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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

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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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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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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Graphic design, graphic communications students win international TAGA Student Choice Award

goersab — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:35:00 +0000

Graphic design, graphic communications students win international TAGA Student Choice Awardgoersab June 11, 2026

Interdisciplinary team of graphic communications, graphic media, print management students’ ‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ celebrates print media

Abbey Goers

In an international competition designed to celebrate the way print media brings people together across the globe, a team of 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students won the coveted TAGA Student Choice Award at the 2026 Technical Association of the Graphic Arts, Helmut Kipphan Student Chapter Competition. The award was announced in April during a watch party hosted by Konica Minolta, in Chicago.

The winning team is made up of students in the B.S. graphic communications and B.F.A. graphic design and interactive media programs and the graphic media and print management minor. Their design, “Mail Across Minneapolis,” inspired by postcards, is a folding carton mailbox made of paperboard. Their submission included the final deliverable, a journal publication, and detailed production notes, which reinforced their skills in design, technical execution, project management and collaboration.

Sam Mireles-Melgarejo, Theodore Cerny, Becky Gaspord, Red Moser, Mallory Jakubiak, advisor Bethany Wheeler and Ariel Kissel, pose in front of the Konica Minolta building with the T / Becky Gaspord and Ariel Kissel

“Students are pushing new ideas, and industry folks are genuinely interested. It feels collaborative, not just competitive,” said TAGA President Birgit Plautz, adding that TAGA helps “connect new ideas with what’s actually happening in the industry,” creating opportunities for student work to influence real-world practices.

TAGA Student Choice Award team members were:

Mallory Jakubiak, of Shakopee, Minnesota
Red Moser, of Manitowoc
Trevor Anderson, of Menomonie
Ariel Kissel, of Neenah
Theo Cerny, of Maple Grove, Minnesota
Brynn Hessel, of South Range

“Competitions like these are so beneficial for students to participate in because their open-ended structure leaves a lot of room for the students to decide what direction to take the projects. This allows them the flexibility to make something they are really passionate about and something they can be really proud of,” said graphic communications Program Director Bethany Wheeler.

Other participating student chapters were from Ball State University, California Polytechnic State University, Clemson University, Ferris State University, Illinois State University, Rochester Institute of Technology and Toronto Metropolitan University.

TAGA’s Vice President of Education Celeste Calkins noted, “These students are the future of this industry,” highlighting the importance of providing opportunities for them to grow, connect and exchange ideas.

‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ winning design

During the ideation phase, the team chose to focus on mail in general, noting different types of mail through the iconography in their journal publication, including letters, bills, postcards, newspapers, packages and more.

Becky Gaspord, Ariel Kissel, Mallory Jakubiak, Theodore Cerny, Sam Mireles-Melgarejo and Red Moser at Mittera / Ariel Kissel

“We wanted our journal publication to look like a letter arriving in the mail. We cut a sleeve that looked like an envelope to hold the journal and added small details such as a cut-out window to see the address and recipient on the back, like you would an actual letter,” said Kissel, who will serve as 91��Ƭ Polytechnic TAGA chapter president in 2027-28 during her senior year.

Working in various labs across campus, the team used Adobe Illustrator and InDesign in the GCOM computer labs. They designed and cut out stamps according to official U.S. stamp regulations and requirements and made an ink stamp for the envelope, like the United States Postal Service would place on mail and packages. They used the 3D Printing Lab to make wax seals, as well as the Packaging Lab to cut out the mailboxes and assemble them using an industrial glue gun.

“We decided our overall package design would be a mailbox. We made more stickers to place on the outside to decorate, as someone might actually do to customize their own mailbox, and added a small detail of the address. We wrote ‘2026’ as though it were the house number and made the street name ‘91��Ƭ Street,’” Kissel said.

TAGA student tour Mittera / Ariel Kissel

Kissel thinks working in a cross-disciplinary team was really helpful. “We were able to bounce ideas off of each other and build on them as we worked. When we ran into issues, which we did quite often through the process, we found our best method was to adjust what we were doing and try again,” she said.

A big issue the team faced was the splitting of the spines of the journal. They initially planned on printing two journals on one block, binding them, and then splitting them in half when trimming the blocks. “Every time we split the block in half, the pressure being applied by the blade would cause the spine to split,” Kissel explained. “As a team, we bounced off ideas of possible solutions, and when we had something we thought might work, we gave it a try. We repeated the process until we found a solution.”

91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s TAGA chapter toured multiple facilities while in Chicago for the award watch party, including Mittera, Specialty Print Communications and Konica Minolta.

TAGA student tour Mittera / Ariel Kissel

This was the chapter’s first time in a decade entering the TAGA competition. “It’s been an extremely rewarding experience to assemble a team of students so passionate about showing off their skills and abilities by competing in this competition. The pieces they produced were incredible, and I couldn’t be prouder of the projects they were able to complete,” Wheeler said. “I’m thrilled to guide this team through a successful competition after many years without a TAGA chapter. I know our projects and team will continue to grow and dazzle the TAGA judges as we recruit more students and strive to showcase the very best of what we do at Stout.”

Kissel was extremely proud to be able to show the team’s work to the other competing chapters. “I was even more proud to be a part of the team to bring home an award after a 10-year hiatus! It was an honor to work with such talented designers,” she said.

Kissel has a summer internship at OEC Graphics, in Oshkosh, helping with quality checks on label and carton designs for BP Lubricants products.

“The biggest lesson I’ve been able to apply so far is to work with my team. I’m only one person, and I can really only do so much,” she said. “The same goes for the rest of my peers on the team. We each are given our positions to ensure things run smoothly and efficiently. By working all together, we really are a well-oiled machine (pun intended).”

