. “One of the decisions I ultimately made was to introduce rounded corners into the design,” he said of his dresser, which he named Bellevue. “That was a bit of a risk, because Room & Board is well known for their more defined, sharp-cornered forms.”

�� Lecturer Andy Janetski, right, and Professor Jennifer Astwood, center, look at student Jace Johnson's designs during a visit to Room & Board headquarters in Minneapolis.

The risk paid off: Earlier this semester, the Room & Board team chose Christenson ��. design as the winner. He received a $2,000 cash prize in exchange for Room & Board reserving the right to manufacture his design. Two other students were also honored: senior Loyal Prach of Milwaukee received $1,200 for his design, Edmond, while senior Aaron Hoyt of Menomonie got $700 for his design, Alberg.

“I was most excited about the possibility of the furniture actually being produced,” Christenson said. “One of the first things I wanted to do was tell my mom, because she loves Room & Board furniture. Being able to share that moment with her made it even more meaningful.”

In fact, Room & Board has bookended Christenson ��. �� experience. As a high school student touring �� with his mother, he was introduced to industrial and product design seniors working on the Room & Board project. He also learned about the university ��. partnerships with firms such as Milwaukee Tool. As someone with a childhood desire to be an inventor, the possibility of designing tools strongly appealed to him.

“Four years later, things came full circle,” he said. “I completed two internships at Milwaukee Tool, accepted a job offer at my dream job designing outdoor power equipment there a year before graduation and won first place in the Room & Board project. There ��. even a possibility that the piece could make it into their catalog, which is incredibly exciting.”

�� alum Reid Guse, right, a designer at Room & Board, gives feedback to a student in a �� classroom.

Professional mentors give in-classroom critique

This year, the project kicked off with a class visit from Linehan and fellow �� alum Reid Guse, a designer at Room & Board. A couple of weeks later, in mid-February, the pair returned to the �� classroom for a critique of the students’ in-progress designs. With them this time was another Room & Board designer, �� alum Andrea Meisner.

Founded in 1980, Room & Board is 100% employee owned and has 1,100 employees at its Minneapolis headquarters and at stores and delivery locations nationwide. The company focuses on timeless design and sustainable production, and more than 90% of its furniture and décor are created by American manufacturers.

During the on-campus critique, the three professionals offered feedback on the full-scale cardboard prototypes and digital renderings the students had created. The critiques focused not only on aesthetics but on practicality and cost: Simplifying a construction process or swapping metal elements for lighter-weight wood, for example, may make the difference between a design being feasible or not.

“As a team, we intentionally split up, to ensure we are giving a range of feedback. Design is subjective, and there are no right answers,” Linehan explained later. “We don’t hold back in the critique and make sure we don’t sugar-coat our feedback.”

The process helps reinforce a critical skill in the young designers, Linehan said: Learning to believe in your own decisions and stand by them.

Christenson mixed his own instincts with feedback from the professionals. At the mid-project critique, he recalls, Meisner asked him to try standing like his dresser, which at the time had relatively stocky legs. He found himself with his feet wide and planted, like he was braced for an incoming tackle. It was a funny moment, he said, but it made him recognize that the mid-century modern aesthetic called for a design that was less heavy and defensive.

“After that realization, I pulled the legs inward, made them slimmer, and refined the proportions so the dresser felt lighter and more consistent with the aesthetic I was aiming for,” Christenson said.

�� students and faculty members examine a coffee table designed by 2024 graduate Micah Loder, which is now being produced by Room & Board.

Prach, whose media cabinet design won second place, also found himself making significant design changes throughout the project. Room & Board ��. design language, he said, was more minimalist than his own approach. The process taught Prach to be adaptable and pushed him outside his comfort zone.

“Early on, I had to consciously step back from over-designed concepts and refine the piece down to one or two intentional focal features,” Prach said. “Instead of relying on surface complexity, I explored proportion, material breaks and subtle detailing to create visual interest. That shift pushed me to grow as a designer and better understand how restraint can strengthen a product.”

The mid-project review helped Hoyt refine the details of his modular shelving system, which took third place. “(The designers) encouraged me to explore different configurations of the base design,” he said. “This led to me coming up with a tall shelf, media shelf and coffee table trio.”

Lecturer Andy Janetski, who teaches the capstone course, said hearing directly from professional designers is valuable for students. “There ��. a massive amount of creative energy thrown at it,” Janetski explained. In return, he said, the students receive “feedback that ��. not academic in nature.”

For the Room & Board designers, the competition provides an enduring connection to their alma mater, where their design passions were first fueled. In fact, Guse, a 2018 alum, said taking part in the Room & Board competition as a student helped pave his own professional path.

“My interest in furniture design really solidified in the last two years of undergrad, which ended with the Room & Board competition and an internship at Room & Board the following summer,” Guse said.

�� students enter the Room & Board headquarters in Minneapolis, where they presented their furniture designs.

Competition culminates in site visit

Just a week after the mid-February critique session, the 17 students’ designs were transformed based on feedback and sometimes feverish work. On Feb. 19, a busload of �� seniors carried posterboard displays and one-eighth scale 3D-printed models of their designs into the Room & Board headquarters in Minneapolis. There they presented their designs to a cross-section of the company ��. staff, including their three �� alumni mentors.

The Carver coffee table, designed by 2024 alum Micah Loder. / Photo courtesy of Room & Board

Once their presentations were concluded, the design students received a behind-the-scenes tour of the headquarters, where among the products displayed was the coffee table designed by Loder. Seeing a fellow Blue Devil ��. design brought to life provided inspiration to the soon-to-be graduates.

“Winning this competition reminded me that I truly love what I do. It reaffirmed that the craft itself is what I enjoy most: the thinking, making and the constant refinement of ideas,” said Christenson. “In design, craftsmanship is really about the care and attention you bring to solving problems and shaping details.”

Such details are evident in the Carver coffee table, made in New Hampshire from sustainably sourced wood. The table is available on the Room & Board website.

The fact Room & Board is producing one of the �� competition ��. designs is encouraging for the future of the partnership, Linehan said.

“We are excited about the opportunity to present Micah ��. 2024 project as part of our assortment this year, and I am optimistic we can find another path forward with future designs,” Linehan said.

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Teaching Interests: DES 331 – ID3: Product Interface Design (2 sections) DES 231 – ID2: Ergonomics DES 205 – Design Drawing and Concept Visualization ART 256 – Slip-Casting for Designers and Artists DES 231 – ID1: Product Form and Visualization DES 333 – Professional Practice DES 405 – Advanced Presentation Techniques DES 431 – System, Environment, and Context DES 432 – Theory, Society, and Application DES 712 – Sustainable Design Practice SUST 432/632 – Global Sustainability Experience in Design & Manufacturing

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�� forms partnership with Alquist to adopt industry-leading 3D concrete printing technology

giffeyt — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:00:00 +0000

�� forms partnership with Alquist to adopt industry-leading 3D concrete printing technologygiffeyt March 10, 2026

University among first in Midwest to integrate concrete printing into polytechnic programs

��, Wisconsin ��. ��, and Alquist, a pioneer in 3D concrete printing (3DCP) technology, are proud to announce a strategic partnership that brings Alquist ��. industry-leading, proprietary 3DCP printing systems and supporting curriculum to �� . campus.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in applied learning and workforce development, positioning �� as one of the first universities in the Midwest to integrate 3DCP into its construction management, technology education, and industrial and product design academic programs. The relationship will help build the workforce infrastructure required to scale robotic construction nationwide.

“This partnership with Alquist aligns directly with our mission to deliver applied, career-ready education,” said �� Chancellor Katherine Frank. “By bringing 3DCP technology and curriculum to our students, we’re preparing them to lead in a rapidly evolving construction and manufacturing landscape.”

Alquist, which is based in Greeley, Colorado, is a leader in 3D concrete printing technology, offering scalable solutions for residential, commercial and infrastructure construction. Through its curriculum, licensing programs, and robotics systems, Alquist is transforming how communities build and grow.

The partnership includes:

Integration of Alquist ��. 60-hour 3DCP curriculum into �� . curriculum, designed to certify students in the operation and application of 3D concrete printing technology. The curriculum will also enhance �� . ability to offer continuing education opportunities for working professionals in aligned areas such as architecture, construction, engineering and industrial design.
Installation of Alquist ��. proprietary 3DCP print system within �� . construction lab, enabling students to gain real-world experience with robotic printing and sustainable construction materials.
Collaborative research and development focused on climate-specific concrete mixes and scalable additive manufacturing solutions for infrastructure and housing.

