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91��Ƭ Polytechnic announces budget proposals to build state workforce, next generation of businesses

giffeyt — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:10:48 +0000

91��Ƭ Polytechnic announces budget proposals to build state workforce, next generation of businesses giffeyt August 12, 2026

Chancellor Frank joins other Universities of Wisconsin leaders to discuss Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin proposals

91��Ƭ Polytechnic Chancellor Katherine Frank joined Universities of Wisconsin Regent President Kyle Weatherly, UWs Interim President Renée Wachter and other university leaders today to announce budget proposals focused on building Wisconsin’s workforce and the next generation of businesses.

The Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin proposals represent new initiatives from the UWs’ 2027-29 budget request proposal, which the UW Board of Regents will vote on next week. The goal is to create 300,000 career-ready workers, upskill 1 million workers for better jobs and create 2,500 new businesses over a decade.

Chancellor Katherine Frank

“We consistently hear from employers across the state of the need for strategic, high-skilled workers ready to lead emerging technologies like 3D concrete and metal printing, advancing computing, and applied industrial AI,” Frank said. “Wisconsin needs these workers to compete in the global economy, and given the nuanced ethical and environmental considerations that accompany innovation, 91��Ƭ Polytechnic is perfectly positioned to prepare the next generation of leaders.”

UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Thomas Gibson and UW-Parkside Chancellor Lynn Akey joined Weatherly, Wachter and Frank to announce the initiatives. Tech for Tomorrow, Accelerate Wisconsin and other workforce-oriented proposals seek state investment to allow the UWs to help build Wisconsin’s workforce and the next generation of businesses.

Tech for Tomorrow would speed new technologies from the research lab to commercialization while Accelerate Wisconsin would help entrepreneurs create and expand businesses and develop new products and markets. The other proposals include UW for U, which supports continuing education, online learning, and competency-based education, and U Succeed, which provides student support in academic advising, career counseling, and more.

“The Universities of Wisconsin have long helped Wisconsin address some of its biggest challenges,” Wachter said. “Our budget will offer opportunities to invest in people and education that will help Wisconsin meet its workforce challenges, while providing targeted funds to help grow the next generation of businesses.”

The budget initiatives that would impact 91��Ƭ Polytechnic, outlined below, will reinforce the university’s polytechnic tenets of Applied Learning & Research and Business & Industry Collaboration.

Applied Learning & Research

• Built Environment Emerging Technologies Lab. Funding will advance 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s 3D Concrete Printing Lab as a hub for emerging technologies in the built environment, providing hands-on, industry-aligned education and workforce training for Wisconsin residents interested in architecture, interior design, industrial and product design, and automation. Investment would fund staff as well as additional equipment to enable the university’s current 3D concrete printer to be portable/moveable to job sites and related activities.

• Advanced Computing & Emerging Technology Lab. Provide introductory quantum computing access via cloud-based platforms as well as high-performance computing resources for simulation and research.

• Re-entry Student Support. These funds would provide significant additional support for re-entry students to promote degree completion and timely graduation rates. 91��Ƭ Polytechnic is already working to re-enroll these students so they can complete their degree. The academic advisor would serve as a continued reference point, working with them throughout their remaining time to ensure they have the proper support for student success.

• Competency-Based Education Infrastructure. 91��Ƭ Polytechnic has been serving working professionals since the initiation of our service-based pricing structures in 1999. With this investment, the university can expand its service-based pricing structures to support competency-based instruction, particularly for working professionals and returning students.

Business & Industry Collaboration

• Stout Applied AI Innovations Hub. The Stout Applied AI Innovations Hub will provide a shared space for applied AI learning, industry collaboration and regional partnership development. It is intended to connect students, faculty, staff, industry and other UW institutions through project-based work, consultation and community-focused programming.

• UW‑Stout Polytechnic Center for Innovation and Development: PROPEL Initiative. The initiative establishes a coordinated student venture studio that will help students move ideas from concept to commercialization through structured, hands-on support. It integrates venture coaching, interdisciplinary faculty-led projects, mentorship, prototyping resources and market access tools to advance student-founded ventures.

“The investments outlined today, along with those of our colleagues throughout the state, are critical to meeting employer demand and keeping Wisconsin competitive,” Frank said. “At 91��Ƭ Polytechnic we remain committed to elevating and accelerating the innovation of entrepreneurs and ensuring that our graduates think ethically, critically, and strategically at the helm of tomorrow’s technology.”

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91��Ƭ Polytechnic announces budget proposals to build state workforce, next generation of businesses

Chancellor Frank joins other Universities of Wisconsin leaders to discuss Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin proposals

Cadaver Lab trains future medical professionals through STEAM camps, high school programs

Students get hands-on access to specimens through 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s unique on-campus lab

Biochem student’s sustainable vision takes root through native plantings on campus

New historical mural, other areas enhanced by addition of local flora

Chancellor Frank joins other Universities of Wisconsin leaders to discuss Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin proposals 3D Concrete printer installation May 2026

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Cadaver Lab trains future medical professionals through STEAM camps, high school programs

giffeyt — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Cadaver Lab trains future medical professionals through STEAM camps, high school programsgiffeyt August 10, 2026

Students get hands-on access to specimens through 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s unique on-campus lab

Tom Giffey

As a high school student from Ellsworth captivated by anatomy and physiology, Shelby Saenger was amazed when she had the opportunity to tour 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s Cadaver Lab. Now, she’s helping teens experience that same wonder as they investigate medical careers at the Human Anatomy Exploration Camp, which is being held this week at 91��Ƭ Polytechnic.

“I was just fascinated and curious that I was able to see what is in my own body,” recalled Saenger, now a lecturer in the university’s biology department. “It sparked an interest in Stout as well. I thought, ‘Wow, these students get to do this for a whole semester.’”

Lecturer Shelby Saenger

It wasn’t until later, after Saenger received a bachelor’s degree from 91��Ƭ Polytechnic and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and then taught at several colleges in the Twin Cities, that she recognized how unusually accessible the Cadaver Lab is.

