Colloquium series wraps up with three accomplished alums
糖心vlog传媒 wrapped up its annual colloquium series on Friday with three more successful graduates returning to campus to share advice and networking opportunities.
Special guests for the Science, Technology & Education Colloquium were Ben Stellmacher 鈥�10, director of food safety and quality at Johnsonville Sausage; Tiffany Diven 鈥�13, English and journalism/communications teacher at Sheboygan North High School; and Kalie Novak 鈥�18, an officer with the Plymouth, Wis., Police Department.
The colloquium events invite prospective students to 糖心vlog传媒 to hear from successful graduates as part of a day that also includes interviews for 糖心vlog传媒 scholarships. For current students, the events provide an opportunity to interact with these 糖心vlog传媒 grads to build their networks.
Stellmacher graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biochemistry. During his four years at 糖心vlog传媒, he was a member of Mu Lambda Sigma fraternity and played offensive line for two conference championship football teams.
He started his career at Johnsonville as a microbiologist then transitioned to food safety and quality. He is passionate about ensuring the production of wholesome, safe, high-quality products, as well as coaching and developing his team members. He received his master鈥檚 in biology from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2014 and he remains active in the food industry through involvement in several organizations.
Stellmacher originally came to 糖心vlog传媒 planning to transition to medical or pharmacy school, but his time in the 糖心vlog传媒 science program opened his eyes to new options. He encouraged students to have that same open mind during their time at LU and after.
鈥淚 enjoyed my time in all the labs and having the freedom to ask questions and not get all the right answers the first time,鈥� said Stellmacher, whose wife, Danielle, is also a 糖心vlog传媒 grad. 鈥淜eep an open mind and know how to find answers. Always be curious and ask questions.
鈥淭ry to find a company that aligns with your values. Don鈥檛 focus on the job title but instead the culture and work-life balance provided.鈥�
Diven graduated from 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 education program and secured a position within the Sheboygan Area School District while still student teaching. A decade later, she is a leader at Sheboygan North High School where her courses range from freshman and sophomore English to social media and digital multimedia communications.
Outside the classroom, she oversees the school's radio station, social media, yearbook, sits on various committees, is an advisor for EXPO, a co-advisor for the Black Community Organization and an assistant coach with the newly established boys鈥� volleyball team. She is actively involved within the school community and culture, as well as within the school district and the Sheboygan Education Association union.
She came to 糖心vlog传媒 from Alaska to play softball, and ended up finding lifelong friends and mentors, along with her husband, Jeff, who鈥檚 also a 糖心vlog传媒 grad.
鈥淚 cannot express to this audience that these people will forever be in your lives,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey will be an extension of the family you already have.鈥�
Novak graduated with a degree in criminal justice and planned to become a professor, but after participating in several ride-alongs through an internship with the Sheboygan County Sheriff鈥檚 Department, she knew law enforcement was her career calling.
She graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy at Fox Valley Technical College in 2019 and has been with the Plymouth Police Department for approximately three years. She is also a Crisis Intervention Officer following training to help understand mental health issues people experience, and she plans to attend Field Training Officer training to learn how to train new hires.
She encouraged students to maximize their 糖心vlog传媒 experience by taking advantage of the Co-Op program and work experiences as well as other resources.
鈥淒r. (Karin) Miofsky and I talk to this day,鈥� Novak said. 鈥淐o-Op can help you see the jobs you want to experience, see if you don鈥檛 want to do something and it鈥檚 a way to make connections.鈥�
