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Years in the Making: Fashion Without Fabric theme pays tribute to generations of international designers

goersab — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:45:31 +0000

Years in the Making: Fashion Without Fabric theme pays tribute to generations of international designersgoersab April 16, 2026

‘Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind’ and ‘A Fragile Wonder’ named winners of sold-out annual event

Abbey Goers

From the fashion houses of Versace, Gucci, and Betsey Johnson to the master artists Michelangelo and da Vinci. From the luxury automobiles of Porsche and Ferrari to game makers Rubik and a battle between the worlds of Sega and Nintendo.

From Dieter Rams’ philosophy of “less, but better” to Frank Lloyd Wright ��. organic architecture, and the internationally known animations of Hayao Miyazaki ��. anime and Chuck Jones’ Loony Tunes, 3D Design students at �� brought their sculptural costumes to life on the runway in front of a sold-out house during Fashion Without Fabric on April 11.

A fan favorite: 'The Spirit of the Kohaku River,' inspired by designer Hayao Miyazaki, by Riley Johnson, Izzy Russell and Ben Mattson.

This year ��. theme, “Years in the Making,” reflected the university ��. Year of Design and celebrated the “hellish mesh of hot glue and cardboard” transformed into works of wonder, like a caterpillar emerging as the butterfly, said the evening ��. emcee Ainsley Violet, a studio art senior and Student Artist-in-Residence.

The Fashion Without Fabric Hoeft Builders Endowed Scholarship winning team was “Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind,” inspired by designer Brenda Laurel, by Dani Binzcak, Cole Kothbauer and Zoe Watanabe. Each member will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Out of 79 designs created by more than 250 students, the winners of the runway event were:

First place: “A Fragile Wonder,” inspired by designer Eva Zeisel, by Elliott Clark, Quinlan Hartung and Kyra Oertel
Second place: “Metropolitan Muse,” inspired by designer Massimo Vignelli, by Marilena Grado, Margaret Stephenson and Sadie Peissig
Third place: “The Triadic Ballet,” inspired by designer Oskar Schlemmer, by Luci Janzen, Elise Lenhart and Alani Vue.

Third place: 'The Triadic Ballet,' inspired by designer Oskar Schlemmer, by Luci Janzen, Elise Lenhart and Alani Vue.

View Fashion Without Fabric 2026 on YouTube. The Year of Design features events highlighting the innovation, leadership and impact at the heart of Wisconsin ��. ��.

‘Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind’

Technology meets humanity in this scholarship-winning sculptural fashion design. Like a walking phantasmic dream, Kothbauer, the team ��. runway model, was nearly encased in a metallic cape resembling a satellite dish, held upright over his head. He wore a high-low, asymmetrical “shirt” of deep red blended into black, topped by a corset composed of a cross-grid of red, blue and white electrical wires. The vertical wires branched upward to a headdress adorned with two-foot-long bedazzled antennae and trailing tassels.

'Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind' was inspired by video game and interaction designer Brenda Laurel, popular in the 1990s.

Kothbauer then lowered the cape to create a double-layered skirt that swayed like shifting crystalline pendants as he made his way down the runway. Every angle of the design sheened and reflected light.

“Immerse yourself in reality, immerse yourself in fantasy, immerse yourself in technology,” said Violet, the emcee. “However, in a day when the work of artists and designers is under threat by artificial intelligence, this piece takes us back to when such technology was designed with humanist intentions. The blooming transformation is reminiscent of unveiling the layers of technology to find the hardware behind the screen, the software behind the hardware, and finally the human designer behind the software. This piece articulates what it means when humans blend with technology while keeping humanity at the forefront. For technology can never erase the humanity of the creator, but it is up to man to protect the humanity of the user.”

“Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind” was inspired by video game and interaction designer Brenda Laurel. Popular in the 1990s, one of Laurel ��. most notable and distinctive innovations was in virtual reality and immersive experiences, which use technology to enhance or simulate real-world concepts in fantastical ways.

Cole Kothbauer, who served as the team's model, Dani Binzcak and Zoe Watanabe accept their scholarship award.

“Her work varied, but amongst all of her designs, she used technology as a tool that benefited society through education and communication, which opposed the growing mindset of technology and virtual media being seen as a distraction or as something redundant to the development of humanity,” said Kothbauer, adding that some of Laurel ��. projects also involved space-related themes, such as Purple Moon Media and Colonizing Cyberspace.

Binczak, Kothbauer and Watanabe were inspired by other technology and media sources from the 1990s, particularly vintage technology and space technology. They appreciated the interesting visual appeal and sleek, smooth silver designs of the Sega VR and the International Space Station, which launched in 1998.

And with Fashion Without Fabric being a fashion show, the team also wanted to focus on the experimental designs of modern-day high fashion and studied Thierry Mugler and Selva Huygens and their interpretation of interesting silhouettes and use of rigid materials.

The foundation of their design is built of cardboard to give it a rigid structure and lightweight quality, as seen in the transforming skirt and headpiece. “Underneath the surface though, the skeleton of both pieces was made of manipulated steel broom handles. Aluminum foil, vinyl, and chicken wire were cheap and composed the abundant reflective surface that connected back to the team ��. technology theme. We also experimented with the appearance of zip ties on painted foam tubing that reminded us of the vertebrae of a spine or wires,” Kothbauer said.

Second place: 'Metropolitan Muse,' inspired by designer Massimo Vignelli, by Marilena Grado, Margaret Stephenson and Sadie Peissig.

The team thought that reimagining ordinary objects to suit a fashion design and working with abstract forms on a scale large enough to cover the human body was challenging but rewarding. And they enjoyed seeing teams and classmates support each other during the build process and the day of the event.

“This event is a yearly tradition in Menomonie and a staple in Stout ��. School of Art & Design. It is easy for artists to be undermined and overlooked today, so being involved in Fashion Without Fabric made us appreciate the chance we get to be in a show that inspires future generations of artists and designers. We want to remind people to continue supporting designers and to listen when an artist is trying to say something,” Kothbauer said.

‘A Fragile Wonder’

A white teapot painted with delicate pink and blue flowers, with a matching cup, gravy boat and spoon emerged as one from behind the curtain and walked down the runway to cheers for its delicate charm. Violet asked the crowd to picture this:

“You walk into the kitchen one morning to find all your ceramics gone, melded into a whimsical little creature which is now parading around without a single care in the world. You hear a faint clinking and clanking as the whimsical wonder wanders about, with a sense of wonder as she experiences the world for the first time. What used to be a teacup is now her head. What once was a gravy boat has become a flower basket, and an assortment of different vases and dishes now form limbs. This little creature entrances you with her odd but charming mannerisms, and her fragile ceramic exterior adorned with an array of painted flowers; you can’t help but be overcome by joy whenever you are around her.”