“Not every bachelor’s degree student has the type of experience that I got at Stout,” she said. “It’s very unique. I’ve taught at many universities where they just have pictures or some plastic models, but they do not get the in-depth experience to be able to see things firsthand.”

During the Human Anatomy Exploration Camp, Aug. 9-13, Saenger will teach high school students about major anatomical systems with the help of specimens from the Cadaver Lab, such as donated human hearts, kidneys and brains. Students will also research diseases and disorders that can impact these systems and then create informational aids – such as models, posters or drawings – to share their knowledge with others.

A 91��Ƭ Polytechnic student, right, talks about human anatomy during a Cadaver Lab Experience for high school students.

The program is one of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design and Math) Summer Camps that sixth- through 12th-grade school students have attended on campus this summer. More than 450 students have taken part in 37 camps that focus on everything from 3D printing and plastics engineering to freshwater science and video production. These middle and high schoolers learn in facilities such as the Cadaver Lab, which is just one of the nearly 300 laboratory and studio spaces on campus, where labs outnumber traditional classrooms by a 3-to-1 ratio.

Lab guides students toward medical careers

Each year, the Cadaver Lab Experience provides unique educational opportunities for high school students from around the region. High school visitors, who are often taking Advanced Placement Biology and Anatomy courses, explore the Cadaver Lab in the Jarvis Hall Science Wing with guidance from 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students and faculty. The undergraduates teach visiting teens about the human brain and spinal cord, heart and lungs, digestive system, muscles and the body cavities – all with the help of donated cadavers and specimens. This past spring, more than 600 students from 27 high schools took part in these outreach programs, which are supported in part by a grant from Marshfield Clinic.

It was one of these experiences that left a deep impression on Saenger when she was in high school. While she had dissected frogs and fetal pigs, “That does not have the gravity of the experience of being able to see human specimens,” she said. “I really appreciated that when I was a high school student, and even more when I was at Stout.”

Dr. Alexandra Hall, a senior lecturer in the biology department, speaks to students in the Cadaver Lab.

The Cadaver Lab stands apart not only as one of only two of its kind in west-central Wisconsin, but also because of the hands-on access it offers to undergraduate students. At most public universities, such cadaver facilities are primarily used by graduate students, said Dr. Alexandra Hall, a senior lecturer in the biology department who oversees the lab. “We’re the only one that I know of that allows undergraduates to do actual dissections,” Hall said. The lab is used extensively by students in the dissection class, who do a near full dissection of new donor bodies, as well as those in advanced human anatomy.

“A cadaver gives you a visceral experience of how our bodies are constructed that absolutely cannot be replicated by a plastic model, a digital image or certainly a diagram in a book,” said Hall, who previously worked for 20 years as a family physician and has been teaching at 91��Ƭ Polytechnic for the past 14 years.

The Cadaver Lab is an invaluable resource for 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students interested in becoming physicians, occupational or physical therapists, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists or other health professionals. Hall, who is advisor for the university’s pre-health program, said there are about 100 pre-health students at 91��Ƭ Polytechnic. These students are prepared to fill the state’s growing health care workforce gap, which is especially acute in rural areas: Of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, 37 are federal designated as primary care shortage areas while 40 are mental health shortage areas.

In addition to access to the Cadaver Lab, pre-health students benefit from 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s small class sizes and polytechnic focus, which emphasizes applied learning, business and industry collaborations, and career-focused education.

It was the latter element that helped bring Saenger’s career back to 91��Ƭ Polytechnic. Before graduating in 2017, she shadowed several physicians and determined that medicine wasn’t a good fit for her. Instead, she decided she wanted to continue to learn – and teach – about the human body.

“I loved the faculty I met here,” Saenger said. “Many of those I met when I was touring campus are still here today, and now I get to work with them.”

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Cadaver Lab trains future medical professionals through STEAM camps, high school programs

Students get hands-on access to specimens through 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s unique on-campus lab

Cadaver Lab offers students unique perspective on inner workings of the human body

Hands-on approach to learning prepares university students for careers in medicine, science and applied research

Visit to Cadaver Lab gives Colfax HS students impactful experiences

For 27 students from Colfax High School, it was a day in class unlike any other.

Students get hands-on access to specimens through 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s unique on-campus lab High school students in Cadaver Lab

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Expand your high school students' experience with hands-on applied learning about biology and anatomy in 91��Ƭ's cadaver lab.

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Alexandra Hall, M.D.

Dr. Hall trained and worked as a family physician for over two decades and now works full-time for the Biology department. She has been teaching since 2013 and loves sharing her knowledge of and enthusiasm for the marvels of the human body with her students. As the Pre-Health Advisor, she also supports Stout students pursuing future careers in the health professions.

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Degree: Chief Resident Family Practice

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Biochem student’s sustainable vision takes root through native plantings on campus

giffeyt — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Biochem student’s sustainable vision takes root through native plantings on campusgiffeyt August 4, 2026

New historical mural, other areas enhanced by addition of local flora

Tom Giffey

A 91��Ƭ Polytechnic student is applying personal enthusiasm and academic experience to an on-campus summer job designing and creating landscapes that add native plants to the university grounds.

The landscapes will enhance the beauty and sustainability of several campus locations, including the new mural that showcases 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s history on the exterior of the Administration Building, facing Alumni Clock Tower Plaza.

Pollinator-friendly native plants such as showy goldenrod and nodding pink onion have taken root this summer thanks to the green thumb of B.S. biochemistry and molecular biology major Adam Bayerl.

The student-led effort is an example of the university’s polytechnic identity, which emphasizes applied learning and research that brings students out of the classroom and into career-focused experiences.

Student Adam Beyerl plants perennials, including native species, in a bed on the 91��Ƭ Polytechnic campus.

“It’s definitely a passion project,” said Bayerl, a sophomore from Green Bay. “I have a personal vested interest in ecology. While it’s not my major, it’s definitely something my generation should start concerning itself with, considering how much it affects us, our well-being and the future in general.”