“As 3D construction printing moves from experimentation to national deployment, the workforce must evolve alongside it,” said Zachary Mannheimer, founder of Alquist. “We’re not just installing printers on campuses, we’re building a long-term talent pipeline that gives students direct access to the tools, software and real-world processes shaping the future of construction.”

The initiative will be housed within �� . Center for Advanced Manufacturing & AI (CAM-AI), which supports manufacturers and other businesses by leveraging the expertise of �� faculty and staff and the university ��. industry-standard laboratories and equipment.

“CAM-AI already provides additive manufacturing, advanced 3D printing technologies and AI to its external partners. The addition of Alquist ��. system will expand the lab ��. capabilities to include large-format concrete printing,” said Seth Hudson, executive director of Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement at ��.

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Seth Hudson

Seth Hudson was announced as the new leader on Thursday, July 28, by Chancellor Katherine Frank. He will direct �� . Discovery Center, including the Manufacturing Outreach Center, Stout Technology and Business Park, and a comprehensive range of industry, applied research, technical assistance and technology transfer efforts of the university.

Hudson has bachelor ��. degrees in political science and economics from the University of Southern Maine.

"I am looking forward to growing �� . existing partnerships in order to expand the relationships between students, faculty, staff and Wisconsin ��. business community,” he said.

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�� gets $19 million federal grant to manage statewide manufacturing program

giffeyt — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

�� gets $19 million federal grant to manage statewide manufacturing program giffeyt March 5, 2026

Manufacturing Outreach Center receives federal designation as statewide leader to support small and medium-sized manufacturers

��, Wisconsin ��. ��, has been awarded $19 million in federal funds as it takes a leadership role as manager of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program in Wisconsin. The funds, $3.8 million annually for five years, come through the U.S. Department of Commerce ��. National Institute of Standards and Technology MEP National Network. The program ��. primary mission is to strengthen and empower small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers through state-designated MEP Centers across the United States. 

This funding will enable �� . Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC), its subrecipient the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), and statewide manufacturing leaders to coordinate efforts that ensure continued, uninterrupted support for Wisconsin ��. small and mid-sized manufacturers. 

For the past decade, MOC and WMEP have received funding through the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity (WCMP). With WCMP ��. Board of Directors voting to dissolve the organization at the end of 2025 to streamline operations, �� — through the MOC — stepped forward to secure future funding and maintain continuity of services across the state. 

“Through MOC ��. leadership and the combined statewide field staff of both organizations, manufacturers will continue to access tailored support in areas such as lean process improvement, quality management systems, supply chain optimization, leadership development, and advanced technology adoption, including AI,” �� Chancellor Katherine Frank said.

Under the new structure, MOC serves as the primary applicant and coordinating entity, with Madison-based WMEP as a subrecipient and key partner in delivering statewide services. Together, the organizations continue a 30-year impact record: creating or retaining more than 34,000 jobs, generating $8.9 billion in economic impact, and serving more than 575 manufacturers annually. 

“Through this new structure the MOC and its partner, the WMEP, will be able to better connect small and medium-sized manufacturers to statewide resources, including �� . Center for Advanced Manufacturing & AI,” said Seth Hudson, executive director of Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement at ��. 

Manufacturing remains a cornerstone of Wisconsin ��. economy, contributing $71.6 billion to the state ��. $402 billion gross domestic product and employing about 15% of the workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 

“Together, MOC and WMEP have delivered measurable results for Wisconsin manufacturing,” said Chris Baichoo, CEO and executive director of WMEP. “This alliance ensures coordinated, statewide support to help small and mid-sized manufacturers strengthen operations, develop their workforce and remain competitive.” 

By equipping manufacturers with practical tools, strategic guidance, and specialized expertise, MOC and WMEP are positioning Wisconsin ��. manufacturing sector for long-term strength and competitiveness. 

"At �� . MOC, our commitment to supporting Wisconsin manufacturers has never been stronger. Our dedicated staff and partners, including WMEP, work alongside manufacturers to meet them where they are and help them tackle the challenges of a fast-moving industry,” said Aaron Bialzik, director of �� . MOC. 

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MOC gets federal designation as Wisconsin ��. statewide leader in supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers MOC representative on a factory visit

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Hero Caption: Kevin Thiel, senior project manager from the �� Manufacturing Outreach Center, right, visits Volm Companies Fresh Tech Products plant in Antigo, Wisconsin.

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Hudson has bachelor ��. degrees in political science and economics from the University of Southern Maine.

"I am looking forward to growing �� . existing partnerships in order to expand the relationships between students, faculty, staff and Wisconsin ��. business community,” he said.

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Wisconsin manufacturing leaders unite to accelerate AI adoption across the state

giffeyt — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Wisconsin manufacturing leaders unite to accelerate AI adoption across the stategiffeyt February 24, 2026

MKE Tech Hub, WMEP and �� form strategic partnership to support mid-market manufacturers

Three of Wisconsin ��. leading manufacturing support organizations announced today a groundbreaking partnership to help mid-market manufacturers strategically adopt artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. The collaboration between MKE Tech Hub Coalition ��. Synapse initiative, Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), and the Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC) and Center for Advanced Manufacturing & AI (CAM-AI), both housed at ��, Wisconsin ��. ��, creates the state ��. most comprehensive AI transformation support network for manufacturers.

The partnership addresses a critical gap in Wisconsin ��. manufacturing ecosystem, where mid-market manufacturers face mounting pressure to modernize using AI solutions but lack access to strategic guidance tailored to their specific needs and resources. With 25% of Wisconsin ��. manufacturing workforce approaching retirement, these companies need productivity solutions that enable them to do more with fewer people while attracting next-generation talent.

“MKE Tech Hub ��. mission has always been to serve as a catalyst for innovation through meaningful connections,” said Joe Poeschl, Executive Director of MKE Tech Hub Coalition. “This partnership exemplifies that mission perfectly — bringing together the best manufacturing expertise across Wisconsin to support companies that are the backbone of our economy. When mid-market manufacturers succeed, entire communities thrive. This collaboration ensures they have access to the strategic guidance and technical support they need to compete globally.”

Seth Hudson, Executive Director of Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement at ��, said: “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to serving Wisconsin ��. economy as the state ��. �� through applied learning and research, business and industry collaboration, and career-focused experiences. By connecting our academic resources with industry expertise and strategic guidance, we’re creating pathways for Wisconsin manufacturers to compete globally while strengthening our state ��. workforce."

Statewide coverage, integrated expertise

The partnership establishes clear geographic coverage across Wisconsin while ensuring coordinated delivery that leverages each organization ��. distinct strengths in support Wisconsin ��. manufacturers.

MKE Tech Hub Coalition is a nonprofit membership organization serving as a unifying voice for Milwaukee ��. tech ecosystem and a catalyst for innovation through meaningful connections. Through its Synapse initiative, MKE Tech Hub provides AI strategy and transformation leadership for mid-market manufacturers across Wisconsin.
��, through its Manufacturing Outreach Center, has been designated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology MEP National Network as the Wisconsin Center supporting small and medium sized manufacturers. The federal designation has allowed the MOC to continue its alliance with Madison-based Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) to continue delivering coordinated, statewide support to Wisconsin ��. small- and mid-sized manufacturers. Through MOC ��. and WMEP ��. statewide field staff, manufacturers will continue to access tailored, hands-on support in lean process improvement, quality management systems, supply chain optimization, leadership development, and the adoption of advanced technologies. Together, MOC and WMEP will continue a 30-year record of creating or retaining over 34,000 jobs, generating $8.9 billion in economic impact, and serving more than 575 small and mid-sized manufacturers annually
- Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) serves manufacturers in Southern and Eastern Wisconsin
- UW -Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC) serves manufacturers in Northern and Western Wisconsin
�� Center for Advanced Manufacturing & AI (CAM-AI) provides statewide applied research, technical problem-solving, and hands-on engineering solutions in advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, robotics, AI/ML and innovation prototyping.

Chris Baichoo, CEO of WMEP, emphasized the collaborative nature of the partnership: “Our manufacturers have been asking for help navigating AI, but they need more than technical training — they need clarity on where AI can create value in their operations. This partnership allows us to bring that strategic lens to our clients, grounded in the real-world manufacturing experience WMEP is known for.”

Aaron Bialzik, Director of ��'s Manufacturing Outreach Center, highlighted the academic research foundation: “�� has been at the forefront of applied manufacturing research for decades. Through CAM-AI and MOC, we bring not just consulting expertise but cutting-edge research and hands-on technical validation capabilities. This partnership extends that value across the entire state.”

Accessible to mid-market manufacturers

The partnership specifically caters to the more than 99% of Wisconsin manufacturers operating below $500 million in revenue — companies often overlooked by tier-1 consulting firms requiring more than $1 million engagements. By leveraging MKE Tech Hub's tax-exempt status and the partnership's collaborative model, the initiative delivers enterprise-grade consulting expertise at mid-market accessible pricing.

Unlike traditional consulting firms that compete for implementation work, MKE Tech Hub ��. Synapse initiative operates as a “network orchestrator” — developing strategic methodologies and coordinating delivery through verified partners without competing on implementation. This approach ensures manufacturers receive vendor-neutral guidance focused solely on business value.

“This partnership represents a fundamentally different approach to manufacturing transformation,” added Sanjay Mohan, Executive Director of AI Strategy at MKE Tech Hub Coalition. “What manufacturers need most isn’t more AI hype — it ��. a clear framework for making smart decisions about technology investments. We’re not selling AI solutions — we’re helping manufacturers identify their biggest business challenges first, then determining whether AI is the right answer. By combining Synapse ��. problem-first DRIVETM methodology with WMEP ��. operational excellence and �� . technical expertise, we’re giving Wisconsin manufacturers something they can’t get anywhere else: vendor-neutral strategic guidance backed by world-class implementation support.”

The three organizations will coordinate on joint service offerings including comprehensive manufacturing AI assessments, transformation programs, proof-of-value implementations, and innovation workshops, with each organization contributing its specialized expertise while maintaining clear accountability.

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MKE Tech Hub, WMEP and �� form strategic partnership to support mid-market manufacturers

February 24, 2026

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With $2 million federal grant, �� seeks business partners to help fill region ��. high-demand jobs

giffeyt — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000

With $2 million federal grant, �� seeks business partners to help fill region ��. high-demand jobsgiffeyt February 10, 2026

New program will build certificate courses in areas such as manufacturing, cybersecurity to train hundreds of workers in the next four years

Tom Giffey

�� will work closely with Wisconsin businesses to ensure a recently announced $2 million federal grant will provide hundreds of workers with the skills needed to fill the state ��. most in-demand jobs.

Over the next four years, �� FUSE (Fast Upskilling for Skills and Employment) will give adult learners, displaced and underemployed workers, and other students the skills needed to succeed through six new short-term programs serving high-demand sectors aligned with Wisconsin ��. Hot Jobs, which may include health care and behavioral support, manufacturing and logistics, IT support and cybersecurity, meeting and event planning, and child care.

�� is the only institution in Wisconsin and one of only a handful of four-year universities nationwide among the 22 recipients of a U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Special Project Program grant to create high-quality, short-term programs.

Business & Industry Partners Sought

Businesses can help �� create programs to meet the region ��. workforce needs.

Email to learn more

Businesses can help determine which programs move forward first by participating in program advisory committees, sharing workforce data, and providing direct input on hiring needs and skill gaps. Interested parties are invited to contact �� . Educational Pathways & Outreach Office at continuinged@uwstout.edu to learn how they can take part.

The FIPSE grant to �� is in the amount of $2,031,578, and 100% of the federal funds will be used by the FUSE project with no additional funds financed by nongovernmental sources.

�� is now building the new certificate programs in cooperation with business and industry partners as well as the West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, said Executive Director of Educational Pathways and Outreach Beth Hein.

“FUSE is built on listening first — to employers, to industry leaders and to our regional partners,” Hein said. “When business and education work side by side, we create programs that don’t just prepare students for jobs, but for long-term careers. Our ongoing connection with industry keeps our training relevant, responsive and impactful.”

A �� class in the Material Removal Lab on campus.

FUSE will fill training gap

Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota are experiencing sustained and intensifying workforce shortages across multiple critical industries, most notably those targeted by the FUSE program. Employers throughout the region consistently report difficulty filling both entry-level and mid-skill roles, even as job postings persist at historically high levels and unemployment sits near record lows.

However, current short-term employment education programs are fragmented and uneven, tending to focus on very short basic workshops and bootcamps or traditional semester-long courses. �� . FUSE program will fill the gap between these options.

As Wisconsin ��. only ��, �� is uniquely poised to contribute to the development of short-term credentials to meet the employment needs of Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. �� has a strong history of applied learning and research, business and industry collaborations, and career-focused education.

The FIPSE grant received by �� in January will build the capacity of employer-aligned programs that last from eight to 15 weeks and culminate in industry-recognized skills and credentials. The programs will also be Workforce Pell eligible, allowing students with financial needs to access them through the newly established Workforce Pell Grant Program, which goes into effect on July 1.