'A Fragile Wonder' embodies the craftsmanship of Hungarian industrial designer Eva Zeisel.

“A Fragile Wonder” embodies the craftsmanship of Hungarian industrial designer Eva Zeisel, whose 1946 “Museum” dinner service exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York was the MOMA ��. first one-woman exhibition.

For their design, Clark, Hartung and Oertel focused on Zeisel ��. tableware, emphasizing the natural curves of the human body that Zeisel incorporated in her ceramics. The design ��. interior structure is built of cardboard, hot glue and chicken wire. This was covered in layers of printer paper and glossy mod podge to mimic ceramics, painted with blue flowers. The ball on the top of the teacup headpiece is foam, covered in duct tape and painted cobalt blue. The headpiece also features white mesh sheets for visibility.

Kyra Oertel, who served as the team's model, Elliott Clark and Quinlan Hartung accept their first place award.

Oertel, who modeled the sculpture, enjoyed seeing the design finally realized on the day of the event. Hartung enjoyed painting the flower detailing on top of the papier-mâché to contribute to the ceramic finish. Being in the University Theatre ��. production of “Something Rotten,” which opened the same weekend, Clark could not attend Fashion Without Fabric with his team. “But when my castmates found out we had won, they surrounded me and celebrated, and it made me feel extremely proud,” Clark said.

Other honorary awards were presented to:

Artistry and Craft: 'The Living Room,' inspired by designer Fritz Haller, by Adrian Nelson, Aaron Tong and Alex Zimmerman.

Innovative Use of Material: 'Tiered Fragments of Wonder,' inspired by Nigel Coates, by Noah Leshok, Carys Gudahl and Kiera Lovett.

Accessories and Design: 'The Orbit Inn Motel,' inspired by Wayne McAllister, by Mia Forrette, Shelby Peterson and Kona Lansing.

Avant Garde Fashion: 'Beloved Buttons and Pleats, Please,' inspired by Issey Miyake, by Loganie Chalte, Treanna Fizer and Aaralyn Gardner

Working the Crowd: 'Dizzy Dolly,' inspired by Chuck Jones, by Jamie Pearson, Julia Robles and Isabel Galloy.

Honorable Mention: 'Court Jester of the Cosmos,' inspired by Keita Takahashi, by Lucy Carlson, Eligh Hermon and Tobi Fisher.

Additional Spring Showcase events

Saturday, May 2, 6 p.m.: Stout Fashion Show, showcasing innovative capstone collections from fashion design and development seniors.
Tuesday, May 5: Research Day, celebrating the research and creative work of students, faculty, and staff from all fields.
Thursday, May 7, 6 p.m.: Stout Game Expo (SGX), western Wisconsin ��. largest game developer exhibition.
Friday, May 8, 6 p.m.: School of Art & Design Senior Show, celebrating more than 120 graduating seniors’ creative works.
Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10: Unspooled Film & Animation Festival, dedicated to showcasing the very best in independent filmmaking.
Wednesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 28: Murals in Menomonie, featuring the Walldogs, is a collaborative group of community organizations bringing in international mural artists.

�� . 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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‘Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind’ and ‘A Fragile Wonder’ named winners of sold-out annual event Fashion Without Fabric 2026, Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind

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Blue Devils’ Frozen Four trip, conference title highlight a hockey season for the record books

giffeyt — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:27:36 +0000

Blue Devils’ Frozen Four trip, conference title highlight a hockey season for the record booksgiffeyt March 31, 2026

Young �� squad tied all-time program record for wins in a season

Tom Giffey

The season may now be over for the �� Blue Devils men ��. hockey team, but it will live on in the record books as one of the best in program history and points toward a bright future for a relatively young squad.

The Blue Devils finished the year 23-6-1, tying their all-time record for wins in a season set in the 2008-09 campaign. That was also the last time the team reached the NCAA Division III Frozen Four.

This season ��. Blue Devils racked up two other notable achievements, winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season title outright as well as winning the WIAC Tournament. Both were firsts for the program.

The Blue Devils celebrate after winning the WIAC Tournament on March 7. / Reese Kupsky

Fans packed the Fanetti Community Center through the postseason run and followed the team to the NCAA tournament in Utica, N.Y.

“The support surrounding our hockey program this season was nothing short of incredible and made this run truly special,” Director of Athletics & Recreation Erin Sullivan said. “From our alumni and students to our dedicated staff and faculty, Menomonie youth hockey, and the entire community, the excitement was felt everywhere and for that I am thankful. I am proud of this team and the energy and belief they brought to our university and the Menomonie community.”

The Blue Devils’ season ended in the March 27 national semifinal with a 4-2 loss to the Hobart Statesmen, three-time defending national champions who were riding a 42-game winning streak. �� was within one goal of Hobart until the final minutes, when the Statesmen scored on an empty net. (Two days later, No. 1-ranked and undefeated Hobart was upset in the championship game, losing 2-1 to Hamilton College in overtime.)

Blue Devils goalie Sebastian Monaco in Frozen Four action March 27 against Hobart. / Reese Downs

�� . record-setting achievements bode well for the future, particularly considering the youth of the team. Freshman goalie Sebastian Monaco, who had 36 saves in the final game, was named a 2025-26 CCM/AHCA Men ��. Division III All-American. Monaco led the WIAC with a 1.91 goals-against average and .939 save percentage, which ranked fifth in the nation.

The Blue Devils’ scoring leaders for the season were also all underclassmen, including sophomore forward Hayden Stocks, junior forward Nicolas Pigeon and freshman forward Arhip Sidarovich.

Monaco and Stocks were both named to the All-WIAC Team, while Coach Mike MacDonald was honored as WIAC Coach of the Year. Pigeon and senior defenseman Gunner Moore received honorable mention on the All-WIAC Team. In addition, junior defenseman Sam Kroon was named an Elite Scholar-Athlete by the NCAA.

“This season has laid a great foundation, and I'm excited about the future of Stout hockey,” Sullivan said.

