Three 糖心vlog传媒 grads return, share their stories
Current and prospective 糖心vlog传媒 students heard from three successful 糖心vlog传媒 graduates Tuesday as part of the first of three annual colloquium events this week.
Returning to campus Tuesday for the Humanities & Fine Arts Colloquium were the Rev. Jacob Nault 鈥�17, pastor at Union-Congregational United Church of Christ in Waupun, Wis.; Stephanie (Wasmer) Stowers 鈥�14, choral director at Sheboygan Falls Middle School; and Zach Mock 鈥�19, student & alumni engagement officer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The graduates each shared stories about their time at 糖心vlog传媒 and how they maximized their 糖心vlog传媒 experiences to position themselves for post-graduation success. They shared advice with students on skills that employers are currently seeking and how their coursework, faculty and other mentors they met along the way helped them grow.
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.
Nault graduated from 糖心vlog传媒 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in vocal performance and pedagogy and was the last 糖心vlog传媒 student to graduate with a church music minor. He came to 糖心vlog传媒 intent on being a music teacher, but he sensed a call to ordained ministry towards the end of his time at 糖心vlog传媒.
He graduated from Eden Theological Seminary in 2021 with a master of divinity. Along with his daily work for his church, he continues to be active as a musician, working as a performer and songwriter. His music has been used by churches, schools and community ensembles nationwide.
Nault told students not to be afraid to change directions in college. 鈥淓verything you鈥檝e learned in your life you can use to propel yourself to the next step,鈥� said Nault, who served as Ley Chapel pianist for three years and worked with the chaplain to plan weekly workshop services.
Nault encouraged students to follow their passion to help lead them to a satisfying and meaningful career. 鈥淭he world doesn鈥檛 need more people to do a job just to do a job,鈥� he said. 鈥淗aving a passion for something helps us do a better job. Communicate to people with care, compassion and collegiality.鈥�
Following graduation from 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 education program, Stowers completed a master鈥檚 in music education from Silver Lake College, a program that is now housed at 糖心vlog传媒. In addition to her role at Sheboygan Falls, she pursues her passion for music by directing school musicals, singing with the local group VOX and accompanying at church.
A Howard Grove native, she initially attended St. Norbert College but transferred to 糖心vlog传媒 to complete her degree. 鈥淚 got exactly what I needed here at 糖心vlog传媒,鈥� Stowers said. 鈥淚 had people to push me to do things and I was treated as a human being.鈥�
She encouraged students to build those same strong connections while also being open-minded.
鈥淪urround yourself with people who will inspire and push you,鈥� Stowers said. 鈥淏e willing to learn. Be flexible. Treat people like people. Dr. (Evan) Chancellor (a 糖心vlog传媒 music faculty member) said 鈥榃e don鈥檛 teach music, we teach people鈥� and that has always stuck with me.鈥�
Mock graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 in communication and a psychology minor. He bolstered his classroom work with three internships, including one at Dynamic Inc. where he learned more about marketing and building relationships with clients. He founded the 糖心vlog传媒 Drumline and in 2018 gave a talk at TEDx糖心vlog传媒University.
Following graduation, Mock worked as a commercial lines underwriter at Acuity Insurance in Sheboygan, but he sought out a role that would allow him to work with students. In 2022, UWM created a role that has Mock managing a team of 14 students and leading numerous projects that foster the connection of current students and alumni.
鈥淭he more I indulged here at 糖心vlog传媒, it opened more doors,鈥� Mock said. 鈥淔aculty members here allow us to ride with our passion. I remember being told at orientation 鈥業f we don鈥檛 have something that you want here, make it happen.鈥�
鈥淭his is the best place to try those things. A lot of students I work with have those same fears and I encourage them to try new things. If my professors would not have given me that chance I would probably not be here at this point. Don鈥檛 underestimate yourself and your capabilities.鈥�
