Twenty UW-Stout students received the university’s Outstanding Cooperative Education and Internship Program Student of the Year Award for excellence and achievements in their positions, contributions to their employers and academic achievement.
Among them were manufacturing engineering seniors Zachary Morgan and Taylor Thompson, both from Eau Claire. Thompson was hired full-time before graduating in May as a manufacturing engineer at Darley, where she completed her internship. Darley provides the highest quality technology and equipment solutions to the nation’s military and first responders.
Morgan is starting his third summer as an engineering intern with Andersen Windows & Doors. He is now a two-time CEIP Student of the Year award winner and was Career Services’ singular 2024 National Nominee for the National Co-op Student Award. Morgan will graduate this December and anticipates joining Andersen Windows and Doors’ engineering rotational program.
“This would allow me to continue growing with a company I deeply respect. The rotational program is an ideal next step. It will give me exposure to different areas of the business, strengthen my technical and leadership skills, and help me discover where I can make the most impact long term,” he said.
Career success is a hallmark of an education at Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, along with applied learning and industry collaboration. This past year, Career Services reported that 990 students participated in the Cooperative Education and Internship Program at more than 600 employers in 30 states and five countries. Graduates were employed at a near historic high of 99% soon after receiving their degree. Those who received graduate degrees had an annual starting salary of $74,000. The average starting salary for recipients of undergraduate degrees was $57,000.
The CEIP program received the 2024 Excellence & Innovation Stewards of Place award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities “for its outstanding results and potential to influence and serve as a model for other institutions.”
‘Engineering that empowers people’
Before attending UW-Stout, Morgan was burned out from a previous career in critical care nursing and was working in a warehouse at Andersen Windows & Doors. He saw opportunities for improvement on the floor and wanted to be in a position to help make those changes, he said.
“Returning to school for a second degree was not an easy decision, but it’s been one of the most rewarding choices I’ve ever made. The support from my professors, mentors, and peers has been invaluable, and I’ve grown not just as an engineer, but as a leader and problem-solver,” Morgan said. “I hope my journey encourages others, especially those making a career change or overcoming self-doubt, to pursue their goals with courage and persistence.”
As an engineering intern at Andersen Windows’ Menomonie Consolidation Center, Morgan focuses on improving the efficiency of the Value-Added Services mulling area, an essential part of the company’s customization process. He leads efforts in time studies, waste assessment, and layout redesign, including developing a new rack system and implementing 5S standards.
“This experience deepened my understanding of how small, thoughtful changes can create a measurable impact,” he said. “I gained confidence in using Lean tools to drive real improvements and saw how engineering can directly support both people and performance. Most importantly, I learned that lasting change starts with observation, communication and a willingness to challenge the status quo.”
Morgan hopes to bring lasting change to the manufacturing engineering field by designing processes that are efficient and human-centered, and by building solutions that improve safety and reduce waste.
“I believe beneficial engineering doesn’t just solve problems; it empowers people,” he said. “Long-term, I want to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, where innovation is practical, data-driven and grounded in collaboration. Whether it’s through optimizing layouts, improving ergonomics, or leading cross-functional projects, I aim to be a voice that connects technical solutions with real-world impact. In doing so, I hope to inspire others entering the field to see manufacturing not just as systems and machines, but as an opportunity to serve people and build better industries.”
Morgan thinks that UW-Stout has played a crucial role in preparing him for his field. Years ago, he initially shied away from UW-Stout and engineering, afraid of the math involved. But life showed him there are things scarier than equations, and he returned with a renewed mindset.
“My time at UW-Stout didn’t just prepare me academically; it taught me how to think critically, lead with resilience, and solve complex problems in real industrial environments,” he said. “If you’re curious, hardworking, and want to make a difference, Stout is a place to start.”
Morgan’s courses in Lean manufacturing, process improvement and systems design directly aligned with his internships at Andersen Windows. And the university’s emphasis on communication, teamwork and continuous improvement are skills that he thinks are just as vital as technical knowledge.
“Engaging with Stout’s outstanding professors and hands-on learning environment proved transformative. The applied learning approach, combined with industry-relevant projects and labs, helped bridge the gap between theory and real-world application,” he added.
“What motivates me most is seeing real, measurable impact, knowing that something I’ve designed makes someone’s job easier, safer or more efficient. I’m driven by challenges, but also by the people behind the processes. Manufacturing engineering allows me to combine hands-on problem-solving with purpose, and that’s what keeps me going.”
Benefiting employees through continuous improvements
During her internship with Darley, Thompson became a confident problem-solver. She played a key role in improving the company’s assembly process and supported major projects, from designing machinery to coordinating contractors.
Thompson’s internship roles included writing detailed work instructions on how to assemble different configurations of water pumps, devising process improvements for areas of the shop and developing ways to ship gears safely for heat treating to prevent damage during shipping. She also helped the manufacturing team in automating the test room.
As a full-time manufacturing engineer, she will continue to improve and standardize processes for staff on the shop floor and within her department.
“The thing I am most looking forward to in my career at Darley is to continue the projects I have been working on, learning different processes, and making improvements to benefit the workers and the company,” Thompson said. “I’m very blessed to be chosen as a cooperative internship student of the year. I’m very excited to officially be an engineer and take on larger projects in my field.”
Additional CEIP Student of the Year winners, their majors, hometowns and employers are:
- Elaina Blazei, real estate property management, St. Paul, Premier Housing Management
- Addison Braun, applied mathematics and computer science, Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic
- Kal Breeden, environmental science, Lakeville, Minnesota, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Ben Gau, environmental science, Champlin, Minnesota, Rainbow Treecare
- Meir Hetletvedt, construction management, Minneapolis, Kraus Anderson
- Connor Jensen, business administration, supply chain management, Plainview, Minnesota, Walmart
- Anna Karrow, psychology, St. Paul, Wisconsin State Public Defender
- Madelyn King, hotel, restaurant and tourism management, real estate property management, Brownsville, Whistling Straits
- Madalyn Klaja, packaging, Hudson, Nestle Health Science
- Braden Lefeber, mechanical engineering, Kaukauna, Realityworks
- Faith Leisgang, hotel, restaurant and tourism management, Black River Falls, The Iron Horse Hotel
- Meghana Maske, M.S. food science and technology, Maharashtra, India, Bunge
- Antonio Meyer, mechanical engineering, Elk Mound, Midwest Manufacturing
- Austin Moua, business administration, La Crosse, Pest Badger
- Gavin Soukkaserm, animation and digital media, Sun Prairie, Universal Phoenix Group
- Samuel Tornow, construction management, Eau Claire, Tesla
- Maya Van Hemert, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, Waterford, General Motors
- Jazmine Williams, arts administration and entrepreneurship, Roscoe, Illinois, Discovery Center Museum
Students were recognized at the annual Leadership Awards ceremony sponsored by the Involvement Center, Stout Student Association and Career Services. The ceremony also recognized 16 seniors who received the Samuel E. Wood Medallion, the university’s highest nonacademic honor, for their outstanding leadership in student involvement at UW-Stout.