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�� . Tree Campus designation is the latest step in sustainability efforts that protect Earth, benefit budgets

giffeyt — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

�� . Tree Campus designation is the latest step in sustainability efforts that protect Earth, benefit budgetsgiffeyt March 27, 2026

University honored for commitment to investing in, protecting trees

Tom Giffey

The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized �� as a Tree Campus for its dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment and community engagement.

The recognition is the latest chapter in the university ��. long-running dedication to sustainability, which includes being named a national Green Ribbon school in 2024 by the U.S. Department of Education, earning bronze-level designation as a Bike Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists, and being a charter signatory of the Carbon Commitment, a higher-education pledge for carbon neutrality. In recent years �� has also made major investments in solar panels, LED lighting and other upgrades that are estimated to be saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs annually.

And while trees may be low-tech compared with photovoltaic panels, they also have a tangible impact: Trees can lower the energy cost of campus facilities by providing shade cover, reducing extreme heat, improving air quality and boosting physical health benefits for students and staff. In addition, trees improve students’ mental and cognitive health, provide an appealing aesthetic for campuses, and create shaded areas for gathering and studying. 

“Trees have the power to inspire learning and improve well-being,” said Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation, a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. “By growing campus green spaces, forward-thinking higher education leaders like �� are cultivating vibrant learning communities that also benefit the greater environment.”

To earn Tree Campus recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation, colleges and universities must uphold five core standards including maintaining an advisory committee, setting a campus tree care plan, verifying annual investment in the tree care plan, celebrating Arbor Day, and creating a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body.

“I was thrilled to hear that we received this designation,” �� Sustainability Manager Kadi Wright said. “It ��. rewarding to see our efforts recognized, and I look forward to continuing this work as part of the annual process.”

“Trees play a vital role in the college experience,” continued Wright, who holds a M.S. sustainable management degree from ��. “They offer shade and foster a connection to nature. Students were excited to learn that we were pursuing this designation.”

�� is now one of only six universities in the state of Wisconsin to have the Tree Campus designation.

Students enjoy a shady spot on the south lawn of the �� campus.

Broadening the culture of sustainability

“The Tree Campus designation helps create a broader sustainability culture where sustainability is not just a commitment: It becomes something everyone shares responsibility for in everyday campus life and the student experience,” Wright said.

Much of the credit for fulfilling that responsibility, she added, should go to the campus facilities management and grounds teams for keeping trees healthy, growing and beautiful.

Arthur Kneeland, a senior lecturer in the biology department and co-chair of the Campus Exteriors Development Committee, took a lead role in preparing the Tree Campus application to the Arbor Day Foundation late last year.

“As we explored what was required, we quickly realized that we met the criteria easily,” Kneeland said. “Caring for our trees is in part managing the investment that we have made in this very important visual and emotional part of our campus. So, from a tree care perspective we were already doing everything that the Arbor Day Foundation wanted.”

As part of the process, 846 trees were tallied on campus last fall. “The trees have a tremendous positive impact on campus,” Kneeland said. “They provide shade in many places, reducing heat to buildings and people. They are also an important emotional component of campus life. People like trees – they make us feel happy and calm.”

Not only do trees contribute to shared outdoor spaces – such as the arboretum that encompasses the south lawn of the Memorial Student Center or the 3-acre outdoor classroom – but they contribute to the university ��. polytechnic identity as well, which focuses on applied learning beyond the classroom. �� students apply their studies in sustainability to capstone projects that benefit the environment. For example, students in the B.S. environmental science program as well as in the sustainability and geographic information systems (GIS) minor programs have worked on a number of projects mapping campus trees and conceptualizing what they should look like in the future, Kneeland said.

The annual campus Earth Week celebration, which this year will begin April 20, will also recognize �� . new Tree Campus status. In honor of Arbor Day, Kneeland will lead a Tree Tour on the south campus at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.

The photovoltaic array installed on the General Services Building in 2023.

�� committed to clean energy, recycling

From installing solar panels to adding LED light fixtures, �� . focus on sustainability has brought both environmental and financial benefits.

In 2023, photovoltaic arrays were installed on both Jarvis Hall Technology Wing and the General Services Building, which generate 200 kilowatts and 114.4 kilowatts, respectively. The same project included upgraded LED lighting in multiple buildings; installing energy-saving destratification fans in Johnson Fieldhouse and the Multipurpose Room of the Sports and Fitness Center; and weatherizing buildings campuswide. The entire project is estimated to save �� more than $172,000 in energy costs each year. Four years earlier, a separate LED upgrade project created savings of about $89,000 annually.

In addition, LED retrofits to the dining area and kitchen in Merle M. Price Commons funded through the Stout Student Association Green Fee in 2024 are expected to generate $50,000 in energy savings over four years. Likewise, solar panel installed atop Price Commons in 2018 and 2021 have also generated more than $35,000 in energy savings. These savings directly impact students, who pay the fees that operate the buildings, while also reducing carbon dioxide emissions by hundreds of tons, said Darrin Witucki, Director of the Student Centers.

Student Green Fees have also helped pay for eco-friendly equipment, including an electric mower used on campus and two solar-powered trash compactors, which were placed outside Johnson Fieldhouse to prevent waste from overflowing and contaminating nearby recycling bins during busy times.

�� has been focused on reducing the amount of waste it produces as well. Last year, the university was a winner in the nationwide Campus Race to Zero Waste, a friendly competition that measures recycling and waste reduction on campuses. Over an eight-week period, �� students recycled an average of 23 pounds of waste each, earning Medium Campus Per Capita Recycling honors.

�� offers a B.S. in environmental science and a P.S.M. in conservation biology, as well as minors in environmental health and sustainability.

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University honored for commitment to investing in, protecting trees Students on south lawn at ��

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Destination Weekend celebrates students at entrepreneur, athletic, fine arts events

goersab — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:20:00 +0000

Destination Weekend celebrates students at entrepreneur, athletic, fine arts eventsgoersab March 17, 2026

Featured events include STEM-X, Made@Stout Pop-Up Market, Fashion Without Fabric on April 11

Abbey Goers

�� invites families, alumni and the community to campus Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12, for Destination Weekend, a celebration of fashion, fine arts, athletics and more.

The weekend is a continuation of �� . Year of Design, highlighting the innovation, leadership, and impact at the heart of Wisconsin's ��. Enjoy Stout Secrets self-guided tours and presentations, STEM Exploration events, a Made@Stout Pop-Up Market, the annual sellout Fashion Without Fabric and more.

Destination Weekend

Inviting families, supporters, alumni and others to campus April 10-12, 2026, to celebrate all things Stout!

View the full schedule and RSVP for Destination Weekend, the opening weekend of �� . Spring Showcase, a two-month-long lineup of events.

Some events are ticketed, but most do not require advance registration.

Fashion Without Fabric

The encore event of the weekend is Fashion Without Fabric, the annual showstopper, where students bring their wearable sculptures to life on the runway. This year ��. theme is “Years in the Making,” as teams of students take on modern fashion designs. The show is at 7 p.m. on April 11, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. Seating will also be available in an overflow and low-stimuli rooms.

Tickets will be available on Wednesday, March 25, at uwstout.universitytickets.com. Seating is first-come, first-served. In collaboration with industry partners and alumni, the School of Art and Design will award up to three $1,000 scholarships to the winners of the highly competitive show. Donate to support the scholarship.

STEM Exploration events

On April 11, community members are invited to STEM Exploration events, with hands-on lab experiences and tours. Leading the STEM-X events to celebrate the Blue Devils hockey team ��. dance at the national tournament, attendees can build and personalize an off-ice hockey puck. They can also create a concrete coaster and join the Construction Lab tour.

Made@Stout Pop-Up Market

Made@Stout will host a Pop-Up Market from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on April 11, in the Memorial Student Center. Made@Stout creates opportunities for Blue Devil creators, makers and entrepreneurs to share and sell their products, artwork and goods. Rooted in community pride and �� . applied, polytechnic spirit, the initiative builds pathways for students, faculty and staff to bring their ideas to market.

University Theatre

Students will perform “Something Rotten,” led by Director Audric Buhr, at Harvey Hall Theatre. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on April 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18; and 2 p.m. on April 12.

Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world ��. very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.

“Something Rotten” has received several Best Musical nominations and was hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years.”

Tickets are available at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

Fine Arts Events

“Support Structures” and “Simon Ungless: A Life in Print in the South Gallery” exhibits reception: April 10, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Furlong Gallery. A Meet the Artist event for Simon Ungless will be on Monday, April 13.)
Mabel: Drawings Inspired by the Mabel Tainter Theater opening reception: April 10, 5:30 p.m. (Mabel Tainter Center for the Art, downtown Menomonie)
Gallery 209, in the Applied Arts building, second floor, will host an Advanced Printmaking exhibition.

Athletics Events

Lacrosse vs. UW-River Falls: April 10, 7 p.m. (Nelson Field)
Tennis vs. Central College: April 11, 2 p.m. (South Tennis Courts)
Baseball vs. UW-La Crosse: April 12, noon (Wakanda Park)
Softball vs. UW-Platteville (Senior Day): April 12, noon (Alumni Field)

Spring Showcase signature events in May and June

Saturday, May 2, 4 p.m.: WEAR Fashion Show, showcasing innovative capstone collections from fashion design and development seniors.
Tuesday, May 5: Research Day, celebrating the research and creative work of students, faculty, and staff from all fields.
Thursday, May 7, 6 p.m.: Stout Game Expo (SGX), western Wisconsin ��. largest game developer exhibition.
Friday, May 8, 6 p.m.: SOAD Senior Show, graduating seniors take over Micheels Hall and the Applied Arts building.
Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10: 4th Annual Unspooled Film & Animation Festival, dedicated to showcasing the very best in independent filmmaking.
Wednesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 28: Murals in Menomonie, featuring the Walldogs, is a collaborative group of community organizations bringing in some of the world ��. best mural artists.

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Years in the Making: Fashion Without Fabric theme pays tribute to generations of international designers

‘Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind’ and ‘A Fragile Wonder’ named winners of sold-out annual event

April 16, 2026

Blue Devils’ Frozen Four trip, conference title highlight a hockey season for the record books

Young �� squad tied all-time program record for wins in a season

March 31, 2026

�� . Tree Campus designation is the latest step in sustainability efforts that protect Earth, benefit budgets

University honored for commitment to investing in, protecting trees

March 27, 2026

Featured events include STEM-X, Made@Stout Pop-Up Market, Fashion Without Fabric on April 11 Fashion Without Fabric, 2025

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Ranked fifth in nation, Blue Devils hockey team carries home ice advantage into first NCAA tournament in 17 years

giffeyt — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Ranked fifth in nation, Blue Devils hockey team carries home ice advantage into first NCAA tournament in 17 yearsgiffeyt March 11, 2026

�� hosts Anna Maria College in first round on Saturday, March 14

Tom Giffey

For the first time in nearly two decades, the �� Blue Devils hockey team is headed to the NCAA tournament, riding high after a 5-4 victory in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Tournament championship game.

�� (21-5-1) defeated UW-River Falls on March 7 to earn its first trip to the NCAA tourney since 2009. The Blue Devils, now ranked fifth in NCAA Division III, will open the tournament with a first-round game against Anna Maria College (20-5-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 14, on home ice at the Fanetti Community Center in Menomonie. Tickets are available online.

Having a sell-out crowd — including fans filling the bleachers and standing several deep outside the glass — was a boost to the Blue Devils during the championship game, said Head Coach Mike MacDonald. He anticipates similar support Saturday from �� students and community members.

“When you go into a season, you’re thinking about just getting to the NCAA tournament, and home ice is an afterthought, because it ��. such an accomplishment to get into the tournament in the first place,” he said. “But to have such an incredible season where we are going to host our first game at home, that ��. icing on the cake.”

Blue Devils hockey players celebrate the WIAC Tournament victory that propelled them to the NCAA Tournament. / Photo by Ben Killinger

Defenseman Gunner Moore, one of the team ��. captains, said support from the community, especially at the most recent game, has been unprecedented.

“The most exciting part for me was having the rink so filled and how excited people were. It ��. never been like that here before,” said Moore, a senior from La Vegas, Nevada.

“It has been unreal,” he continued. “I was walking into the fieldhouse the other day and I heard some track athletes singing our goal song. Seeing people in the community and talking to them has been awesome.”

Fellow co-captain and defenseman Sam Kroon, a junior from Calgary, Alberta, added that playing in front of an energetic home crowd will give the team a huge advantage.

“The support from the entire school and town has been amazing,” he added. “All the guys have had professors, students and community members come up and congratulate us. It's special to see the school and community support and cheer us on during our games and the playoff run.”

