A Message from our Student Success and Engagement Team
Happy New Year! We hope that you had a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday – you deserved it!
A new year and new semester are the perfect opportunity for a fresh start for our students to set goals, get involved and be engaged on campus! A new year can also bring on a new set of challenges, especially during these COVID times. Thankfully, students will not be doing any of this alone! The Student Success and Engagement Team, along with all campus resources, are here to help.
We want to ensure if a student has questions or concerns about their Lakeland experience or is going through something alone, that we work together to help. The members of our team are listed below and are available as a resource for students.
Le’Shay Guy – GuyL@lakeland.edu, 920-565-1000 ext. 2510
Joshuan McNeal – McNealJ@lakeland.edu, 920-565-1000 ext. 2505
LaJill Edge – EdgeLY@lakeland.edu, 920-565-1000 ext. 1058
Kohler Offers Free Textbooks for LU Students
The relationship between Kohler Co. and Lakeland University continues to grow with a great new opportunity for students to get their textbooks paid for. By working in their housekeeping department full time over the summer and through the PGA Tour, Destination Kohler will be supporting LU students by paying for their textbooks for two semesters. Textbooks are often a major expense for college students and many students share or borrow to avoid the extra cost. Thank you, Kohler Co., for all that you do to support the Muskies.
Employment Opportunities Abound with Multiple Career Fairs
The spring semester will hold many opportunities to connect students with local and national employers! We have already held two events, and we are encouraging Lakeland students to participate in the following virtual events to engage in conversation with employers looking to hire.
- Lakeland’s first Diversity & Inclusion Fair is Wednesday, March 3. Employers must be based in Sheboygan County and have a focused effort on supporting a multicultural work environment. We look forward to celebrating our incredibly diverse group of students, as well as our employers!
- In partnership with all of the private colleges in Wisconsin, WAICU hosts an annual fair with over 100 regional employers. The fair normally takes places in Milwaukee, Wis., and brings in almost 1,000 students. Students should visit Handshake to register.
- Lakeland’s largest fair, the Spring 2021 Career Opportunities Fair, is being held on March 11 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration is currently open. Employers will be focused on summer and/or fall internships, co-ops and full-time position needs.
For details on any of these events, please contact career@lakeland.edu.
A Muskie on the Rise Jamiar Robinson
My name is Jamiar Robinson, also known as “Meer”. I am 23 years old and have a precious 2 1/2-year-old daughter. I play running back at Lakeland University. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisc., I am currently a criminal justice major with plans to graduate in the next year.
What made you choose criminal justice as a major?
Growing up in the inner city of Milwaukee, I encountered law enforcement a lot. They helped me get through the hardships in my life as a youth. I have a strong desire to help those in need, protect the greater good and serve the people above all else. I want to work with victims of crime, assist in solving crimes and help prevent crime in my community.
What makes you a good candidate for employment opportunities?
What makes me a good candidate for law enforcement positions is my strong judgement and critical thinking skills. In criminal justice, careers require high levels of social awareness and perceptiveness; I am confident that I possess those skills.
What kinds of experience do you have in the criminal justice field?
I was a security guard at Oneida Casino in Green Bay, Wis., for a couple of years. I also did law enforcement community work in Nekoosa, Wis., where I graduated.
Why did you choose Lakeland University?
I chose Lakeland because it is a small school. I had multiple friends that graduated from Lakeland with good jobs. I figured it would be a good fit for me and I would have the maximum opportunity to pursue my long-term dream in law enforcement.
How has Lakeland prepared you for a career in criminal justice so far?
Lakeland has prepared me for criminal justice is multiple ways and I cannot thank them enough. The professors here have taken the time out of their day to make sure each student understands classroom content. Everything is well organized and, if you need any extra help, there are people on campus that will help you right away. The criminal justice program here is a strong.
What is your plan for after graduation?
After graduation I plan on pursuing a career in corrections, that will be my steppingstone to moving into a job on the road for patrol. After I gain additional experience, I would like to get promoted to the detective position. Although there might be ups and downs and change of plans, I am ready for whatever comes my way.
If your child is interested in being highlighted in the “Muskie on the Rise” section, have them reach out to the Career Readiness team!
