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Championing teachers: Community, state support are vital in recruiting, retention of educators

goersab — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Championing teachers: Community, state support are vital in recruiting, retention of educatorsgoersab October 6, 2025

�� prepares future teachers through personalized approach; Teach Day event for high schoolers is Oct. 15

It is no secret that enrollment in teacher preparation programs all over the country is suffering. The shortages that school districts are feeling in Wisconsin specifically are very real, and districts large and small are being impacted, said �� School of Education Director Shannon Donnelly.

According to a June 2025 analysis by the Learning Policy Institute, more than 410,000 teaching positions nationwide were either unfilled or filled by teachers not fully certified for their assignments, representing about 1 in 8 of all teaching positions.

“This puts a massive strain on school districts when trying to ensure that they are meeting the needs of all students,” Donnelly said. “Often, these types of positions are filled by professionals without teaching credentials or will simply remain unfilled. As you can imagine, this greatly impacts the educational experience for students and significantly strains the system.”

Attracting people to join the education field is admittedly becoming more and more difficult, especially in high-demand areas such as special education, technology education, and family and consumer science, and subject areas such as math and science, Donnelly added.

School districts nationwide are looking for solutions to recruit and retain teachers by implementing innovative, research-backed strategies.

“One of the first things we as current educators can do is to be the biggest champions of the profession,” she said. “If we aren’t shouting from the rooftops all of the amazing and wonderful reasons to teach, who will? We desperately need to reframe the profession of teaching back to its core, which is the gift of impacting students and families.”

Donnelly also thinks that barriers need to be removed for those seeking teaching degrees, through offering online programs and flexible access, of which she said, “Stout is a leader.”

She thinks the most crucial method to attract people to the profession is through vital community and state support. “This comes in the form of strong partnerships and advocacy from communities and a significant financial investment and commitment by the state,” Donnelly said.

Donnelly believes one of the best ways to retain teachers is to create conditions in schools where teachers feel supported, respected and treated as professionals.

“While the improvement of compensation and benefits will be an ongoing topic of discussion, the research shows that those components are not the driving force behind why teachers leave the field. People leave due to feeling overworked, under-supported and under-prepared,” she said.

“We need to ensure teachers are wrapped in a culture where they are viewed as the professional experts of their field because they are,” Donnelly added.

Preparing future teachers

At ��, Wisconsin ��. ��, School of Education students are engaged right from day one in their teaching area of interest: art education; early childhood education; family and consumer sciences education; marketing and business education; math education; social studies education; special education; and technology education.

Their progressive development in applied learning moves students through interactive and relevant activities in their labs and courses to teaching experiences on campus and in school districts before graduation.

“I am proud of our ongoing work at Stout to ensure that we are utilizing innovative ways to best prepare our future teachers to excel and succeed in an environment that is ever-changing,” Donnelly said. “We place a high priority on getting students out into K-12 classrooms immediately. This unique, personalized approach allows our students to explore a variety of teaching areas and age levels so they can pursue the education career path most exciting to them.”

Graduates are 100% employed or are continuing their education within six months of graduation and have an average starting salary of $52,000, according to Career Services’ First Destination Report.

“I continue to be so impressed with the passion and pride that our faculty have for our educator preparation pathways at Stout. We have a longstanding reputation for providing high-quality programming and ensuring that our graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to successfully enter the education profession,” Donnelly added.

Teach Day shows students a variety of pathways

The School of Education will host its fifth annual Teach Day on Wednesday, Oct. 15, with hands-on activities for prospective students who are interested in becoming teachers. Students explore any of the eight pathways in �� . undergraduate teacher preparation programs.

In past years, high school students from Minnesota and Wisconsin have attended Teach Day, with regional students from Menomonie, St. Croix Central, Somerset, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln, Elk Mound and more.

“We want Teach Day to be an event where students leave with excitement about the variety of pathways they can pursue to be a teacher while also seeing Stout as a place that they could call home,” Donnelly said.

Donnelly was previously the superintendent of the Somerset School District, whose students often participate in Teach Day. The high school offers multiple exploratory courses for students interested in becoming teachers.

“The Teach Day event was a natural fit,” Donnelly said. “Students and staff came back from Teach Day excited, having learned about the wide variety of educational licensure options Stout offers. They added how impressed they were with Stout as a whole, as for many students, Teach Day is their first interaction with a college campus.”

Donnelly began as the School of Education director in July. She has her bachelor ��. in vocational rehabilitation, now known as B.S. in rehabilitation services, and her master ��. in education from ��, as well as her educational specialist degree from University of St. Thomas and a Doctorate of Education from Bethel University.

In addition to its undergraduate degrees, the School of Education offers postgraduate degrees in career and technical education, education, school counseling, and school psychology, as well as nine education certificates and certifications.

These programs are among the many workforce-ready programs administered in Heritage Hall. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Sept. 9 to celebrate the start of the three-year, $144.3 million Heritage Hall renovation project that will transform the half-century-old building into a cutting-edge educational hub to help meet Wisconsin ��. workforce needs.

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�� prepares future teachers through personalized approach; Teach Day event for high schoolers is Oct. 15 Early Childhood Education

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Campus color: Alumni demonstrate industry leadership at Design Wisconsin event at ��

giffeyt — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:14:06 +0000

Campus color: Alumni demonstrate industry leadership at Design Wisconsin event at �� giffeyt July 15, 2025

Pros from Sherwin-Williams, Red Wing Shoe among presenters at fourth annual conference

Tom Giffey

More than 200 design professionals – many of them alumni working at prominent firms around the Upper Midwest – came to the University of Wisconsin-Stout campus recently for the fourth annual Design Wisconsin event.

�� – which has the only industrial design program in Universities of Wisconsin and is home to one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest – created Design Wisconsin to celebrate the impact of industrial design and fashion design on Wisconsin ��. culture, commerce, community and brand.

Even though �� is Design Wisconsin ��. founding organization, May 16-18 was the first time the event was brought to campus. Past hosts include Milwaukee Tool in Milwaukee, Trek in Waterloo, and DELVE in Madison. Bringing the event to Menomonie this year provided an opportunity to highlight the �� campus as well as showcase more student work, said Professor Jennifer Astwood, B.F.A. industrial and product design program director.

In addition to keynote presentations by numerous professionals, most of them �� alumni, Design Wisconsin included student portfolio review sessions, product showcases, panel discussions, networking opportunities and workshops.

Design Wisconsin benefits both students and professionals, Astwood said. “To me it was important that people not just hear about the companies, but also about some meaningful topics that speak to the industry at large,” she said. For example, one presentation from Matthew Gueller of Milwaukee Tool and Gregor Mittersinker of Loft Design focused on the use of artificial intelligence in the design process.

Also new this year was a panel discussion featuring talent from several companies – including Trek, Polaris and Ashley Furniture Industries – which focused on navigating the industry.

Next year, Design Wisconsin will once again be held off-campus: It ��. slated for Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh.

�� alum Kiki Redhead, global CMF and trend manager for Sherwin-Williams, was among the industry leaders at Design Wisconsin.

Exploring Color, Material, Finish

Several Design Wisconsin sessions focused on an area of industrial design known as CMF – color, material and finish – a cross-disciplinary approach that addresses the visual and tactile nature of products.

Among the CMF presenters was 2002 UW-stout alumnus Kiki Redhead, global CMF and trend manager for Sherwin-Williams. She described CMF as crossing boundaries between industrial design, graphic design, interior design, textile design and more. Design Wisconsin allowed �� students to network with professionals who work in the field, she noted.

“The students had an opportunity to find out what it really means to have a job where you actually develop color every day or develop different materials or create new finishes from scratch,” said Redhead, who leads Sherwin-Williams’ DesignHouse, a collaborative space in Minneapolis for the company and its industrial clients.

Before she was a leader in the industry, Redhead was a �� undergraduate who gained invaluable skills as an apprentice interior designer for a commercial construction company. “That really gave me a lot of real-world experience, and it was where I really started to apply color to projects and seeing them come to fruition,” she said.

As a professional, Redhead developed and trademarked her own trend methodology, and for a decade operated her own global trend agency, creating colors for everything from cars to cabinetry to cosmetics packaging to clothing. In 2018, she took her current job with Sherwin-Williams, where she combines qualitative and quantitative data to create eye-popping colors and finishes for customers.