Fans in the sell-out crowd at Fanetti Community Center in Menomonie. / Photo by Ben Killinger

Intense arena atmosphere

Director of Athletics & Recreation Erin Sullivan said it ��. been an exciting season for the athletics department and the university.

“Our student athletes believe they can win, and that belief is showing up in how they compete. I’m incredibly proud of them,” she said. “I’m also grateful for the support we’ve received — from student athletes in other sports, from our student body, from the Stout community and from the Menomonie community.”

Sullivan added that “the atmosphere this past weekend was unreal” and she is looking forward to a similar environment on Saturday. “Hosting any round of the NCAA tournament is a big deal, and we intend to use home ice to our advantage,” she said. “This opportunity reflects the momentum across our department, and we’re excited to continue representing �� on the national stage.”

Depending on the outcome of Saturday ��. game and other factors, there ��. a chance the Blue Devils could host a second-round NCAA game at home as well. But the team isn’t thinking about that yet: They’re focused on carrying their season-long success into the next game.

“I think that when we’re playing at our best we can beat anyone. I think that was fairly evident by the way we could get up 5-1 against one of the most talented teams in the country,” MacDonald said, citing the lead the Blue Devils built in the championship before a late rally by the Falcons, who almost tied the game in the third period. That late rally by UW-River Falls was a reminder to the Blue Devils not to take their foot off the gas, MacDonald added.

Forward Arhip Sidarovich (19) scores against UW-River Falls. / Photo by Ben Killinger

Standout season

Three weeks earlier, on Feb. 14, the Blue Devils earned their first-ever outright regular season WIAC title with a home victory over UW-Eau Claire. They followed up with wins over UW-Stevens Point and UW-River Falls to clinch the WIAC tourney.

The team demonstrated a balanced approach against the Falcons, with the five goals coming from five different players — junior Nicolas Pigeon, sophomore Noah Tyrrell, freshman Arhip Sidarovich, sophomore Nicholas Stevens and senior Kullan Daikawa — while freshman goalie Sebastian Monaco stopped 24 shots.

The team has racked up numerous achievements this season, which has already been one of the most successful in program history. By beating the Falcons, the Blue Devils won their first-ever WIAC Tournament Championship, hoisting the Commissioner ��. Cup and earning the conference ��. automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Blue Devils have also won more than 20 games this season for the first time since 2009, when they reached the Frozen Four.

All this for a team that in a preseason poll was predicted to finish fifth in the six-team conference. Now they hold that same position in nationwide NCAA rankings.

“To be fifth out of 91 teams is quite an accomplishment, considering the schedule that we play,” MacDonald said.

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With WIAC trophy in hand, Blue Devils hockey team readies for postseason run

giffeyt — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:30:20 +0000

With WIAC trophy in hand, Blue Devils hockey team readies for postseason rungiffeyt February 25, 2026

After first-ever outright regular season title, ‘calm and composed’ squad aims for conference tourney, potential NCAA trip

Tom Giffey

Level-headed play, strong goaltending, and offensive consistency have all contributed to a season of success for the �� Blue Devil ��. hockey team, including a first-ever outright Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship.

Now, the Blue Devils are headed into the WIAC Tournament — and potentially the NCAA Division III tourney — as the No. 10 team in the nation.

“We’ve been a very calm and composed team, both with and without a lead, and that has been very helpful for us. We’ve been able to dig out of some games that we probably would have lost last year,” Head Coach Mike MacDonald explained.

“I would say we have a less emotional team than we’ve had in the past when it comes to the highs and lows of the season,” MacDonald continued. “Becoming a little bit more level-headed has benefited us greatly.”

That ��. not to say the Blue Devils (19-5-1 overall, 12-2-1 in WIAC play) and their fans didn’t celebrate on Feb. 14 when the team beat the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds 3-2 to clinch the regular season title. But even as they hoisted the conference trophy, they were looking ahead to tournament play.

The Blue Devils hoist the regular season conference trophy after beating the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds on Feb. 14. / Owen Segna

“Going into the season, that ��. not necessarily your goal, but it ��. a nice achievement along the way,” junior defenseman Sam Kroon, one of three team captains, said of winning the regular season title. “We know we still have a lot to do and a lot of hard work to come, but it ��. definitely a sign of the work we’ve put in throughout the season.”

By beating the Blugolds in two consecutive games to close the regular season, the Blue Devils clinched their first-ever outright WIAC regular season title. (In 2011, they shared the crown with UW-Superior.) Next comes the WIAC Tournament, which for the Blue Devils begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, against UW-Stevens Point at the Fanetti Ice Center in Menomonie. A win that night will send them to the WIAC title game on March 7, where victory will mean a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years.

Goalie Sebastian Monaco, a freshman, has been a standout for the Blue Devils this season. / Jeremy Cwan

Youth, experience combine for Blue Devils

MacDonald said the team has benefited from both experienced veterans and young talent this season. For example, freshman forward Arhip Sidarovich, from Minski, Belarus, earned WIAC Kwik Trip Men ��. Ice Hockey Player of the Week honors in November and ranked as the team ��. No. 2 scorer. Goalie Sebastian Monaco, a fellow freshman from Caledon, Ontario, was WIAC Player of the Week three times this season, most recently after making 58 saves in a two-game sweep of UW-Superior.

After several seasons of junior hockey in his native Ontario, Monaco knew he had to prove himself to earn a spot in the starting lineup. Likewise, the entire team had something to prove, having finished last season 12-13-2 and being picked fifth in the WIAC in a preseason poll. With help from Monaco ��. high save percentage, the team has beat expectations while building confidence.

“Honestly I think when we play with that attitude, that swagger, it ��. pretty hard to beat us — offensively and defensively,” Monaco said.

“We beat everyone in our league multiple times, going into the playoffs,” MacDonald added. “There isn’t a team out there who has our number this season, and that ��. a very good feeling.”

Defenseman Gunner Moore is one of three captains of the 2025-26 Blue Devil hockey team. / Reese Kupsky

The consistent success has rested on the steady shoulders of the team ��. seniors, including defenseman Gunner Moore and forward Kullan Daikawa, both co-captains, who have had to balance the intensity of both academics and athletics in their final semester.

Moore, a B.S. cybersecurity major from Las Vegas, Nevada, explained that as a senior, most of his coursework comes in the form of group projects that require leadership and teamwork, something he ��. accustomed to from years on the ice. His academic field focuses on problem solving and understanding systems — not to mention playing defense — all skills honed in hockey.

Consider the team ��. strength in penalty kill situations, which leave them temporarily shorthanded. “It might look like chaos to people, but there is a system to it,” Moore said of playing defense in the penalty kill. “It ��. built into my head: ‘This is what ��. going to happen.’”

Daikawa, a B.S. health, wellness & fitness major from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, said his academic field has helped him learn how to strengthen and condition his body and to recover faster after competition. “Everything I learn I try to relate it back to hockey,” he said.

Forward Jake McAlpine advances the puck against the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds on Feb. 14. / Ben Killinger

Prepped for the postseason

The Blue Devils regular-season title gave them a bye in the conference tournament, allowing them a couple of weeks to recover and prepare for the postseason, which begins Feb. 28 against UW-Stevens Point. As six-time NCAA champs, the Pointers can’t be taken lightly — but neither can the surging Blue Devils.

“We just take it one game at a time,” Daikawa said. “We’ve stayed calm through the storm, through the whole season.”

Looking forward to representing �� on a larger stage in the postseason, Moore said he ��. reminded of his experience winning a state hockey championship as a high school sophomore. “It was electric: You’d walk into school and people were so excited for you,” Moore said. “Now I’m at the end of my hockey career, and I’m doing that again. It ��. so fun.”

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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

Abbey Goers

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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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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Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

goersab — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:20:00 +0000

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedulegoersab February 11, 2026

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances

Abbey Goers

As �� steps into spring semester and continues its Year of Design, community members are invited to myriad civic talks, film screenings and literary conversations, art and design exhibitions, and performing arts events for everyone on campus and throughout the community. Events are open to the public; some events require tickets.

�� . Year of Design celebrates the innovation, leadership and impact central to Wisconsin ��. ��. Upcoming signature events include:

Saturday, April 11, 7 p.m.: Fashion Without Fabric, the Midwest ��. premier unconventional fashion runway shows.
Saturday, May 2, 4 p.m.: WEAR Fashion Show, showcasing innovative capstone collections from fashion design and development seniors.
Tuesday, May 5: Research Day, celebrating the research and creative work of students, faculty, and staff from all fields.
Thursday, May 7, 6 p.m.: Stout Game Expo (SGX), western Wisconsin ��. largest game developer exhibition.
Friday, May 8, 6 p.m.: SOAD Senior Show, graduating seniors take over Micheels Hall and the Applied Arts building.
Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10: 4th Annual Unspooled Film & Animation Festival, dedicated to showcasing the very best in independent filmmaking.
Wednesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 28: Murals in Menomonie, featuring the Walldogs, is a collaborative group of community organizations bringing in some of the world ��. best mural artists.

Fashion Without Fabric

�� and the School of Art & Design invite you one of the Midwest's premier unconventional fashion runway shows, Fashion Without Fabric.

Art & Design Exhibitions

Furlong Gallery opens its spring 2026 schedule with the School of Art and Design Faculty Exhibit, on view through Saturday, March 6. This exhibit brings together a wide range of interdisciplinary work by more than 25 SOAD faculty artists and designers.

'Vini Van Go' by Eli Koltanowski, and 'A pregnant pause followed by an audible sigh' by Matthew Wilichowski

Friday, March 13, to Thursday, April 23

North Gallery: "Support Structures," a group show by the Studio Art Program Advisory Committee.
South Gallery: "Simon Ungless: A Life in Print in the South Gallery." Ungless is the founder and designer of When Simon met Ralph, and former textile designer at Alexander McQueen

A reception will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10, during Destination Weekend. A Meet the Artist event for Ungless will be on Monday, April 13.

Monday, May 4, through September

North Gallery: End of the Year Juried Exhibition
South Gallery: Bud and Betty Student Artist in Residence Exhibition, featuring SAIR recipients Ainsely Violet and Eli Koltanowski

Gallery 209 rotates exhibits on a weekly basis. Located in the Applied Arts building on the second floor, exhibits are reserved for Senior Thesis Exhibitions, as well as master ��. in design students, design and fine art classes and student organizations. An Advanced Printmaking exhibition will be held in Gallery 209, April 10-12, Destination Weekend.

The Library Art Lab, on the first floor of the Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center, showcases student artists, faculty and campus collaborations. Exhibitions include applied research, capstones, clubs and classwork. There are two exhibitions each semester.

Student Artist-in-Residence recipients Ainsley Violet and Eli Koltanowski

Civic dialogue

�� . Center for Applied Ethics will host guest speaker J.P. Messina, professor of philosophy at Purdue University. Messina will present on “Workplace Censorship” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, in the Memorial Student Center Ballroom A. He will discuss the legal environment that protects employers’ rights to fire employees, even while exercising freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment. And if employer censorship becomes widespread, how discourse can suffer as people withhold their views from the public sphere.

Center for Applied Ethics

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

The center also hosts Philosophers’ Cafés, informal, friendly conversations on contemporary issues. Meetings are open to all and are led by �� and UW-Eau Claire faculty. Upcoming conversations will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, at Brewery Nønic in Menomonie:

Feb. 11: What Responsibility Does Society Have Toward Children?
March 11: Perceptions of Law and Its Discontents
April 8: Can Wartime Dehumanization Be Avoided?

The Center for Applied Ethics, Office of Student Opportunity & Excellence, and the Freedom of Expression Committee are hosting a series of events, “Enhancing Campus Culture: Free Expression and Civil Discourse,” funded by the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue and the Menard Center.

Forty to 60 students will participate in four discussion dinners over the course of the year. Each dinner will center around a controversial moral or political issue, with tables facilitated by faculty.

The non-partisan, non-ideological Menard Center is dedicated to the study and discussion of civil liberties and related institutions and innovations through scholarly inquiry, educational activities and community outreach.

Film screening and literary discussions

Continuing with Reading Across Campus’ focus on Jane Austen ��. “Pride and Prejudice,” the Literature Committee will host a film screening and discussion from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in Harvey Hall Theatre. A short discussion led by professors Joan Navarre and Kristin Risley will follow the film.

Featured author Dasha Kelly, a former Wisconsin Poet Laureate, will present on her most recent anthology, “A Line Meant: A Collaborative Poetry Collection,” from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 20, in Harvey Hall Theatre. Hamilton has worked with incarcerated populations, helping groups write and publish poetry. Her talk is co-sponsored by the College of Arts & Human Sciences and will connect to the theme of “Helping Humanity Flourish.”

