A Q&A with one of the 1,319 students who received a diploma May 4 at UW-Stout:
Name: Tyler Havlichek
Hometown: Green Bay
Major: Business administration, dual emphasis in project management and quality management
Awards, honors: Cum Laude, four Chancellor’s Awards
Why did you choose UW-Stout? I chose to become a Blue Devil for a few reasons. My Dad is a UW-Stout alumnus and has always spoken very highly of the facilities and education Stout has to offer. Four years later after making my decision to study here, I can attest to just how right he was. The second reason was my campus tour. I met with Dr. Mark Fenton, and he explained the immense benefits of a polytechnic university with smaller class sizes and professors who have real world experiences. The amount of interaction here compared to larger schools with the professors is invaluable.
What are the biggest challenges you faced in getting your degree? I received a co-op position for the summer and fall terms of 2018. This was a great opportunity for professional growth but also ended up being the biggest obstacle in earning my degree. Missing the fall semester of my senior year was not ideal, and the position was four hours away making trips back to Stout a challenge. This experience required planning and some adjustments to my course schedule to ensure that all the required credits were completed on time. With the combination of a few online courses while working and the credits I transferred in from high school I am proud to say I graduated in four years.
What stands out about your college experience? Aside from earning my degree, the relationships, both personal and professional, are what have made my college experience so memorable. Stout will always be a special place because this is where I met my girlfriend, Nicole Preder (of Sheboygan Falls, who graduated May 4 as well, in dietetics). I was also lucky enough to be randomly placed on a floor my freshman year with such a great group of guys. I feel like it is pretty rare to say that the same friends I had four years ago I still have and live with as a graduating senior. The professors have also made a large impact on my experience will be remembered. Specifically, Bill Kryshak who not only pushed me to excel in his classes but mentored me through the co-op process.
What’s next? Using my degree to work as a business operations analyst back in the Green Bay area.
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