Students in an event planning course meet in the Memorial Student Center.

Programs will launch by end of 2026

�� anticipates serving 400 to 600 students during the four-year grant period. The first two FUSE certificate programs will be launched as early as the end of 2026. The certificate programs will be stackable, with a pathway allowing students to apply their FUSE credentials toward �� bachelor ��. degrees. FUSE students will also have access to academic support, such as onboarding, academic coaching, digital literacy support, tutoring and other wraparound services.

Among the students FUSE will target are adult, rural and under-resourced learners, who will make up at least 40% of enrollment. The program will use flexible, hybrid evening and weekend scheduling to reduce barriers faced by working adults and caregivers. FUSE will also set specific performance targets, including ensuring that 80% of students complete their program, 75% obtain credentials and 70% find job placement within six months of graduation.

“This work is only possible because of ��'s strong partnerships,” Hein said. “Together with business, industry and community leaders we are creating opportunities that meet real needs and open doors for learners across our region.”

The contents of this media release were developed under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

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Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process

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Certificate courses in areas such as manufacturing, cybersecurity will train hundreds of workers in the next four years Computer networking student works with server rack

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

giffeyt — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Royal Credit Union internship gives �� grad student opportunity to apply skills in data science, machine learninggiffeyt January 29, 2026

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

Tom Giffey

A yearlong business intelligence internship at Royal Credit Union, one of Wisconsin ��. largest financial institutions, has helped a �� applied computer science graduate student gain confidence and skill in both data engineering and machine learning.

“It ��. been a fun experience. I’m really grateful,” said Justin George, who expects to receive his M.S. applied computer science degree in May. “This internship has been the best part of my Stout experience so far.”

George began his business intelligence internship last May at the Eau Claire-based financial institution, which serves 330,000 members through 28 branches in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Now in its third semester, George ��. internship has provided an opportunity for him to apply what he ��. learned through his degree program at Wisconsin ��. ��.

Professor Keith Wojciechowski of �� . Department of Math, Statistics and Computer Science, who encouraged George to pursue the internship, praised the graduate student for seizing the opportunity and making it a successful experience.

“One of the things that we emphasized and that he was very eager to do was to get an internship where he could apply those skills and learn on the job,” Wojciechowski said.

Lou Heimstead, Royal ��. business intelligence and analytics manager, supervises �� student Justin George during his internship.

Student ��. work makes business data visual

�� . M.S. applied computer science program provides professionals in a wide range of occupations a pathway to deepen their knowledge, skills and experience with computer systems that automate tasks, analyze data and create new workflows. Through the program, George has been able to focus on topics that interest him, such as data visualization and machine learning, both of which have played a role in his Royal internship.

Lou Heimstead, business intelligence and analytics manager at Royal, said George has been fully integrated into her team and its work. “He ��. not doing isolated intern tasks,” Heimstead said. “He ��. been learning and applying the same processes that our business intelligence analysts and data engineers use.”

And as George has continued to demonstrate his skills, the scope of the internship has expanded into the realm of machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence in which algorithms are used to find patterns in data to make predictions without explicit programming.

“What he has added is the capacity to bring in his technical skills that align closely with what he ��. been studying at ��, specifically data science and machine learning,” Heimstead explained. “With that background, he ��. been able to contribute to more technical work that would otherwise compete for my senior analyst ��. time. So rather than replacing existing work, he ��. actually been expanding what the team can realistically take on, especially in areas requiring stronger programming, modeling and data science skills.”

Students from three Universities of Wisconsin campuses use machine learning to solve problems for Royal Credit Union

Computer science students from ��, UWEC, UWRF exercise ‘exceptional’ AI acumen for leading financial institution

Expanding machine learning applications

Last summer, four undergraduates — including two from �� — took part in a machine learning internship at Royal. They focused on writing software to dive into Royal ��. data and address two issues: The first was studying the factors that could lead members to leave the credit union, while the second aimed to determine a “next best product” that might interest an existing member. After the undergraduates’ internship ended last summer, George was asked to continue working with the machine learning-powered software models they built.

“It was not part of my job description, but since I was interested, they were happy to give me the opportunity to work on machine learning,” he said. As a result, George continues to hone his machine learning skills, while Royal continues to benefit from what the previous interns helped build.

Graduate student Justin George, at far right, in a �� Advanced Machine Learning class.