TAGA student chapters play an important role in shaping how students understand the graphic communications industry and their place within it. Participation in the competition exposes students to current trends, emerging technologies, and evolving industry needs. The experience also underscores the role of research in driving innovation, encouraging students to think beyond individual projects and consider broader industry applications.

91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s graphic communications program blends design, technology and business strategy to prepare students for careers in printing, packaging, publishing, and related industries, emphasizing the university’s applied learning and industry collaboration.

With an average starting salary of $50,000, 100% of recent graphic communications graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, according to Career Services’ annual First Destination Report.

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Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille, B.S. Business Administration

giffeyt — Thu, 21 May 2026 15:34:00 +0000

Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille, B.S. Business Administration giffeyt May 21, 2026

Hired before graduation at Redpath and Company as a tax associate

Inspiring Graduate: Rosella Wille (’26) 

Hometown: Cannon Falls, Minnesota 
Degree: B.S. Business Administration with a concentration in Management Accounting
Minors: Investment & Finance, Economics

Rosella Wille was inspired to attend 91��Ƭ by successful alumni who spoke highly of their experiences at Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University. Now, after her own noteworthy academic and athletic career, Wille herself is poised to become one of those outstanding alums.

As an incoming student, Wille said, “I saw the opportunity to gain a quality, hands-on education through internships and real-world projects that would help me build my skills and prepare for my career.”

Wille was among more than 1,000 students who crossed the commencement stage on May 16. In addition to earning a B.S. in business administration and completing three internships, Wille played forward on the women’s basketball team, reaching the NCAA Division III Final Four in 2025 and earning Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship Team honors this spring.

“Being part of a competitive team taught me strong time management as I balanced practices, travel and academics,” Wille said. “It also strengthened my teamwork, accountability and ability to stay focused on shared goals under pressure. Those skills have made a big impact on my overall college experience and will carry into my career.”

Wille also served as student assistant coach for the Blue Devils women’s flag football team, which won the inaugural Midwest College Women’s Flag Football League Championship in 2025.

“That experience allowed me to step into a leadership role and mentor other athletes,” she said. “Coaching helped me develop stronger communication skills, patience and the ability to motivate and support others.”

After graduation, Wille will begin her career as a tax associate at Redpath and Company and make a fast break toward her next goal: studying for and completing the CPA exam. Of this year’s graduates, 77.4% were hired prior to graduation, while 99% of recent graduates were employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation.

Rosella Wille (22) was a forward on the women's basketball team, which reached the NCAA Division III Final Four in 2025.

How do you hope to make an impact in your field?

I hope to make an impact in my field by building strong relationships with individuals and providing trustworthy guidance to help them feel more confident about their finances. Taxes and accounting can be stressful or confusing for many people, so I want to be someone clients can rely on to explain things clearly and support their financial goals. Ultimately, I want to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives beyond just preparing returns by helping them make informed decisions for their future.

How has 91��Ƭ prepared you to work in your field?

91��Ƭ has prepared me well for a career in accounting by providing professors who came directly from the field and brought their real-world experiences into lectures and labs. Learning from their perspectives helped me understand how accounting concepts apply in practice, not just theory.

The business program also required me to take courses across multiple areas like human resources, business law, management and marketing. That broad foundation will help me better understand my clients’ business and collaborate with coworkers from different departments. Overall, Stout has helped me build both my technical knowledge and the well-rounded business perspective needed to succeed in my career.

What did you learn from your internship experiences?

During my college career, I completed three internships. Two were in Menomonie and one was in Minneapolis. My first internship was at a bookkeeping company, where I built a strong foundation in the basics of bookkeeping and developed strong attention to detail.

My second internship was in Minneapolis at Foundation X, where I was introduced to philanthropy and the nonprofit space. I learned how strategic giving can make a meaningful impact and how individuals and families align their financial goals with causes they care about. That experience opened my eyes to the importance of thoughtful charitable planning and finding better, more effective ways to do good.

Lastly, I worked as a finance intern at Waznik Heike Group, where I helped prepare for client meetings and learned more about financial advising and client relationships. That role reinforced how important trust, preparation and communication are when working directly with individuals.

The greatest lesson I took from my internships is that you won’t know everything starting out and that’s OK. What matters most is being eager to learn, asking questions and staying open to feedback. I realized that everyone around you has something valuable to teach you, and growth comes from being willing to continuously improve.

What stands out about your 91��Ƭ experience?

My 91��Ƭ experience stands out to me because of the professors. They are genuinely invested in their students, not just academically but personally and professionally as well. They truly want you to understand the material and succeed beyond the classroom. Their willingness to share real-world experiences, offer guidance and make themselves available for questions made a big difference in my learning and overall college experience.

What challenges did you face in earning your degree, and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I faced in earning my degree was not knowing exactly what I wanted to do at first. I changed my major a couple of times while trying to figure out where I truly fit. Instead of seeing that as a setback, I used it as an opportunity to explore different classes and speak with mentors, professors and professionals to gain clarity.

Over time, those conversations and experiences led me to this specific degree and career path. I also learned to put less pressure on myself to have everything figured out right away. Once I started focusing on learning and enjoying the journey, rather than stressing about having a perfect plan, everything began to fall into place.

What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?

I am most proud of being a student athlete on the women’s basketball team. Our season ran through both the fall and spring semesters, so I never really had an off season during the academic year. Balancing practices, games, travel and a full course load was challenging at times, but I stayed disciplined and put my head down to get the work done.

That experience pushed me to grow in ways beyond the classroom. It strengthened my work ethic, resilience and ability to manage my time effectively. Finishing my degree while competing at a high level is something I am truly proud of because it reflects the commitment and perseverance I brought to my college experience.