The project grew out of Bayerl’s interest in sustainability as well as inspiration from Assistant Professor Cassondra Vernier. In Vernier’s molecular cell biology course, Bayerl analyzed the gut microbiomes of bees, and Vernier suggested he could use the same technique to analyze soil microbiomes around campus. Bayerl learned that native plants improve soil in part by helping microorganisms thrive. Native plants are frequently more drought- and sun-tolerant than nonnative plants and are typically less expensive because they are easier for nurseries to grow.

In addition, Bayerl said, plants native to prairie biomes – which once covered parts of western Wisconsin – are known for their ability to trap carbon and filter environmental pollutants. Ideally, once established, these plants will require less water and labor to maintain.

Groundskeepers plant perennials on campus.

Idea becomes reality

Last spring, Bayerl prepared a proposal to create a native plant garden outside North Hall, where he lived at the time. The idea reached Zenon Smolarek, associate director of Facilities Management, and Nolan Dowd, assistant grounds supervisor, who met with Bayerl.

Associate Director of Facilities Management Zenon Smolarek

“He had a design, and we talked about native plants and drought resistance,” Smolarek said. “He came very well-prepared and was articulate. He really had a great attitude about the whole thing. I was impressed with what Adam had to say.”

Smolarek asked the student if there were other places on campus he had his eye on, while Dowd encouraged him to apply for a summer job as a groundskeeper – which he did.

First, Bayerl was asked to design a garden bed in front of Furlong Gallery by the Applied Arts Building. Then a spot alongside North Hall joined the list. Next came a mulch bed outside Bowman Hall and several spaces near the Administration Building, including beds by the new mural. In all, Bayerl has worked on plantings in eight locations on campus, six of which were entirely or partly composed of native plants.

“It’s quite a lot more than planned,” Bayerl acknowledged with a smile.

“Adam proceeded to design most of our plantings for the summer,” Smolarek said. “We’ve bought over 1,500 plants, and Adam has been primarily planting them along with a couple of the other limited-term employees.”

The projects have allowed Bayerl to step into a leadership role. In addition to typical summer groundskeeping tasks such as digging up mulch beds and sowing grass seed, he has been able to help his landscape ideas come to life by planting native species such as smooth aster, wild ginger and Lady in Red ferns.

Newly planted beds flank a new mural that encompasses 91��Ƭ Polytechnic's 135-year history.

Plantings enhance new mural

On a recent muggy summer morning, Bayerl and other groundskeepers carefully placed scores of plants in beds that flank the new mural on the east side of the Administration Building. The artwork, designed by California muralist Tom Seibert and painted by volunteers in June, was created as part of the communitywide Murals in Menomonie event.

The mural encompasses numerous elements from the institution’s 135-year history, including the logos of both the Stout Institute (1908-55) and Stout State University (1955-64), the contemporary triple-banded “S” logo, and pillars bearing the institution’s enduring values: Honor, Industry, Learning and Skill. A panoramic depiction of campus landmarks is framed by painted archways bearing the phrases “Forward from our founding” and “Forever to our future.”

And when it comes to the future, Bayerl has further dreams for helping native plants flourish across campus.

“I hope to incorporate more natural features, especially with a focus on pollinators – creating habitats for all the animals that you see around campus,” he said.

Smolarek said he admires Bayerl’s work ethic and imagination. “I’m curious what he’s going to think of next,” Smolarek said. “I’m sure the gears are turning, I’m sure he’s picking out other spots, other plants he wants to try. I’m very impressed with him.”

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Biochem student’s sustainable vision takes root through native plantings on campus

New historical mural, other areas enhanced by addition of local flora

Students, staff turn community into a canvas during Murals in Menomonie

Muralists from around the U.S. and world join university artists and volunteers for public art event

Ashley, Cadrex, Apogee among companies benefiting from engineering students’ prototypes

Capstone projects demonstrate mechanical, manufacturing know-how, leadership skills

New historical mural, other areas enhanced by addition of local flora Student Adam Beyerl in planting bed

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Students, staff turn community into a canvas during Murals in Menomonie

Muralists from around the U.S. and world join university artists and volunteers for public art event

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91��Ƭ Polytechnic receives gold designation as 2026 Military Friendly School

goersab — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:10:00 +0000

91��Ƭ Polytechnic receives gold designation as 2026 Military Friendly Schoolgoersab July 23, 2026

For 17th consecutive year, university honored for programs that create ‘direct connection between education and career success’

Abbey Goers

91��Ƭ Polytechnic has been named a Military Friendly® School for the 17th consecutive year, continuing its long tradition of serving the military community.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic received a gold designation as a Military Friendly School and was also designated a Military Spouse Friendly School.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Brian Hackner, military education benefits coordinator with the university’s Veteran Services, said veterans and service members are drawn to 91��Ƭ Polytechnic because they see a direct connection between education and career success.

“Our polytechnic, hands-on approach, combined with personalized support and a community that understands military service, helps students transition from serving our nation to leading in the workforce. We also recognize that many of our students continue to serve while earning their degrees, and we are committed to providing the flexibility and support they need to successfully fulfill their military obligations while pursuing their academic goals,” he said.

Veteran Services

91��Ƭ Polytechnic welcomes all veterans, service members and their families.

Learn More

Veteran Services exists to serve military-affiliated students, including veterans, current service members (both active and reserve) and the children and spouses of current or former members of the U.S. military. It serves as a one-stop shop for all the military students’ needs, connecting them with other campus services and providing a sense of camaraderie.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic is among the nearly 400 schools in the nation that received the gold designation. More than 2,900 schools participated in the 2026-27 survey. Ranking criteria include retention, graduation, employment and loan default rates among students, especially veterans.

Support for service members, veterans and their families

91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s Veteran Services collects data and submits a survey annually to participate in the Military Friendly® rankings.

The Military and Veteran Resource Center is a space dedicated to serving veterans, service members and their families with support resources, activities and opportunities. The MVRC is a place for military and veteran students and families to connect, hold meetings or study sessions, or relax with a complimentary snack and refreshment.

Military & Veteran Resource Center

The Military and Veteran Resource Center (MVRC) is a dedicated on-campus space for veterans, service members and their families.

Other special programs include a Council on Veteran Services, a student Veterans Club, veteran-centered events and the Veteran Mentorship Program, a unique peer-to-peer online opportunity designed specifically for student veterans.

Additional academic opportunities include:

The Military Benefits 101 online course for first-year and transfer students provides an overview of military education benefits, support and services.
A minor in military leadership, where students gain basic concepts and principles of military science and the art of leadership.
Online certificates geared toward military-connected student interests, including project management - organizational performance, organizational development, strategic leadership and workforce development.

From the Federal G.I. Bill® to Department of Defense tuition assistance and Wisconsin National Guard tuition grants, the office helps eligible students access nine federal and state military education benefits.

In addition to the Military Friendly ranking, last November, Military Times placed 91��Ƭ Polytechnic on its 2025 Best for Vets Colleges list for its commitment to serving veterans and their families. The university ranked first in Wisconsin among traditional and online universities, placed 24th in the Midwest and 177th nationwide.

Serving those who served: Stout among top 25 in Midwest on 2025 Best for Vets list

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

91��Ƭ Polytechnic has also been ranked among the Best Schools for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.

As of fall 2025, there were nearly 250 self-identified veteran and military students on campus — including veterans, those on active duty, and National Guard and Reserve members — and another 587 students who were the spouses or dependent children of veterans or military members.

The university’s most recent First Destination Report, released in spring 2025, stated that 100% of veteran graduates were employed within six months of graduation.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s Veteran Services can provide advice on veteran and military education benefits and assists with applying for benefits and can be reached by calling 715-232-1659 or emailing veteranstudents@uwstout.edu.

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91��Ƭ honored for strong support of employees in National Guard and Reserve

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Miron Construction projects give construction students professional experience

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

Miron Construction projects give construction students professional experiencegiffeyt July 22, 2026

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

Tom Giffey

Two major ongoing construction projects have provided 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students with exceptional applied learning opportunities without having to leave campus.

This summer, 13 91��Ƭ 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 91��Ƭ 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’s 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 91��Ƭ Polytechnic are gaining skills in project management, risk management, network security and technology support. Over the past decade, more than 40 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students have interned for Neenah-based Miron, one of the largest construction contractors in the Midwest.

Among this summer’s Miron interns from 91��Ƭ 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’s 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 91��Ƭ 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’s 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’s 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’s allowing me to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life,” Evans said.

Miron Construction’s 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 91��Ƭ Polytechnic education prepared him for his current role, and he sees Evans getting the same experience on the campus job site.

“Tyler’s always asking a lot of questions. He’s 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 91��Ƭ 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 91��Ƭ Polytechnic graduate

Krieg’s 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 91��Ƭ Polytechnic construction management major

Likewise, the skills he’s 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 91��Ƭ 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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Heritage Hall Renovation

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

Recreation Complex Renovation

A new renovated recreation complex to improve the student experience with expanded, improved fitness and recreation space.

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Hero Caption: Miron Construction conducts safety training at 91��Ƭ Polytechnic.

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Top 50 ranking on 2026 ‘Best Value Public Universities’ list adds to 91��Ƭ Polytechnic accolades

giffeyt — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Top 50 ranking on 2026 ‘Best Value Public Universities’ list adds to 91��Ƭ Polytechnic accoladesgiffeyt July 17, 2026

University ranked in top tier based on high median earnings, graduation rates, affordable tuition

Tom Giffey

91��Ƭ Polytechnic has once again been honored for providing affordable education that sets students on a path for professional success. This time, the university was ranked among the top 50 on a list of America’s Best Value Public Universities in a study conducted by SmartAsset, which provides consumer-focused financial information.

More than 500 public universities and colleges around the United States were evaluated on average cost of attendance, median earnings for graduates and graduation rates. 91��Ƭ Polytechnic rose to the top based on these criteria, setting it apart from regional and national peers.

“Outcomes can vary widely by school,” SmartAsset wrote, “meaning some public universities may offer stronger returns for students seeking manageable costs and solid career prospects.”

91��Ƭ Polytechnic shines in these and other areas. Blue Devils who received their undergraduate degrees in 2024-25 reported an annual starting salary of $59,000, a 4% increase from the prior year, 91��Ƭ’s annual First Destination Report found.

The average starting salary for undergraduate degree holders from 91��Ƭ Polytechnic has been the highest among universities in western Wisconsin for the past seven years, representing the ongoing return on investment in an education at Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University.

The most recent survey also found that the average starting salary for graduate degree recipients was $62,000. And fully 99% of recent graduates were either employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation.

The top 50 ranking among America’s Best Value Public Universities is just one of numerous honors 91��Ƭ Polytechnic has achieved in recent years. For two years in a row, the university ranked among America’s Best Colleges as determined by Money Magazine.

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of Best Online Programs named three 91��Ƭ Polytechnic programs among the best in the Midwest and nation, including Best Online Bachelor’s in Business, Best Online Master’s in Education and Best Online Master’s in Engineering.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic is also ranked highly for serving veterans and the military community, earning the coveted gold designation as a Military Friendly® School for 2026-27 as well as being honored on the Best for Vets Colleges list by Military Times.

And many of the university’s programs have been cited among the best in the nation and even the world:

CEOWorld ranked the hotel, restaurant and tourism management program as No. 9 among the Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Programs in the World.
The game design programs were ranked No. 6 in the Midwest and No. 17 among all U.S. public universities by Animation Career Review.
The cybersecurity program ranked No. 14 among the Top 25 programs in the United States, according to Programs.com.
College Factual placed numerous 91��Ƭ Polytechnic programs – including graphic communications, video production, packaging and manufacturing engineering – among the best in the Great Lakes region. And that’s just for starters.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s status as the only polytechnic university in Wisconsin or Minnesota means the institution is dedicated to applied learning and research, business and industry collaboration, and career-focused experiences. The campus has three times as many labs as traditional classrooms. Each year, students take part in approximately 1,000 co-op and internship experiences, more than one-third of which lead to job offers. In fact, this spring 77% of 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students were hired before graduation.