Trek was one of the Wisconsin-based firms that took part in Design Wisconsin at ��.

Developing a ‘manufacturing mindset’

Among Redhead ��. DesignHouse colleagues and fellow Design Wisconsin speakers is Brynn Wildenauer, a 2018 B.F.A. industrial design graduate who is now a senior architectural color designer for Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings. That division creates coatings used on appliances, metal building materials and other architectural products. In practice, this means that Wildenauer develops colorful coatings for everything from agricultural buildings to skyscrapers to sports stadiums: One of her most notable projects was working on a color-shifting effect pigment that gives a pearlescent sheen to the exterior of the Kai Tak Sports Park, a massive $4 billion complex that opened this year in Hong Kong.

Wildenauer said her �� education, which included an internship at Ashley Furniture Industries where she saw her designs prototyped, prepared her well for her career. “I really liked having that hands-on approach, and that helped me develop a manufacturing mindset,” she said.

In particular, Wildenauer recalls developing a keen interest in CMF after Professor Erik Evensen wrote that her “color sense seemed promising” on a mid-program review. “I really leaned into that, diving down into the materials that are chosen and why,” she said.

“I find that there are so many opportunities to make a statement with color, textures, finishes, etc.,” she continued. “When color is used in an intentional way, it can increase brand recognition by 80%, which demonstrates the impact of color.”

Wildenauer said she enjoyed returning to campus, something she does periodically as a member of the Program Advisory Committee for the industrial design program. “It ��. really cool to see how important this event is to all the students and those who have graduated from Stout or are heavily involved in Stout ��. programs,” she said.

�� alum Noah Anderson, senior footwear designer at Red Wing Shoe Company, took part in a keynote presentation at Design Wisconsin.

Bridging the gap between design fields

Noah Anderson, a 2013 industrial and product design alum and a senior footwear designer at Red Wing Shoe Company, was one of three alumni working at Red Wing who spoke at the conference. The trio, which included product developer Sarah Noll and pattern engineer Gina Thurk, delivered a keynote about the synergy between footwear and apparel at the Minnesota-based company. Designing shoes bridges the gap between industrial design and apparel design, as well as between what retailers term “soft goods” and “hard goods,” Anderson said.

Anderson said he was impressed to see how �� . design programs are preparing students for such collaborations in the professional world. “I felt encouraged to see specifically how apparel and industrial design were sharing a little bit more of a presentation at Senior Show,” he said. “It was really awesome to interact with students and to see the way that they are interacting with trends in the digital world as well.”

Anderson said he was well-served by his �� education when he began work at Red Wing Shoes in 2014. “I felt very prepared to present ideas, to be in front of the product team and embrace critique,” he said. “Going through the process of design was something I was really familiar with by the time I finished the industrial design program.”

In his career at Red Wing Shoes, Anderson has designed products for several of the historic Minnesota-based company ��. brands.

“It ��. always a new challenge,” Anderson said. “Every project includes new research, new trends and learning about new materials, which I feel like is really the source of what ��. interesting about designing for industry in general.”

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

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Pros from Sherwin-Williams, Red Wing Shoe among presenters at fourth annual conference Design Wisconsin 2025 portfolio review

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Showcasing the impacts of industrial and product design on Wisconsin's culture, commerce, community, and brand.

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Jennifer Astwood

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

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Software by �� professor, students helps international museum collections shine – literally – in 3D

giffeyt — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Software by �� professor, students helps international museum collections shine – literally – in 3Dgiffeyt June 9, 2025

Kintsugi 3D used by Minneapolis Institute of Art, other institutions to capture surface details of heritage objects

Tom Giffey

Software developed at University of Wisconsin-Stout is helping museums around the world preserve pieces of cultural heritage for future generations by creating 3D models that accurately capture every detail of the color, texture and brightness of objects.

Kintsugi 3D is the creation of Michael Tetzlaff, an assistant professor of computer science, and numerous �� students. The software has been used by notable institutions worldwide to create models of artifacts in their collections, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam; the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway; the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C; and the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia).

“Documenting the art is incredibly important, and we want to get it out in the world however we can,” explained Mia Lead Collections Photographer Charles Walbridge, an avid user of the software. “The Kintsugi project has helped us be able to share more accurate 3D models that we’ve been making in the museum.”

Kintsugi 3D gets its name from the Japanese art of kintsugi, a method of repairing broken pottery with lacquer and precious metals to create unique pieces that celebrate, rather than camouflage, their fractures. Likewise, the software allows photo professionals to capture true-to-life 3D models of sculptures, paintings and other cultural heritage objects.

The Kintsugi 3D Viewer software, a part of the project that students Tyler Betanski, Jacob Buelow, Isabel Smith, Victor Mondragon, Kyle Boatwright and Melissa Kosharek worked on. / Submitted image

While existing photogrammetry software – which combines hundreds of photos from different angles to create a 3D model – can effectively record many aspects of an object ��. appearance, it falls short in capturing the essence of materials and textures, Tetzlaff said. In particular, photogrammetry software struggles with specularity – the reflectivity of a surface and how it varies – particularly with objects that are shiny or metallic. Kintsugi 3D solves this problem by creating much more true-to-life renderings, capturing the sparkle of a bit of gold leaf or the depth of a brush stroke in oil paint.

“The big thing that our software does is it allows you to process those photographs and then builds a compact representation of what the material of the object looks like so that we can create new, interactive, dynamic 3D renderings where the user can change the viewpoint, change the lighting,” Tetzlaff explained. The resulting 3D models can be rotated by the user, with virtual light playing off the details of the surfaces, whether they are dull or dazzling, giving a much more realistic representation of the item. This is particularly valuable for accurately portraying older objects, whose surfaces may have been damaged or worn unevenly over time.

These models can be shared widely, helping scholars and the public appreciate cultural heritage objects. And they also serve as a kind of insurance, allowing the objects to live on – virtually, at least – if they are damaged or lost.

Kintsugi 3D was used to create these images of "Man from Sudan in Algerian Dress," a 19th-century sculpture by Charles Cordier. / Minneapolis Institute of Art

Software funded with federal, state grants

Tetzlaff said the software grew out of work he did as a doctoral student, and it received a significant boost in 2023 thanks to a $75,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant received in conjunction with Mia and Cultural Heritage Imaging, a San Francisco-based nonprofit. This and other funding, including from �� . Office of Research & Sponsored Programs as well as a recent grant from WiSys, has helped pay for students to work to improve the software.

Luke Denney, a computer science major from Byron, Minnesota, who graduated in May, has put hundreds of hours into Kintsugi 3D over the past two years. In fact, he even gave the software its current name, inspired in part by a “Star Wars” character who repaired his helmet kintsugi-style.

Denney has worked on the software ��. loading screen, trying to make it more user-friendly, particularly for those who aren’t programmers themselves. “A big part of this project was user experience design,” Tetzlaff explained. “There was basically working software that I had developed, but it wasn’t very usable. A lot of the research was working with user experience experts and stakeholders in cultural heritage to figure out what works for them.”

Denney shared the work he ��. done on Kintsugi 3D at �� . Research Day as well as at two other prestigious venues this spring: the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh and the Universities of Wisconsin ��. Research in the Rotunda event in the state Capitol in Madison.

Denney said the project has been invaluable in preparing him for his future career, in part because working on Kintsugi 3D required him to become familiar with a massive codebase. He expects that skill will come in handy when he begins his job later this year at IBM in Rochester, Minnesota.

In addition to navigating thousands of lines of code and gathering user feedback to improve software features, Denney said the project helped him learn to solve problems independently. “Something I focused on more last summer was taking more time before I ask a question,” Denney said. “When I’d run into a roadblock and have the temptation to go ask for help, I thought, ‘Wait, I want to give myself more time to figure this out before asking.’ And most of the time I was successful with that, so that felt really good,” he said.

�� Assistant Professor Michael Tetzlaff, left, and students Luke Denney, at podium, and Chloe Ferguson gave a presentation about Kintsugi 3D at Research Day, May 6, 2025

Denney is just one of more than a dozen �� students from a variety of disciplines who have contributed to the software. Among them is Chloe Ferguson, master of fine arts in design, Spring Valley.

Ferguson began working as a user experience designer on the program last fall, gathering data to see what features users wanted from the program. Working on the project has given Ferguson a better understanding of the science behind textures and materials, as well as the rewarding opportunity to work with stakeholders on improving the software, she said.