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Hired before graduation at Redpath and Company as a tax associate

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Hired before graduation at Absolut Manufacturing

Hired before graduation at Redpath and Company as a tax associate Inspiring Graduate Rosella Wille on commencement stage

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Construction students among finalists in national ABC Competition

goersab — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:07:53 +0000

Construction students among finalists in national ABC Competitiongoersab May 20, 2026

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City project gives glimpse into real world construction management

Abbey Goers

91��Ƭ construction management students competed against the nation’s top students during Associated Builders and Contractors’ hallmark annual event, the Construction Management Competition, held this spring in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The ABC competition gives students a glimpse into the real world of construction, testing their project management, estimating, safety, quality control and presentation skills. This year’s project was the Salt Lake City Convention Center’s Hyatt Regency Hotel – a nearly 700,000-square-foot venue located in the heart of downtown.

Senior Lecturer Jim Bunkelman, Riley Hibner, Megan Schatz, Ian Farrell, Anna Odisho, Rep. Clint Moses and Sen. Jesse James in 91��Ƭ’s Construction Lab.

“The construction industry needs to bring in 349,000 new workers this year just to meet demand, and that includes experienced young construction management professionals like these because they can solve real-world problems so contractors can build quality infrastructure,” said ABC National Board of Directors Chair Thomas “Murph” Murphy.

Of the 31 national teams, 91��Ƭ was among the final nine invited to present in the third phase of the competition, which included a presentation and Q&A with a panel of 40 industry experts.

91��Ƭ’s ABC team members were:

Evan Ambourn, of Eau Claire
Rorie Boettcher, of Eau Claire
Ian Farrell, of Waukesha
Riley Hibner, of Portage
Kameron Konsela, of Minneapolis
Sarah Meyers, of Plover
Anna Odisho, of Roselle, Illinois
Megan Schatz, of Brookfield

“Acting like our own contracting company, the ABC competition gave us a real-life project, where we could work as a group to build a proposal that a true industry company would create – from breaking ground to completion,” said Schatz, the team lead.

“This team demonstrated exceptional dedication and skills from day one. They took a complex project and vision, executing it with precision and professionalism. I have no doubt that the skills they’ve honed during this project will serve them incredibly well in their upcoming professional careers,” said Senior Lecturer James Bunkelman.

Sarah Meyers, Rorie Boettcher, Kameron Konsela, Megan Schatz, Ian Farrell and Evan Ambourn at the ABC Student Competition / Megan Schatz

Recently, the team was presented with a proclamation on behalf of the Wisconsin State Legislature by Sen. Jesse James and Rep. Clint Moses, a 91��Ƭ psychology alum. They were joined by John Schulze, ABC Wisconsin Director of Legal and Government Affairs, and Bunkelman.

“We appreciate 91��Ƭ students’ engagement and their achievements. They were up against some very big schools, and they held their own,” Schulze said. Competing universities included Clemson, Purdue and Michigan State. Louisiana State University won first place.

A project to reimagine a city skyline

The Hyatt Regency Salt Lake is a 25-story hotel, with 517 guestrooms, more than 60,000 square feet of meeting space, a lobby and reception area, a fitness center, multiple restaurants, a market, an outdoor pool, an event terrace and underground parking. The glass façade helps shape the city’s skyline.

The ABC student teams were provided access to the project by ABC member contractor Hensel Phelps, which has already completed the project.

91��Ƭ "Stout Builders" ABC Competition Top Performers title slide / Megan Schatz

The first phase of the competition was to research and prepare a proposal. The process took two-and-a-half months, and 91��Ƭ’s final proposal was 120 pages long. Logistics was the biggest challenge, with Odisho handling much of the research.

“Since our project was in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, there was not a lot of room for a project trailer, let alone a laydown of space for all the materials. The convention center also needed to be fully operational during the duration of the construction. So, safety was a large factor, as we’d be hoisting large pieces of steel and other material. It is also on the corner of two busy roads, so we had to time deliveries and plan what lanes of traffic we could change during construction,” said Schatz, who serves as vice president of the Student Construction Association, as well as director of public relations for Sigma Lambda Chi, the construction honors society.

For the project’s second phase, the 31 teams convened at Salt Lake City Convention Center for a six-hour-long day, where they were given five addenda and changes they needed to incorporate into their proposals. The addenda reflected both fictional and actual events that happened during the construction of the hotel.

“Some of the addenda we were given were: a build-out of the restaurant on the sixth floor, the final build-out of the top five floors for the NBA All-Star Game, adding balancing water valves that were missed originally, and an earthquake that hit Salt Lake City,” Schatz said.

Ian Farrell, Evan Ambourn, Megan Schatz and Sarah Meyers present during phase three of the ABC Student Competition / Megan Schatz

Phase three was the final presentation, in which the 91��Ƭ ABC Team was one of nine finalists. “Presenting in front of the judges and audience was such an accomplishment. I’m incredibly grateful to have been able to complete this project with such a dedicated and committed team. We learned not only more about the industry but also grew as a team and had a fun time doing it,” Schatz said.

Graduates from 91��Ƭ’s B.S. construction management program reported a 100% employment rate within six months of graduation and an average starting salary of $70,000, according to the latest university First Destination Report.

91��Ƭ’s School of Management offers 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates that build students' leadership skills in operations and management, business, hospitality and technology innovation, and military science fields.

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Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City project gives glimpse into real world construction management

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City project gives glimpse into real world construction management ABC Construction competition team, 2026

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Hero Caption: This year’s ABC Competition project was the Salt Lake City Convention Center’s Hyatt Regency Hotel – a nearly 700,000-square-foot venue located in the heart of downtown.

