Paying for college can be stressful. But as a Money Magazine 2024 Best Colleges in Wisconsin, UW-Stout understands. Noted for its focus on affordability and student outcomes, UW-Stout has resources to help alleviate some of that financial pressure.
From offering on-campus jobs through Career Services’ Handshake app, providing one-on-one guidance at the Financial Wellness & Literacy Center, and coordinating hundreds of UW-Stout Foundation scholarships and external industry-sponsored scholarships, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University makes sure Blue Devils reach their graduation goals.
This academic year, more than 1,000 students have been awarded nearly $3 million in external and Foundation scholarships, reflecting their dedication to their fields of study and promise in their future careers.
Scholarships impact students’ education, allowing them to focus on their degree programs, applied research and creative endeavors at Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, as well as motivate students to continue to strive for excellence in their fields through professional development opportunities.
“With this support, I can dedicate more time to hands-on projects, collaborate with peers and faculty, and participate in industry-related events. This will enhance my skills and knowledge in packaging, preparing me for a successful career,” said packaging senior Makenna Lowell, of Frederick, Md.
Lowell was recently awarded two industry-sponsored scholarships: a $5,000 Mark C. Garvey Scholarship by PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and a $500 scholarship from the Institute of Packaging Professionals Minnesota Chapter.
Other recent external scholarship recipients include:
- Packaging senior Elaina Marxen, of Rochester, Minn.: $5,000 Cindy Finley Memorial Scholarship, on behalf of the Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association.
- Applied social science senior Sophia Moore, of Redwing, Minn.: $3,000 Tommy G. Thompson Leadership Scholarship, sponsored by the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
- M.S. food science and technology graduate student Meghana Maske: $3,000 Food Safety Scholarship, sponsored by the FMI Foundation in partnership with the Safe Quality Food Institute.
- Interior design senior Lindsey Phillips, of Eden Prairie, Minn.: $7,500 Network of Executive Women in Hospitality’s Icon of Industry Scholarship.
In addition, 48 students received $1,500 scholarships from Mayo Clinic Health Systems, for a total of $72,000; and five students received $2,000 each from the Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Minneapolis for pursuing careers in commercial real estate and building management.
Gaining professional development opportunities in packaging
Marxen and Lowell enjoy how broad the packaging industry is and the opportunities for students and careers in the field, yet how tightly knit the professional community feels.
“It is a growing industry that is pertinent to the function of daily life. I hope to develop and design creative packaging solutions that benefit sustainability efforts and positive consumer experiences,” Marxen said.
Lowell added, “There are tons of opportunities in niches of packaging that most people have never even thought of. I am excited by the idea of so many possibilities for my future and many career paths to choose from.”
Marxen, who has minors in graphic media and print management and global perspectives on engineering, has completed two co-ops: one with Starbucks’ global research and development and engineering team in Seattle and one with Buckeye Corrugated, Inc. in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
“I see the major advantage to my Stout education when interacting with engineering students from other universities. Stout requiring a co-op not only encourages me to test out different areas of my field but also gives me related job experience I can talk about in interviews and bring forward into my career.
“These co-ops made me more confident than ever that I made the right decision to attend UW-Stout. The polytechnic education and career-focused program give me the tools and knowledge I need to be able to exceed expectations in my future endeavors,” added Marxen, who will graduate in May 2025.
Lowell, who has a minor in sustainability, has completed a seven-month co-op at Kimberly-Clark in Appleton, working on real-world projects that resulted in her contributions being featured on store shelves.
“During this time, I honed my professional communication skills and learned extensively about project management and work timelines,” she said. “I have accepted a second seven-month co-op with Ocean Spray in Lakeville, Mass., and I am excited to collaborate with a new team and deepen my knowledge of the food packaging industry.”
Lowell will graduate in May 2026. She’s interested in working for a consumer goods company on the East Coast, closer to her hometown.
“The packaging industry is so broad, and I have had so many memorable experiences with fellow packaging students from other universities and with industry professionals. I am excited for what the future brings and the many great people in the industry that I have yet to meet,” she said.
Moore is leading the way in public service
Moore has known from a very young age that she wanted to work in public policy and law. Within her applied social science degree, she’s concentrating on history and politics.
Moore is one of 15 students across the Universities of Wisconsin to receive the Tommy G. Thompson Leadership Scholarship, awarded for their spirit of tackling big problems through teamwork and determination to make Wisconsin a better place.
Last summer, Moore interned with AmeriCorps as a Housing Stability Fellow for a local domestic violence and homeless shelter.
“My experience there was completely life-changing,” she said. “Having an understanding of nonprofits and legislation regarding social welfare programs definitely enhanced my experience while on the job.”
Moore’s on-campus leadership includes serving as a student senator for the Stout Student Association, later becoming a vice chair, and now, director of Legislative Affairs. She is a civic engagement student lead at the university’s Involvement Center, a student orientation leader for incoming first-year students, and sits on committees, like the Student Retention Committee, all charged with maintaining a student-driven campus.
“Our campus is uniquely full of leadership opportunities, and our faculty and staff are so incredibly helpful in equipping you with the skills needed to become a great leader,” Moore said.
“The leadership scholarship will allow me to continue my undergraduate education at a lower cost, alleviating me of some financial burden as a low-income college student and leaving me able to put my all into my studies and leadership responsibilities,” she said.
Moore will graduate in winter 2026 and hopes to continue her journey into public service as an intern or staff for a legislator before applying to law school.
Maske awarded for addressing challenges in food product development
Maske is passionate about advancing food safety protocols and leveraging her skills in quality management to enhance product integrity and sustainability.
She is one of 15 recipients from across the U.S., Canada and Mexico to receive the FMI scholarship, which recognizes outstanding food safety scholars based on academic ability, leadership potential, motivation and initiative.
Her thesis research, “Development of 3D Printed Fish Analogs with Enhanced Omega-3 Fatty Acids,” uses extrusion-based 3D printing technology to create plant-based fish analogs.
Maske has researched plant-based ingredients and is refining formulations to optimize texture and nutritional composition and to replicate the muscle fiber structure of fish.
“An ongoing focus of my research is enhancing omega-3 fatty acid levels from plant-based sources, an essential aspect of nutritional benefits. This project aims to contribute to sustainable food innovation and provide viable alternatives to traditional fish products,” she said.
“My research has greatly enhanced my technical and analytical capabilities, allowing me to systematically approach challenges in food product development. This structured and methodical approach has strengthened my collaborative skills and problem-solving mindset to enable me to contribute effectively to advancing food innovation, particularly in the development of sustainable food products,” she said.
Her research is funded by UW-Stout’s Student Research Grant.
Maske will graduate in May 2025. She plans to work in food safety and quality assurance and thinks her research and internship as a food safety and quality intern at Bunge, in Danville, Ill., have prepared her for a career. At Bunge, Maske gained experience in conducting audits, developing standard operating procedures and managing food safety documentation.
Maske is grateful for the opportunity to receive the FMI scholarship.
“Meghana’s strengths are her positive thinking and proactiveness in everything she does. This is an important virtue for personal success and for successfully leading a team,” said Program Director Eun Joo Lee. “Meghana’s case is a good example of the snowball effect of success, showing how student's small successes lead to big successes continuously. I am very proud of her.”
Maske and FMI scholarship recipients are invited to attend the SQF Unites Conference, March 2-5, in Orlando, Fla.
Phillips creates perfect spaces for her clients
Phillips enjoys creating functional, beautiful and inspiring environments. “I have always been someone who loves puzzles, so solving problems with design, space planning and budgeting was a good fit for me. Turning a space with infinite possibilities into the perfect space for the client is what inspires me to design,” she said.
She thinks her classes and studios have opened her eyes to what being an interior designer truly means. She has designed workspaces, retail, libraries, residential spaces and more.
“With courses like lighting design, construction documents, contracts and codes, my projects have developed to be the most successful and realistic products I can design,” said Phillips, who worked as a sales intern with Southern Lights, in Burnsville, Minn., last summer.
Phillips NEWH Icon of Industry scholarship covers almost all her senior year tuition.
“It has been very helpful since I pay for all my expenses by myself. I have been taking out loans and working multiple jobs while staying a full-time student. This scholarship not only helps me financially but also confirms that my hard work has paid off,” she said.
Phillips, who has a minor in project management, will graduate in May 2025. She plans to work for a commercial design firm that focuses on hospitality design.
NEWH Inc. fosters leadership development, scholarships, advancing education, mentorship and networking in the hospitality industry.
“This is a wonderful accomplishment for Lindsey, and we are all very proud of her. NEWH is a great organization and has supported our students for years,” said Program Director Shelley Pecha.
