Six inspiring graduates share experiences in Q&As
Menomonie, Wis. – Among the class of more than 950 undergraduate students who crossed the commencement stage at University of Wisconsin-Stout’s most recent ceremony, six College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management students were recognized by faculty and staff as inspiring graduates whose stories represent what it is to be Stout Proud.
The graduates shared their university experiences, setbacks and successes in UW-Stout’s Inspiring Graduate Q&A series:
- Elaina Marxen, B.S. packaging, Rochester, Minnesota
- Ellie Becker, B.S. construction management, St. James, Minnesota
- Jack Brisson, B.S. packaging, Blaine, Minnesota
- Adam Brisson, B.S. packaging, Blaine, Minnesota
- Rosey Silvano, B.S. business administration, Blaine, Minnesota
- Nolan Harke, B.S. supply chain management, Kimberly
Fully 99% of recent UW-Stout graduates were either employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, as stated in the annual First Destination Report. Among them, Marxen, Becker, Brisson and Brisson were hired before graduation.
Inspiring Graduate: Elaina Marxen, packaging
Hoping to contribute to sustainability efforts and consumer experience, Marxen, a packaging major, was hired before graduation as an R&D packaging engineer with Post Consumer Brands.
“Packaging is continuously evolving and growing,” she said. “I want to contribute and grow with the industry to make positive impacts in the world and people’s lives.”
Marxen studied abroad twice in Germany and Thailand and completed internships with Buckeye Corrugated, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and at Starbucks, in Seattle, Washington.
“Stout encourages hands-on learning, co-ops that may require taking a semester off, research, and many other opportunities because it’s about the quality of the education, not the cookie-cutter road. I was encouraged throughout my time at Stout to complete more than one internship in different areas of packaging to see what I liked best,” she said.
Inspiring Graduate: Ellie Becker, construction management
Becker chose UW-Stout for its polytechnic advantage, something she didn’t find among other universities in the Midwest.
“The best feature Stout offers is requiring students to have an internship or co-op before graduation. That allowed me and others to travel and make new connections all across the country,” she said.
Becker earned her construction management and completed internships with Ames Construction, in Elk River, Minnesota, Hensel Phelps, in Seattle, Washington, and Sundt Construction, in Phoenix, Arizona. She was hired before graduation to work on semiconductor facilities with Sundt Construction.
“I hope to make a meaningful impact by promoting equality and expanding opportunities within the construction industry,” Becker said. “I want to be a public figure that others in the construction industry can look up to – someone who shows that success is possible for anyone, no matter their background.”
Inspiring Graduate: Jack Brisson, packaging
Jack said UW-Stout’s polytechnic approach and small class sizes made choosing the university a “no brainer.” It didn’t hurt that his parents, Scott and Jennifer, are alumni, nor that his twin brother, Adam, also attended UW-Stout.
Originally pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, Jack switched paths after realizing UW-Stout’s packaging program was a better fit. He quickly connected with both peers and faculty members, who helped him overcome the challenges of changing majors.
“I am close with everyone in my packaging classes as well as my packaging professors,” he said. “I also enjoyed all the different labs that we did. I think our classes really allow us to be creative and think outside the box on different projects as you would in the industry.”
Before graduation, he was hired as a structural designer at Great Northern Corporation in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where he will be designing corrugated packaging and product displays.
Inspiring Graduate: Adam Brisson, packaging
Not only did Adam enroll at UW-Stout with his twin brother, Jack, but the two were also roommates and classmates, first in mechanical engineering and ultimately in packaging.
“I credit my advisors, as well as my friends who were in the packaging program, with persuading me to make a change,” Adam said. “Once I started taking the packaging courses, I found them to be more interesting and hands-on – ultimately a better fit for me. After sticking with the course work and work experiences, there is nothing I would rather be doing for a career.”
Adam said the best parts of his UW-Stout experience were the people in the packaging program. “I do not know what I would do on a bigger, faster-paced campus,” he said. “It is great getting to see the same people every day. The professors know everyone by name and know what they’re about.”
The program gave Adam opportunities to interact with alumni and others in the field, experiences that led him to a job as a medical device packaging engineer at Phillips in Plymouth, Minnesota.
Inspiring Graduate: Rosey Silvano, business administration
Silvano first visited UW-Stout on a campus tour with her sister during her junior year in high school.
“I felt very comfortable at UW-Stout during the tour, and from that day, I decided Stout was the school for me. I really loved how small the school is and is easy to navigate,” Silvano said.
For her leadership on campus and service in the community, Silvano was awarded the Samuel E. Wood Medallion, the highest nonacademic award for students at UW-Stout. Less than 1% of full-time students receive the award.
Silvano, a first-generation student, earned her bachelor’s in business administration and completed a design and sales internship at Festivities, an event rental company. She plans on gaining more experience working for an event planning and coordination company, while building her own event planning company for birthdays, graduation parties, and small-scale weddings and gatherings.
“I hope to show people that success comes from believing in yourself and doing what you can to succeed. I want people to learn from me and apply what they have learned to benefit themselves,” she said.
Inspiring Graduates: Nolan Harke, supply chain management
Harke chose to attend UW-Stout because of its polytechnic focus and for its strong supply chain management major. He also chose UW-Stout to play baseball in one of the best Division III conferences and earned Academic All District in the 2023 and 2024 seasons and was a 2025 Scholar Athlete.
Harke completed two internships at Fastenal and Pierce Manufacturing, in Appleton, and received Career Services’ Outstanding Cooperative Education and Internship Program Student of the Year Award in 2024 for his internship with Pierce Manufacturing.
Harke plans to work in the Fox Valley area. “I hope to make an impact by being a valuable team member who will lead by example and will make others around them better,” he said.
“I also hope to add value to the suppliers that I will be working with by improving metrics like supplier service levels, relationships with suppliers and identifying savings opportunities,” he added.
UW-Stout is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.