“User experience is all about considering and analyzing the user, striving to make your content more useful and accessible to them,” Ferguson said, noting the skills she is building now will be directly applicable to her future career.

“I feel proud of my work, especially with how directly this program has benefited cultural heritage groups,” she said. “We regularly meet with our stakeholders at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and Cultural Heritage Imaging, which has allowed me to see the impact of my work on these groups firsthand.”

Other students and recent graduates who have worked – or are still working – on the project include master of fine arts in design candidate D. Magda Hannen; game design and development majors Isabel Smith, Elliot Duffy, Lou Brown and Augusto Freitas; and computer science majors Tyler Betanski, Jacob Buelow, Victor Mondragon, Ian Anderson, Zoe Cuthrell, Blane Suess, Isaac Tesch, Nathaniel Willius, Atlas Collins, Kyle Boatwright, Melissa Kosharek, Chris Medina, and Jacob Sletten.

Kintsugi 3D was used to create this image of a sculpture of dancer Loie Fuller by artist Joseph Kratina, which is in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. / Minneapolis Institute of Art

Software draws focus to ��

Walbridge, of Mia, is one of those who meets frequently with the Kintsugi 3D team to provide feedback. He has been part of Kintsugi 3D and related projects for years, having met Tetzlaff when the latter was a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota working on 3D photography and photogrammetry projects at Mia. “It ��. been such a pleasure to continue to work on this with Michael and his team,” said Walbridge, who praised the backing the project has received from ��.

Walbridge has worked to get other professionals involved in Kintsugi 3D as well, making presentations about the software and how to use it, including a training visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in April.

Among the objects from the Mia collection scanned with Kintsugi 3D is a sculpture of 19th-century dancer Loie Fuller by Czech artist Joseph Kratina. In digital photos the bronze sculpture appears to be a yellowish-brown, but it practically comes to life in a three-dimensional scan made with Kintsugi 3D. As a user rotates the image virtually, light plays against the sculpture ��. gold patina, and shadows of the dancer ��. arms are cast across her voluminous skirt. The software allows users to examine the sculpture in greater detail, giving the impression of walking around it in a well-lit gallery.

Gathering photos that will be used to created 3D models with Kintsugi 3D. / Minneapolis Institute of Art

“None of the current forms of 3D scanning are able to capture this kind of specularity,” Walbridge explained. The high level of realistic detail provided by the software is a boon to scholars studying such objects online, Walbridge said, and making these models available digitally fits with the ethos, shared by institutions such as Mia, of making cultural heritage freely and publicly available.

The software ��. use by professionals at the National Gallery of Art has led to a collaboration between that institution and �� . game design program, Tetzlaff added.

“It ��. a nice feedback loop where we’re supporting the museums and their work with the software, but then they’re becoming more aware of Stout, and that ��. leading to additional opportunities for Stout students,” he said.

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Kintsugi 3D used by Minneapolis Institute of Art, other institutions to capture surface details of heritage objects A computer screen shows the Kintsugi 3D software.

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Hero Caption: �� Assistant Professor Michael Tetzlaff, at podium, and students Chloe Ferguson and Luke Denney, gave a presentation about Kintsugi 3D at Research Day, May 6, 2025.

Michael Tetzlaff

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

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Real-world research: Engineering team designs South African trolley system; science students investigate heavy metals

goersab — Thu, 15 May 2025 12:30:00 +0000

Real-world research: Engineering team designs South African trolley system; science students investigate heavy metalsgoersab May 15, 2025

Cross-disciplinary teams present prototypes at Research Day, Engineers Without Borders' design challenge addressed by nearly 90 students

Abbey Goers

More than 300 undergraduate and graduate students and faculty presented their research across realms during �� . annual Research Day on May 6, with individuals and cross-disciplinary teams representing more than 30 degree fields.

Research ranged from heavy metals present in everyday products to regional topics, like housing and water quality in the Chippewa Valley, to health and wellbeing interests of the nation ��. citizens, to developing global solutions through an Engineers Without Borders’ international design challenge.

Nearly 90 students in 23 teams addressed the EWB challenge. One group focused on engineering a safer, more accessible transportation system in South Africa ��. suburbs. Revitalizing Makers Valley: Future-Ready Roads for Safety, Efficiency, and Growth was presented by:

Gabriel Morken, manufacturing engineering, Eau Claire
Ann Moss, computer and electrical engineering, Johnsburg, Illinois
Christian Bretey, mechanical engineering, Eau Claire
Christian Klein, mechanical engineering, St. Paul

Gabriel Morken, Ann Moss, Christian Bretey and Christian Klein at Research Day

Two biochemistry and molecular biology and chemistry students focused on heavy metals. Some products, such as chocolate, have trace amounts occurring in them naturally through the farming process, and some products are manufactured to contain heavy metals. The researchers were:

Natalie Chartrand, of St. Croix Falls: An Analysis of Heavy Metals in Chocolate
Riley Strobush, of St. Paul: Trace Metals in Various Nicotine Salts Brands

Research Day invites industry professionals and the campus and surrounding communities to engage with students and faculty and discuss their research and creative works through posters, prototypes, exhibits and collaborative faculty-student oral panel presentations.

Engineering a safer transportation system in South Africa

The Impacts of Engineering course introduces students to the engineering design process from initiation to completion and broadens their awareness of the social, environmental and economic implications of engineering.

Engineers Without Borders’ international Engineering for People Design Challenge brings together more than 12,000 engineering students from more than 40 universities in the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa.

This year ��. challenge was organized by Engineers Without Borders UK and South Africa, in collaboration with the nonprofit Makers Valley Partnership.

Lecturer Mark Dolan talks with engineering students as they build prototypes for the EWB challenge

Students developed sustainable engineering solutions centered around the needs of the 46,000 residents of Makers Valley, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. The area experienced urban decay and high unemployment, but in recent years has seen a wave of regeneration driven by social and creative enterprises.

Solutions students addressed included the general built environment, food security, reliable access to energy, waste reduction and recycling, safe drinking water, sanitation and transport infrastructure.

“The design challenge reinforces the goal of Stout ��. applied learning concept. Student teams work together, use applied math in their engineering calculations, write a professional-quality paper suitable for the EWB competition and build a functioning prototype of their proposed solution,” said engineering Lecturer Mark Dolan.

Morken, Moss, Bretey and Klein researched the current road conditions of Makers Valley and the city ��. most popular modes of transportation.

They found that Makers Valley does not regularly maintain its paved roads, which are pitted with numerous large potholes and litter; and biking and walking are most common, as many people can’t afford cars, Morken said.

“With the rough roads and concerns for the safety of bikers and pedestrians, even with sidewalks, Makers Valley is looking for safe and inexpensive updates to its transportation system,” Bretey said.

Gabriel Morken, Ann Moss, Christian Bretey and Christian Klein's trolley prototype

There is also a lack of trust in public transportation, Klein added. Feuds between taxi companies cause fear through intimidation tactics used on drivers and customers. And while school buses provide transportation for children to and from school, there are fees for the service, Moss explained.

“Many of the taxi drivers jack up their prices so they can afford to live. What shocked me about this was that I never stopped to consider just how many aspects of life poverty can affect,” Morken said. “We tried to figure out a way to get cars off the road, while simultaneously trying to figure out a way to have accessible transportation for anybody. We thought that a trolley system would solve both of those problems.”

The team landed on the idea of engineering a trolley system because it ��. a permanent network and can be designed as hybrid, running mainly on electricity. “But since the electrical grid is not always reliable in Makers Valley, the trollies could also run on fuel as a backup,” Bretey said.

“If we used an electric bus, that vehicle would have to stop and take breaks to regain a charge and be out of service during that time,” Moss added. “A trolley receives power through its connection to the track and would only need fuel when the power grid is down. This means that a trolley can be in commission longer than a bus could.”

The initial infrastructure cost of a trolley system is higher than a bussing system because of the need to install tracks, Morken said. “However, we thought that a trolley would be better in the long term because usually they can carry more passengers, have lower operating costs (some don’t need a driver) and they can be powered by electricity,” he added.

The team ��. design also incorporated safety features for pedestrians and bikers, with marked and lighted crosswalks and a separate lane for bicycles, with reflective posts between the car and bike lanes, Bretey added.