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University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

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Co-op Q&A: Scott Stewart, NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes in Beloit

goersab — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Co-op Q&A: Scott Stewart, NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes in Beloitgoersab May 12, 2026

‘Supply chains connect everything – materials, information and people all work together.’

Radioisotopes play a crucial role in health care, enabling accurate 3D imaging diagnostics to help detect and treat cancer, heart disease, thyroid issues and other diseases. With more than 50 million nuclear medicine procedures performed annually worldwide, according to the World Nuclear Association, the need for the rapid production and time-sensitive delivery of radioisotopes is high.

NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes is a radiopharmaceutical company in Beloit that develops and distributes these lifesaving products. Recently, 91��Ƭ supply chain management major Scott Stewart completed a cooperative experience at NorthStar as a supply chain analyst intern.

Stewart, who has a second major in business administration, was interested in working with NorthStar Medical “because of its innovation in health care and its role in producing radiopharmaceuticals that improve patient outcomes, along with the opportunity to work in a complex, highly regulated industry,” he said.

Stewart, of Twin Lakes, was one of 24 91��Ƭ students who received the university’s 2026 Outstanding Cooperative Education and Internship Program Student of the Year Award. He will graduate in May 2027.

How do you hope to make an impact in your field?

What interests me most about supply chain is how it connects everything – how materials, information, and people all work together to keep operations running efficiently and the impact those decisions have on overall performance.

I hope to improve efficiency and communication within supply chain organizations by identifying gaps and implementing better systems and processes.

What were your main roles at NorthStar Medical?

As a supply chain analyst intern, my main roles included supporting procurement and planning, creating purchase orders in Sage X3, assisting with inventory forecasting, and contributing to process improvement projects.

One major project I helped with involved mapping material process flows across the company to improve visibility and reduce confusion in operations. Another project involved researching and evaluating production scheduling software, where I recommended a new system to improve efficiency and planning. The new system is currently being implemented.

What do you enjoy most about your internship?

I enjoyed the hands-on experience and working cross-functionally with different departments and seeing how my work directly supported operations.

What was challenging about your internship, and how did you face those challenges?

A key challenge was the learning curve in a highly technical industry. I overcame this by asking questions, collaborating with teams and taking time to fully understand processes before making decisions.

How will your courses and experiences at Stout help you make an impact in your career?

Courses like Principles of Logistics and Procurement, Sourcing and Supply Chain Management have been especially helpful in building my understanding of how supply chains operate and how decisions impact efficiency.

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

University ranked at the top based on high median earnings, graduation rates, affordable tuition

Co-op Q&A: Noah Klenner, Nicolet Plastics and Harley-Davidson

‘My internships built on the strong foundation Stout has given me by showing me how concepts are used in actual production environments.’

Co-op Q&A: Ayush Patel, SMK Global, New Jersey

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

‘Supply chains connect everything – materials, information and people all work together.’ Scott Stewart at NorthStar

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Career Services’ annual First Destination Report declared that 100% of recent supply chain management graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, with an average starting salary of $62,000.

This past year, more than 980 students participated in co-ops and internships through Career Services at nearly 600 employers in 28 states and three international locations.

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Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro project supports construction students’ industry experiences

goersab — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro project supports construction students’ industry experiencesgoersab May 12, 2026

Collaboration encourages students to consider impacts of infrastructure on greater community

Abbey Goers

Donning hard hats and safety vests, construction management and risk control students from 91��Ƭ recently stood at the base of the Cedar Falls Hydroelectric plant and peered up at the 60-foot-tall dam that creates the 1,800-acre Tainter Lake, north of Menomonie.

Cedar Falls Hydro is one of 19 hydroelectric facilities in Wisconsin operated by Xcel Energy, with a total generating capacity of about 272 megawatts of renewable and carbon-free electricity.

Xcel Energy is in the midst of a multi-year, $50 million+ project designed to improve the safety and increase spillway capacity of the Cedar Falls Hydro Dam. The phased upgrade first involves upgrades to the spillway, including tie-back anchors and mass concrete infill work. Future phases involve installing upstream cofferdams to install new spillway gates and constructing a downstream stilling basin to help reduce erosion of the riverbed at the dam.

Students in the Heavy Construction Methods & Equipment class, led by Assistant Professor Janelle Skoyen Hestekin and Lecturer John Beckfield, visited the site to see Xcel Energy’s project in operation and witness real-world applications surrounding the major community asset and capital project.

“Xcel Energy supports investment in educating the next generation of construction professionals by providing exposure to real-world construction projects and practical work experiences with 91��Ƭ students interested in the field of engineering, design and construction,” said Xcel Energy Project Manager Anthony Witkowski.

Prior to their visit, students worked together as a mock construction company to develop a broad-based construction plan for a mass concrete infill project, inspired by the Cedar Falls Hydro project. They presented their plan, which included materials, equipment, scheduling, staffing, permits, environmental quality, safety and job hazard analysis, and cost estimates to Witkowski and other Xcel Energy staff at the Cedar Falls site.

“It is clear the students put a significant amount of thought and preparation into their presentations in the areas of construction planning, construction safety, project scheduling and project cost estimating. I appreciated the clear written and verbal communication presented by the students,” Witkowski said.

Xcel Energy is an active member of 91��Ƭ’s Construction Industry Advisory Committee, from which the collaboration and learning opportunity arose. Hestekin adapted her course structure to incorporate the project and guided students throughout the process.

The class project kicked off with a visit from Witkowski and Dean Steines, chief dam safety engineer – hydro operations, who introduced the project background and design goals to the students from the owner’s perspective. They also met with Shane McFadden, CEO of Engineering & Construction Innovations, Inc. (ECI), the project's prime contractor, and ECI project staff to compare their planned approach to how ECI is actively completing the work.

