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Polytechnic at its finest: Miron Construction campus projects give students unique opportunities

giffeyt — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Polytechnic at its finest: Miron Construction campus projects give students unique opportunitiesgiffeyt July 22, 2026

Construction majors get up-close experience on multimillion-dollar Heritage Hall, Recreation Complex upgrades

Two major ongoing construction projects have provided �� Polytechnic students with exceptional applied learning opportunities without having to leave campus.

This summer, 13 �� Polytechnic students are interning with Miron Construction, Co. Inc., general contractor for both the $144.3 million renovation of Heritage Hall and the $31.7 million upgrade of the Recreation Complex. In addition, a recent two-semester master class led by Miron staff members gave students unique access to the Heritage Hall renovation.

“We are proud to maintain a strong relationship with �� Polytechnic, including helping train the next generation of construction professionals through a variety of internships each year,” said Andrew Daniels, senior vice president of the company ��. Eau Claire office. “The ongoing work to transform Heritage Hall and the Recreation Complex has created a unique opportunity to foster these applied learning opportunities right on campus.”

This summer, Miron interns from �� Polytechnic are gaining skills in project management, risk management, network security and technology support. Over the past decade, more than 40 �� Polytechnic students have interned for Neenah-based Miron, one of the largest construction contractors in the Midwest.

Among this summer ��. Miron interns from �� Polytechnic is Tyler Evans of Shawano, who is pursuing a degree in construction management and a minor in construction safety and risk control. As a risk management intern, Evans focuses on maintaining safety both at the Recreation Complex site on campus as well as at Miron projects around western Wisconsin. That means conducting safety walks, performing safety audits and learning the numerous factors on a job site necessary for maintaining safety.

“Safety isn’t just about us being safe and going home and not getting hurt,” said Evans, who will begin his junior year in the fall. “It ��. also about how we can do things easier and faster, but also in the right way where we’re all being safe and taking care of ourselves.”

Tyler Evans, Miron Construction intern and �� Polytechnic construction management major

For Evans, being a risk management intern doesn’t mean sitting in a trailer filling out paperwork. It means getting out on job sites and pitching in alongside the construction crews. “It ��. allowing me to gain the knowledge and experience of what people are doing and what they have to do to make their career,” he said.

This summer ��. internship, he added, will add a great deal of value to his education: Even if he goes on to become a project manager or a superintendent, the internship will have given him a strong understanding of safety. “The biggest thing about this internship is it ��. allowing me to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life,” Evans said.

Miron Construction ��. John Younger, project manager for the Recreation Complex renovation, is a 2011 graduate of the B.S. construction management program, as are many of his coworkers. He said his �� Polytechnic education prepared him for his current role, and he sees Evans getting the same experience on the campus job site.

“Tyler ��. always asking a lot of questions. He ��. trying to get a handle on what we do and why we do it,” Younger said.

On-campus internship leads to full-time job

Every year, the �� Polytechnic Cooperative Education & Internship Program oversees nearly 1,000 co-op and internship experiences. More than one-third of the time, these internships and co-ops lead to job offers – and Miron is no exception.

Consider recent graduate Lucy Krieg of Kaukauna, who received her construction management degree in May and immediately took a job as safety manager for Miron.

Lucy Krieg, safety manager for Miron and recent �� Polytechnic graduate

Krieg ��. journey with Miron began at an on-campus career fair, which led to two consecutive summer internships and then a year-long opportunity to work on the Heritage Hall project as an intern.

“Being able to see things both on the construction site and in the classroom and being able to go back and forth between the two was really important to me,” Krieg said. For example, Krieg could experience something new during her internship, then return to the classroom and ask a faculty member about it. This kind of networking with professors and peers helped fortify the construction knowledge she gained on job sites, Krieg said.

“Looking back, I feel like my internship prepared me exactly how I needed going into my career,” she said. “It gave me the skills and the confidence that I need to back up those skills.”

Sawyer Steineke of Kaukauna is another construction management major who is interning with Miron this summer, working on projects in Green Bay, Kaukauna and elsewhere around the state. Steineke said the internship has given him a deeper understanding of the construction business, “Especially when you get in the field with people who’ve been doing this for the past 30 years.”

Steineke expects to bring his internship experience with him when he returns to class in the fall. “When I get to Heavy Construction and certain classes like that, I’ll have the knowledge that I’ve been on a job that was similar to this,” he said.

Sawyer Steineke, Miron Construction intern and �� Polytechnic construction management major

Likewise, the skills he ��. gained this summer will follow him into his professional life. “If you speak to a lot of construction management majors, they’ll tell you a lot of the things you’re going to bring with you into your future career are going to be learned through these internships,” he said. “So, Stout allowing us to be able to do something like this and get credit for it is a really cool opportunity.”

Miron helps create year-long construction master class

The Heritage Hall project also created the opportunity for a new course that gave students unique access to the site and the construction experts working on it.

When the Heritage Hall project was in its planning stages, Lecturer James Bunkelman of the operations and management department reached out to Holly Nowak, a senior project manager with Miron, to see if he could arrange a site visit for students. Instead of offering only a tour, Nowak suggested creating a master class that would be built around the Heritage Hall project.

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Once a quarter during both the fall and spring semesters, students met for a four-hour class, which began with Miron staff members presenting topics which were then explored on the job site so students could see their real-world application.

“This was polytechnic at its finest. You couldn’t define polytechnic any better than how this class ended up,” Bunkelman said. “It can be very challenging for the students to take the academic side of what we’re trying to teach them and put it into perspective. The goal was to use the fact that Heritage Hall couldn’t be any closer or any better suited for that.”

The course turned out better than Bunkelman could have hoped: Because of the size and complexity of the project, Miron is using cutting-edge technology that might not be found at other job sites, giving students a richer experience. For example, students were able to use a virtual reality 3D model to better understand how site planning works as construction managers determine the placement of construction cranes, parking and pedestrian pathways.

Opportunities for student engagement will continue for the coming semesters, as both construction projects are expected to continue into 2028.

Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilities

Renovation, addition funded in part by record-breaking alumni gift

The long-awaited work on Heritage Hall, which opened in 1973 as the Home Economics Building, began last September. The extensive, clean-slate renovation will double the number of students the building will be able to serve to about 4,000. The project was primarily funded through the 2023-25 state budget, with an additional $13.5 million in private funding from university supporters, industry partners and alumni made through the �� Foundation & Alumni Association.

The Recreation Complex project, which began last spring, will add nearly 12,000 square feet of recreation space and renovate an additional 28,000 square feet at the facility, which was built in 1963. The project is primarily funded through student fees as well as a record-setting $5 million gift from alumnus Dallas Pankowski and his wife, Edye, a Menomonie native.

Construction management majors get up-close experience on multimillion-dollar Heritage Hall, Recreation Complex upgrades Miron Construction Scaffolding Training

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Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilities

giffeyt — Fri, 01 May 2026 15:17:16 +0000

Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilitiesgiffeyt May 1, 2026

Renovation, addition funded in part by record-breaking alumni gift

Tom Giffey

A $31.7 million renovation of �� . Recreation Complex will transform the facility and provide more than 39,000 square feet of new and remodeled space for student health, fitness and wellbeing.

Campus leaders, alumni, legislators and students were among those who took part in the official groundbreaking for the project at the campus Sports & Fitness Center on Thursday, April 30.

Chancellor Katherine Frank speaks at the Recreation Complex groundbreaking on April 30.

Chancellor Katherine Frank said the project came about because of a combination of student initiative and donor generosity. Students voted to support this project in 2019 and again in 2022 through student fees, and Dallas and Edye Pankowski donated $5 million to support the project.

“We often talk about �� . Polytechnic Mission – and at the heart of that mission is student success,” Frank said. “This renovation will support student success by prioritizing student health and wellness through modern, accessible recreation and athletic spaces.”

The transformative project, which is already underway and is expected to be completed by early 2028, will add nearly 12,000 square feet of recreation space and renovate an additional 28,000 square feet at the facility, which was built in 1963. The renovation includes turning a decommissioned pool into a multipurpose gym, relocating the athletic weight room to the current fitness center and then converting the previous weight room into multi-use studios, expanding and upgrading locker rooms, creating a second-floor addition with multi-use courts, and creating a new entrance and atrium to attract and welcome visitors.

The future entrance to ��'s Sports & Fitness Center will be named in honor of donors Dallas and Edye Pankowski.

The latter space will be named in honor of the Pankowskis: Dallas, an alum, and Edye, a Menomonie native he met when she worked at ��. Their $5 million gift, the largest in the university ��. history, will help students and other community members develop and maintain active lives. The couple said their own dedication to physical activity has allowed them to pursue rigorous adventures around the world, from the glaciers of Greenland to the base camp of Mount Everest.

“We know that Stout has world-class laboratories to complement their ‘learn by doing’ philosophy,” Dallas Pankowski said. “This updated remodeling and addition to the gym facility will take a just adequate building and make it an outstanding facility. Stout is a school committed to progress.”

Dallas Pankowski, a �� alum who, with his wife, Edye, donated $5 million toward the project, speaks at the groundbreaking event.

�� Senior Facilities Officer Justin Utpadel said he is among the numerous �� alumni who benefited from using the Sports and Fitness Center for fitness, recreation, stress relief and to form connections with other students. However, over the years, it became clear that the building needed significant upgrades.

“Over time, the building ��. infrastructure, layout, and capacity have struggled to keep pace with student demand, modern standards, and evolving expectations for recreation and wellness,” Utpadel said. “This renovation directly addresses those challenges.”

State Rep. Clint Moses, a �� psychology alum who now represents the Menomonie area in the state Legislature, said the remodeled facility will enhance �� . reputation for the next generation of Blue Devils. “This is going to be state-of-the-art and on par with – if not better than – the other institutions in our UW system,” Moses said. “We need to attract these students here to create the jobs and fill the jobs Wisconsin needs.”

The project will benefit not only the thousands of community members who come through the facility ��. doors annually for sporting events and youth programs but also �� student athletes.

�� students Maraya Wiltrout, at podium, and Ian Bryant, left, spoke about the impact the project will have on the campus.

“From an athletics perspective, this project is incredibly exciting,” said junior Maraya Wiltrout, a member of both the Stout Student Association and the women ��. basketball team. “Our athletic facilities play a huge role in how we train, prepare, and come together as teams – and what we’re breaking ground on today is a major step forward for �� Athletics.”

Fellow �� junior Ian Bryant, who works as an orientation and first-year specialist as well as a campus tour guide, said the renovated facility will benefit all students’ physical and mental wellbeing.

“I often tell prospective students and their families that one of the best things you can see on a campus tour is construction – and luckily we have a lot of it,” Bryant said. “It shows that this institution is growing, it is visible proof that we are investing back into our students, and it means those students will soon have brand-new, state-of-the-art spaces to call their own. What we are seeing here at �� is exactly that kind of investment.”

Director of Athletics and Recreation Erin Sullivan credit student leaders, the campus planning team and retired Director of Athletics and Recreation Duey Naatz with creating the momentum that allowed the project to reach this point.

“This project has involved a long journey, and it is incredibly rewarding to finally gather here for the official groundbreaking,” she said. “This renovation will transform this space into something truly special for our campus community.”

This design rendering shows the interior of the addition to ��'s Sports & Fitness Center.

Wisconsin-based Miron Construction will serve as the project ��. general contractor. Andrew Daniels, senior vice president of the company ��. Eau Claire office, said the project is part of a long, meaningful partnership with ��: Miron is also general contractor for the ongoing renovation of Heritage Hall, which began last fall, and served the same role for the 2016 renovation of Harvey Hall. Such projects create applied learning opportunities for �� students who intern with Miron Construction.

“With our teams on campus every day supporting the Heritage Hall and Recreation Complex projects, we are proud to partner with �� to provide authentic, real-world experiences for students in construction management and safety and risk control,” Daniels said. “These active jobsites offer students firsthand exposure to jobsite conditions, safety coordination and the practical realities of project delivery.”

Just before 20 campus and community representatives donned hard hats and ceremonially turned over shovelfuls of soil, Chancellor Frank offered thanks for the collective effort that is bringing the project from drawing board to reality.

“The end result will be a renovated building that reflects a commitment to health and wellbeing in support of our campus and broader community,” she said.

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The Stout Student Association recently approved a resolution recommending adding recreational space to the university Sports and Recreation Complex that will in

Renovation, addition funded in part by record-breaking alumni gift Shovels full of soil are turned at Rec Complex groundbreaking

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Hero Caption: �� and community officials, students, alumni and other dignitaries take part in an official groundbreaking for the Recreation Complex renovation on April 30.

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

giffeyt — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000

‘Power of Partnership’: �� celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation giffeyt September 10, 2025

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

Tom Giffey

With ceremonial shovels full of dirt, leaders from University of Wisconsin-Stout, the regional business community and the state of Wisconsin celebrated the start of a three-year, $144.3 million renovation project that will transform the half-century-old Heritage Hall into a cutting-edge educational hub to help meet Wisconsin ��. workforce needs.

The project, which began in August and is expected to be completed by fall 2028, will double the number of students Heritage Hall can serve through an extensive, clean-slate renovation.

“Today, we celebrate more than the groundbreaking of a building – we celebrate the power of partnership and perseverance. 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 at the ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Chancellor Katherine Frank spoke at the Heritage Hall groundbreaking.

“For more than 50 years, Heritage Hall, originally known as the Home Economics building, has served as a launchpad for thousands of �� graduates – teachers, counselors, police officers, food scientists, hospitality leaders, and more – who have gone on to strengthen Wisconsin ��. economy and enrich our communities,” Frank continued. “With approximately 60% of our graduates remaining in-state and a near-perfect employment rate, �� places students into Wisconsin ��. workforce at a higher rate than any other technical college or university. But the building ��. true value lies in the lives it will shape and the challenges it will help solve – from childcare and education to mental health, manufacturing, and tourism.”

Among those whose lives and careers have already been shaped by �� is state Rep. Clint Moses, a �� psychology alum who now represents the Menomonie area in the state Legislature. In that role, Moses was a strong advocate for funding the project in the state budget.

“I’d like to thank the chancellor and her team for doing an excellent job showing why it ��. important that we support �� and the type of students that this institution puts out,” Moses said. “From hotel, restaurant, and tourism to golf management, all of these create the jobs we need for Wisconsin.”

State Rep. Clint Moses of Menomonie spoke at the Heritage Hall groundbreaking.

Another proud �� alum is Ashley DeMuth, CEO for the Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce, who called the project an affirmation of a shared commitment to improving the workforce and the community.

“Heritage Hall truly is more than a building. It ��. a bridge between campus and community. It ��. an investment in the next generation of professionals in education, hospitality, mental health, manufacturing, health care, tourism, nutrition and more,” DeMuth said. “This is where applied learning meets real-world needs. From the Child and Family Study Center to the programs training our future teachers, counselors, and wellness leaders, Heritage Hall has long been at the heart of �� . mission. The Chamber and our investors across all industries are proud to support this vision.”

Before the renovation began, Heritage Hall served more than 2,000 students in 29 undergraduate and graduate programs annually. Once it reopens, this number is expected to grow to more than 4,000 students each year.

The three-year project will involve demolishing the interior partitions of the building to create maximum flexibility for new spaces. An independent feasibility study conducted in 2020 found that while the building is structurally sound, most of its systems are either obsolete and difficult to repair or near the end of their life. The renovation will completely replace the building ��. mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; replace the roof, windows and entrances; create code-compliant and accessible restrooms; and more.

“The renovation of Heritage Hall represents a bold step forward for ��,” Senior Facilities Officer Justin Utpadel said. “This four-story facility will be completely revitalized with modern infrastructure, including solar panels and enhanced daylighting to support sustainability and wellness. Accessibility will be significantly improved, with accessible entrances on three floors.”

Representatives from the campus, community and state took part in a ceremonial groundbreaking.

The renovation will also directly benefit the community at large, noted Provost Glendalí Rodríguez. “Heritage Hall is not only physically central to the university ��. footprint; along the north it is a key community connection and entrance,” Rodríguez said. “With the renovation, the university ��. Clinical Services Center, which serves members of the community, will be more easily accessible and celebrated.”

Rodríguez went on to outline the plethora of programs that will be housed within the remodeled building, noting that many of them produce graduates who can fill jobs in economic sectors projected to grow in Wisconsin in the near future, including tourism, mental health, education and child care.

The bulk of funding for the project came from the state of Wisconsin through the 2023-25 state budget. The project also received $13.5 million in private funding from university supporters, industry partners and alumni made through the Stout University Foundation. In terms of dollar value, it is the largest project in the university ��. history.

Miron Construction is the general contractor for the project.

“We’re excited to build a space that reflects the future of learning: flexible, interdisciplinary, sustainable and safe,” Daniels said. “And we’re even more excited to know that the students who will walk these halls – some of whom may one day join our team – will be learning in an environment designed to help them thrive.”

The renovation will allow Heritage Hall to serve Blue Devil students well into the future, said Noah Rosenberger, president of the Stout Student Association, who said he knows the building well as a hotel, restaurant and tourism management major.

“To me, the biggest takeaway from today is that this project shows how much the university, alumni and community believe in us as students,” said Rosenberger, of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. “They are investing in spaces where we learn, grow, connect and live the polytechnic spirit. I can’t wait for the day I walk back into Heritage Hall as an alumnus and see it completely reimagined. Not just new walls and classrooms, but the energy it ��. going to bring to campus.”

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Hero Caption: Ground was officially broken for the $144 million Heritage Hall renovation project on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

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Fit to a tee: New Pat Kell Golf Center perfect match for Blue Devil teams, golf management majors

polingj — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:06:58 +0000

Fit to a tee: New Pat Kell Golf Center perfect match for Blue Devil teams, golf management majorspolingj October 11, 2024

Gift that created facility with state-of-the-art simulators, indoor putting and chipping green honors longtime golfer, family

Women ��. and men ��. golf team members and students majoring in golf enterprise management have a new, high-tech practice and learning hub at �� — the indoor Pat Kell Golf Center.

The center, in the Recreation Complex, has two state-of-the-art monitors that provide instant swing and ball data paired with two golf course simulators for year-round practice. In an adjoining room is a putting green, about 35 feet by 12 feet, and chipping area with artificial turf.

Recently, members of the Kell family joined Mike Kell to dedicate the center, built in two former racquetball courts. Mike ��. gift in honor of his wife, Pat Kell, who died in 2021, made it possible.

Mike Kell ��. gift in honor of his wife led to the creation of the Pat Kell Golf Center. / ��

Pat Kell joins her dad for a golf outing in 1958 in Madison, where she grew up. / Contributed photo

“She would be thrilled, tickled pink about this whole complex,” Mike Kell said.

The idea grew out of Pat ��. lifelong love for golf and the multiple benefits that could be realized at ��. Along with players receiving instant swing feedback — such as ball speed, spin rate, distance — they can practice indoors during winter months and play simulated rounds of golf on holes projected onto a giant screen, a version of the game that has grown in popularity across the country as technology has advanced.

GEM majors, trained to take on management positions at top golf facilities, can use the center as a lab to learn about swing instruction, club fitting, event management and more.

In addition, the center will be available to the general student body, faculty, staff and the community to reserve.

“There are a lot of things we can do that we couldn’t do before,” said Andrew Delong, men ��. team coach and GEM program director.

A member of the �� men ��. golf team uses one of the two golf simulators at the center. / ��

He noted that Blue Devil golfers by the nature of their sport didn’t have a locker room — until now. “It ��. such a great opportunity for our kids to experience the highest level of technology.”

The facility includes player lockers and a social area with a TV and couch.

Men ��. golf team member Andrew Bauer was on hand for the dedication and was practicing his chipping and putting with other men ��. and women ��. team members. “This will allow us to improve our games and gain an edge. It looks like a Division I facility,” Bauer said after personally thanking Mike Kell.

Bauer is a sophomore from Chippewa Falls majoring in business administration.

Members of the �� women ��. golf team practice on the putting green. / ��

The women ��. team recently took second place in the conference tournament, led by first-year player Julia Imai, who won the individual title by seven shots. Imai, from Brookline, Mass., is majoring in food science and technology.

Blue Devil Coach Sophia Connett, who also attend the Kell Center dedication, was named WIAC coach of the year.

Athletics Director Duey Naatz called the center a “top tier” facility and told Kell family members at the dedication that the university was “thrilled you chose to honor Pat in this way.”

Mike Kell is the son of Paul Kell, who founded Kell Container in Chippewa Falls. In 2004, Kell Container was purchased by Great Northern Corp. Kell Container and GNC have a long history of collaborating with �� and its academic programs.

Mike Kell tries a putt at the center in the Recreation Complex. / ��

Multiple Kell family members are alumni, including most recently Charlie Pierce, a 2023 graduate and grandson of Mike and Pat. Charlie graduated in packaging and works for GNC.

“The Kell family appreciates �� and always will,” Mike Kell said. “Stout made this happen.”

The gift was coordinated through the �� Foundation and Alumni Association.

The Pat Kell Golf Center is the first of many expected changes at the Recreation Complex, where a renovation supported by students is �� . next major capital project awaiting state approval.

###

Women ��. and men ��. golf team members and students majoring in golf enterprise management have a new, high-tech playing and learning hub at ��. Kell Center simulator

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Celebration of South Hall renovation, latest facility improvement, planned Oct. 12

polingj — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:11:11 +0000

Celebration of South Hall renovation, latest facility improvement, planned Oct. 12polingj October 6, 2023

Future university building projects include Recreation Complex addition, Heritage Hall renovation

An open house to celebrate the latest facility upgrade at ��, the renovation of South Hall, is planned Thursday, Oct. 12.

The event, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., will begin with a dedication in the new courtyard, on the north side of the building, followed by self-guided tours of the student residence hall.

“Student success at Stout depends on what happens both inside and outside of the classroom, lab or studio, and this project allows students to live in an updated, dynamic and engaging environment,” Chancellor Katherine Frank said.

Family members help students move their belongings into South Hall at the start of the semester this fall. / ��

The $22.5 million refresh of the building includes updated restrooms and showers, room makeovers with new furnishings, new lounge and kitchen spaces, the latest technology, sustainability features, an elevator, and a new central entryway and courtyard facing the campus mall.

“This project has been a true collaboration and a joy to be a part of,” said Adam Ludwig, director of University Housing. “From student input on design and furniture selection to Stout student interns and alums on the general contracting team – this is a building by the students and for the students that is designed to meet their needs for many years to come.”

Construction majors Noah Gansluckner and Tommy Quinn were part of the Market & Johnson building crew. Alum Ryan Wichmann, 2010, was overall project manager, and Chad Schlough, 1997, was an HVAC manager for a subcontractor.

Students moved into the hall, which has 356 beds, in late August and early September for the start of fall classes.

A lounge space with natural light features a study table in South Hall. / ��

A new feature in the courtyard is an art space. The School of Art and Design and University Housing plan to unveil a new piece of student art annually at the site beginning in 2024, Ludwig said.

Justin Utpadel, �� director of Facilities Management, said the goal of the project was to “create spaces that foster relationship building, integrate sustainability and provide for an improved experience that supports student success.”

South Hall, built in 1967, is at the northeast corner of Broadway Street and 13th Avenue E. The project was approved by the State Building Commission in 2021. Construction began in May 2022.

The rain site for the South Hall event is Merle M. Price Commons, north of South Hall.

An updated kitchen for student use is part of the renovated South Hall. / ��

Rec Complex, Heritage Hall projects on the horizon

The next project on �� . radar is a $30.5 million upgrade to the Recreation Complex, featuring an addition and new atrium on the west side of the Sports and Fitness Center building. If approved by the state, construction could begin in 2026 and finish in 2027.

Last summer, �� received full funding approval in the 2023-25 state budget for the $139 million renovation of Heritage Hall, an academic building. Bidding for construction will begin in fall 2024.

The Heritage project includes demolition of the oldest portion of the Vocational Rehabilitation Building, the university ��. original library built in 1954.

Also last summer, the university ��. largest solar photovoltaic array to date was installed at Jarvis Hall Technology Wing, part of a multibuilding solar and energy efficiency project.

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South Hall is the third recent residence hall renovation. McCalmont Hall reopened in 2014 and North Hall in 2019. Similar to those projects, silver metal cladding was added to portions of South Hall ��. brick exterior.

Renovations of other residence halls on south campus are in the university ��. capital plan. �� is developing a University Long Range Plan, an extension of its FOCUS2030 strategic plan.

Previously, renovations were completed on two north campus residence halls, Hovlid in 2010 and Fleming in 2012.

Other recent building renovations on campus have included Harvey Hall, Merle M. Price Commons and Bowman Hall, including the Clock Tower.

###

An open house to celebrate the latest facility upgrade at ��, the renovation of South Hall, is planned Thursday, Oct. 12. South Hall exterior

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Hero Caption: �� will celebrate the renovation of South Hall with a dedication and open house on Thursday, Oct. 12.

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Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate ��'s Heritage Hall funding, workforce impact

goersab — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 19:45:28 +0000

Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate ��'s Heritage Hall funding, workforce impactgoersab July 11, 2023

Project addresses workforce needs by producing dedicated, skilled graduates across multiple disciplines

Abbey Goers

State representatives Clint Moses and Rob Summerfield on July 11 joined University of Wisconsin-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank, Provost Glendalí Rodríguez and Senior Facilities Officer Justin Utpadel for a news conference outside of Heritage Hall to celebrate state funding for the hall ��. renovation.

Funding for Heritage Hall, which opened 50 years ago, was approved for $139 million. The renovation project will directly address Wisconsin's workforce needs in hospitality and tourism, mental health and wellness, child care and education, food science, disability and rehabilitation services.

Moses, a �� psychology alum, thanked the members of the Joint Finance Committee, who saw the value in the renovation project and ensured its addition in the State ��. 2023-25 budget.

State representatives Clint Moses and Rob Summerfield, both �� alums, speak to the university's uniqueness as a polytechnic. / ��

“�� has always produced the type of workers that Wisconsin needs. I always say that �� was polytechnic before polytechnic was even a thing. Stout has always had a tradition of teaching the skills that we need in our workforce,” Moses said, noting that his father is a �� industrial arts alum who taught in the Chippewa Valley.

“This expansion of Heritage Hall will more than double the capacity of students that will be coming through this particular building, and I hope that it will continue to attract the very best students to our region and to our state. �� also has a great record of job placement and retention of workers within our state of Wisconsin,” Moses added.

Nearly 60% of �� graduates remain in Wisconsin, and the employment rate of recent graduates is 99.4%, based on a new First Destination report.

Summerfield, a �� business administration alum, believes the university is “one of the most unique campuses in the nation” in its ability to transform the state ��. workforce and in the importance of graduates coming out of Heritage Hall to regional, state and national companies.

Chancellor Katherine Frank speaks to the readiness of Stout graduates as they enter Wisconsin ��. workforce. / ��

Chancellor Frank expressed her gratefulness to the Legislature and governor for the investment and for recognizing that “Heritage Hall and a polytechnic education that emphasizes career-focused, applied learning in collaboration with business and industry partners is part of the solution to lead Wisconsin forward.

“We place students in the Wisconsin workforce better than any other higher education institution in the state. And thanks to your efforts and those of our alumni, statewide industry and business partners, community advocates and university employees and students, now future Stout students and others will learn and collaborate in a state-of-the-art building that will amplify our impact on our state ��. economy,” she said.

“This renovation couldn’t be more critical than it is today. Wisconsin faces immediate workforce challenges, from child care and education, to mental health and manufacturing, to housing and tourism. And we are projected to need even more dedicated, skilled Wisconsinites in the decade to come,” Frank added. “This renovated building, the applied research and learning it will inspire, the community resources it will provide and the business and industry partners it will support will allow Stout as Wisconsin ��. �� to provide solutions to these challenges – challenges that impact our economy and communities.

“The return on investment is easy to calculate and the value is very, very clear. It is our mission at ��, Wisconsin ��. only polytechnic university, to continue to prepare the generations to come to help create an even better Wisconsin,” Frank said.

More than 4,000 students will pass through the newly renovated Heritage Hall each year. / ��

Utpadel, a �� construction alum, announced that the final design of the renovation will be ready within a year and bidding for construction will be held in fall of 2024. “It will save taxpayers more than $10 million a year in projected inflation costs that would have been incurred by further delays,” he said.

Rodríguez noted that more than 2,000 �� students from 29 undergraduate and graduate programs pass through Heritage Hall each year. The renovation will double the number of students served each year to more than 4,000.

The university ��. Child and Family Study Center, Disability Services, Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute and Counseling Center, which provide applied learning experiences to students and offer free services to community members and students, will also move to Heritage Hall.

The project has received $13.5 million in private funding from university supporters, industry partners and alumni made through the Stout University Foundation.

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‘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

Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate ��'s Heritage Hall funding, workforce impact

Project addresses workforce needs by producing dedicated, skilled graduates across multiple disciplines

Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Funding

Chancellor Katherine Frank issues a statement following funding approval of Heritage Hall by the Joint Finance Committee.

Project addresses workforce needs by producing dedicated, skilled graduates across multiple disciplines Representative Clint Moses speaking

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Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Funding

hugginsm — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 14:25:44 +0000

Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Fundinghugginsm June 2, 2023

Chancellor Katherine Frank issues a statement following funding approval of Heritage Hall by the Joint Finance Committee.

Learn More About the Project

Chancellor Katherine P. Frank issued the following statement in reaction to the Joint Finance Committee ��. approval of funding for �� . Heritage Hall:

"Yesterday evening, the Joint Finance Committee voted to approve funding for the Heritage Hall Renovation Project. ��, the City of Menomonie, Dunn County and our statewide business and industry partners welcome this exciting development. We appreciate the Committee ��. support and recognition of �� . critical contributions to Wisconsin.

In my conversations with business and industry partners throughout our state, I have heard significant concerns voiced about childcare, mental health, manufacturing and other issues impacting local economies. Heritage Hall is part of the solution.

Degree programs housed in Heritage produce career-ready teachers, school and clinical mental health counselors, police officers, food scientists, property managers and directors of hotels, restaurants and tourism, who before graduation, provide direct services to our state. Stout graduates are the backbone of Wisconsin communities, large and small.

State funding will rejuvenate the 50-year-old Heritage Hall into a state-of-the-art learning facility. It will double the number of students served each year to more than 4,000. And it will save the State and Wisconsin ��. taxpayers more than $10M a year in projected inflation costs incurred by further building delays.

We will continue to stress the importance of this project to the Assembly, the Senate and to the Governor through the remaining steps of the budget process, but I want to repeat my sincere gratitude to members of the Joint Finance Committee for investing in �� . impact on Wisconsin ��. high-need workforce areas now and into the future."

Learn more about the Heritage Hall Renovation Project at the link below.

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This project creates a new, unified home for workforce-critical degree programs in the College of Art & Human Sciences and more.

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

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Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate ��'s Heritage Hall funding, workforce impact

Project addresses workforce needs by producing dedicated, skilled graduates across multiple disciplines

Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Funding

Chancellor Katherine Frank issues a statement following funding approval of Heritage Hall by the Joint Finance Committee.

Chancellor Katherine Frank issues a statement following funding approval of Heritage Hall by the Joint Finance Committee. heritage-render-2023.jpg

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Renovate now: State industry, business leaders tell legislators Heritage Hall project is vital, long overdue

polingj — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 15:56:46 +0000

Renovate now: State industry, business leaders tell legislators Heritage Hall project is vital, long overduepolingj April 27, 2023

Plan to update 1973 building needs state funding, would support students, state workforce needs

Two clear messages regarding �� were sent by Chancellor Katherine Frank and business and industry leaders to the Legislature ��. Joint Finance Committee during its statewide budget hearings in April: Renovation of Heritage Hall is needed to support Wisconsin ��. workforce needs, and it ��. needed now.

The 50-year-old academic building needs classroom, lab and mechanical updates throughout, according to testimony from more than two dozen people, to continue serving the needs of and driving innovation in the state. If funding is included in the budget, the programs based in Heritage Hall could produce 5,000 graduates over the next decade to boost the state ��. economy in critical areas.

“In my conversations with industry partners throughout Wisconsin, I have heard concerns voiced about child care, mental health and other issues impacting local economies. Heritage Hall is part of the solution,” Frank said.

A renovated Heritage Hall at �� would feature new entrances on both sides of the building along with updated classrooms, labs and mechanical systems. / ��

Renovation is long overdue. “It will transform Heritage Hall into a state-of-the-art learning facility that addresses high-need workforce areas. Cross-sector connections mean that programs housed in the building will help to support the workforce challenges of other sectors, like those impacting manufacturing,” she said.

Speakers from a variety of industries echoed Frank ��. comments while advocating for the project and reinforcing �� . impact throughout the state.

Jason Manke, director of corporate recruitment at Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, said the need for leaders in the hospitality industry continues to grow and �� . hospitality and tourism program, a national leader, and a renovated Heritage Hall will help address “the critical need for qualified, local hospitality leaders.” Hospitality and tourism is a $12 billion a year industry in Wisconsin.