In fact, Heimstead said, George has enhanced and unified the multiple machine learning models into a single model for each issue. His work ensures the solution remains both usable and valuable. That continuity helps Royal keep the work ready to build on in the future.

George said the �� master ��. program offers a sharp contrast to his bachelor ��. degree experience. “Here I get the exposure of practical training and working on projects. There are so many internship opportunities, and they are directly aligned with my academics,” George said.

“I feel like the professors are very helpful,” he continued. “They are always making sure you are getting practical exposure. It ��. not just theory. That ��. something I like about Stout.”

Wojciechowski is impressed by George ��. hard work and adaptability in the Royal internship. “He ��. out there in the world solving problems,” Wojciechowski said.

Not only has George been able to tackle the tasks he was originally hired for, but he ��. been able to grow his skill set, too. “He ��. been able to adapt and evolve at Royal,” Wojciechowski said. “I think that speaks very well for him.”

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Students from three Universities of Wisconsin campuses use machine learning to solve problems for Royal Credit Union

giffeyt — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Students from three Universities of Wisconsin campuses use machine learning to solve problems for Royal Credit Uniongiffeyt January 26, 2026

Computer science students from ��, UWEC, UWRF exercise ‘exceptional’ AI acumen for leading financial institution

Tom Giffey

Three Universities of Wisconsin campuses partnered with Royal Credit Union to launch an innovative internship program using AI to support this Wisconsin-based financial institution. This story is one of four in a series showcasing the impact of this collaboration. Read more about the faculty who supported the internship, how the partnership supported the state's economic development and how the collaboration originated.

Computer science students from three Universities of Wisconsin campuses leveraged their knowledge of machine learning to address real-world questions for one of the state ��. largest credit unions in a unique internship program.

Four students — two from ��, one from UW-Eau Claire and one from UW-River Falls — honed their professional skills through internships with Royal Credit Union ��. AI Innovation Lab last summer. The internship was a pilot program to help Royal implement machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence in which algorithms are used to find patterns in data to make predictions without explicit programming.

Chris Meyer, Royal ��. vice president of IT Innovation and Efficiency, said such partnerships with the Universities of Wisconsin provide “immeasurable” value for the credit union, which serves 330,000 members in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota.

“This particular program brought about an opportunity for us to try some new, innovative ideas without the risks of derailing existing strategic projects or core work that were going on with our existing teams,” Meyer said.

Royal Credit Union interns, left to right, Paige Keller of UW-Eau Claire, Mariah Waslie of UW-River Falls, Emmett Jaakkola of �� and Matthew Peplinski of ��. / Submitted photo

“The interns we worked with from ��, UW-River Falls and UW-Eau Claire absolutely exceeded our expectations,” he continued. “Not only did they bring exceptional skills immediately out of school into the workforce, but they brought a perspective that we don’t always see — a younger perspective in how to approach some of the projects we’re looking at.”

The student interns were Matthew Peplinski and Emmett Jaakkola of ��, Paige Keller of UW-Eau Claire, and Mariah Waslie of UW-River Falls.

“We got to fully make our own data set, run all these machine learning models, analyze the results, present them, double check our own processes, and lay out a foundation for the company. It ��. amazing what we could do as interns,” said Peplinski, of Milwaukee, who graduated in December with a B.S. in applied mathematics and computer science.

“We were the catalyst to all machine learning that Royal was delving into,” explained Jaakkola, of St. Paul, who graduated in December with degrees in both computer science and applied math and computer science.

Matthew Peplinski works on his laptop in an Advanced Machine Learning course at ��.

Leveraging students’ talents

Interns were recruited from the computer science programs at the three universities, all of which are within Royal ��. geographic footprint. Once the interns began working in June at the Royal Credit Union Corporate Center in Eau Claire, the students began brainstorming how they could apply their machine learning acumen to the financial institution.

Keller, a UW-Eau Claire senior from Crystal Lake, Illinois, majoring in computer science, was excited by the opportunity, which allowed the students to come up with their own use cases for machine learning. “It ��. almost like we were in the driver ��. seat as the interns, which was what I loved most about the experience,” Keller said.

For the first few weeks of the internship, the students delved into Royal ��. databases, learning what data was available, creating queries to gather it, and determining how it could be used to make projections.

Working with interns from multiple universities enhanced the experience because of the students’ varied experiences and curriculums, Keller said. “We all helped each other. We all asked each other questions,” Keller said. “We ran into the same roadblocks a lot of times, and so we had to come together and brainstorm. Having that experience from different backgrounds was very useful in coming up with different ideas.”

