Menomonie, Wis. – Recruiters from hundreds of companies from across the United States will travel to University of Wisconsin-Stout to interview students and alumni for internships and post-graduation positions during the university’s four-day Career Conference Week.
More than 2,000 Blue Devils will connect with leading employers in engineering, packaging, plastics, design, hospitality and more at five industry-focused fairs from Monday, Sept. 22, to Thursday, Sept. 25, hosted by Career Services at the Memorial Student Center.
Fortune 500 companies attending are 3M, Boston Scientific, DR Horton, Fastenal, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Hilton, JLL, Northwestern Mutual Insurance, Parker Hannifin, Sanmina and Xcel.
Many of the recruiters represent businesses that have formed deeper connections with UW-Stout, including through the Career Services Partnership Program. CSPP works with employers to identify their strategic focus and build deeper connections with students and academic programs on campus.
Fastenal, Sundt and Menards are top-level CSPP members, as are EVCO Plastics, Greenheck Group, Heartland Business Systems, Phillips-Medisize, John Roberts, Market & Johnson, Nexen, Skyward, Vertin, Wilderness Resort and Xcel Energy.
Two new CSPP partners this year are CTech Manufacturing, a maker of aluminum carts, cabinets and drawers, in Weston, Wisconsin; and Nox Group, a construction company based in Phoenix, Arizona.
The companies seek student interns from UW-Stout because of the university’s practical, hands-on approach to learning, which prepares students to contribute to real-world projects from day one.
“Leaders within Nox Group have been recruiting from Stout for more than 10 years, and we’ve always been impressed with the quality of students that come from the construction management program,” said Delaney Clark, a talent acquisition specialist with the company. “Nox Group values strong relationships with universities, and the CSPP program allows us to build meaningful connections with both students and faculty. It gives us a platform to support career development while also creating a pipeline of future talent for our organization.”
CTech Manufacturing has a goal to develop a lasting relationship with students and faculty and offers a variety of internships, including engineering, software development, sales, marketing, manufacturing technology and operations. Two students interned with them last summer.
“UW-Stout interns are prepared to take risks, ask questions, and make an impact at CTech, and that fits well with our high-performance culture and goals,” said Jennifer Rauscher, the company’s director of Workforce Strategy and Partnerships. “We also have two UW-Stout alums at CTech: Jacob Wolfe, our director of software development, graduated in mechanical engineering; and Nick Janse is our newest manufacturing engineer.”
Student interns at Nox Group support both field and office operations and step into real project roles, assisting with scheduling, project documentation, coordination with subcontractors, and on-site tasks with project managers and superintendents.
“We want interns to leave with hands-on experience that adds real value to their career path,” Clark said. “We see career fairs not just as recruiting events, but as opportunities to mentor and connect with the next generation of industry leaders. Even if a student doesn’t end up at Nox Group, our goal is that they walk away from a conversation with us feeling encouraged and better prepared for their career.”
Clark encourages students to come prepared to share their story. “Think about what motivates you, what experiences you’ve had so far and where you want to grow. Research the companies you’re most interested in and prepare a few thoughtful questions. Confidence and curiosity go a long way,” she added.
Rauscher agreed. “Take the time to learn about companies like CTech Manufacturing that are coming to the Career Conference, so that you can connect your interests and experiences to the companies’ work. Let us know what else you’re involved in on campus. We’re proud supporters of Blue Devil Baja student organization and would love to learn more about other organizations.”
“These new CSPP partners evidence the value our students bring to the workforce, both within the state of Wisconsin and across the country. The breadth and depth of the students’ applied learning experiences in the classroom prepares students and reflects the commitment of UW-Stout and our polytechnic focus. We are truly excited to welcome the nearly 350 companies to campus to talk with students, connect with faculty, engage with classes and expand their relationship with UW-Stout,” Career Services Director Bryan Barts said.
Career Conference Week and additional recruitment events
Career Conference Week kicks off the fall recruitment season of Career Services’ programs and events for students, including the Built Environment Career Fair, Wisconsin BioHealth Summit, Government & Nonprofit Career Fair and Internship Draft Day.
Employers connect with students graduating into the workforce as well as with juniors and seniors looking for internships and opportunities to enhance their applied learning. The Cooperative Education and Internship Program helps to coordinate students’ required experiential learning components and builds partnerships between employers, students, and university faculty and staff.
Career Conference Week’s events are:
- Monday: Computing: Data, Software and Security
- Tuesday morning: Packaging, Print and Design
- Tuesday afternoon: Science and Engineering
- Wednesday: Construction: Design, Build, Manage
- Thursday: Management: Business, Hospitality and Human Sciences
More than 40 companies will be attending the conference as brand-new partners or re-engaging with the campus. Many companies attend multiple days of the conference to recruit students from across degree fields.
“Of note this fall are the more than 25 companies attending our computing career fair, which is a 20% increase from the spring conference. The increase represents companies from diverse industries across Wisconsin, including manufacturing, insurance, medical technologies, engineering and consumer goods,” Barts said.
Students and alumni are encouraged to attend any and all days.
The CEIP program received the 2024 annual 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.”
Nearly 1,000 students enroll each year in CEIP, completing hands-on co-ops and internships at more than 500 companies in Wisconsin and nationally. More than 27,000 UW-Stout students have benefited from the program since its inception in 1982.
UW-Stout’s Career Outcomes site provides First Destination and CEIP reports. Student success is the leading goal of UW-Stout’s FOCUS2030 strategic plan.
The Spring 2026 Career Conference will be held Monday, Feb. 23, to Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
UW-Stout, a member of the Universities of Wisconsin, 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.