Katie Feuerholm, an education consultant, speaks on behalf of the �� Heritage Hall project at the Joint Finance Committee hearing in Eau Claire. / WisconsinEye

Ruben Nilsson is director of operations for Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, which has a new facility in Menomonie. “The presence of �� was one of the deciding factors in locating this facility in Menomonie to address our current and future workforce needs.” The university provides graduates who address company needs in food science, manufacturing, nutrition, and tourism and hospitality — programs that are based in Heritage Hall. The cooperative hopes to build on the tradition of the dairy industry working with the UW System by “deepening ties with ��, its alumni and faculty.”

But the university needs state investment to maintain the leading-edge facilities that produce innovative, industry-ready graduates for which it ��. known.

“Employers want students to graduate ready. �� needs facilities that are ready for the future to make this happen so it can continue to supply the economy and workforce for another 50 years,” testified Katie Feuerholm, a Wisconsin education consultant in career and technical education. She stressed the importance of appropriate space to reflect “the state-of-the-art instruction that the polytechnic university �� is known for.”

Christian Gausman, of OEM Fabricators in Baldwin, advocates for the Heritage Hall project at the Eau Claire hearing. / WisconsinEye

Other speakers who advocated for the Heritage Hall project at the hearings included:

Christian Gausman, director of Strategic Initiatives at OEM Fabricators of Baldwin, cited the importance of the child care profession in helping workers fill their shifts at the manufacturing company. �� has an early childhood education program at Heritage Hall. Many OEM leaders are �� graduates. “We’ve found �� to be a great partner,” Gausman said while urging the Legislature to support the renovation of an aging building.
Angela Yudes, senior learning performance specialist at Andersen, toured Heritage Hall recently and saw firsthand some of its deficiencies. “As an employer, it ��. very important for our employees to have child care services in our area and for our employees to access mental health care. If we’re going to be asking students to be developing into these fields, they deserve to have a better building to do that in.”
Ashley DeMuth, Menomonie Chamber of Commerce CEO who traveled to Minocqua to address the Joint Finance Committee again after speaking in Wisconsin Dells, said, “This isn’t just about academics. It ��. about building on the future talent pipeline and retaining students. Funding this project is an investment with a return that will be defined for years.”
Krystal Westphal, executive director of Let ��. Minocqua Visitor Bureau & Chamber of Commerce, shared DeMuth ��. perspective and spoke to the impact of �� graduates in her region.
Jane Busch, human resources at Andersen in Menomonie, said �� . clinical services center and child care resources are used by many employees. “The quality of employees and people Stout provides is unmatched. It ��. amazing to have this university right in our back yard.”

Several of those who testified are alumni. Faculty, staff and students also testified in support of the project.

The Heritage Hall renovation has been sought by �� since 2007. As the student spaces and infrastructure in the building have aged, the UW System has named the project No. 1 on its list for academic building projects in the Chippewa Valley.

Heritage Hall Renovation

This project creates a new, unified home for workforce-critical degree programs in the College of Art & Human Sciences and more.

However, final approval is needed by way of the 2023-25 state budget or project completion would be delayed several more years, until 2031. The building will be shovel ready by May 2024. Planning and design for the renovation is nearly 50% complete. The cost of the project is estimated at $139 million but is increasing by about $10 million a year.

Along with early child care education, programs in Heritage provide career-ready graduates in various teacher education fields; school counseling and clinical mental health counseling; marriage and family therapy; hospitality and tourism; real estate property management; food science; and dietetics.

Demand for �� graduates continues to grow. The employment rate of recent graduates has risen to 99.4% and remains the highest in the UW System, based on a new First Destination report. Nearly 60% of those hired work in Wisconsin.

Ashley DeMuth, of the Menomonie Chamber of Commerce, speaks at the hearing in Wisconsin Dells. / WisconsinEye

Additional support for Heritage

In addition to testimony at the budget hearings, numerous letters supporting the project were written to Joint Finance Committee members supporting the project.

Private gifts through Stout University Foundation to support academic programs at Heritage Hall have risen to $13.5 million, including a recent $1 million gift for the real estate property management program from Weidner Apartment Homes.

"�� has a long history of preparing graduates who contribute to Rockwell Automation ��. success, helping Wisconsin lead the way in industrial automation innovation,” said Michael Cook, director of Global Academic Enablement, Rockwell Automation. “Our ability to attract a skilled workforce includes having access to resources that improve the lives of our employees such as quality child care, education and professional development opportunities. We strongly support the �� Heritage Hall Renovation Project and urge the state to fund this project.”

At the recent UW System Board of Regents meeting held at ��, a panel of professionals discussed the importance of programs at Heritage Hall.

One of them was Toni Simonson, executive director of Western Wisconsin Behavioral Health Division for Hospital Sisters Health System/Prevea Health. She said that the clinical mental health counseling program is helping address a major shortage of mental health providers in the state.

“Stout ��. approach to preparing students is spot-on. It ��. not just the training but the applied learning piece of it and the experience Stout students get. They practice what is taught. It ��. exactly what our community needs,” Simonson said.

The last major academic building renovation at �� was Harvey Hall in 2015. The last new building on campus was Sorensen Hall (formerly Millennium Hall) in 2000. 

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Two clear messages regarding �� were sent to the state Legislature ��. Joint Finance Committee at budget hearings: Renovate Heritage Hall and renovate now. Heritage rendering

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Hero Caption: The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee holds a state budget hearing in Wisconsin Dells. / WisconsinEye

Katherine P. Frank

Katherine P. Frank became the eighth chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic in March 2020, after a distinguished career as an administrator and faculty member.

During her time at �� Polytechnic, Chancellor Frank has led efforts to codify and amplify the university ��. distinct mission as Wisconsin ��. �� in Board of Regents’ policy documents and a formal university name change, the first throughout the Universities of Wisconsin since 1971. The university has celebrated a balanced budget, enrollment gains, major capital investments, increase in research expenditures, and fundraising successes under Chancellor Frank ��. leadership.

Chancellor Frank serves in leadership roles for several national boards and councils, including the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and Alliance for Innovation and Transformation. She is actively engaged throughout the state, region, and local community through her work with such organizations as the Wisconsin Technology Council, Momentum West, the Menomonie Area Chamber and Visitor Center, and the Greater Menomonie Development Corporation.

Before her appointment at �� Polytechnic, Chancellor Frank served in administrative and faculty roles at Central Washington University, Northern Kentucky University, Indiana University East, and Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Chancellor Frank, the first female leader of �� Polytechnic, grew up in Colorado and holds a bachelor ��. degree in English from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine. She has master ��. and doctorate degrees in English from the University of Washington, Seattle. Frank ��. research interests include Romantic and Victorian English literature, rhetoric and composition, the scholarship of teaching, and academic leadership.