Moss hopes the team ��. research can help ensure the safety of Makers Valley commuters. “Even if only a part of our design were implemented, it could make a positive difference in the city. I believe that our design can work for other places as well that struggle with pedestrian safety and unreliable transportation systems,” she said.

Student projects submitted to the EWB challenge may be picked up by a company, nongovernmental or other organization and become a real solution for people.

The Impact of Engineering course is part of Stout Core, foundational general education classes where students gain global perspective and ethical reasoning to understand social responsibility, so they graduate ready to do more on day one.

Heavy metals in consumer products

Heavy metals can build up in the human body over time and lead to severe health issues.

Lead is known to cause neurological damage and cognitive impairments, particularly in young adults. It can also lead to developmental issues, memory loss, insomnia and muscle weakness.

While iron, manganese, and zinc are essential micronutrients, excessive amounts can cause organ damage and oxidative stress; can affect the nervous system; and can cause nausea, vomiting and weaken the immune system, Strobush explained.

Cadmium and nickel in long-term exposure are known to cause kidney failure and increased risks for cancer, anemia and cardiovascular diseases, added Chartrand, who conducted an analysis of four of her favorite chocolate brands.

Chemistry student Natalie Chartrand tests heavy metals in chocolates

“Heavy metal exposure should be kept to a minimum, especially in foods, which is why the FDA and other health organizations regulate it. While the FDA has strict guidelines on heavy metals, it ��. impossible to completely eradicate all heavy metal exposure in our daily lives,” she said.

Chartrand knew chocolate contains heavy metals, usually found in trace amounts in chocolates that are less processed, like dark and semi-sweet chocolates.

“Both lead and cadmium are common environmental pollutants found in modern farming practices; these metals can be absorbed into the cacao beans we use to make chocolate,” she said. “Nickel is used in the manufacturing process of chocolate, though it shouldn’t end up in the product itself.”

Because of this, she wasn’t surprised to find detectable lead levels in three of her chocolate samples.

“Lead is naturally found in cacao beans and is retained through the manufacturing process, at levels so low they’re not considered toxic, but are detectable on our instrument, nonetheless. I found no cadmium in any of my samples, and only very trace amounts of nickel,” she said. “Just because studies have found small amounts in chocolates doesn't mean that the highly processed chocolates we eat regularly will contain the same levels.”

Chemistry Professor Jonathan Frisch, Riley Strobush and Natalie Chartrand

During Strobush ��. initial research, she found numerous studies on heavy metals in vape pods and cartridges, but relatively few on nicotine salts. She conducted her research on four brands of nicotine salts.

“Although there are traces of metals in the liquid, the liquid is heated into a vapor through a metal coil, introducing more metals into the aerosol that is consumed by the user when using their e-cigarette,” she said. “Lead was the most frequently detected heavy metal in my samples, contrary to my initial expectation of a more balanced distribution of heavy metal elements.”

She was also intrigued by the marketing of the products. “Each of them has colorful, appealing designs and flavors that you would see on candy or soda. It hides the harsh potential health impacts caused by consuming the liquids,” she said.

Strobush hopes her research raises awareness about the dangers of these products and encourages more rigorous testing, especially in the aerosol form. “This could lead to improved regulations and safer product formulations, ultimately protecting public health,” she said.

Strobush noted that she is not a user of nicotine salts or similar substances. She and Chartrand took the necessary precautions during their studies to ensure their peers’ and their own safety.

Biochemistry and molecular biology student Riley Strobush presents at Research Day

Chemistry and physics Associate Professor Jonathan Frisch served as Strobush ��. and Chartrand ��. research mentor. In Frisch ��. College Chemistry I course, students learn the chemistry and physics behind several types of chemical instrumentation and gain practical experience using those instruments to investigate samples of their choice.

“The students are allowed to ask any questions they want, at which time they design and carry out experiments to answer those questions. Every semester, I am surprised by some of the results. There are contaminants in and on all sorts of things I would have never expected or even thought about analyzing,” he said.

Outstanding researchers recognized at Research Day

After the poster and exhibit session, where Chartrand, Strobush and the engineering students shared their work, an award ceremony recognized outstanding researchers – both faculty and students.

Since 1987, �� has awarded faculty for their outstanding research, nominated by a review committee of their peers.

The Outstanding Researcher honors for leadership and significant contributions to research and scholarly activities are awarded by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, on behalf of the Provost's Office and the committee. This year ��. recipients are:

Julie Watts: Senior Outstanding Researcher
Nicole Hayes: Emerging Outstanding Researcher
Pranabendu Mitra: Outstanding Research Mentor.

Outstanding student researcher awardees are:

Valacia Casper: CAHS, undergraduate
Elaina Blazei: CSTEMM, undergraduate
Bex Cermin: CAHS, graduate student
Cortney Dean: CSTEMM, graduate student
Nikolaus Nelson (CAHS) and Theodore Welch (CSTEMM): Honorable Mentions.

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June 9, 2025

Real-world research: Engineering team designs South African trolley system; science students investigate heavy metals

Cross-disciplinary teams present prototypes at Research Day, Engineers Without Borders' design challenge addressed by nearly 90 students

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Multiple design, research and performing arts events in April, May open to the public

April 7, 2025

Cross-disciplinary teams present prototypes at Research Day, Engineers Without Borders' design challenge addressed by nearly 90 students Chemistry Professor Jonathan Frisch, Riley Strobush and Natalie Chartrand

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��'s Research Day is an annual showcase that underscores the applied learning and research of Wisconsin's polytechnic students.

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Hero Caption: Biochemistry and molecular biology student Riley Strobush tests heavy metals in nicotine salts. She presented her findings at Research Day on May 6.

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Fashion and photogrammetry: Communications senior captures couture in 3D

goersab — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:29:12 +0000

Fashion and photogrammetry: Communications senior captures couture in 3Dgoersab April 29, 2025

Student ��. apparel collections will premiere at WEAR Fashion Show, May 3

Abbey Goers

Before stepping onto the runway at �� . annual WEAR Fashion Show on Saturday, May 3, two fashion design and development students and their models joined Anna Mathsen, a professional and technical communication senior, for a photoshoot in the university ��. PARSEC Lab.

This was no ordinary photoshoot, however. For her digital humanities capstone project, Mathsen is building a digital fashion portfolio of her friends’ apparel collections using the PARSEC Lab ��. 3D-modeling photogrammetry software.

The collections, created by Mathsen ��. boyfriend, Evan Tomczyk, and roommate, Lucas Moreno-Martinez III, will be premiered at WEAR, along with more than a dozen of their fashion design peers.

Professional communications senior Anna Mathsen, left, is using the PARSEC Lab to capture 3D imagery of fashion design students' collections

Moreno-Martinez ��. collection “Vex” features four outfits inspired by Dracula ��. brides and represents his different personalities. “The collection is versatile, with silhouettes that are both familiar and impractical, with dreamlike textures,” he said.

Tomczyk enjoys designing jackets. “Pants make an outfit, but jackets make it interesting,” he said. Two of his four jackets designed this semester will be modeled at WEAR.

WEAR will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. The vivid runway display showcases and celebrates fashion students’ innovative collections and illustrates their journey from hands-on, studio-based learning to wearable, industry-forward couture.

View the WEAR Fashion Show trailer and purchase tickets online.

Isaac Tester, a graphic design and interactive media senior, models a suit designed by Evan Tomczyk

�� fashion design graduates work in major design houses and apparel companies, including lululemon, Steve Madden, Ardisam Inc., Nike, Patagonia, and more, and have founded their own design houses, like the international boutique Mara Marie Bridal.

Fashion and photogrammetry

PARSEC – or Photogrammetry and Reflectivity for STEM Research and Education in the Chippewa Valley – is a photogrammetry space within �� . Fab Lab.

It has 120 DSLR cameras mounted on a frame to capture 120 photos of an object or person simultaneously. The images, taken within milliseconds, are imported into software that stitches the images together into a detailed 3D model.

The technology is used to create assets in video games, architectural models, interactive digital artifacts for museums and more.

Claire Jost, an industrial design student, models a dress designed by fashion design senior Lucas Moreno-Martinez III

Mathsen, of Eden Prairie, had done a manual photogrammetry project in a previous digital humanities class, where she took dozens of photos asynchronously by hand and edited them herself to create a high-resolution scan.

“The PARSEC Lab is much more efficient. I was excited to use the equipment here. I hope more students use this space for their projects,” she said.