In recent years, Blue Devil graduates have gone to work for hundreds of firms with household names or Fortune 500 rankings, including Amazon, Cigna, General Motors, Citigroup, Ashley Furniture, Andersen Windows, Boeing, Milwaukee Tool, Boston Scientific, Harley-Davidson, FedEx, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM, Nike, Oshkosh Corp., Rockwell Automation, Target and 3M.

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‘This experience confirmed that I want to build my career in food safety and quality assurance.’

University ranked at the top based on high median earnings, graduation rates, affordable tuition Students walking on 91��Ƭ Polytechnic campus fall 2025

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Students, staff turn community into a canvas during Murals in Menomonie

giffeyt — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Students, staff turn community into a canvas during Murals in Menomoniegiffeyt June 30, 2026

Muralists from around the U.S. and world join university artists and volunteers for public art event

Tom Giffey

From an artistic portrayal of the journey of Hmong refugees from Laos to Menomonie to an eye-catching image that captures the past, present and future of Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, students and staff members from 91��Ƭ Polytechnic had key roles in a just-completed effort to create 15 pieces of public art in and around Menomonie.

Murals in Menomonie drew hundreds of artists from across the United States and beyond for a five-day mural-making festival. Since 1993, members of The Walldogs – an international collective of muralists, artists and designers – have gathered annually in a new city to demonstrate their talents. From June 24-28, Walldogs from 30 states and four countries worked alongside local artists to create enduring images honoring the history and culture of the community as curious bystanders watched the process.

Among the murals was a vibrant image created in Wilson Park and designed by two 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students, graphic design and interactive media major Angelina Yang of Plover and interior design major Gao (Pretti) Zhong Thao of St. Paul.

Fifteen murals were painted during Murals in Menomonie, including this one devoted to the city's history.

The 8-foot-by-12-foot mural takes the form of a Hmong story cloth – a traditional style of embroidery that tells a story through images of everyday life, historic events and the natural world. Against a vivid blue background bordered by a triangular motif, the artwork details the journey of Hmong refugees from war-torn Laos across the Mekong River and ultimately to western Wisconsin, represented by a red barn, rolling fields, a farmers’ market and the familiar Bowman Hall Clock Tower.

Yang and Thao learned about Murals in Menomonie from Wade Lambrigtsen, a 91��Ƭ Polytechnic alumnus and lecturer who also owns Vintage Sign Shop in Menomonie. Lambrigtsen, who served as mural coordinator for Murals in Menomonie, reached out to the Hmong Stout Student Association last spring to see if any members were interested in submitting a design for the project. A mural honoring Hmong heritage had been one of the most popular options voted on by members of the public during the planning stages of Murals in Menomonie.

Volunteers paint a mural resembling a traditional Hmong story cloth.

Student gains experience in art, life

Though neither had experience making murals, Thao said she and Yang were eager to take part in the project. “This opportunity doesn’t come very often,” Thao said while taking a break from painting alongside a half dozen volunteers. “It was very exciting, and we wanted to do something to represent the community.”

Thao and Yang brainstormed the elements of the mural – which range from the mountains of Laos to the bandshell in Wilson Park – and then Yang created a digital image using Adobe Illustrator. Next, working with Lambrigtsen in his shop, they made a full-sized printout of the design, whose contours were then carefully transferred to a sheet metal surface with an electric pen.

For three days, muralists worked diligently to bring the artwork to life. While traditional story clothes are meticulous works of embroidery, this one was created with painstaking dabs of paint to create tiny figures and scenes.

Yang and Thao were joined by more than 20 volunteers in downtown Menomonie’s Wilson Park, where the mural took shape. The completed mural is expected to find a home – at least temporarily – at the Dunn County Historical Society’s Rassbach Museum.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic Student Pretti Thao, left, co-designer of the Hmong story cloth mural, poses with Chancellor Katherine Frank.

“I feel ecstatic. I feel great having the whole community here,” Thao said. “I hope this inspires other people to take part in learning our history.”

In addition to the artistic skills she’s developed, the project required Thao to communicate a great deal with other artists, something she expects will help her in professional life as an interior designer.

“I feel like it’s more than an experience on my resume,” she concluded. “It’s a life lesson.”

Camilla Estes, a veteran Walldog who operates a mural business in Paducah, Kentucky, said she was privileged to help the 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students with their mural.

“The best thing about Walldogs is that so many strangers can come together and create so much love and beauty,” Estes said.

Among the 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students and staff members who helped with the story cloth mural were Evangeline Thao, a graphic design and interactive media major from Hudson; Maiyer Xiong, a graphic communication major from Eau Claire; Ghiatight Xiong, an information and communication technology major from Eau Claire; Addison Vang, an applied math and computer science major from Rosemount, Minnesota; and university employees Michael Moua, TRIO Student Support Services, and Heidi Smith, Office of Research & Sponsored Programs. Chancellor Katherine Frank even grabbed a paintbrush to help while visiting the mural sites spread throughout downtown Menomonie.

Chancellor Katherine Frank joins other volunteers to paint a mural portraying 91��Ƭ Polytechnic's past, present and future.

Campus mural embodies polytechnic tenets

Murals in Menomonie involved the creation of 15 murals, 13 in Menomonie and one each for the nearby communities of Boyceville and Ridgeland. Many immortalized historic individuals, events or institutions, including Swiss Miss hot cocoa (invented by Charles Sanna of Menomonie), the Menomonie Blue Caps Base Ball Club, and the Knapp, Stout & Co. lumber business, co-owned by the father of university founder James Huff Stout.

Stout’s most enduring legacy – the educational institution he founded – is now depicted in a mural on the east side of the Administration Building, facing Clock Tower Plaza. Painted just weeks after the word “Polytechnic” was officially added to the university’s name, the mural encompasses elements from the institution’s 135-year history: bold block letters reading “STOUT,” the logos of both the Stout Institute (1908-55) and Stout State University (1955-64), the contemporary triple-banded “S” logo and the official designation as “Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University,” and pillars bearing the institution’s enduring values – Honor, Industry, Learning and Skill. Painted archways bearing the phrases “Forward from our founding” and “Forever to our future” frame a panoramic depiction of campus landmarks.

