2021 March – LU Parent Newsletter

Lakeland Alumni Give Back

Students who are interested in spending a summer for free on the California coast need look no further. Mendocino Grove is one of the highest rated “glamping” resorts in the United States, offering visitors a beautiful outdoor experience with additional luxury amenities. Jake Halverson, General Manager and a Lakeland graduate, has come back to campus in search of interns interested in learning about the business for the summer. Duties of interns will rotate through a number of areas including front desk, reservations, food & beverage, housekeeping and marketing. At a pay rate of $13 an hour plus free lodging, any student who is interested is encouraged to apply. Position details are in Handshake – deadline to apply is February 28.

Free Shuttle Services Allow Students to Get Where They Need to Go

A unique benefit that Lakeland University offers to its students is FREE shuttle services to get to and from work! “Many students are grateful for this program”, according to Alli Vanstelle, administrative assistant to the vice president of campus life. “On average, 65 different students use the shuttle per week. It offers our students the opportunity to have jobs and experiences off campus that they may not have considered without this support.” We consistently take students to places like the Destination Kohler properties, Johnsonville Sausage, Bemis Manufacturing and Masters Gallery Foods. To ensure it is a smooth process, Alli encourages students to communicate with their site supervisor their transportation option and share their schedule with the campus staff as soon as possible. For any questions about shuttle service operations, be sure to connect with Alli at vanstelleak@lakeland.edu.

Summer Jobs in Sheboygan Come with Added Bonus- Free Credits!

As part of Lakeland’s year-round efforts, undergraduate students on the main campus have the opportunity to earn free credits! To qualify, a student must be actively working with the Cooperative Education team and work for a Sheboygan County employer. Students will register for the credits by connecting with their academic advisor. This opportunity will give students a chance to gain academic credits, earn money and build long-term employability skills, all hallmarks of our award-winning Co-Op Program! To help get the word out, there will be a Parent Informational Session dedicated to sharing summer job opportunities on March 10th at 6:00 PM. For support in securing a summer Co-Op or internship experience, or signing up for the Parent Informational Session, contact the Career Readiness team at career@lakeland.edu.

Spring Career Fairs are Right Around the Corner!

Lakeland’s Career Fair lineup is just a few days away – is your student you signed up yet? We have several fairs that Lakeland students and alumni are invited to attend for free, with over 100 different organizations in attendance!

  • Wednesday, March 3 – Diversity & Inclusion Fair offers students and alumni the opportunity to connect with employers with dedicated resources and support system to provide a more supportive and multicultural work environment. This fair is offer in partnership with Lakeshore Technical College and UWGB-Sheboygan.
  • Thursday, March 4 – The WorkForce Virtual Career & Internship Fair is one of the largest virtual fairs available to students in the state! Over 95 employers and graduate schools will be in attendance. The fair is offered to all Wisconsin Private College students.
  • Thursday, March 11 – The Spring Career Opportunities Fair is Lakeland’s largest annual career fair. Employers enjoy this fair because of the personal connections it can provide students. Meet with employers who value Lakeland students and are looking for that next great fit.

Information about each of these fairs is available on the Handshake platform, or you can reach out to career@lakeland.edu for more details.

WAICU Summer Internship Program

Milwaukee County, Manitowoc County, Jefferson County and Rock County Opportunities

Through the generous support of two Wisconsin foundations, WAICU is currently able to offer summer internships. Students have the opportunity to spend the summer working for a great nonprofit organization. All of our internships are paid. Student interns receive a $2,000 summer stipend (disbursed throughout the summer) and a $3,000 scholarship in exchange for 400 hours of work over 10 summer weeks. Interns gain valuable experience in the nonprofit sector and get a summer of amazing experiences. Internships are located throughout Wisconsin and offer a wide range of opportunities for many different majors. Only current students are eligible to apply.

Applications are open for the summer 2021 Program. Interested candidates may view the internship positions and application instructions. The application deadline is March 25.

Safety in The Workforce:

How are employers keeping students safe during the wake of COVID-19?

It comes as no surprise that we are seeing a shift in the workforce. There are huge gains and opportunities that have been implemented since the pandemic affected us all. This includes new and better protocols to continue to keep employees safe and healthy. A question that is often on our parent’s minds, “How is Lakeland and my child’s employer keeping them safe?”

Masters Gallery Foods, located in Plymouth, Wis., is one of the many businesses we work closely with, in conjunction to our Co-Op program. Masters Gallery’s vision is a leading national cheese supplier, maintaining one of the largest privately held cheese inventories in the country. Masters Gallery has added to their mission to ensure the safety of their employees is top priority. Not only do they provide a workforce dedicated to keep food on tables, they also remain committed to the health and safety of their employees.

