Community & Business Engagement Stories

Ron Walker, a senior graduating with a degree in English and a minor in Communication, has recently completed an on-campus employment experience in the UW-Parkside Advising & Career Center, working as a Career Ambassador. He found and applied for his job on Handshake. Ron’s position allowed him to help students develop career goals that worked for them. He acted as a resource for students and worked to assist them in developing resumes and cover letters. He also assisted with the Advising and Career Center’s Meet the Recruiter events. Aside from his role as a career ambassador, he also assisted in running the front desk, answering phone calls, and providing clear and concise information to students and faculty alike. Ron described his position as both challenging and influential. While he struggled learning new programs, like CommonSpot, the staff in the Advising and Career Center acted as mentors and resources as he learned.

Ron said that his roles and responsibilities helped him refine skills that will benefit him in his future career, such as his writing skills, his communication, and attention to detail. When he came into his position, he worried the hours would affect his coursework. However, he was relieved that it didn’t and that his hours were completely flexible to accommodate his schooling needs. Ron said that his role as a Career Ambassador didn’t just influence his career goal; it in fact solidified it. He has received a full-time position with Equus Workforce Solutions in Racine as a Career Advisor. Ron wants to encourage all students to find opportunities, saying, “Go for it! It gave me the tools and experience that I need to succeed in my future endeavors!” All of us in the Advising and Career Center are grateful for the amazing work Ron has done, and we encourage all students to follow in his steps and pursue their career goals.

Written by Conner Messer, CBE Student Ambassador, Spring 2026

Madde Koenig, a junior, majoring in sports management, was Parkside Athletics Strategic Marketing and Communication intern, working within Parkside’s very own De Simone Arena. Madde held the position from September to January, working 6-8 hours each week. Her role involved running and pushing out promotional material and graphics to the big screen during games and assisting with in-game music and entertainment. Madde had the opportunity to expand her knowledge about D2 athletics, graphic design, team coordination, and even the importance and visual appeal of timing the graphics during games. When asked, she replied honestly, saying that the internship exceeded her expectations and that she emerged with a newfound interest in the marketing and communication aspect of sports management.  

Her biggest challenge was transitioning from hour-long classes to a four-hour workday. Making friends with coworkers and asking questions helped her with her adjustment. Madde encourages all Parkside students to apply for internships early. Madde learned about her internship on the Parkside Athletics’ Instagram page. While many students have great success through Handshake, Madde also suggests starting the search here at Parkside and asking professors, stating, “they will fight tooth and nail to find something that works for you.” She wants all students, young and old, to know that “internships are one of the best experiences and are a perfect soft launch into the workforce.” 

Written by Conner Messer, CBE Student Ambassador, Spring 2026

Lucas Sternberg, a junior majoring in business management with a project management certification, recently completed an internship with Amorin Cork Solutions as a sales operations intern. He interned with the company from September 2025 to the end of February 2026. In his role, he spearheaded the creation of a new training program and a centralized location for all training documents. Once completed, he was asked to create a new program to request the flooring samples. Both projects required him to learn new computer programs like SharePoint and Power Automate, skills he believes will be extremely useful to him in his future endeavors. He overcame the challenge of balancing his personal and professional life by creating schedules and to-do lists. Lucas said that the most important thing he learned outside the classroom was adaptability and navigating unforeseen circumstances. Lucas, however, was grateful for the number of resources that Amorin Cork Solutions had to offer.

After finding the internship on Handshake, he was eager to apply, wanting to gain more experience. After his initial interview and learning what they were looking for, he immediately knew he wanted the position. Lucas said that his internship met and exceeded his expectations. Once his internship concluded, he was offered an extension and is still with the company. Lucas wanted to emphasize and leave students with this: “Be open to anything you’re going to encounter and learn a lot more than you would have expected to.”

Written by Conner Messer, CBE Student Ambassador, Spring 2026

Parkside senior Sirrenda Adams, an Environmental Studies major with a concentration in biology, spent a year gaining hands-on experience as a Land Stewardship Intern at a 15-acre farm in Caledonia, Wisconsin. Her duties included animal care, garden maintenance, and community outreach, beginning and ending each day with chores like tending to chickens, goats, alpacas, guinea fowl, and farm cats. The farm prioritized non-chemical growing practices. They would deal with pest control by manually removing things like weeds and insects, before turning to organic treatments. Sirrenda assisted in producing more than 750 pounds of fresh food, much of which was donated to local food pantries. 

Sirrenda also helped lead summer camp activities in the gardens, teaching children about planting, harvesting, and sustainable agriculture. As a hands-on learner, she found physical fieldwork far more immersive than classroom instruction, saying that while school had laid the foundation, the internship was where she truly tested and expanded her knowledge. The most rewarding part, she said, was witnessing the full cycle of growth, from planting seeds to harvesting produce and giving it back to families in the community. Sirrenda encourages other students to pursue similar opportunities, saying, “Do it. Even if you don’t like it, you’ll still learn something,” emphasizing that internships provide clarity, confidence, and real-world experience in future careers.

Written by Conner Messer, CBE Student Ambassador, Spring 2026