“The project exposed students to the heavy civil sector of construction work, where new talent is needed to grow the workforce. A sincere thank you to Xcel Energy for offering this opportunity to the students,” said Hestekin, who is looking forward to additional opportunities for students to collaborate at the Cedar Falls site and other nearby facilities.

Students from Associate Professors Calvin Chen’s Building Electrical and Control Systems class and Assistant Professor Ashely Der’s Construction Safety / Risk Control class also visited the site to see the operations of the power distribution network to the nearby cities, and safety management procedures, such as hot work – welding, cutting, soldering, and other tasks that produce heat, sparks or flame – and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), a safety procedure used to protect workers by preventing the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment.

Presenting a complete construction plan

The Cedar Falls dam, constructed in 1910, is one of a few remaining Ambursen dams – hollow dams with open sections between the buttresses on the downstream side of the dam. It is the hollow sections that will be filled with mass concrete, which was the focus of the students’ presentation.

Their broad-based construction plan and estimate for a mass concrete infill project, presented to Xcel Energy as the owner, included staff wages, material and machinery costs, transportation of material, equipment and personnel, and overhead costs.

The students’ simulated work would consist of four separate concrete pours in each of the dam’s 18 bays, with work beginning on Aug. 10 and completion on Nov. 12, taking into account rainfall, river flow and potential temperature-related concrete issues.

Their safety plan listed OSHA safety training requirements; the inspection of equipment, causeway, the local road and dam; and more.

Allie Hubbard, of Forest Lake, Minnesota, Ben Larson, of West Salem, and Blake Bargender, of Abbotsford, think the project was the most beneficial experience in the course, allowing them to visualize their classroom learning in a real-world setting.

“What stood out most was experiencing the project as if we were part of an actual company. I gained a better understanding of how important communication is across all team roles. I also learned the importance of maintaining strong relationships with subcontractors, since the construction industry is highly interconnected,” said Hubbard, who is also majoring in interior design.

Being able to visit the site and talk to the people actually working on the project gave Larson a new perspective and helped him see what the student group did well on their project and what they could have done better, Larson said.

Bargender plans to one day serve as a project manager for a commercial construction company. “This research project, presentation, and site visit significantly helped me prepare for my future career because it simulated a very realistic situation of estimating and planning in the role of a project manager,” he said.

Students contributing to the greater community

Xcel Energy’s long-standing partnership with 91��Ƭ continues to grow in meaningful ways, said Community Relations Manager Tim Bartels. “We are pleased to connect students directly with real-world infrastructure and community assets. We’re especially proud that these collaborations support broader commitment to sustainability, giving students the opportunity to engage with projects that advance clean energy and the communities we serve,” he said.

Hubbard thinks that with industry partners and collaborators, like Xcel, that encourage hands-on learning, “Stout students can continue to make lasting impacts on community and environmental projects by applying what we learn in class to real-world situations. Projects like the hydro facility show how we can contribute to the greater community. I am most interested in the opportunity to contribute to how our world is built in the future and to make a lasting impact on the places people use every day,” she said.

Larson and Bargender agreed and added that students can also make an impact on community or environmental projects by getting involved with student organizations, like the Student Construction Association, Women in Construction, and Sigma Lambda Chi, and by volunteering or joining a construction competition team to gain real experience.

“The more you put in, the more you get out of it,” Larson said. “What I like most about my construction management major is how many opportunities it opens up. In our program, we are exposed to a little bit of everything. So, when we graduate, there are so many directions within the industry. I like that flexibility and the fact that the possibilities are pretty much endless.”

As a construction management and interior design double major, Hubbard enjoys being a part of the entire process “from the very beginning, meeting with clients, understanding their needs and wants, and then bringing their vision to life. It’s especially rewarding to guide clients through the process and ultimately hand over the keys to a finished structure they can be excited about,” she said.

Xcel Energy provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Its spillway modernization project was approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in 2021, with the multi-year project beginning in 2022. The project is part of Xcel Energy’s investment in a cleaner electric system, as it drives toward 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.

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

Construction students among finalists in national ABC Competition

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Collaboration encourages students to consider impacts of infrastructure on greater community Construction management students at Xcel Energy's Cedar Halls Hydro Dam

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Janelle Skoyen Hestekin

Courses I've taught in the Construction Management program include AEC131 - Architectural Graphics, AEC273 - Concrete and Masonry Technology and AEC357 - Site Engineering.

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WiSys Innovation On Ramp, Big Idea entrepreneurship competition connects students with industry leaders

goersab — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:35:20 +0000

WiSys Innovation On Ramp, Big Idea entrepreneurship competition connects students with industry leadersgoersab April 23, 2026

GEM student Pemberton’s FitCore app idea helps college students achieve a work-life balance

Abbey Goers

Golf enterprise management major Drew Pemberton pitched his FitCore App idea at the 2026 WiSys Big Idea Tournament, an entrepreneurship competition open to undergraduate and graduate students. He was one of 13 students representing nine Universities of Wisconsin schools.

Drew Pemberton at the WiSys Big Idea Tournament. / Kim Nimsgern

Pemberton participated in WiSys Innovation On Ramp last fall and pitched his FitCore idea at 91��Ƭ’s Innovation On Ramp Showcase, the university’s Big Idea Pitch Tournament Qualifier, where he earned second place to serve as the alternative 91��Ƭ representative at the Big Idea Tournament.

As the digital world continues to expand, FitCore is a fully automated fitness program designed to improve activity rates and maximize a user’s productivity each week. “To help college students and adults balance a busy work-life schedule, FitCore’s main goal is to allow these individuals to be able to exercise without stressing to find time to go to the gym, pay for an instructor, etc.,” Pemberton said.