University Theatre

University Theatre will present “Something Rotten,” directed by Audric Buhr, at Harvey Hall Theatre. Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world ��. very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.

Performance dates and times are:

Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m.
Thursday, April 16, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.

“Something Rotten” has received several Best Musical nominations and was hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years.”

Tickets will be available at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

Musical performances

Stout Choirs, directed by Jean Enyeart and Jonathan Campbell, while Jerry Hui is on sabbatical: Saturday, April 25, 7 p.m., at Our Savior ��. Lutheran Church, 910 9th Street E., Menomonie. The spring choral program, “Questions,” will be a musical exploration of “why?” As graduates move on to build a better world, they will be faced with many uncertainties. Questions come in many forms: rhetorical, spiritual and intellectual. Fear, awe and wonder lead to different kinds of questions.
The Symphonic Band, directed by Erika Svanoe: Sunday, April 26, 2 p.m., in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. “Echoes of Eco” will feature music about our national parks, the wilderness and the great outdoors, including “Diamond Tide” by Viet Cuong, “Wilderness” by Cait Nishimura, and a music and video presentation of “National Park Suite” by Ryan Fraley. The concert will also feature a new piece by Svanoe titled “Winds Across the Water.”
Blue Devil Jazz Orchestra, directed by James Anderson: Saturday, May 2, 7 p.m., at Harvey Hall Theatre. Come hear, groove and tap your toes to jazz classics, such as Benny Goodman ��. “Sing, Sing, Sing!,” Charles Mingus’ “Fables of Faubus,” Glenn Miller ��. “Moonlight Serenade,” as well as some new favorites, too.

Tickets will be available at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

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April 16, 2026

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Young �� squad tied all-time program record for wins in a season

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Breaking ground for polytechnic partnerships: �� top story highlights of 2025

giffeyt — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Breaking ground for polytechnic partnerships: �� top story highlights of 2025 giffeyt January 21, 2026

Heritage Hall renovation, AI innovations, industry-sponsored focus among year ��. notable headlines

It was a year of big things at ��, from breaking ground for the biggest construction project in university history to posting some of the most notable enrollment growth in the Universities of Wisconsin to being chosen as the area ��. Large Business of the Year.

In 2025, Wisconsin ��. �� also earned big accolades, such as being named one of America ��. Best Colleges by Money Magazine for the second year in a row and made big waves by continuing to break down barriers and redefine higher education for the 21st century.

These milestones are just some of the university ��. Stout Story highlights as it looks back at 2025.

Reinvigorating renovations

The university began its fall 2025 semester with a groundbreaking for the long-awaited $144.3 million Heritage Hall renovation project, which will transform the half-century-old building into a cutting-edge educational hub to help meet Wisconsin ��. workforce needs. The project, which is expected to be finished in 2028, will be paid for with funding from the state as well as $13.5 million donated by university supporters, industry partners and alumni.

‘Power of Partnership’: �� celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation

Chancellor, lawmakers, community and campus leaders join to highlight project that will boost Wisconsin workforce

“The renovation of Heritage Hall is a direct reflection of our mission as Wisconsin ��. ��: to provide career-focused, applied learning and research, and industry collaboration that meets the evolving needs of the state ��. workforce and communities,” Chancellor Katherine Frank said.

The campus also looked forward to another major project, a $31.7 million revitalization of the Recreation Complex. Funded through the 2025-27 state budget as well as a record-setting $5 million gift, the renovations are expected to begin this year. And in October, �� celebrated the opening of a $1 million Esports Arena, a new high-tech home for the championship-caliber esports team.

Advances in AI

Artificial intelligence isn’t a stand-alone subject at �� — it ��. been integrated across all programs, a 360-degree approach to create tomorrow ��. AI-ready workforce.

“Equipping students from every major with AI skills is not only important but necessary,” said engineering and technology Assistant Professor Yuan Xing, who is working with applied social science Professor Tina Lee on a cross-disciplinary program focused on an AI-enhanced farming robot.

AI, fully integrated: �� . 360-degree approach to artificial intelligence embeds skills across all programs

‘Equipping students from every major with AI skills is not only important but necessary.’

The university ��. AI Fellows and AI Innovation Committee, led by faculty and staff, ensure AI is embedded into learning, operations and innovation, while directing AI integration, governance, ethics and literacy. Among the many examples of faculty engagement with AI include employing machine learning in engineering and manufacturing processes as well as comparing human and AI-generated written communication.

Assistant Professor Cami Banger, program director of business information technology and digital marketing technology, created a business technology class with AI “baked in,” while Professor Betsy Pudliner used AI-driven prompts to transform hospitality industry experiences into interactive online course content.

Meanwhile, a $647,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will allow �� . Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence – CAM-AI – to provide advanced manufacturing and AI support to small- and medium-sized manufacturers.

Upgrading STEMM spaces

The completion of a two-year, $7.4 million renovation project ensured that labs in the Jarvis Hall Technology Wing provide the technology, accessibility and visibility necessary for students to succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management.

Some of the new equipment in labs in both Jarvis and Fryklund halls — including production-level 3D printers, a fully-integrated automated manufacturing system and more — was funded through a $3.1 million donation from the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation. The gift was the result of an ongoing partnership between �� and the Wanek family and their business, Ashley Furniture Industries, based in Arcadia.

Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation donation transforms labs with advanced manufacturing equipment

Machinery for automated manufacturing, 3D printing and more will impact thousands of students’ polytechnic experiences

Such campus labs create space for innovation, such as work by Associate Professor Kevin MacDonald, director of the B.S. construction management program, and his students to create innovative low-carbon concrete using blast-furnace slag, which was tested in April in a campus project.

Labs also provide workspaces for students like mechanical engineering senior Heidi Benningfield, who 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.

Other students brought research on optimizing plant growth through the use of robotics to the national stage, while a faculty-student collaboration created software for making better 3D models of priceless objects in museums from Minneapolis to Amsterdam.

Degree and university programs honored

�� and its programs continued to rake in top rankings in 2025. Princeton Review listed �� . undergraduate game design programs, which include the B.F.A. game design and development and B.S. computer science – game design concentration, No. 5 in the Midwest and No. 24 worldwide.