For her portfolio, Mathsen wanted to utilize what she’d learned and cater to her friends’ interests. “I admire fashion, and Evan and Lucas have a passion for design. I wanted to spotlight their work, their design process and completed looks,” she said.

Mathsen is using the Shorthand website creator to build the lookbook for the apparel collections. Student models were Marilena Grado, a fashion design student; Claire Jost, an industrial design student; and Isaac Tester, a graphic design and interactive media senior.

Claire Jost, Lucas Moreno-Martinez III and Marilena Grado

Moreno-Martinez, a senior from Vesper, enjoys designing women ��. wear and bringing his concepts to life.

“Vex” includes four outfits: one that shows the wearer is ready to go out for the night, one that is childlike, one that is masculine, and one that is wishful – a red bridal dress, reminiscent of “Beetlejuice.” His designs also remind him of his favorite song that his grandpa used to whistle.

“My grandpa got me to where I am today,” said Moreno-Martinez, who will graduate in December.

Tomczyk, a sophomore from Duluth, Minnesota, is inspired by older designers and tailoring styles and often finds styles by looking through his grandma ��. catalogs from the 1930s. Modern international designers he admires are Martin Margiela and Junya Watanabe.

Among Tomczyk ��. finely tailored suit jackets, he created an afterhood – a sweatshirt with a hood added to the garment after it is sewn – and a pair of cargo pants with patchwork to match the hoodie. Afterhoods were common in the 1930s and 1940s for winter sports.

Tomczyk will intern this summer as a tailor ��. apprentice with Martin Patrick 3, in Minneapolis.

Evan Tomczyk, Anna Mathsen and Isaac Tester

Hosted by the WEAR Fashion Association student organization, WEAR is part of �� . Spring Showcase of student-centered events in April and May. Seniors also create their own design house, complete with brand names, marketing materials and business plans. Their collections will be on display at a trade show-style exhibit after the event in the MSC ballrooms, where attendees can meet the designers and see the garments up close.

Planning for this year ��. event started late last summer. Faculty encouraged underclassmen to submit work, a process new to the event, which previously showcased senior capstone collections and select works by juniors. Among the capstone collections, WEAR will feature 10 suits by underclassmen, tied to an assignment directed by Program Director Sarah Eileen Smith.

“WEAR Fashion Show is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their work in a professional setting as they jumpstart their careers. It ��. been inspiring to see new and seasoned students step up and take ownership of their creative growth this year,” said WEAR faculty adviser Bex Cermin.

“I’m especially impressed by the students who created complete two- to four-piece collections outside of any class project or assignment, just for this show. That kind of initiative and drive speaks volumes about the impact an upcoming, fashion-forward event can have on young artists and designers,” Cermin said.

Tester, Tomczyk and Mathsen watch as the images are downloaded to the software

Other �� fashion-focused events include Fashion Without Fabric. The sold-out show on April 12 featured 120 sculptured costume designs by 3D Design students, representing natural and man-made phenomena connected by this year ��. theme, “Phenomonie!”

A student and community resource

Computer science Professor Seth Berrier built the software and complex camera system and manages the lab.

“We’ve had four student projects in the PARSEC Lab since it opened. Anna ��. is the first communications/fashion design collaboration we’ve had,” he said.

Professional communications Professor Mitch Ogden, Mathsen ��. capstone mentor, thinks, “Anna ��. photogrammetry project is an inspiring example of Stout ��. polytechnic model and is a convergence of degree disciplines. Where else do you get to see fashion and apparel design, computer science and technical communication come together? This is the cross-disciplinary magic of the digital humanities.

“Our program is pushing the envelope for what we think of as ‘content’ and how we imagine putting that content into the world. Photogrammetry is a powerful approach. Already, clothing retailers are exploring moves towards 3D modeling of clothes,” Ogden added. “As technologies evolve and our consumer habits with them, there will be continued innovation in this field. Anna ��. project prepares her to be ready for those opportunities of the future.”

Berrier's software pieces together the 120 images to create a 3D model in a matter of minutes

Berrier would like to make the lab portable to bring the cameras to clients and to various campus events, such as Fashion Without Fabric. He is also hoping the lab can be a part of the new Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Space in development in the University Library.

The PARSEC Lab opened in 2022 and was made possible through a National Science Foundation grant. Internal and external partners have included the University Library Archives and the Dunn County Historical Society to capture artifacts using 3D imagery.

The Fab Lab is free to use for �� students. Training on laser cutters, 3D printers and leading-edge digital fabrication tools empowers students to design, prototype and build nearly anything they envision. Through memberships, it is available for community members to use after completion of the Introduction to Fab Lab Equipment training.

The fashion design and development program is part of the School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. It also 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; and video production, as well as an M.F.A. in design. �� also has a new program in game and media studies.

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April 29, 2025

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Student ��. apparel collections will premiere at WEAR Fashion Show, May 3 Parsec Lab, fashion design portfolio

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Design a career in fashion that takes your sketches from pattern to presentation.

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Our professional and technical communication program offers you a variety of career paths with concentrations in Applied Journalism and Digital Humanities.

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Join us for the WEAR Fashion Show, ��'s premier runway showcase of student fashion collections.

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Hero Caption: Marilena Grado, a fashion design student, models a corset and skirt designed by fashion design senior Lucas Moreno-Martinez.

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Spring Showcase 2025: Signature events highlight professionalism of polytechnic distinction

goersab — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:30:00 +0000

Spring Showcase 2025: Signature events highlight professionalism of polytechnic distinctiongoersab April 7, 2025

Multiple design, research and performing arts events in April, May open to the public

Abbey Goers

Spring semester is in full swing, and students at �� are gearing up for a plethora of events, inviting the community to celebrate their creativity, research and innovation.

The Stout Spring Showcase, featuring special events in April and May which highlight what Wisconsin ��. �� is all about, includes:

“Alice by Heart”: Thursday, April 10, to Saturday, April 12
Communications Skills Showcase: Wednesday, April 16
University Choirs concert: Saturday, April 26
Symphonic Band concert: Sunday, April 27
WEAR Fashion Show, Saturday, May 3
Blue Devil Jazz Orchestra concert: Saturday, May 3
Research Day: Tuesday, May 6
Stout Game Expo: Thursday, May 8
SOAD Senior Show: Friday, May 9
Student Artist-in-Residence exhibition reception: Friday, May 9
Unspooled Film and Animation Festival: Saturday, May 10, to Sunday, May 11
4th Annual Design Wisconsin: Friday, May 16, to Sunday, May 18

Fashion, gaming and design events rival industry exhibitions

Fashion design and development students’ clothing collections will be featured at the WEAR Fashion Show, at 4 p.m. on May 3, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. Tickets are on sale.

Juniors and seniors will show their design collections, modeled by the designers themselves, friends, family and alumni. Seniors will model their capstone projects – full collections, complete with brand names. The event is hosted by the WEAR Fashion Association student organization.

Fashion Without Fabric, to be held on April 12, is sold out. Overflow tickets are still available.

Join the fun at Stout Game Expo, western Wisconsin's largest game developers' event from 6 to 9 p.m. on May 8, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall and ballrooms.

SGX features the works of about 250 first-year to senior students in game design and development-art; and the game design concentration in computer science. They will share their tabletop games, board and card games, conventional video games, virtual reality experiences and rhythm games.

SOAD Senior Show features capstone projects by nearly 120 graduating School of Art and Design seniors, 6 to 9 p.m. on May 9. Meet with students and talk about their creative works in exhibits throughout Applied Arts and Micheels Hall.

Fine art sales by students will be held throughout the buildings. The Student Artist-in-Residence reception will be held in Furlong Gallery.

Design Wisconsin, May 16-18, celebrates Wisconsin's legacy of industrial design and fashion design innovation and impact on culture, commerce, community and brand. The event includes an open house of major Wisconsin and Minnesota design and manufacturer groups. In the past, these have included TREK, Milwaukee Tool, Kohler, Mercury Marine, Polaris, Fiskars, Oshkosh and more.

Polytechnic research showcase highlights societal impact

Research Day, on May 6, hosts multiple events, including WiSys Quick Pitch Competition from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Quick Pitch is a three-minute, elevator-pitch-style competition open to undergraduate and graduate students in all programs.

The community is invited to meet with �� faculty, staff and students, as well as students from Chippewa Valley Technical College, as they present their research through more than 150 posters, exhibits, art and design displays, and oral and panel presentations.