As a participant in On Ramp and WiSys Big Idea, Pemberton was able to acquire a greater understanding of what it’s like to take on any entrepreneurial goal. “Being able to connect with professors, industry leaders, and other students from around the state has been a great opportunity to acquire new ideas and learn from different perspectives,” he said. “As a participant in WiSys, I went into the presentations with no prior experience and came out of it feeling much more prepared and confident speaking to audiences about personal ideas.”

Student entrepreneurs at the WiSys Big Idea Tournament. / Kim Nimsgern

Pemberton will graduate in May 2027 and hopes to make an impact in the golf industry by working with high-end resorts or private clubs.

“I hope to lead a team and push others to go beyond what they’re comfortable doing. I strive to carry everything I’ve gained at Stout into the professional world and build my career around the advantages and support from the professors and lessons learned in the hospitality program,” he said.

The WiSys Big Idea Tournament teaches students cutting-edge lean startup business development tools, provides business mentorship and allows participants to compete at a state level for a chance to win seed funding for their idea.

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Graphic design, graphic communications students win international TAGA Student Choice Award

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GEM student Pemberton’s FitCore app idea helps college students achieve a work-life balance WiSys Big Idea competitor Drew Pemberton

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Institute for Supply Management names Kole Mewhorter ('22) to 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars

goersab — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:35:22 +0000

Institute for Supply Management names Kole Mewhorter ('22) to 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Starsgoersab March 31, 2026

Alum honored among international young professionals who stand out as future leaders, passionate problem-solvers

Abbey Goers

Kole Mewhorter, a business administration and supply chain management alum from 91��Ƭ, is being honored as an Institute for Supply Management 2025 ISM 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Star.

Mewhorter, a demand planner at H.B. Fuller, a leading global adhesives provider headquartered in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, is among the 30 exceptional young professionals awarded by ISM for making a measurable impact across supply chain, procurement and operations roles worldwide.

“These rising leaders reflect the strength and future of the supply management profession,” said Debbie Fogel-Monnissen, interim chief executive officer of ISM. “Their curiosity, discipline and commitment to continuous improvement are helping organizations navigate complexity and build more resilient, forward-looking supply chains.”

Now in its 12th year, the ISM 30 Under 30 program recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership, collaboration, innovation and a commitment to advancing the supply management profession.

Mewhorter and other honorees will be celebrated at the Awards Gala during the ISM World Annual Conference, April 26-28 in Denver, Colorado. Honorees this year are from the United States, Brazil, France, India, Kenya, Malaysia and United Kingdom. They represent manufacturing, pharmaceutical, aerospace and defense, oil and gas, business services and other industries.

“Receiving this award means that there is a sense of what I am doing day-to-day is meaningful. Earning a global recognition justifies to me that I can continue to make a difference. I am proud of that,” said Mewhorter, a 2022 alum.

Continuing to push for innovation and improvement in supply chain

Through his work, Mewhorter reflects a deep sense of ownership, a forward-looking mindset and a commitment to elevating operational excellence. He began at H.B. Fuller as a buyer/scheduler a month after graduation and was promoted to demand planner seven months later.

Mewhorter continues to support improvement initiatives at H.B. Fuller, upholding the mission of Connecting What Matters. “This is done by bringing people, processes and products together to purposefully solve problems. A key part of this is with Supply Chain Excellence to become the best supplier to our customers,” he said.

H.B. Fuller partners with an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 clients and continues to establish more partnerships within the company.

During H.B. Fuller’s transition to a regionally led supply chain structure, Mewhorter played a key role in developing the North America regional demand planning team — one of the foundational building blocks of the company’s new operating model.

He independently created and implemented a standardized demand review process, setting clear performance expectations while meeting structure and forecasting guidelines, increasing accuracy in every business segment he works with.

“The North America demand planning team provides detailed insight into how we review our capacity/utilization, and where and how much stock we hold. It supports how much production needs to be scheduled, and how much raw materials our sourcing department needs to procure,” Mewhorter said. “It also impacts various projects that come up. Our demand planning department was not mature, and in the past two years or so, we have established ourselves as a respected seat at the table. I am proud of being a key contributor to that.”

Mewhorter also built a suite of key performance indicators (KPIs) and analytical tools, including integrated performance dashboards and enhanced reporting. These tools improved forecast visibility and enabled stronger operational decision-making.

Partnering closely with operations and commercial teams, he works directly with plant leadership, supply managers, and commercial directors to resolve complex issues and align customer demand with production capabilities and business strategy.

Mewhorter supported the rollout and adoption of a new stocking strategy framework and contributed to stock-keeping unit (SKU) rationalization initiatives. He has strengthened forecast-to-revenue alignment by collaborating with finance and commercial teams to develop more accurate, transparent methods for translating demand signals into revenue projections. He designs scalable tools, improves complex processes, and creates resources that accelerate learning and adoption across the company’s global supply chain organization.

To build alignment among different stakeholders, Mewhorter sets clear expectations around what type of information needs to be communicated and how, knowing that it is critical to understand the deliverables or information that each stakeholder requires.

“Overcommunicate everything,” he said. “It is better to pull people in versus leaving them out. They may have a different perspective or concern that could be critical. At H.B. Fuller, we pride ourselves on the ‘Power of Collaboration.’ This is not something that can be taught, but it is a culture.

“We have a culture that positively supports the idea of ‘We are in this together.’ It is amazing, and I wouldn’t be effective at my job if I did not regularly collaborate with various parties,” he said.

Mewhorter feels motivated to continue pushing for innovation and improvement in supply chain because there is always room for improvement, knowing that the work he has done has driven positive impacts.

