Menomonie, Wis. – Among the class of 440 undergraduate students who crossed the commencement stage at University of Wisconsin-Stout on Dec. 16, six from the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management were recognized by faculty and staff as inspiring graduates whose stories represent what it is to be Stout Proud.
The graduates shared their university experiences, setbacks and successes in UW-Stout’s Inspiring Graduate Q&A series:
- Julia Baxter, B.S. engineering technology, Chippewa Falls
- Cole Beckstead, B.S. business administration, Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada
- Charlie Casper, B.S. real estate property management, St. Paul
- Nicolas Langenfeld, B.S. computer networking and information technology, Wild Rose
- Ellise Little, B.S. fashion and retail, West Bend
- Sam Micoley, B.S. hotel, restaurant and tourism management, Hortonville
Two ceremonies celebrated 526 undergraduates and graduates at the fall commencement.
Inspiring Graduate: Julia Baxter, B.S. engineering technology
Baxter was studying premedicine when she decided three years into her college journey to change her degree and transfer to UW-Stout.
“I discovered I had a great passion for engineering. At Stout, I get to combine my passions of medicine and engineering, enabling me to improve others’ quality of life,” she said.
Although transferring to UW-Stout added a few years to her schooling, Baxter earned her B.S. in engineering technology and was hired full time before graduation as a manufacturing engineer with Phillips Medisize, a medical device manufacturer.
She plans to one day pursue her master’s in supply chain and operations at UW-Stout.
“My Stout education and experience have allowed me to be more confident working in the field of engineering. They allowed me to become more innovative and creative. I developed lifelong skills that I can use in and out of the industry,” Baxter said.
Inspiring Graduate: Cole Beckstead, B.S. business administration
Being a first-generation student, Beckstead remembers dreaming of earning a university degree. He’s also always dreamed of playing professional ice hockey. He’s recently reached both of his goals.
Beckstead transferred to UW-Stout in the fall of 2021 for his B.S. in business administration and played forward for the Blue Devil men’s hockey team.
During his junior year, he signed a contract to play professional hockey in Europe with the Drakkars du Caen, in Normandy, France. He continued his studies online while playing for the Drakkars and earned his degree from UW-Stout on Dec. 16.
“My Stout experience has changed me by teaching me practical knowledge that can be transferred to a variety of fields of knowledge,” Beckstead said. “The polytechnic approach has taught me how to apply knowledge acquired in the classroom to problems in the contemporary world.
“I believe it has taught me to focus on the problem at hand and utilize the skills and knowledge I obtained to allow me to find solutions for real-time problems.”
Inspiring Graduate: Charlie Casper, B.S. real estate property management
For Casper, property management runs in the family. His family owns three popular St. Paul restaurants – The Nook, Ranham Bowling Center and Shamrocks, the Irish Nook.
So, earning his B.S. in real estate property management from UW-Stout seemed the natural course.
“From the hands-on experience to the people I met along the way, I have reason to advocate and recommend Stout as a polytechnic school,” Casper said. “My time here at Stout has matured me in ways a lot of peers outside of Stout have yet to experience. I feel that I gained wisdom as well as knowledge as a result of my experience and education at Stout.”
He plans to next earn his real estate license and work in a property management position for one of the major real estate companies in the Twin Cities.
Inspiring Graduate: Nicolas Langenfeld, B.S. computer networking and information technology
After interning with Waupaca Foundry for three years, Langenfeld was hired full time as an information security analyst before graduating with his B.S. in computer networking and information technology.
His hands-on experiences in the program, internships and campus involvement in the Collegiate Cyber Defense League allowed him to turn his hobby of tinkering with computers and technology into a professional career in information technology.
Waupaca Foundry is the largest producer of gray, ductile and compacted graphite iron castings in the world.
“My Stout experience has had a profound impact on my life. This experience has taken my interests from a hobby to a job, to a professional career,” Langenfeld said. “Stout prepared me for a career in IT in more ways than I could have ever hoped for. The hands-on experience I got in labs has allowed me to develop many technical skills that I can apply outside of the classroom.”
Inspiring Graduate: Ellise Little, B.S. fashion and retail
Little had a “unique education path” at UW-Stout. She began as a B.F.A. industrial and product design student but transferred after her first year to B.S. in retail and fashion.
She was hired before graduation. In January, she will move to North Carolina to be the merchandiser for Forsyth Country Club, in Winston-Salem.
“Ellise has always been a standout student in the classroom. She is inquisitive, thoughtful and highly motivated,” said lecturer and interim Program Director Sarah Eileen Smith. “She’s always been eager to learn and dig into every course, which will pay off in spades for her in her future career. We are so proud of Ellise and all that she has accomplished.”
“UW-Stout provided the learning to ensure success in my upcoming career. I have developed the skills necessary to excel in my field,” Little said. “I now am a designer. I am a merchandiser. I am a marketer. I am a team leader. I am a self-advocate. I am a communicator. I am a learner.”
Inspiring Graduate: Sam Micoley, B.S. hotel, restaurant and tourism management
During her final semester, Micoley was a dual-enrolled student, completing her undergraduate degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism management, while beginning her master’s in training and talent development.
Dual enrollment was a to extend her passion for the hospitality industry. The previous semester, she was one of the first students to enroll in the School of Management’s new Service Excellence course, supported by Forbes Travel Guide.
As she continues to pursue her master’s at UW-Stout, she is also eager to embark on a full-time career.
“I’m excited about the prospect of combining practical work experience with advanced education to further my expertise in the field. The goal is to contribute actively to my chosen profession while deepening my knowledge through continued academic pursuits,” Micoley said.
“My time at Stout has deeply impacted my journey towards becoming a professional. I am leaving Stout not just with a degree, but with a heart full of gratitude and a profound sense of dedication to my chosen profession,” she added.
UW-Stout is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.
