Outlook Magazine - Fall 2025

hat’s part of the polytechnic advantage — hands-on applied learning, paid internships, co-ops and courses led by industry professionals — leading to 99% of graduates being hired or furthering their education within six months of graduation. The following are only a few members of the Class of 2025 who make us Stout Proud. Luke Zuiker, M.S. School Counseling Luke Zuiker came to the M.S. in school counseling program looking to pursue a career in education. What he found at UW-Stout was a family-like cohort of fellow students and professors who fostered that environment. He appreciated that each of his professors has served as a full-time counselor or working professional in a K-12 school, and the courses prepared him for a live setting during his field experiences. Zuiker, of Marshfield, was hired before graduation as a counselor at Poynette High School. “I hope to help stu dents navigate the landscape of high school, help with their social-emotional and academic learning, and also to help them find opportunities in post-secondary life for what they are passionate and excited about,” he said. Ellie Becker, B.S. Construction Management Ellie Becker, of St. James, Minnesota, chose UW-Stout for its polytechnic advantage something she didn’t find among other universities in the Midwest — and because of its required internship experience, which allowed her to travel and make connections across the country. Becker earned her degree in construction management and completed internships with Ames Construction, in Elk River, Minnesota; Hensel Phelps, in Seattle, Washington; and Sundt Construction, in Phoenix, Arizona. She was hired before graduation to work on semiconductor facilities with Sundt Construction. Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University prepares students from day one to enter their careers ready to improve their communities and the world. T Building Their Careers from Day One

“I want to be a public figure that others in the construction industry can look up to – someone who shows that success is possible for anyone, no matter their background,” said Becker, who served as president of the Women in Construction stu dent organization and helped manage Sleep in Heavenly Peace build events in the university's Construction Lab. Khendra Thompson, B.F.A. Interior Design Khendra Thompson, of River Falls, said her UW-Stout edu cation helped her think more deeply and holistically about interior design, a vision that encompasses both the built envi ronment — where humans spend most of their time – as well as the earth itself. This focus on functional, healthy design led her to become a WELL Accredited Professional, which signifies she has advanced knowledge of health and well-being in the built environment. Before graduation, she was hired by Minneapo lis-based ESG Architecture and Design. “We are stewards of people and the earth and have the responsi bility to care for the people who occupy the built environment and the earth on which it rests — and we get to do this through design,” said Thompson, who won the 2025 Steelcase NEXT Student Design Competition.

Luke Zuiker Ellie Becker Khendra Thompson

Tell us about your career journey after graduation at UWStout.edu/Stout-Proud-Story