Informational Sessions for Parents Provide Access to Answers
The Cooperative Education team hosted an informational session for parents to start the semester strong on January 8. During the session, the team provided details about upcoming events and tips for finding employment for student situations, shared a bit about tuition benefit companies and answered questions posed by the attending families. It was a great opportunity to build connections and help ensure that students are getting the support that they need. Additional informational sessions, titled “Co-Op Catch Up: Parents and Students,” are scheduled throughout the semester and registration can be found on the calendar of Lakeland’s website.
Weekly Virtual Meditation Sessions Offered by Lakeland’s Counselors
Students who are having problems with stress have a healthy and safe solution thanks to LU Counseling Services. Alex Liosatos, counseling center director, offers virtual meditation every Tuesday at noon this semester. Students can find the sessions on the Lakeland calendar and include the Zoom link and password. Students who want to learn more about our Counseling Services should email Alex at LiosatosA@lakeland.edu.
Partner Spotlight
Kristin Adler- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee
Tell me a little about yourself and your history with Lakeland’s Co-Op program.
I work on the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) team at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, a private, college prep high school in Milwaukee, Wis. CWSP is an essential component of the Cristo Rey Jesuit mission of educating students of all faiths and limited financial means. Every Cristo Rey Jesuit student participates in CWSP each year to help offset the cost of their college prep education. My role is to manage the relationships with the over 75 company partners in and around Milwaukee who work with our students. Our students’ supervisors work in HR, IT, marketing, accounting, customer service and a variety of other departments.
Tell me about your current partnership with Lakeland University?
I was thrilled when Jess Lambrecht asked me to join Lakeland University’s Co-Op Founders Board last year. It was so exciting to learn about Lakeland’s innovative Co-Op program because it’s so similar to our work study program model. Providing an opportunity to gain professional experience while earning money for college fills an important need.
How do you see the partnership with Lakeland University benefiting your school in the future?
We look forward to promoting Lakeland’s Co-Op program to our high school students. We think there will be a natural interest in the programming since it’s so similar to CWSP. Cristo Rey Jesuit students and their families value the work component of our mission and we know this is also an important factor at the college level.
How do you think preparing students for experiential education at the high school level benefits them in the long term?
Introducing an experiential educational program at the high school level provides students an early opportunity to learn what it means to be a productive worker and gain important skills that benefit them in the future. It is an amazing opportunity to try out careers and explore different career interests before college. I am proud to help facilitate this experience at Cristo Rey Jesuit.
If you are looking to strengthen your partnership opportunities with Lakeland University, be sure to reach out to us at career@lakeland.edu!
Launch Update
Launch: Lakeland University’s Student-Run Businesses is making noise in 2021! With its lengthy list of exciting new ventures, Launch will be starting 2021 off with a bang. Launch is involved in a variety of opportunities, including managing Lakeland’s first independent campus shop, planning the Sheboygan Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament, coordinating the Lakeland University Golf Tournament: The Blasters and involvement in the Sheboygan Memorial Day Parade. We will also be managing a food stand during the upcoming summer race season at legendary Road America racetrack in Elkhart Lake. It doesn’t stop there! Through Develop U program, Launch will also offer two professional development workshops: the Celemi Apples & Oranges Business Finance Virtual Simulation and Amplify Your Leadership using the Lens of Music. If interested in these events or want to get involved in sponsorship, contact Ali Wilson at WilsonA1@lakeland.edu.
Spring Positions are Available- But Not For Long!
Attention Students: Time is running out to apply for those Spring jobs! The Career Readiness team is here to help you find positions to suit your needs. There are opportunities to be had at local companies for all types of situations. There are opportunities to be had at local companies for all types of situations, so be sure to jump at these opportunities! Make an appointment with a member of the Career Readiness team through Handshake or by emailing career@lakeland.edu to get started.
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.
Feb 5 at 8:30 PM
Black History Month Movie Night- “42” & Coming to America” in the Event Space
Feb 6 at 8:30 PM
Black History Month Movie Night- “Remember the Titans” & Hidden Figures” in the Event Space
Feb 7
Watch the Big Pro Football Game! Event Space at 4:00 PM- Door prizes and halftime and food available!
Feb 8
Esports Preseason Begins
Feb 12 | 7 P.M.
Men’s and Women’s Basketball vs. Wisconsin Lutheran College
Feb 18
Muskies Wellness Day
March 18
Registration for Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 Opens