The day also includes:

1 to 2:45 p.m.: Innovative Insights, a faculty and student showcase of oral presentations
3 to 5 p.m.: Posters and exhibits, with researchers open for discussions
5:15 to 6 p.m.: Outstanding Researcher awards ceremony

Research Day

��'s Research Day is an annual showcase that underscores the applied learning and research of Wisconsin's polytechnic students.

An awards ceremony will recognize outstanding faculty and students across fields of study, nominated by their peers.

Research Day is coordinated by �� . Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

�� student researchers also showcased their research at Wisconsin ��. Capitol Rotunda on April 2, during Research in the Rotunda, and students will present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, April 7-9, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They will join more than 4,000 undergraduates from across the country, representing all disciplines.

Student writers, artists invite community discussions

Join the launch of the 2025 issue of Prometheus for a reception and reading from authors and talk with artists, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. on April 11, in Harvey Hall Café.

The Communication Skills Showcase will begin at 6 p.m. on April 16, in the Memorial Student Center ballrooms. It is a celebration of student work, with presentations from first-year composition and communication courses, philosophy, advanced writing, and digital humanities, as well as an opportunity for audience members to interact with students and discuss their work.

The showcase will also recognize the finalists and the winners of the Andrea Deacon Writing Award, which recognizes excellence in first-year composition courses.

Author Peter Geye will present and read from his new novel, “A Lesser Light,” from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on April 21, at Harvey Hall Theatre. The novel will be released on April 15.

Journey down the rabbit hole in ‘Alice by Heart’

Students will perform “Alice by Heart” at Harvey Hall Theatre. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on April 10*, 11 and 12.

“Alice by Heart” is a musical set during World War II, in the rubble of the London Blitz. Alice Spencer ��. teenage life is turned upside down, when she and her friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.

* An accessible performance will be held on April 10, with a more informal atmosphere aimed to welcome those with sensory difficulties or autism. The performance will remain the same but with small adjustments. House lights will remain on, loud noises will be softened, and audience members are free to leave and re-enter.

Tickets are available at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

The Symphonic Singers, Chamber Choir and Devil Tones Acappella will perform their concert Life on the World Scale at 7 p.m. on April 26, at Our Savior ��. Lutheran Church, 910 E. Ninth St., in Menomonie.

The Symphonic Band will perform Around the World at 2 p.m. on April 27, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall.

The Blue Devil Jazz Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. on May 3, at Harvey Hall Theatre.

Tickets are available at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

Unspooled Film & Animation Festival

A �� supported community event showcasing innovative works of film and animation by students and independent producers.

Unspooled welcomes international filmmakers to Menomonie

The Unspooled Film and Animation Festival is an annual juried event, featuring films and animations made by regional and international independent storytellers – professionals and students alike.

Films are screened at �� . historic Harvey Hall Theatre. The event also offers workshops and guest speakers, and awards in several categories.

Reserve tickets, or submit a film via Film Freeway by April 20.

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February 25, 2026

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

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

February 25, 2026

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

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

February 11, 2026

Multiple design, research and performing arts events in April, May open to the public Wear Fashion Show

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Join us for weeks of events that celebrate ��'s polytechnic research, creativity and innovation.

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Forty-four food science students present plans to prevent food contamination, illness

goersab — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 13:05:31 +0000

Forty-four food science students present plans to prevent food contamination, illnessgoersab June 21, 2024

Students present Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plans at Research Day, prepare for careers in quality assurance in food industry

Abbey Goers

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 48 million people per year contract a foodborne illness, such as salmonella and E. coli.

To help identify and prevent biological, chemical and physical hazards in food, �� master's in food science and technology student Srihaasa Vempatapu and FST undergraduate senior Lainie Carlson researched Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point – a food safety measurement system used in every stage of the production process.

With forty-two of their food science peers in Professor Taejo Kim ��. Food Quality class, they researched HACCP for dairy, juice, meat, poultry, seafood and low-acid canned foods, conducting hands-on testing of foods in the labs.

“HACCP covers the entire food system from growing and harvesting to processing, manufacturing, distributing, merchandising and consumption to reduce the risk of foodborne illness,” said Kim, whose goal is to train students to be qualified quality assurance personnel.

Food science graduate students and faculty at Research Day / Vempatapu

Students presented their HACCP plans and other research at �� . annual Research Day, an event showcasing student, faculty and staff research, creativity, and innovation and its impact. Several were awarded for their efforts in the field.

The concept of HACCP was first developed in the 1960s by NASA to assess and implement food safety requirements for the space program. It was presented to the food industry in 1971 through the National Conference on Food Protection.

Vempatapu, of India, thinks HACCP is important because it systematically discovers, assesses and manages possible hazards that could jeopardize food safety.

“HACCP assists in preventing contamination, microbial development and other hazards that could result in foodborne illnesses by concentrating on crucial control points throughout the production process,” she said. “Public health and consumer confidence in the food supply chain are protected by this methodical approach, which also improves quality control and regulatory compliance and guarantees the safety of food items.”

More than 40 food science students presented their HACCP plans at Research Day / ��

Carlson, of Elk River, Minn., believes that the basic consumer does not know how many steps are taken to ensure safety in their food.

“They just have faith in the manufacturers. HACCP is the reason for that faith. I learned a lot more about the food industry and how important it is to keep food safe,” she said.

Students learned the significance of HACCP's seven principles and applications, which include conducting a hazard analysis, determining the critical control points and establishing critical limits, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, verification procedures, and record-keeping and documentation procedures.

In the U.S., the principles are managed by the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods, chartered under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They are universally accepted by government agencies, trade associations and food industries around the world, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Union's Food Safety Authority and the International HACCP Alliance.

To become certified, individuals must successfully pass a third-party certification audit, provided by a qualified food safety auditor. Businesses achieve accreditation, verified by a qualified auditor, by conducting a hazard analysis, establishing critical control points and implementing procedures to control those hazards.

Graduate student Mohanth Sri Sai Prudhvi Yeluri presents his research on 'HACCP Plan of Frozen Cooked Beef Patties' at Research Day / Yeluri

Research Day is an ‘opportunity to showcase their talent’

During Research Day, Vempatapu gave an oral presentation on “HACCP on Low Fat Mayonnaise,” which entails locating possible risks, such as microbiological contamination, insufficient pasteurization or ingredient spoiling.

“In order to reduce these hazards, critical control points are implemented, such as temperature control during production and hygienic packing,” she said. “The safety and quality of the low-fat mayonnaise are guaranteed by routine monitoring and documentation, which guarantees that safety precautions are continuously followed throughout production.”

Carlson designed an “HACCP Plan for Raw Milk Cheese” – cheese made from unpasteurized milk.

“Through many different databases, I found how raw milk cheese has six critical control points: receiving raw milk, storage of raw milk, salting of the cheese, fermentation, metal detection, storage and distribution,” she said.

Food science graduate students and Professor Taejo Kim in the Food Science Lab / ��

Carlson enjoyed researching regulations, including how raw milk cheese has to be fermented for at least 60 days before it can be sold, so soft cheeses cannot be made with raw milk, she explained.

Vempatapu and Carlson think Research Day is a valuable opportunity for students to showcase their talent and efforts, and where they can share their projects with others to show the impact food science has on the food industry.

They feel that their research has given them valuable insights on HACCP and has helped prepare them for their post-graduation goals.

“The labs at Stout have shown to be beneficial in my hands-on learning,” Vempatapu said. “They offer chances to put theoretical knowledge into practice, carry out investigations, collect data and hone the kind of practical abilities that are necessary for research in a variety of fields.

“Engaging in experiential education can promote a more profound comprehension of ideas and approaches, equipping researchers to effectively tackle problems in the real world.”

Food science graduate students examine glucose specimens / ��

Award-winning research in food science

Shuyi Zhou, a second-year student who plans to go on to graduate school, enjoys analyzing the hazards of biological chemicals and physical problems in food and beverage products.

At Research Day, she presented her poster “Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Process Development for Ready-to-Eat Spiced Ham.”

“I think any food product without HACCP is not a safe product. The HACCP of food products is like the birth certificate of a baby,” she explained, meaning the plan affirms that a product is ready for shelf-life and consumption.

