Chippewa Valley Times

Twenty students from the University of Wisconsin-Stout were honored with the Outstanding Cooperative Education and Internship Program Student of the Year Award. This recognition was given for their exceptional performance in internships, contributions to employers, and academic success.

Among the awardees were manufacturing engineering seniors Zachary Morgan and Taylor Thompson from Eau Claire. Thompson secured a full-time position as a manufacturing engineer at Darley after completing her internship there. Darley is known for providing technology and equipment solutions to military and first responders.

Morgan continues his internship with Andersen Windows & Doors, marking his third summer with the company. He has won the CEIP Student of the Year award twice and was Career Services' 2024 National Nominee for the National Co-op Student Award. He plans to join Andersen's engineering rotational program after graduating in December.

"This would allow me to continue growing with a company I deeply respect," Morgan said about joining Andersen's program. "The rotational program is an ideal next step."

Taylor Thompson expressed enthusiasm about her future at Darley: "The thing I am most looking forward to in my career at Darley is to continue the projects I have been working on."

Career success is emphasized at UW-Stout, where applied learning and industry collaboration are key elements of education. In recent reports, 990 students participated in internships across over 600 employers in various locations, achieving near historic employment rates post-graduation.

The CEIP program received recognition from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for its impact and potential as a model for other institutions.

Before attending UW-Stout, Morgan worked at Andersen Windows & Doors after leaving a career in critical care nursing. He saw opportunities for improvement on the warehouse floor which inspired him to pursue engineering.

"Returning to school for a second degree was not an easy decision," Morgan stated. "I hope my journey encourages others...to pursue their goals with courage and persistence."

During his internship, Morgan focused on improving efficiency within Andersen's customization process by leading efforts like time studies and layout redesigns.

"This experience deepened my understanding of how small, thoughtful changes can create a measurable impact," he said.

Thompson played a significant role during her internship at Darley by improving assembly processes and supporting major projects like machinery design.

"I'm very blessed to be chosen as a cooperative internship student of the year," she remarked upon receiving her award.

Additional recipients included students from diverse fields such as real estate property management, environmental science, construction management, business administration, psychology, hotel management, packaging, mechanical engineering, food science technology, animation media arts administration among others.

These students were recognized during UW-Stout’s annual Leadership Awards ceremony alongside those who received other honors like the Samuel E. Wood Medallion for leadership excellence.