Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Choosing a college can be a difficult thing for the average high school student inundated with recruitment materials from a myriad of universities and technical schools.

Oftentimes, when high school students can listen to those most familiar with a particular institution, it can make a world of difference. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has partnered with a number of businesses in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa to offer prospective students, admitted students and their parents the opportunity to hear current UWP students, faculty and alumni share their experiences.

In conjunction with their employers, alumni helped plan four receptions in the tri-state area last semester. Lands' End hosted an event in Dodgeville in January, while February brought a reception to General Motors in Janesville. Honeywell Corp. helped sponsor a reception in Freeport, Ill., also in February, and a fourth event was held in Bettendorf, Iowa, in May.

Additionally, recruitment officials partnered with engineering department educators to offer receptions in Appleton, co-sponsored by Omni Tech, and Waukesha, co-sponsored by Payne and Dolan.

UWP alumni John and Teresa Kincaid, both 1980 civil engineering graduates, work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District. They helped secure a venue for the Bettendorf reception, where alumni from the Quad Cities area shared their undergraduate experiences.

"I think everyone that spoke had fond memories of UWP," John Kincaid said. "It's a place where there is caring faculty, and it's a good place to make lifelong friends. I think everybody that was there at the reception was happy with the education they received and I think it has served them well in their careers."

Kincaid has worked in recruitment for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and said his organization values UWP graduates when searching for potential employees.

"We think real highly of the education there. The faculty actively participate in the learning process, and I think that is huge," Kincaid said. "Platteville has always developed graduates with good teaming skills and good cooperation skills."

UWP recruitment manager Ruth Joyce said most people expect admissions advisors to talk positively about their respective schools. For high school students who are still making up their minds about where they want to attend college, it's oftentimes more valuable to listen to former students.

The advantages are two-fold when these alumni come from their own communities.

"I think it's beneficial for us. The high school students see it from a past student's perspective and get advice directly from someone who has previously attended," Joyce said. "These are volunteers that are willing to come and talk about the positive experiences they have had at UW-Platteville, both inside and out of the classroom."

Alumni services personnel also help put on the receptions.

"UWP alumni are such a tremendous resource in the recruitment of students to our university. Prospective students actually get to see first-hand how successful UWP graduates are in their careers, and they get to hear all the memorable stories alumni have of their time spent here," said Ann Philip, director of alumni services. "Plus, our alums are proud of their university and enjoy the opportunity of sharing their experiences."

And student-alumni receptions hold benefits for alumni as well. In addition to meeting new people from their communities, the receptions offer alumni an opportunity to reciprocate the benefits they've gained from the university.

"This is a way for them to be more involved with their alma mater, and do it closer to home," Joyce said.

"It just feels good," Kincaid said. "They've given us a lot, and unless alumni give back, they won't be able to stay on top."

Alumni interested in helping host an event or otherwise participating in a reception may call Joyce, 608-342-1127; or Philip, 608-342-1181.

"We learned so much while we were there. It's just an opportunity to give back," Teresa Kincaid said.