Food science award recipients, presenters and faculty at Research Day / ��

Zhou, of China, won first place for her poster presentation at Research Day, and four graduate students were awarded for their contributions to food science:

Priyanka Shah and Vraj Shah won first place for their oral presentation on the “Effect of Chickpea and Sweet Pea Milk on the Physicochemical, Textural and Sensory Properties of Sugar-Free Vegan Ice Cream”
Tejasri Vanga won second place at the WiSys Quick Pitch held during Research Day, as well as Audience Favorite, for her presentation on “Comparative Study on the Properties of Various Thickeners for Producing Plant-Based Meat Analogs”
Areeba Ali received an Outstanding Graduate Researcher honorable mention.

Tejasri Vanga receives her WiSys Quick Pitch awards during Research Day from Chancellor Katherine Frank and Provost Glendalí Rodríguez / ��

Priyanka and Vraj, with mentor Professor Pranabendu Mitra, aimed to develop a sugar-free, lactose-free dessert using unconventional milk, fat and sweetener to achieve a vegan ice cream with similar texture and taste of dairy-based ice cream.

“Stout has been a key component of our success, providing us all the technical assistance and unwavering support of our mentors for bringing our ideas into reality in the food science labs,” they said.

Vanga conducted research to identify the physiochemical properties of thickeners, like methylcellulose, gellan gum and citrus pectin, which play an important role in the texturization of alternate muscle fibers, or plant-based meat analogs, she said.

PBMAs offer vegetarian options that simulate meat-like flavors and are designed to improve the nutritional functionality of the product.

“The comparison and evaluation of thickeners can provide a clear understanding of their water-holding capacity, solubility, viscosity and particle size analysis,” said Vanga, whose mentor was Program Director Eun Joo Lee.

Vanga, Priyanka and Vraj, of India, will graduate in December. They plan to pursue careers in research and development.

Areeba Ali receives an Outstanding Graduate Researcher honorable mention from Chancellor Katherine Frank and Provost Glendalí Rodríguez / ��

Ali, of Eau Claire, was the lead presenter for the poster titled the “Effect of Strawberry Powder on Physiochemical, Textural and Sensory Properties of No-Added Sugar Chewing Gum.” It was co-authored with Akshar Sunilbhai Patel, Prudhvi Sureddi and Manikanta Yadlapalli, of India. They were awarded a Student Research Grant through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

“The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of strawberry powder on sugar-free gums to meet consumers’ demand for gum-like products. The findings of this research would be helpful in improving gum products, which are essential for the satiety of consumers such as people with diabetes,” Ali said. “It was a good learning experience in the food science labs for conducting our textural analysis and physiochemical studies of our product.”

Ali graduated in May and plans to earn her Ph.D. in food science and technology.

“My future research will be based on the research projects and scholarly activities conducted at ��. Each project and activity have shaped my aspirations and commitment to make impactful contributions towards the advancement of science,” she said, citing her project in the development of biodegradable, fully sustainable food and beverage packaging materials, as well as innovative and health-conscious food options for people with diabetes and those who are obese.”

�� . food science and technology programs are offered through the kinesiology, health, food and nutritional sciences department. The department also offers a bachelor ��. in health, wellness and fitness; as well as a bachelor ��. in dietetics and a master ��. in nutrition and dietetics.

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Eighty-six engineering students work to improve quality of life for people in rural Cambodia

goersab — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:50:00 +0000

Eighty-six engineering students work to improve quality of life for people in rural Cambodiagoersab June 12, 2024

Cross-disciplinary teams present prototypes at Research Day, Engineers Without Borders' U.S. Grand Finals design challenge

Abbey Goers

Cross-disciplinary students in the Impacts of Engineering course at �� this spring investigated ways to improve the quality of life for people in the remote forests of eastern Cambodia.

Through the Engineers Without Borders' Design for People Challenge, they worked in teams to engineer solutions for the Bunong people in the rural village of Pu Ngaol.

Twenty teams of 86 engineering and several other majors, as well as area high school students, presented their ideas and prototypes at �� . Research Day on May 6. The day highlighted the works of nearly 300 faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, who shared their research through posters and prototypes, exhibits, art and design displays, and oral and panel presentations.

Nearly 300 research projects were presented on Research Day, along with 20 Engineers Without Borders projects / ��

After researching the Bunong people, their culture and low financial means, and taking into consideration the landscape and weather, as well as machinery and materials available in the region, the teams built prototypes and presented ways to create accessible roadways and transportation solutions; renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar polar; reliable food supplies and filtration design for clean drinking water; efficient built environments, including ventilation; safe waste management; and ways to advance information technology.

�� . Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering is dedicated to enhancing the learning and industry-aligned experiences of its more than 1,000 students to help produce the next generation of engineers. It offers five undergraduate programs – computer and electrical engineering, engineering technology, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering and plastics engineering; and a master's in manufacturing engineering, available on campus and online.

“The Impacts of Engineering course introduces students to the engineering design process from initiation to completion, while broadening their awareness of the social, environmental and economic implications of engineering, both past and present,” said Senior Lecturer Brenda Puck.

Students presented design solutions for roadways, renewable energy, clean food and water and more at Research Day / ��

The course is part of Stout Core, foundational general education classes where students gain global perspective and ethical reasoning to understand social responsibility, so they graduate ready to do more on day one.

Two teams present at U.S. Grand Finals

The international Design for People Challenge brings together more than 12,000 engineering students from 46 universities in the U.S., the United Kingdom and Ireland. This year ��. challenge was organized by Engineers Without Borders Australia, which has worked with communities in Cambodia since 2005. Designs considered sustainability, community livelihoods, and natural and cultural preservation.

Two �� teams, with students from six majors, presented their research and designs virtually to an expert panel of judges in the final round of the U.S. Grand Finals, May 30 to June 1:

Power to the Poor: Trevor Kappel, computer and electrical engineering, Spring Grove, Ill.; Brett Palubicki, construction management, Crandon; and William Gruber and Lucas Traun, recent Durand High School graduates.
Design Solution for Transportation: Kaleb Kazmarek, supply chain management, Menomonie; Carly Kauffman, graphic design and interactive media, Hanover, Minn.; Rose Wille, supply chain management and business administration, Cannon Falls, Minn.; and Frankie Genereaux, mechanical engineering, Hudson.

Engineers Without Borders students Lucas Traun, William Gruber, Trevor Kappel and Brett Palubicki at Research Day / Traun, Gruber, Kappel and Palubicki

“We chose to use the design challenge as part of the course because it provides a robust exposure to the key components of our polytechnic mission and the Stout Core, no matter what degree a student is enrolled in at ��,” Puck said.

Projects may be picked up by a company, nongovernmental or other organization and become a real solution for people.

Harnessing wind to bring power to rural areas

With a major goal of the Cambodian government to increase renewable energy production, Kappel, Palubicki, Gruber and Traun aimed to harness wind energy to address the challenge of finding a reliable source of power to cook in rural communities.

In Pu Ngaol, only half the community has access to mainstream electricity because of high connection costs. Further research from the Global Wind Atlas provided the team with average wind speeds in Cambodia, which led them to choose wind turbines as a source of power.

“The biggest inspiration came from seeing the potential of renewable energy to transform communities. The idea that a small wind turbine could provide sustainable power to areas without reliable electricity was incredibly motivating,” Traun said. “I enjoyed the hands-on experience of building and testing our model. Applying theoretical knowledge to a real-world problem and seeing tangible results was incredibly fulfilling.”

A model prototype of a wind turbine / ��

The team researched how different turbine blades and mounting placements would function. Their concepts included vertical blades mounted on a pole, like a windmill; horizontal blades mounted on a roof; and vertical blades mounted on a roof. They proceeded with the third concept for their prototype, based on energy produced and stored, energy output, wind efficiency, durability, safety, cost and usability.

Their model involves three main components: a turbine, car battery and stove. Wind drives the rotation of turbine blades. This mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy by a generator within the turbine, which is then directed to charge a car battery. The battery stores energy for later use to power a stove for up to two hours a day. Considering the monsoon season, the team opted to encase the generator in stainless steel housing to ensure a longer lifespan.

“As we advance our wind turbine prototype, our main goals are to refine its design, improve efficiency and lower production costs without compromising quality or functionality for wider accessibility,” the team said in their Grand Finals presentation.

