“UW-Stout isn’t just a place to earn a degree. From the moment I stepped on campus, I felt an immediate sense of belonging, I had found a community that supported me and welcomed me into something truly meaningful. I felt valued and was making a difference in the world around me,” Ian said.
From individualized student support and innovative academic programs to dynamic living and learning spaces and a vibrant campus community, UW‑Stout has removed barriers to a UW-Stout education and given Ian the environment to grow, lead and discover his potential.
“I immediately fell in love with Stout’s campus vibe, the polytechnic mission, its inclusive community and the commitment of the faculty and staff,” he said. “I’m thriving in my program and as a campus leader.”
Ian “stumbled” into his roles in the Office of Enrollment & Quality. After starting as a tour guide his first year, he chose to stay on campus that summer, a decision that became a turning point. The director of the Achievement Center approached him with a challenge: the peer mentor program needed to be rebuilt, strengthened, and reimagined.
Ian was asked to lead the effort.
He assessed what was working, what wasn’t and what students truly needed. The result was a revitalized mentorship model where sophomores mentor incoming first‑year students, creating connection, belonging and support from day one.
The impact was immediate and measurable. Since reenvisioning the mentor program, UW‑Stout experienced a record high retention rate, in part due to Ian’s vision and leadership.
“That was a moment of triumph,” he said. “I called my parents that night. They were so proud and I was too. I thought back to high school, when I was an unmotivated student who wasn’t excelling, three years later, I helped improve Stout’s retention rates. Truly #StoutProud.”
Ian’s #StoutProud experiences are many, but what stands out most are the relationships with professors, staff and mentors who invested in him.
“They make learning engaging. The classroom dynamics, the environment faculty create, it shows how much they care,” he said. “Stout’s faculty and staff are in it for their students. You can feel it every day.”
His involvement extends beyond academics. As a member of the cheer team, Ian embodies the spirit, energy and pride that defines #StoutProud. “Cheer gave me a way to represent the campus I love and share that Stout spirit with others.”
Through his work in the Office of Enrollment & Quality, Ian discovered opportunities he “never even dreamed of having as a college student.” He guided prospective students and families, helped build enrollment and retention initiatives, and learned how to communicate the value of a Stout education with confidence and professionalism.
“I’ve learned that I’m a strong advocate, selling something I’m passionate about – that’s UW‑Stout,” he said. “These experiences helped me enhance my skills and guide my career path.”
Some of his proudest moments have come when students returned to thank him, students he admitted, toured with or supported through first‑year challenges.
“When someone tells you that your help made their transition to college easier or that your tour made them choose Stout, that’s a #StoutProud moment you can’t replicate,” he said.
Ian’s story reflects the variety of experiences, connections, relationships and support needed to be successful in college. Philanthropic gifts through the UW‑Stout Foundation and Alumni Association to the #StoutProud Fund provide critical resources for the university community. Your generosity removes barriers to a polytechnic education, fuels academic innovation and success, strengthens individualized student support, creates dynamic living and learning spaces and sustains a vibrant campus life.
Your investment shapes the next generation of leaders, students like Ian, who are already carrying that impact forward in their work, their leadership, and the communities they will serve.
As Ian shared, “Stout is committed to its students; you can see it in the building renovations, the experiential learning opportunities, the dedicated faculty and staff and the welcoming campus community. It’s a place that truly wants you to succeed and ensures you have the tools to do so.”
Strengthened by philanthropy, Ian discovered his potential. “Because of philanthropic support, I’ve been able to grow into the kind of leader I never imagined I could be,” he said. “It helped me find my voice, my confidence and my future. Most importantly, it gave me the chance to help other students find theirs. That’s an impact I’ll carry forward long after I leave Stout.”
Your gift to UW-Stout provides opportunities for members of our #StoutProud community by removing financial barriers to a Stout education, providing robust and individualized student support, advancing academic innovation and success, creating dynamic living and learning spaces while ensuring a vibrant campus community – the full Stout Experience. Through your philanthropic support you provide the necessary flexible funds to ensure Stout thrives and continues to make positive impact on industry, in our communities and on society. Make your gift today.