The artwork was designed by muralist Tom Seibert of California, who has taken part in about a dozen Walldogs events over the years. Seibert’s business, Murals for Schools, specializes in institutional murals like this one. Seibert said the mural was created in trompe l’oeil style (French for “deceive the eye”) and will likely become a popular selfie spot.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic alum Billie Walleen prepares to add her handprint to a mural dedicated to her family's longtime Menomonie business, Bolo Country Inn.

Frank lent a hand to the campus mural as well, praising Seibert’s design. “When we saw Tom’s expertise at creating pride through his murals, we knew we didn’t have to speak to a single point in 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s 135-year history,” Frank said. “Tom has given us a mural that celebrates the legacy of our graduates and employees in a campus location that deeply resonates with our alumni and many others, while also inspiring future innovation in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and beyond through Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University.”

Lambrigtsen said three years of planning went into bringing the Walldogs to Menomonie. Numerous community sponsors, including 91��Ƭ Polytechnic, supported the Murals in Menomonie effort, as did hundreds of volunteers. Among them were at least 10 former 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students and dozens of others connected to the university.

“I think the best part was seeing the community come together, seeing how people stepped up to help,” said Lambrigtsen, who added that the newly created artwork will attract admirers for years to come.

An art auction held June 27 at the Memorial Student Center to celebrate the conclusion of Murals in Menomonie raised nearly $34,000, one of the highest fundraising figures in Walldogs history. The funds will be held in an endowment to support mural upkeep.

The new mural on Clock Tower Plaza joins several others painted by students on campus in recent years. Students in the Graffiti and Street Art summer class have designed and created four large-scale murals on the east side of the Applied Arts Building, including one painted in early June under the leadership of Assistant Professor Mary Climes.

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Muralists from around the U.S. and world join university artists and volunteers for public art event Hmong story cloth mural part of Murals in Menomonie

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#StoutProud: Wade Lambrigtsen ('00), Lin Boland ('25), Megan McDowell ('25) and Lily ('27)

91��Ƭ Polytechnic alumni and students are using public art to celebrate local stories, strengthen community connections and inspire future generations.

First student-designed mural is ‘part of the legacy, history of art at the university’

Project unveiled June 2 praised by chancellor, mayor and appreciated by painters in new Graffiti and Street Art course

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Hero Caption: Volunteers paint a mural on the exterior of the Administration Building on the 91��Ƭ Polytechnic Campus during the Murals in Menomonie event.

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High school students complete university-level project to create spaces that inspire

goersab — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:50:00 +0000

High school students complete university-level project to create spaces that inspiregoersab June 25, 2026

Interior design camp, industry-standard software introduces campers to career paths in residential, commercial design

Abbey Goers

Every space has its own function, whether it’s an educational studio calling on students to advance their design skills and create a space optimal for learning, or a residential studio where they’re tasked with designing a cozy living room inviting friends to sit and stay awhile. For four days in June, area high school students created their own spaces in the Interior Design: Creating Spaces That Inspire Camp at 91��Ƭ Polytechnic.

In three interior design labs within the Applied Arts Building, the campers discovered how design influences the way people live, work and connect. From sketching, mood boards and space planning to color, lighting and design conceptualization, they created projects inspired by album covers, designing great rooms that encompassed kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms for clients of their choosing.

“This is a similar project that I give to my second-year students in their first interior design studio course. The young campers practiced exactly what the college students learn. They chose their album cover and drew from the visual or emotional aspects to design their space,” said interior design Assistant Professor Nicolette Brehm, the camp instructor.

Assistant Professor Nicolette Brehm and a STEAM camper review options in an architectural design software.

They also explored both residential and commercial interiors and gained insight into the numerous career paths in interior design. “There are many career pathways outside of residential design – this is what many students come in thinking of. But there are so many great opportunities in commercial design, furniture and more,” Brehm said.

The interior design campers are just some of the more than 500 youths from around the region and country who are traveling to 91��Ƭ Polytechnic to join the Middle School STEAM and High School STEAM experiences this summer.

A STEAM camper adds texture and color to their room design.

Introducing young campers to career paths in science, technology, engineering, and art and design fits hand-in-hand with 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s mission of preparing its students for the workforce, as 99% of recent graduates were employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation.

Using music to create spaces that inspire

With interests in architecture and design, the high school students enjoyed creating floor plans, space planning and selecting color palettes. “I was surprised by how learning that interior design is more than just choosing paint colors. It involves a lot of technical work. You also have to think about the aspects you don’t see, like electrical and plumbing,” said one of the campers.

A room design inspired by The Alchemist’s 'Yacht Rock 2' album cover.

For their unique spaces, campers drew inspiration from the following album covers:

The Alchemist’s “Yacht Rock 2,” which pictures a bird’s-eye view of a white boat floating in a sandy ocean cove. Their great room reflected feelings of calmness, with marble countertops, sea-blue tile backsplashes and a boat-shaped bookshelf. A large sofa faced a ceiling-to-floor indoor water feature and overlooked panoramic ocean views.
SZA’s “Good Days,” where the artist is sitting on a diving board over a choppy, blue sea. Their great room featured a seating area with a fireplace adorned in deep blue tiles, with a pattern that mimicked the waves. The contrast of fire and water – warmth blended with cool colors – was striking.
Drake’s “Iceman,” in which Drake is wearing Michael Jackson’s iconic white glove. Their great room’s kitchen featured stark white countertops, ice-blue wallpaper and light-colored wooden cabinetry.
“The Normal Album” by Will Wood features the photo of a man waving from an open window. The photo is set against a pattern of 1980s-style pastel zigzags. Their great room felt playful, with a center terrarium of tropical plants, a rounded green sofa covered in colorful pillows, statues of various animals and a piano against a brightly patterned wall.

A room design inspired by Drake’s 'Iceman' album cover.

As the campers thought about their great rooms, they first needed to sketch out their floor plans, practicing drawing in 1/4 scale, in which 1/4 inch on paper is equal to one foot in real life. With access to the interior design Materials Lab, the campers selected tiles, flooring, wood and fabric samples to add to their materials palettes, or mood boards. Items within the lab are donated by interior design vendors and alumni.

With Revit, an architectural design software used by university students and industry professionals, they created 3D renderings of their floor plans. Through Architextures.org, they selected digital materials to represent items on their materials palettes. The website allowed them to select tints, tones, shapes and patterns of tiles, wood, stone, wallpaper and more to integrate into their Revit models.

A room design inspired by 'The Normal Album' by Will Wood.

They also referred to industry websites, such as Bernhardt Design, Haworth, Herman Miller, and BIM Object, to search for furniture and décor accessories and downloaded 3D models of the pieces to bring into their own models.

Teaching Assistant Colby Greene, a human development and family studies student, joined the campers in creating her own great room, learning interior design skills alongside them. “I’ve worked as a nanny for eight years, and I like working with kids. This is my internship, and I’ve learned a lot of new skills,” she said.

The campers presented their digital floor plans and materials palettes to each other, learning to communicate their ideas clearly with their peers, before presenting to families and supporters during the Camper Showcase, which concluded the camp.

A materials palette, or mood board, based on 'Yacht Rock 2.'

Additional STEAM camps this summer include experiences in:

Science & Health: Freshwater science, fish conservation, anatomy, molecular ecology, psychology and gardening
Technology: Construction, 3D printing, robotics and virtual reality
Engineering: Packaging and plastics engineering
Art & Design: Claymation, comics, game design, fashion, cinema production and drawing.

The STEAM programs are sponsored by the Menomonie, Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire school districts, the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, the National Science Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Xcel Energy and the 91��Ƭ Foundation & Alumni Association, in partnership with Continuing Education & Conferences.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s interior design program is part of the School of Art & Design, which also offers bachelor’s degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production; and an M.F.A. in design. 91��Ƭ also has a new program in game and media studies.

The album covers chosen by the STEAM interior design campers.

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Hero Caption: A room design inspired by SZA’s 'Good Days' album cover.

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Construction camp introduces young students to careers, degree paths

goersab — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Construction camp introduces young students to careers, degree paths goersab June 16, 2026

Tour led by Boldt Company in Chippewa Falls gives campers a behind-the-scenes look at construction site

Abbey Goers

On a cloudy Tuesday morning, eight middle school Construction Pathways campers with 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s summer STEAM experience watched a crane lift an air conditioning unit onto the new Aspirus Clinic that is being built in Chippewa Falls.

The site tour, led by the Boldt Company, introduced the campers to different career opportunities in the construction industry, including project management, skilled trades, labor, engineering, safety, and more, as well as what being a construction management student at 91��Ƭ Polytechnic might be like.

STEAM Construction campers and instructors with their final projects

“Students gained a better understanding of how a construction site operates with a behind-the-scenes look at how projects are planned, built and managed from the ground up. They discovered career paths in construction, woodworking and other skilled trades they may be interested in pursuing in the future,” said technology education senior Annika Schlueter, who taught the camp.

The construction campers are just some of the more than 500 children from around the region and country who are traveling to 91��Ƭ Polytechnic to join the Middle School STEAM and High School STEAM week-long experiences this summer.

STEAM Construction campers received a site tour by the Boldt Company / Annika Schlueter

Introducing young campers to career paths in science, technology, engineering, and art and design fits hand-in-hand with 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s mission of preparing its students for the workforce, as 99% of recent graduates were employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation.

New experiences in the Woods Lab

In the Jarvis Hall Wood Prototyping Lab, the campers created their own wooden cutting boards, crafted from black walnut, ash, cherry, and maple, and personalized them with laser engraving technology.

Instructor Annika Schlueter helps a camper cut pieces for cutting board. / Annika Schlueter

Through the hands-on project, they learned foundational skills in woodworking, like tool safety and how projects are designed, managed and completed from start to finish. They used a full range of the lab’s machine, including table saws, routers, an overhead sander, a CNC (computer numerical control) machine and a laser engraver.

“Along with these hard skills, they developed important life skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, responsibility and time management,” Schlueter said. “Students gained skills they can use both in their future careers and in their everyday lives. By completing projects and working through challenges, they built confidence and gained valuable skills that will benefit them long after the class is over.”

Teaching Assistant Marrissa Haglund helps a camper with the CNC machine.

Most of the campers had done small woodworking projects before, but using the CNC machine was an all new experience. Levi Ryan, who traveled from Texas to attend the camp, didn’t even know the machine existed. “Seeing what all of the different machines can do was the best part,” he said.

Caleb Larson, of Baldwin, joined the camp to be able to work with his hands. He enjoyed “seeing all of the work come together, especially at the construction site visit.”

Campers and Schlueter prepare to use the laser engraver on a cutting board

While waiting for glue to dry or for the CNC machine or laser engraver to be available or for classmates to complete the sanding process on their cutting boards, there was time for extra projects.

“Keeping the kids busy was the hardest part,” Schlueter said. “We did a lot of additional projects on the fly, like resin-pour coasters and keychains, and other laser-engraved wood designs as gifts.”

Prepared to lead in the classroom

Originally, the STEAM construction camp was going to be taught by engineering technology Assistant Professor Kevin Dietsche, but his schedule did not line up, so he offered the camp to Schlueter. Schlueter, who serves as a lab assistant in the Woods Lab, has completed her pre-student teaching and will begin student teaching next spring. The construction camp was her first experience leading a classroom.

Campers sand their cutting boards in preparation for sealing them.

Marrissa Haglund, who also serves as a lab assistant, was asked to be a teaching assistant for the camp. Haglund fell in love with the Woods Lab after taking a couple of engineering technology courses. She graduated in May with a B.S. in business administration.

“This opportunity has given me confidence, experience, and application in my field, and I think it is a great program for the students,” Schlueter said. “This camp not only offered me technical experience but also a lot of soft skills with coordination, communication and organization. I did a lot of budgeting and planning to get ready for the camp, so it could be as time-effective as possible. I’m very thankful that I was given the opportunity to be the instructor.”

Campers, Schlueter and Haglund seal their cutting boards.

Additional STEAM camps this summer include experiences in:

Science & Health: Freshwater science, fish conservation, anatomy, molecular ecology, psychology and gardening

Technology: 3D-printing, robotics and virtual reality

Engineering: Packaging and plastics engineering

Art & Design: Claymation, comics, game design, fashion, cinema production, interior design and drawing.

The STEAM programs are sponsored by the Menomonie, Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire school districts, the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, the National Science Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Xcel Energy and the 91��Ƭ Foundation & Alumni Association, in partnership with Continuing Education & Conferences.

Haglund helps campers mix coloring to add to their resin-pour keychains. / Annika Schlueter

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Construction camp introduces young students to careers, degree paths

Tour led by Boldt Company in Chippewa Falls gives campers a behind-the-scenes look at construction site

Tour led by Boldt Company in Chippewa Falls gives campers a behind-the-scenes look at construction site STEAM Construction Camp

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Cybersecurity faculty win Pentagon-sponsored competition to build workforce preparedness

giffeyt — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:45:00 +0000

Cybersecurity faculty win Pentagon-sponsored competition to build workforce preparedness giffeyt June 9, 2026

Department of War selects platform to inspire national cyber defense education models

A cybersecurity training platform developed by University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic faculty has won a high-stakes, Pentagon-sponsored competition and will now serve as a blueprint for scalable cybersecurity learning nationwide.

The Department of War’s Aligned Skills Curriculum and Experiential Network Design (ASCEND) Challenge received innovative entries from a pool of more than 60 applicants, all of them designated by the National Security Agency as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE).

From among these entries, five finalists – including 91��Ƭ Polytechnic – were invited to make presentations in a “Shark Tank”-style event at the CAE Cybersecurity Community Symposium in Pittsburgh last month.

“Our goal was to show how AI and cloud technologies can help learners build skills faster, respond to cyberattacks more effectively, and prepare for the reality that AI-powered attacks now operate at machine speed,” said 91��Ƭ Polytechnic Professor Holly Yuan, who made the pitch alongside Instructor Brandon Cross.

The victory underscores 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s role as a nationwide leader in applied cybersecurity education: The cybersecurity program was recently ranked at No. 14 in the United States by Programs.com, and 91��Ƭ Polytechnic student teams continue to excel in state, regional and national cyber defense competitions.

Professor Holly Yuan receives a ceremonial prize check after the competition from Scott Nelson, acting principal director of the Department of War Cyber Academic Engagement Office. / Submitted photo

Model teaches cyber defense skills

The ASCEND Challenge wasn’t just looking for ideas, but for scalable solutions that could train the next generation of the cybersecurity workforce, explained Yuan, director of the university’s B.S. cybersecurity program as well as the B.S. computer networking and infrastructure engineering program. The 91��Ƭ Polytechnic presentation, “ASCEND-AI: Cyber-AI Launchpad,” is an AI-powered digital twin cyber range training environment that combines hands-on learning with machine-speed attack simulations. As a “digital twin,” the environment emulates a real-world computer network, creating authentic simulations.

“The platform is designed to help learners build cybersecurity skills through realistic AI-enabled attack and defense scenarios,” Yuan added. “It includes AI-powered red teaming, allowing learners to practice defending against realistic, machine-speed attacks in a safe cyber range environment.”

91��Ƭ Polytechnic presented alongside teams from four other universities – San Jose State, North Carolina A&T, University of Maine at Augusta and Anderson University – before a panel of cybersecurity experts from the Department of War and other federal offices.

Yuan said she thinks the judges favored the 91��Ƭ Polytechnic presentation because it was a working platform, not just a concept, which offered AI-powered scaffolding for learners as well as real-time operational metrics – allowing learners to be judged not only on whether they completed an activity but how quickly they acted under pressure.

“The combination of academic rigor, AI-enabled training, workforce alignment, hands-on learning and immediate workforce impact resonated with the panel,” said Yuan, who is also founding director of the 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s Cybersecurity Research & Outreach Center (CyROC).

In addition to winning a $1,000 cash prize, 91��Ƭ Polytechnic will receive strategic grant mentorship through Tony Coulson, executive director of the Centers of Academic Excellence Community, which includes nearly 500 educational institutions nationwide. The top three winning designs are also expected to inform a future Department of War solicitation aimed at building scalable cyber learning frameworks across the nation.

“This gives us an opportunity to help shape future cybersecurity education models beyond 91��Ƭ,” said Yuan, who was also honored at the symposium with an Outstanding Mentor Award from the CAE Community.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic cybersecurity students pose at the Wisconsin Governor’s Cybersecurity Summit. / Submitted photo

Student competitors rack up wins

The ASCEND Challenge victory wasn’t an isolated success for 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s cybersecurity program.

Recently, 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students placed first and second in the “Hack the Box” competition at the Wisconsin Governor’s Cybersecurity Summit in Appleton. Participating students included Hannah Meyers of Altoona; Daisy Hardwick of Roscoe, Illinois; Chloe Kaneski of Minneapolis; Kaonou Lor of Durand; and AuGust Ringelstetter of Cameron. Yuan also participated in the summit’s closing general session panel, titled “Where Wisconsin Cyber Goes Next.”

Earlier in the semester, the 91��Ƭ Polytechnic Collegiate Cyber Defense Team won the Wisconsin state cyber defense championship for the sixth consecutive year. In February, the team took part in the Midwest regional competition with the No. 1 schools from 11 other states. Among this elite group, 91��Ƭ Polytechnic finished in a three-way tie for fourth place and was recognized by the Midwest Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition director as a “top-tier cybersecurity team.”

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Hero Caption: 91��Ƭ Polytechnic Professor Holly Yuan and Instructor Brandon Cross make their pitch during the Department of War’s Aligned Skills Curriculum and Experiential Network Design (ASCEND) Challenge in Pittsburgh in May. / Submitted photo