For example, Waslie — a UW-River Falls senior from Maiden Rock pursing a double major in computer science and data science — was adept at creating models with the programming language R, which the other interns had less experience with. Meanwhile, Peplinski used SQL to combine data and Python to develop models, while also bringing business skills to the table thanks to his �� minors in business and economics.

Universities of Wisconsin interns pose with Royal Credit Union employees Tad Carlson, far left, and Linda Kampa, far right. / Submitted photo

With the help of their team leader — Linda Kampa, a senior data engineer at Royal — the interns built a giant table set of more than 100 customer attributes, combining pieces of data from multiple sources. Once all this data had been gathered, the team tried to use it to predict members’ future behavior.

“Building out our own data set was a pretty astounding part of the internship, something that is pretty unique,” Peplinski said. His �� classmate, Jaakkola, agreed: “Working with a large database like that, it would be hard to get that experience without actually doing it.”

Over the course of the summer, the interns focused on two main classification problems. The first was to determine which factors indicated a member was about to leave the credit union: For example, was it when their balances reached a certain amount, or perhaps when a loan had been paid off? The second aimed to determine a “next best product” that would interest an existing member, similar to how a streaming service algorithm might recommend a new TV series.

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Jaakkola said he was well-prepared by his �� machine learning coursework to tackle problems for Royal. “I think the foundation we had from our classes really made it possible,” he said. Nonetheless, he added, the tasks were more complex: For example, while the queries he wrote for class might have included roughly 10 lines of code, some he wrote for Royal were as long as 1,000 lines.

The interns worked with managers from many of the credit union ��. departments, strengthening their communications skills in frequent meetings and presentations. Part of the project ��. goal, Peplinski said, was to create confidence that machine learning could supplement these managers’ own business intuitions.

Peplinski said the experience also helped him hone his technical communication skills. “In the same way that when you’re building machine learning models you iterate and make it better every iteration, I felt we also got better over time communicating results,” he said.

Emmett Jaakkola, right, in an Advanced Machine Learning course at ��.

Learning workforce skills

Professor Keith Wojciechowski of �� . Department of Math, Statistics and Computer Science, commended Royal Credit Union for putting trust in student interns to create algorithms for the financial institution. “This is like being part of a real research and development team,” Wojciechowski said.

Professor Keith Wojciechowski

During the course on the internship, Wojciechowski and faculty members from UW-River Falls and UW-Eau Claire met twice with the interns and the Royal Credit Union team, once in the middle of the summer and once at the end for a final showcase of their work.

“Not only are we impressed with their ability to solve the problems, but by their ability to present and work in a professional environment,” Wojciechowski said of the interns. “That ��. also a very important skill that they eventually have to learn.”

Kampa, the senior data engineer who worked side by side with the students, said part of the goal of the internship was to determine if Royal is ready to build machine learning models in-house. The interns, she said, were well-positioned to pursue the project.

“They came in with fresh ideas,” Kampa said. “None of them had a lot of financial background, but it was nice to have that clean slate. There were no preconceived notions of how something should work. It really led to a lot of unique and fresh perspectives, unbiased solutions and the recommendations that they made.”

Kampa said the interns arrived with excellent technical skills and absorbed new abilities quickly. The team experienced numerous “lightbulb moments” throughout the summer, she said.

“Early on in the internship, we were meeting to discuss what type of data we would be including to feed into the models,” Kampa recalled. “The idea that we were working through was really a complex concept to understand right away. We met a few times, we worked through some examples and did some whiteboard drawings, and to see the look on their faces when it clicked was really a rewarding experience for both me and the interns.”

Both businesses and students benefit from these collaborations, Kampa added. “Having the interns participate was a win-win for both Royal and the interns, because we got things up and running more quickly with their expertise from all the classes they’ve taken, and it gave the interns a chance to see what it ��. like to work in a business setting,” she said.

Having Universities of Wisconsin campuses nearby creates a talent pipeline for the credit union as well as other organizations in the region, added Meyer, Royal ��. vice president of IT Innovation and Efficiency. “The opportunity to work with faculty, who are experts in their areas, and students who are learning from them is something unique that we would not be able to do if we didn’t have those universities in our backyard,” he said. “And the opportunity to do that means that we can provide new value to our members, growing our organization in a way that would have been impossible without the universities’ presence.”

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