A Pandemic Team of Masters Gallery employees monitors the ongoing changes in Wisconsin and Sheboygan County to provide updated safety protocols. Examples include: increased hand washing and sanitizing stations, required face coverings, infrared temperature camera checkpoints, monitoring  absences from employees, health questionnaires for new hires or visitors, limiting non-essential visitors, increased sanitation and housekeeping, and staggered shift start times.

Lakeland is proud to be able to work in partnership with Masters Gallery in upholding their safety and health policies to ensure that students working through the Co-Op program remain safe and healthy, while teaching through hands-on work the importance of one’s safety.

Preparing Lakeland Students for Running a Business

Lakeland University’s Muskie Mart is currently hiring students for pre-professional and management-level positions. This opportunity is presented by Launch, Lakeland University’s Student-Run Business venture. This opportunity provides students real-life experience in the day-to-day functions of a business. In these roles, they will learn the responsibilities of hiring employees, scheduling, ordering products, budgeting and following legal protocols. We love to give our students experiences and job positions on campus to help them succeed in future business employment. For a full job description, students should check out Handshake or connect with the Cooperative Education team.

Student Spotlight Toua Thao- IT Service Desk Assistant at Lakeland University

Please describe your Co-Op Experience.

My Co-Op experience was very beneficial. I was able to earn credits and expand my knowledge and skills within the IT industry. It was a great experience, and I would absolutely do it again.

How did you secure this position?

I became a Co-Op student after reaching out to Jess Lambrecht, the associate vice president of Cooperative Education & career readiness. Jess and I scheduled a virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams and discussed the benefits and advantages of Co-Op.

Why did you decide to Co-Op?

Co-Op allowed me to earn credits and pay for tuition expenses, all while still in school. It is a very convenient and helpful program that provides students the opportunity to learn and develop fundamental skills from experienced professionals.

What are some things you learned in your role?

The Co-Op role I acquired was an IT service desk assistant position at Lakeland. During my time there, I learned to re-image, diagnose and repair computing equipment such as laptops and desktop systems. I also learned how to gather and retrieve data using active directory and the database system.

What should other employers know about working with LU students?

Every individual is unique and different, but the family of LU students is made up of hardworking and talented individuals. They are dedicated, kind and welcoming.

How did the Career Readiness team help you during your time at LU?

The Career Readiness team was very welcoming and supportive. They always looked out for potential jobs that may be of interest to me, as well as answering all my questions and concerns. They are hardworking individuals who genuinely want students to succeed and thrive in the workforce.

Employer Spotlight

Joseph Stebbins- Allied Universal

Tell me about Allied Universal as a company.

Allied Universal is one of the leading security companies in the world. Our focus is on building relationships with clients and the surrounding community. On a day to day, it’s our caring nature towards both our clients and employees that sets us apart. 

Tell me a little about yourself.

I have been in talent acquisitions for the last four years. Before entering the recruiting world, I was in management for various large organizations. I enjoy the excitement of recruiting at Allied because I am helping people find employment every day. It’s very fulfilling work.

Tell me about your current partnership with Lakeland University, what does it look like?

Our partnership with Lakeland has been a huge success! Lakeland’s Sheboygan County campus is perfectly situated with proximity to several of our major contracts. Our partnership has been wonderful because it offers Lakeland students the ability to discover a Co-Op opportunity close to their place of learning and often is a good stepping stone to an industry of interest.

Tell me about your experiences with LU students and the Co-Op program.

The experience with Lakeland students has been great. Lakeland students go in with a willingness to learn and an effort to demonstrate a solid work ethic.

How has the partnership with Lakeland University benefited your organization?

Lakeland students have benefited from Allied Universal by providing reliable, hard-working officers. Our clients have provided nothing but positive feedback from Lakeland students who have become security professionals!

How do you see our Co-Op partnership growing or developing in the future? 

I hope to see the partnership growing and prospering to the point where we can automatically see candidates come our way and to where LU students can plan on doing Co-Op opportunities with Allied Universal on a continuous basis.

Academic Help is Only Steps Away on Campus!

As we come to the mid-point of the semester, some of our students might be feeling the pressure and could use a little academic help. That is where the Hayssen Academic Resource Center, or HARC, comes in. “The HARC supports all students in their academic endeavors,” said Karen Eckhardt, the director of the HARC. “Study tables, academic workshops and tutoring are some of the services available.” Additionally, the HARC offers academic plan development for those who need accommodations and tutoring services for all subject, as well as writing, time management and study skills. These services are available to students by appointment and for drop-ins. Students should contact Karen at Eckhardtkl@lakeland.edu for more details.

Upcoming Events

The safety of our students, faculty and staff is always our top priority. Your cooperation and collaboration will help to ensure an appropriate response across our institution to this rapidly changing matter.

Saturday, Feb 27  |  Time TBA

Essence of Heritage Watch @Event Space on Campus

Thursday, March 18

Registration for Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 Opens

March 26-April 22

Annual Student Art Exhibit

April 2-4

Easter Break