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Chancellor Frank tells UW System Board of Regents that �� is poised to do more for the state

polingj — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:41:18 +0000

Chancellor Frank tells UW System Board of Regents that �� is poised to do more for the statepolingj March 31, 2023

Additional support would generate more career-focused graduates, help Wisconsin meet its growing workforce needs

Chancellor Katherine Frank told the UW System Board of Regents that she is proud of the work �� is doing to serve the needs of Wisconsin — but she believes the university can do much more.

With increased support from the state, such as approving the renovation of Heritage Hall and for distinct challenges related to being a polytechnic university, �� can turn out more graduates to meet the state ��. growing workforce needs, she said March 30 during her presentation “Fueling the Workforce through the Polytechnic Advantage” on the opening day of the Regents meeting on campus. The meeting wrapped up Friday, March 31.

“Adhering to our mission and fulfilling the promise we have made to our students and to the state is our job; it must be the outcome of this institution's work on behalf of the state of Wisconsin,” Frank said. “The fact of the matter is that we could be producing even more graduates to fill high-need workforce areas across the state with the appropriate investment in our institution.”

�� Chancellor Katherine Frank addresses the Board of Regents in �� . Memorial Student Center. / ��

�� is producing impressive results: Nearly 60% of graduates remain in Wisconsin, and the employment rate of recent graduates has risen to 99.4%, based on a new First Destination report. The 99.4% includes success for first-generation students — more than one-third of those enrolled at �� — and veterans.

In her presentation, Frank noted that just 3% of U.S. universities are classified as polytechnics. She cited several other polytechnics, such as Michigan Technological University and Cal Poly Humboldt, which are smaller than �� but receive significantly more state funding.

“The philosophy of and approach to learning at a polytechnic university are different than at traditional comprehensive universities,” she said. “An investment in Stout is a sound investment in meeting workforce needs not only in this region, but also across the state,” she said.

Heritage Hall Renovation

This project creates a new, unified home for workforce-critical degree programs in the College of Art & Human Sciences and more.

Angela Adams, a member of the UW System Board of Regents, speaks during a meeting session at ��. / ��

“Again, the reasons for this tie back to our mission and the work that supports it. Workforce readiness and leadership is what we do, it ��. in our DNA as an institution, from our earliest beginnings.”

Frank cited �� . three educational tenets — applied learning and research, career focus and collaboration with business and industry — as the foundation of its workforce readiness approach to higher education.

“While comprehensive universities are beginning to embrace hands-on learning, �� emphasizes applied, project-based learning with career-focused outcomes that has been part of our educational philosophy for more than 130 years. We reinforce that students’ learning environments will be the labs and studios that outnumber traditional classrooms on our campus by three to one.”

Frank emphasized the importance of Heritage Hall, �� . top capital project, to the university ��. mission. She thanked the Regents for their “recognition of this critical major renovation and your continued advocacy for enumeration of this project in the 2023-2025 biennial budget.

The Board of Regents meets about once every five years at each UW System campus. / ��

“It will transform a dying 50-year-old home economics building into a state-of-the-art learning facility that addresses the high-need workforce areas of child care, mental health and wellness, and tourism and through cross-sector connections helps to support the workforce challenges of other sectors like manufacturing,” she said.

After presenting, Frank led a panel discussion of five people who represented four workforce sectors in Wisconsin, health care, manufacturing, tourism and public service. Four of the panelists were alumni whose programs are based in Heritage Hall:

Jeff Bzdawka, CEO, Knowland Group, 1985 �� graduate in hotel, restaurant and tourism management
Rep. Clint Moses, 29th Assembly District, 1999 �� graduate in psychology
Amy Sheehan, director of Talent Acquisition, Hormel Foods Corporate Services, 1993 �� graduate in hotel, restaurant and tourism management
Toni Simonson, executive director, Behavior Health, Western Wisconsin — Hospital Sisters Health System and Prevea Health, 2000 �� master ��. graduate in guidance and counseling
Mark Tyler, founder and chairman, OEM Fabricators

A student explains his research to guests during the Polytechnic Showcase following the first day of Board of Regents meetings. / ��

The panel reinforced the value of �� . polytechnic education and its Heritage Hall project by addressing the specific challenges facing their industries; how �� helps the state address workforce needs; how well �� prepares graduates for the workforce; and how their industry sector is changing and what institutions like �� can do best to prepare students to work within those sectors.

Student Polytechnic Showcase, other presentations

After the opening day of the meeting at the Memorial Student Center, the Regents, UW System President Jay Rothman, other officials and guests from around the state visited a student Polytechnic Showcase in Micheels Hall, Jarvis Hall Tech Wing and Jarvis Hall Science Wing.

�� Provost Glendalí Rodríguez presented to a committee during the Board of Regents meeting. / ��

The event featured STEM-based research, innovation and creative work by more than 50 �� students and their faculty advisers. Academic areas represented include science, engineering and math; human and social sciences; art, design and graphics; business and management; and information, technology and communications.

All �� undergraduate and graduate programs incorporate project-based experiential learning components, such as applied research, co-ops, internships and field experiences.

Interactive tours of ��, including engineering and construction labs, were available during the showcase.

In addition on Thursday, five �� administrators presented at three committee meetings: business and finance, education, and capital planning and budget. They include Glendalí Rodríguez, provost; Erik Guenard, vice chancellor of Business, Finance and Administrative Services; Sandi Scott, dean of students; Justin Utpadel, Facilities Management director; and Kristi Krimpelbein, head of staff.

A presentation about the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and panel discussion included Commissioner Danielle Harris, �� Athletic Director Duey Naatz and student athletes.

###

Chancellor Katherine Frank told the UW System Board of Regents that she is proud of how �� is serving the state but that it is poised to do more. Regents Frank

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Real estate management program receives $1M donation from industry partner Weidner

polingj — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 15:30:40 +0000

Real estate management program receives $1M donation from industry partner Weidnerpolingj March 29, 2023

Private support for workforce-based programs at Heritage Hall tops $11 million

Private support for the renovation of Heritage Hall at �� has continued to grow, highlighted by a new, major donation for an important undergraduate program.

Dean Weidner, who founded and owns Weidner Apartment Homes based in Kirkland, Wash., has announced a $1,050,000 donation to Stout University Foundation. The gift includes $500,000 for major scholarships benefiting new and transfer students in the real estate property management program.

The gift brings Weidner ��. total support for the program to $2.5 million. He donated $1 million in 2012 to create the Weidner Center for Residential Property Management at Heritage Hall and another $500,000 in 2015 for additional program support.

Dean Weidner, founder and owner of Weidner Apartment Homes in Kirkland, Wash., has donated $1,050,000 to �� . real estate property management program and $2.5 million total. / Weidner Apartment Homes

“Our long-term investment into the real estate property management undergrad program at �� reflects my confidence in the curriculum that is being taught to students; the fact that the educators in the program have prior industry experience and can help to personalize the education with real world examples; and that we’ve seen strong results in terms of the students that have been recruited to our team,” Weidner said “I look forward to our continued partnership with the university and this program for many years to come.”