�� . game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Review

Side gigs at Roblox, Respawn strengthen students’ skills; Stout Game Expo on May 8

�� . Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity was named a Top 25 Best Value Cybersecurity Degree Bachelor ��. Program in the U.S. by Programs.com, the only Wisconsin program on the list. And U.S. News and World Report said �� had some of the Best Online Programs in the nation, including the M.S. manufacturing engineering online (Top 20 in the Midwest), the M.S. education online (Top 45 in the Midwest), and the B.S. management and leadership online (Top 15 in the Midwest).

University programs also garnered state and national honors, with the Grow, Persist, Succeed on-campus job program earning an Academic Staff Excellence Award from the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents and the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute receiving the annual W.F. Faulkes Award from the National Rehabilitation Association for its nearly 60 years of helping tens of thousands of Americans with disabilities.

High-ranking services for veterans

For veterans and active military students, �� was named to the 2025 Best for Vets Colleges list by Military Times for its commitment to serving veterans and their families, ranking first in Wisconsin among traditional and online universities.

Serving those who served: �� among top 25 in Midwest on annual Best for Vets list

University lauded by Military Times for services to veterans, their families

The university was also honored as a Military Friendly® School. Its silver designation marked the 16th consecutive year the university was named a Military Friendly® School for its efforts to offer service and support to meet the needs of military students. It was also named a 2025-26 Military Spouse Friendly School.

Army ROTC Northwoods Battalion students learn leadership theory, time management skills, basic soldier skills, map reading and other skills from experienced Army leaders. �� has a long-standing agreement with the Air Force ROTC program at University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul – a unique agreement among Wisconsin universities – that allows students to enroll in Air Force ROTC classes while completing their degrees.

Top design awards

While ��'s School of Art & Design celebrated its 60th anniversary, students from across degree programs celebrated top wins in state, national and international competitions.

Interior design senior Khendra Thompson rose to the challenge at the 12th Annual Steelcase NEXT Student Design Competition and won with her design of a 16,000-square-foot workplace spread across two floors in a Chicago office building, beating four other finalists from a field that began with 1,600 students from across the continent.

Interior design student tops international field to win Steelcase competition

Interior design majors who entered the 12th Annual Steelcase NEXT Student Design Competition faced a lofty challenge.

To address the concern of microplastics in food and water, Master of Fine Arts in design student Ashley Jandro created a social awareness campaign called “MicroWhat?,” for which she received a Student – Integrated Consumer Campaign Silver Pin at the Minnesota AdFed awards, sponsored by the Advertising Federation of Minnesota.

A team of four packaging students won first place among university teams from around the globe in the 2025 International Molded Fiber Association Student Competition. They created a sustainable packaging solution for a waffle iron, previously packaged in polystyrene, and replaced the components with molded fiber.

The claustrophobic, cooperative game Dread Not, in which players try to survive a sinking submarine, won the award for Best Student Entry at M+DEV, the largest game industry conference in the Midwest. Dread Not was developed by a team of 15 game design students.

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, announced by the state ��. Department of Natural Resources.

Students lending a Helping Hand

Two interior design students 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, reimagined the pantry space to create an “atmosphere that reflects the care �� places in serving its students.”

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

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

In a cross-disciplinary collaboration, four groups of students in a Light Construction Methods class built two raised garden beds, one raised tool bench and one raised tool holder for The Neighbors of Dunn County, a senior living home. The project was part of a service-learning activity and was launched last summer during a new STEAM camp for high school students.

A team of animation and digital media students collaborated with Dunn County Humane Society to develop a public service announcement as part of the Animation Production junior capstone class. Their 72-second 2D animated film, “Stray,” was created to help advocate for pet adoption. The informative short features Bow, a stray orange tabby cat rescued during Wisconsin ��. bitter winter.

Industry-sponsored projects are standard practice

Arcadia-based Ashley Furniture sponsored multiple engineering student projects in 2025. A team of students, including Inspiring Graduates Luke Mertens and Zachary Morgan, designed an innovative nonstandard pallet stacker. Ashley Manufacturing Engineer Erik Kramer, the team ��. project manager, said, “The �� team built a better system, a better product for us. Now, with the team ��. documentation, our automation team can replicate their functional design to build six more stackers for our facilities.”

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

Students also developed toolless bed connections for Ashley and worked in eight cross-disciplinary groups to research market trends, ideate preliminary designs, test materials and build professional prototypes. The class traveled to Ashley for a tour of the facility and to present their prototypes to the R&D team.

Packaging faculty and student research is poised to help Madison-based Tricky Foods deliver its tasty but temperature-sensitive charcuterie boards coast to coast. Associate Professor Kate Liu of �� . packaging program worked with Tricky Foods to test the insulating abilities of two eco-friendly packaging options – one made of cornstarch, the other of recycled paper.

Three industrial and product design students were awarded a cash prize by Room & Board in exchange for the rights to produce their designs if they choose. The senior’ project focused on storage solutions for media, dining, living, entry, bathroom and kitchen systems.

Blue Devil athletes excelling

The �� Blue Devil women ��. basketball team ��. Cinderella run to the Final Four last March marked the team ��. best-ever performance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. They completed their historic season with a 23-8 record, going 10-4 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference. Senior Raegen Sorensen became ��'s all-time leading scorer with 1,754 career points.

Blue Devil women ��. basketball makes history in Cinderella run to the Final Four

Records set in tenacious battle against undefeated, defending champions NYU

Gymnast Jamie Beatty delivered a historic performance at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association National Championships, capturing national titles in both the all-around and the uneven bars and being named WIAC Newcomer of the Year.

The inaugural women ��. flag football team hoisted the Midwest College Women ��. Flag Football League Championship trophy at the Minnesota Vikings’ TCO Performance Center in April. �� was a founding member of the collegiate league, which was kickstarted with support from the Vikings.

Women ��. golf took the WIAC conference championship, where they triumphed by a near-record margin. Sophomore Julia Imai and junior Brin Neumann placed first and second individually.

Blue Devils football made history at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium, earning the program ��. first-ever postseason victory with a 31-23 win over Washington University in the Culver's Isthmus Bowl. �� finishes the season 6-5 for their second straight winning season.

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Officer Harvey, a therapy dog in training, joined ��'s University Police as its newest member in March. Once Harvey is fully trained, he will serve University Police by assisting people experiencing mental health crises as well as victims of crime and will help the department bridge the gap with members of the community, said University Police Chief Gregory Kalosis.

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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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Fall commencement scheduled Dec. 20 for more than 525 graduates

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