“This motivates me to keep the ball rolling. I also am always thinking about the direction of our business, and to get there we need to continue to optimize our supply chain operations,” he said. “Supply chain is becoming more critical every day and the only constant in this profession is change. The companies that will thrive when there are economic changes are the ones that have strong supply chains. The people within their supply chain organizations need to adapt.

“I see the future of supply chain becoming one of the most critical departments within an organization. This is because of advancements in AI, new tools and technologies, and an ever-changing economic environment. Strong supply chain departments will persevere through difficult economic activity and effectively adopt new technology,” Mewhorter said.

Prepared to work anywhere and be a valuable employee

Originally, Mewhorter wanted to attend a university that was close to his hometown of Chippewa Falls, and he heard about 91��Ƭ’s business administration program. During his first semester in that program, he learned about supply chain and was immediately intrigued.

“I was mostly amazed with how supply chain deals with end-to-end business activity; from buying raw materials to shipping to the customer and everything in between,” he said. “From that point on, I pursued a double major in business administration and supply chain management. I knew I could work anywhere and be a valuable employee.”

Mewhorter felt challenged, encouraged and supported by his peers and professors, including Program Director Gene Gutman. “There was an aura that what you were going through was extremely difficult, but you could do it, and it would benefit you down the road. My experiences at Stout helped me to stay driven, collected, and effective in the workplace when difficult scenarios arise,” he said.

“I am StoutProud that I went to a university that challenged me more than other universities. I got firsthand experience with professionals that prepared me to be effective in the workplace. It wasn’t just lectures and exams. It was opportunities to think critically, problem-solve and execute on deliverables. The polytechnic approach is so effective, and I am grateful for that,” Mewhorter added.

Founded in 1915, the Institute for Supply Management is the leading not-for-profit professional supply management organization, with more than 200,000 members in more than 100 countries, managing about $1 trillion in corporate and government supply chain procurement annually.

ISM is committed to advancing the strategy and practice of integrated, end-to-end supply chain management through leading edge data-driven resources, community, and education to empower individuals, create organizational value and drive competitive advantage. Its vision is to foster a prosperous, sustainable world.

91��Ƭ’s School of Management offers 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates that build students' leadership skills in business, hospitality and technology innovation, military science, and operations and management fields.

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Co-op Q&A: Scott Stewart, NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes in Beloit

‘Supply chains connect everything – materials, information and people all work together.’

Institute for Supply Management names Kole Mewhorter ('22) to 30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars

Supply chain alum honored among international young professionals who stand out as future leaders, passionate problem-solvers.

Inspiring Graduate: Nolan Harke, B.S. Supply Chain Management

‘I hope to make an impact by being a valuable team member who will lead by example and will make others around them better.’

Supply chain alum honored among international young professionals who stand out as future leaders, passionate problem-solvers. Kole Mewhorter

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Internships with Yankees, PGA Tour, Vikings, Brewers and beyond give 91��Ƭ students big-league skills

giffeyt — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Internships with Yankees, PGA Tour, Vikings, Brewers and beyond give 91��Ƭ students big-league skillsgiffeyt March 25, 2026

Students get professional experience working with sports professionals

Tom Giffey

91��Ƭ senior Carson Leuzinger may be paying a little more attention than usual this year to Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, when the New York Yankees face the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, March 25.

That’s because Leuzinger, a dietetics major from Monroe, had two internships with the Yankees last summer at their development and rehabilitation center in Tampa, Florida. There he helped All-Stars and new draft picks alike get healthy – and stay healthy – by making the right nutritional choices.

91��Ƭ student Carson Leuzinger poses in front of a mural celebrating the Yankees' many World Series victories. / Submitted photo

The Yankees aren’t the only professional sports franchise where 91��Ƭ students have interned in the past few years. Blue Devils have worked with VIPs as black jacket interns for the Minnesota Vikings. They have served as coaching fellows with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and made sure PGA Tour events were up to par. And they’ve worked behind the scenes for the home-state Milwaukee Brewers to ensure services for fans and clients were home runs.

All the while, Blue Devils like Leuzinger were finding ways to apply their 91��Ƭ education.

“Some things I learned at Stout that helped me down there were having a basic understanding of the macronutrients and micronutrients, what’s high in protein, what’s high in fat,” Leuzinger said. “I remember one time I was in the cafeteria and a player came up to me and said, ‘I want to eat a lot of protein. Should I eat shrimp or pork today?’ Just knowing that was a good background.”

Whether for major league sports franchises, Fortune 500 firms, or Main Street businesses, career-focused experiences like Leuzinger’s are key to 91��Ƭ’s polytechnic identity. 91��Ƭ students enroll in roughly 1,000 internship and co-op experiences annually, giving them career-ready skills before they receive diplomas. In fact, 35% of 91��Ƭ students accept positions with their co-op or internship employer.

The Yankees' facility in Tampa, Florida, includes exercise areas (left), George Steinbrenner Field (center), and dining facilities (right), where Carson Leuzinger kept players fed. / Submitted photos

Helping the Yankees at the plate

Leuzinger, a guard on the Blue Devils men’s basketball team, came to 91��Ƭ with the goal of pursuing a career in some aspect of sports, whether it was nutrition, strength training, physical therapy or chiropractic. Ultimately, encouraged by what faculty members described as an increasing demand for dieticians, he joined the B.S. dietetics program.

Leuzinger first took part in an unpaid internship for the Yankees last June, then was asked to return in August for a paid internship. He worked at the team’s facility in Tampa across the street from George Steinbrenner Field, which serves the Yankees during spring training as well as the regular season home of one of their minor league affiliates, the Tampa Tarpons.

Starting his days at 7 a.m., Leuzinger would work to keep players — notably those who had just been drafted as well as major leaguers who were undergoing rehab — fed and hydrated. His tasks included making meal plans for players, creating charts about the nutritional value of meals at restaurants near the facility and stocking fuel stations with protein shakes, granola bars and vitamins.

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“One thing that shocked me was just how approachable everyone at the facility was — players and staff,” Leuzinger said. “They’re all just the nicest people ever. It can be intimidating coming to an internship with the Yankees, being a college student. They all took me in like I was just another part of the organization.”

He particularly enjoyed working and chatting with the likes of right fielder Aaron Judge, last season’s American League MVP, as well as pitchers Carlos Rodón and Cam Schlittler. “Once you meet them and get to know them, you become more of a fan,” he said. “You kind of realize they’re just regular dudes at the end of the day. They’re just guys who play baseball who are really good at it.”

Leuzinger said his internship impacted what has been on his own training table as a student athlete: He returned from Tampa with a few new ideas, including electrolyte grapes (grapes mixed with electrolyte drink powder and frozen), protein balls and smoothie recipes.

Even more importantly, Leuzinger had opportunities for professional networking. The facility’s head dietician, for example, had previously worked for the NCAA Division I programs at the University of North Carolina and the University of Florida. “It’s important to build those connections because you never know who they know,” he said.

Garret Sigl during his internship at the Ryder Cup golf tournament in Farmingdale, New York. / Submitted photo

Behind-the-scenes experience

91��Ƭ’s B.S. golf enterprise management program has also provided a pathway to internships with affiliates of the PGA Tour, giving undergraduates behind-the-scenes experience at some of the golf world’s most notable venues and events.

Senior Garret Sigl, a golf enterprise management major from Seymour, got an inside look at what it takes to make major competitions like the PGA Championship succeed during an internship last summer with Patina Group, a restaurant, hospitality and catering company owned by Delaware North.

Sigl split his logistics and operations specialist internship between working at a Patina warehouse near Green Bay — which housed countless items needed for large-scale catering jobs — and helping with three major PGA events.

“All the behind-the-scenes things that you wouldn’t think of, I got to help organize, work on and clean up,” Sigl explained. “Then whenever a tournament would come up, I’d fly out to the event, work there and come back to the warehouse.”

He spent nearly two weeks working at last May’s PGA Championship, which was held at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The following month brought him to the Women’s PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, Texas. Then, even after the fall semester began, he spent late September working at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black Course at Farmingdale, New York. Sigl gained experience in the back-of-house operations for these prestigious tournaments, which drew hundreds of competitors and hundreds of thousands of spectators.

For example, at the Women’s PGA Tournament he oversaw the building that served food for caddies and players. “I like to say my position was kind of like an air traffic controller,” Sigl explained. “There are constantly problems that come up, and you don’t have much time to solve them, so you have to find a way to reprioritize what’s going on, how important it is, and work your way through. It was quite interesting just to see how much organized chaos goes on and how well you’re able to overcome some challenges that can step in your way.”

At the Ryder Cup, which pits teams of American and European golfers against each other, Sigl’s tasks ranged from ensuring supplies were property accounted for to managing liquor inventory to making sure 2,000 doughnuts were delivered each morning.

“I think the biggest thing I learned is how important teamwork and being positive helps with the workplace environment,” said Sigl, who is also a member of the 91��Ƭ men’s golf team. “I’ve worked at many different companies and a couple of different industries, but I’ve never worked in a place that has as much positivity and shows as much teamwork as the Patina Group and Delaware North.”

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Making connections through 91��Ƭ

Junior Henry Lavin, also a golf enterprise management major, spent the past two summers interning at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Twin Cities, first as a golf shop intern and then as golf shop coordinator. The PGA Tour-owned course in Blaine, Minnesota, which hosts the 3M Open, has given Lavin plenty of opportunities to apply the skills he’s learned at 91��Ƭ.

“Everything I have been taught I have used during my internships,” Lavin said. “Every lesson that we have had a purpose. I’ve really noticed that, and it’s allowed me to really truly like school.”

91��Ƭ student Henry Lavin, right, at TPC Twin Cities his internship. Next to him is 91��Ƭ alum Ben Plant, an assistant golf pro at the course. / Submitted photo

Lavin formed a connection with 91��Ƭ even as a high school student in Richfield, Minnesota, when he reached out to Professor Emeritus Chris Schoonover, then the director of the golf enterprise management program, for a career research paper. Schoonover referred him to 2009 91��Ƭ alum Adam Chandler, then head golf pro at TPC Twin Cities. This connection led to both internships.

During the summer after his freshman year at 91��Ƭ, Lavin helped run TPC Twin Cities’ junior golf programs, helped with youth lessons and assisted with tournaments. “My first-year internship was probably the best summer of my life,” Lavin said. “It really made me fall in love with the golf industry. It really opened my eyes to all the possibilities that could be.”

The following summer he gained responsibilities, especially during the 3M Open, when Lavin helped build and operate the fan shop that catered to tournament spectators. In between his retail duties, Lavin got to mingle with top players in the clubhouse. And on the Monday before the main tournament started, Lavin was even called in to caddy for an up-and-coming pro during a one-day pro-am competition.

In addition to rubbing shoulders with pro golfers, Lavin enjoyed being able to meet some of the top merchandisers with the PGA Tour, giving him insight into the retail portion of the golf industry.

And while Lavin won’t graduate for more than a year, 91��Ƭ connections have already contributed to a career path in the sport he loves. 91��Ƭ alum Chandler, his former boss at TPC Twin Cities, is now head pro at Edina Country Club, and he has offered Lavin an internship at the course this year and the opportunity to become an assistant pro the following year.

“So I have a job lined up once I graduate, which is pretty exciting and at a very good facility with a boss that I absolutely love,” Lavin said. “And I can confidently say that was mostly due to Stout’s networking.”

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