In the past decade, the company has hired 84 �� graduates and 161 �� student interns. Three spring 2023 graduates will begin their careers with the company.

The donation raises to more than $11 million the amount of private support �� has received for programs based in Heritage Hall. The Heritage renovation project received priority approval from the UW System Board of Regents, is ranked No. 1 in the Chippewa Valley and No. 3 for major academic building renovation projects across the UW System.

Heritage Hall Renovation

This project creates a new, unified home for workforce-critical degree programs in the College of Art & Human Sciences and more.

Other programs, all areas of critical workforce needs in Wisconsin, based in the building include teacher education, counseling, dietetics, food science, and hospitality and tourism.

Weidner Apartment Homes helps Wisconsin meet its affordable housing needs with facilities in 13 cities, mostly in southern and southeastern areas of the state. Overall, the company manages apartment units in 12 states and in Canada.

Programs like the one at �� are important to the industry. “There continues to be strong demand in the residential property management sector for workers to lead the day-to-day operations of the nation ��. numerous multifamily housing communities,” Weidner said.

Dean Weidner visits �� in 2015 for the dedication of the Weidner Center for Residential Property Management in Heritage Hall. / ��

“To meet that demand, employers like Weidner Apartment Homes have looked toward career pathway programs that focus on applied learning, such as the one at �� to identify, support and target students who are looking to grow their skills and move directly into the workforce post-graduation,” he added.

Chancellor Katherine Frank thanked Weidner for his generosity and ongoing support of ��.

“Mr. Weidner ��. incredible gift to support teaching and learning at �� has already and will continue to impact students’ learning and career trajectory far into the future. He recognizes the value of our distinct approach to education at �� and how this approach produces future leaders in the workplace who positively impact their communities,” Frank said.

Weidner Apartment Homes has properties in 12 states and Canada, including La Bella Vita in Colorado Springs, Colo. / Weidner Apartment Homes

Supporting students and REPM program

The new Weidner donation will provide up to 20 scholarships a year for five years. First-year and transfer students in the program are eligible for one $5,000 award — about one-third of the cost for one year at ��.

The awards are available to new students beginning this fall. Students do not have to apply, but will be awarded directly through the Financial Aid office if eligible.

The $550,000 program support portion of the donation includes funding a program ambassador position to help recruit students.

Daymark in Minneapolis is one of the Weidner Apartment Homes properties in Minnesota. / Weidner Apartment Homes

With 60 students, �� . program already is believed to be the largest of its kind in the U.S. Another 27 students are enrolled in the property management minor.

“The workforce of the future requires an adaptable mindset of lifelong learners who continuously upgrade their technical skills as well as the ‘soft’ skills that are valued by employers,” Weidner said. “By partnering with colleges and universities, we can help shape the education of the upcoming workforce and embed the requirements of the industry into the curriculum. In this way, we are helping to create the workers we need, instead of merely trying to find them on the open market.”

In �� . new First Destination report, recent graduates from the program reported 100% employment within six months of earning their degree.

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Institute of Real Estate Management club members take third at CORE Case Competition

Co-op Q&A: Madelyn King, Four Seasons, Minneapolis

‘I’m thankful to the REPM program for helping shape my career path and giving me the tools to succeed in this internship and beyond.’

Co-op Q&A: William Boyce, Weidner Apartment Homes, Fitchburg

‘Stout ��. REPM major is unique and gave me a head start.’

Private support for the renovation of Heritage Hall at �� has continued to grow, highlighted by a new, major donation for an important program. Weidner Center

University Marketing

B.S. Real Estate Property Management

Our B.S. Real Estate Property Management offers foundational training in finance, law, sales/leasing, market analysis, land development, and asset management.

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Hero Caption: The Weidner Center for Residential Property Management is in Heritage Hall at ��, thanks to a 2012 donation from Dean Weidner and Weidner Apartment Homes.

Frederick Prassas

Professional Interests: Real Estate Management - Strategic Planning - Association Management

Teaching Interests: Real Estate Finance Real Estate Asset Management Real Estate Ethics Real Estate Management

Full Name: Frederick Prassas

Job Title: Associate Professor / Program Director

Include in Directory: Yes

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: Hospitality & Technology Innovation Department

Program

All Degree Programs

B.S. Real Estate Property Management

Curriculum Vitae: Frederick Prassas CV (25.8 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ed.S.

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: M.B.A.

University: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Degree: B.S. Journalism

University: Southern Illinois University

Degree: Certified Property Manager (CPM)

Degree: Graduate Realtors Institute

Degree: Real Estate Broker, Wisconsin

CEHHHS CSTEMM

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

News

Polytechnic at its finest: Miron Construction campus projects give students unique opportunities

On-campus internship leads to full-time job

Miron helps create year-long construction master class

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

Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilities

Heritage Hall Renovation

Recreation Complex Renovation

Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilities

Recreation Complex Renovation

Pankowskis’ record $5M gift provides major boost to Recreation Complex renovation

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

Construction Livestreams

Heritage Hall Renovation

Chancellor Katherine P. Frank

Chancellor's Office Staff

Meet ��������'s Leaders

Fact Book

Fit to a tee: New Pat Kell Golf Center perfect match for Blue Devil teams, golf management majors

Celebration of South Hall renovation, latest facility improvement, planned Oct. 12

Rec Complex, Heritage Hall projects on the horizon

FOCUS 2030 Plan & Initiatives

Other recent facilities improvements

Recreation Complex Renovation

Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate ��������'s Heritage Hall funding, workforce impact

Chancellor Katherine P. Frank

Chancellor's Office Staff

Meet ��������'s Leaders

Fact Book

Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Funding

Heritage Hall Renovation

Chancellor Katherine P. Frank

Chancellor's Office Staff

Meet ��������'s Leaders

Fact Book

Renovate now: State industry, business leaders tell legislators Heritage Hall project is vital, long overdue

Heritage Hall Renovation

Stepping up: Alumni-based gifts support students, leadership, Heritage Hall renovation

Chancellor Frank tells UW System Board of Regents that �������� is poised to do more for the state

Heritage Hall Renovation

3M recognized with inaugural UW System Regents Business Partnership Award

Real estate management program receives $1M donation from industry partner Weidner

Heritage Hall Renovation

Supporting students and REPM program

B.S. Real Estate Property Management

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

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

Meet ��'s Leaders

Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate ��'s Heritage Hall funding, workforce impact

Meet ��'s Leaders

Meet ��'s Leaders

Chancellor Frank tells UW System Board of Regents that �� is poised to do more for the state