“I’d like to thank our professors and mentors for their guidance and support throughout this project. Their expertise was invaluable, and we couldn't have achieved what we did without them,” Traun added. “Research Day and the Grand Finals was a great opportunity to get feedback and network with other students and professionals in the field. The experience helped us improve our project and gave us confidence in our engineering skills.”

A transportation solution for safer, more accessible roads

Kazmarek, Kauffman, Wille and Genereaux ��. transportation solution was to create a rake and roller attachment compatible with the motorized rice plows used in Pu Ngaol.

A model prototype of a motorized rice plow / Kazmarek, Kauffman, Wille and Genereaux

The machine would allow community members easier travel and transport, improve existing road conditions by effectively rototilling and flattening the road surface to ensure a safer path, and could be used even during the monsoon season.

Roads in Pu Ngaol are mainly dirt tracks, which become damaged and inaccessible in the monsoon season, limiting people ��. access to necessities, such as work, school or health care.

“It is important that we help solve their road problems as it makes it easier for people to travel and commute safely. We are motivated to helping the community of Pu Ngaol because we feel that we are fortunate enough to have roads that are easily transportable on,” they said in their presentation.

A motorized rice plow used for transportation in the flood season / Engineers Without Borders Australia

The team researched different machines used in Pu Ngaol, such as rice plows, four-wheelers, cars, gravel dispensers and soil compactors. They determined that rice plows offered the best solution, based on compatibility, material cost and accessibility, system attachments and weight.

“This project is a testament to the power of addressing real world challenges, promising to improve the daily life of those in Pu Ngaol,” they said.

Members of the university ��. Engineers Without Borders chapter traveled to the village of Naranjal, Ecuador in summer 2023 to help the 100 residents install a clean water system. They plan to begin the second phase of the two-mile-long mountainside project this summer.

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Cross-disciplinary teams present prototypes at Research Day, Engineers Without Borders' U.S. Grand Finals design challenge Engineers Without Borders projects shown at Research Day

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Hero Caption: Teams of engineering students designed solutions for the Bunong people in the rural village of Pu Ngaol, Cambodia. Photo by Engineers Without Borders Australia.

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Design Wisconsin coming to �� in 2025; student wins Merit Award during event at Milwaukee Tool

polingj — Thu, 30 May 2024 15:59:20 +0000

Design Wisconsin coming to �� in 2025; student wins Merit Award during event at Milwaukee Toolpolingj May 30, 2024

University ��. third annual statewide celebration of design featured state companies, products, professionals

Design professionals from around Wisconsin representing some of the state ��. biggest and best-known brands gathered May 18 in Milwaukee for �� . third annual Design Wisconsin.

The event was hosted by Milwaukee Tool at its headquarters and supported by the Milwaukee chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of America. It featured displays by Milwaukee Tool and more than 20 other companies that have made Wisconsin a leader in industrial and product design, including Mercury, Kohler, Gulfstream, Oshkosh Corp., National Presto, Trek, Brooks Stevens and Fiskars.

��, which started the event in 2022 under the direction School of Art and Design Associate Professor David Richter-O’Connell, announced that it will host Design Wisconsin on campus in May of 2025.

Guests at Design Wisconsin check out a product design display. / ��

“As our industrial and product design program serves many employers beyond Wisconsin borders, we decided to hold next spring's event here on the Stout campus and include many of our great design/manufacture partners in northern and western Wisconsin and Minnesota. The impact of our I&PD program reaches regional, national and international levels, and we feel it's important to keep telling the story of our ever-expanding outreach,” Richter-O’Connell said.

Richter-O’Connell, who previously worked for Kohler, started the event to “showcase the impact of industrial design and industrial designers on Wisconsin ��. culture, commerce, community and brand — past, present and future. Wisconsin is an important hub of global new product innovation and development, across many diverse product categories, and we want to keep showcasing that key leadership with our events,” he said.

�� . David Richter-O’Connell speaks at Design Wisconsin, which he founded in 2022. / ��

Richter-O’Connell, �� Chancellor Katherine Frank and Tim Albrecht, group president for Milwaukee Tool, were among the speakers at Milwaukee Tool.

The first two Design Wisconsin events were held in 2022 at DELVE in Madison and 2023 at Trek in Waterloo, east of Madison.

Student wins Merit Award

The Milwaukee IDSA chapter sponsors an annual student Merit Award competition, part of a national IDSA competition.

�� . Amelia Dobbratz was named the Merit Award winner in a campus competition among seniors in the program and presented her work at Milwaukee Tool. She will go on to compete for the regional IDSA title and, possibly, the national title this fall in Texas.

Amelia Dobbratz, �� industrial and product design senior, presents at Design Wisconsin. Dobbratz won an IDSA Merit Award for her design work. / ��

Dobbratz, a senior from Waupun, is majoring in industrial and product design. She presented on three products she designed, a lamp, a hearing device and a table, in three hands-on studio courses.

Two other �� industrial and product design majors were chosen as campus Merit Award finalists, Jordan Dinwiddie, a senior from Minneapolis, and Ananda Van Wie, a senior from Merrill. They graduated May 4.

Contest judges, all �� alum, were professionals Mike Berge, of National Presto; Riley Crotteau, of Nordic Ware; and Angela Hastings, of Rypen furniture.

###

Design professionals from around Wisconsin representing some of the state ��. biggest and best-known brands gathered May 18 for the third annual Design Wisconsin. Design Wis. display 1

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Hero Caption: Design Wisconsin 2024 was hosted by �� and held at Milwaukee Tool in Milwaukee. The 2025 event will be at ��.

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Milwaukee Tool to host �� . third annual Design Wisconsin event

polingj — Tue, 07 May 2024 20:44:30 +0000

Milwaukee Tool to host �� . third annual Design Wisconsin eventpolingj May 7, 2024

Product designs by 20-plus major Wisconsin brands to be featured May 18 at company headquarters

��, the Industrial Designers Society of America-Milwaukee chapter and an iconic Wisconsin company, Milwaukee Tool, are set to host the third annual Design Wisconsin event Saturday, May 18.

It will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Milwaukee Tool headquarters, 551 N. 5th St. in Milwaukee. Admission is free, but organizers request that attendees register in advance.

Milwaukee Tool and more than 20 other Wisconsin companies will have displays highlighting their designs and products. Leading sponsors and exhibitors include Ashley, Brooks Stevens, Colony Brands, Fiskars, Kohler, Mercury, Oshkosh, Polaris, Presto and Trek.

Attendees at the 2023 Design Wisconsin event, at Trek headquarters, stop at the Milwaukee Tool display. This year ��. event May 18 is being hosted by Milwaukee Tool. / ��

The event has expanded to include soft goods and wearables, including DSG Outerwear of Madison. DSG founder and CEO Wendy Gavinski will be one of the keynote speakers, along with Tim Albrecht, a group president with Milwaukee Tool.

Also speaking will be David Richter-O’Connell, �� assistant professor in the School of Art and Design and a former designer at Kohler; and Katherine Frank, �� chancellor. One of �� . Bachelor of Fine Arts majors is industrial and product design.

“Design Wisconsin showcases the impact of industrial design and industrial designers on Wisconsin ��. culture, commerce, community and brand — past, present and future,” Richter-O’Connell said. “Wisconsin is an important hub of global new product innovation and development, across many diverse product categories, and we want to keep showcasing that key leadership with our events.”

Design Wisconsin includes exhibits from leading Wisconsin manufacturers and ��, which founded the event and has a School of Art and Design. / ��

New this year will be Gulfstream Aerospace of Appleton, featuring studio designer Toni Kallies, a 2012 �� fashion design and development graduate.

Attendees can enjoy several Wisconsin-made products: waffle cones from FeLion Studios of Waunakee, ice cream from Cedar Crest of Manitowoc, Jolly Good soda from Random Lake and yo-yos from Flambeau Plastics/Duncan of Baraboo.

The day will include displays of student designs and Student Merit awards from the IDSA Milwaukee chapter. One of the honorees will be �� . Amelia Dobbratz, of Waupun, an industrial and product design major.

A post-event gathering will be hosted by the �� Alumni Association, Loft Creative Studios and IDSA Milwaukee.

The first two Design Wisconsin events were held in 2022 at DELVE in Madison and 2023 at Trek in Waterloo, east of Madison.

###

��, the Industrial Designers Society of America-Milwaukee chapter and an iconic Wisconsin company, Milwaukee Tool, are set to host Design Wisconsin. Design Wisconsin 1

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