From an early age, Marissa Wildeck was fascinated by how her parents and contractors seemed to know what would work for each component of her family’s many house projects. This interest inspired her to pursue a career in engineering and she took the first step toward that goal with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. UW-Platteville’s engineering program stood out to her because of its reputation, however, the family connection that sparked her interest in engineering intertwined with the university’s past, as well.
Wildeck knew her great-grandmother, Melva Thompson, had attended Platteville Normal School to become a teacher. After she was accepted to her great-grandmother’s alma mater, Wildeck and her family began researching their family history. They discovered that Thompson had not only attended but was a member of the first graduating class nearly a century before Wildeck’s own enrollment. Further research turned up Thompson’s diploma, yearbook, and graduation gown, plus a family tree full of engineers and leaders in the construction trades.
“Learning that I had family history with the campus made me feel much more at home,” Wildeck said. “It seemed rare that most people, especially women, in her generation would finish high school much less pursue a secondary degree, so I was quite surprised and proud.”
Graduating in December 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and emphases in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Wildeck now works with a structural engineering company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Yet her connections to UW-Platteville endured and she soon returned as a graduate student in the online Master of Science in Engineering program. There, she was pleased to find the same careful balance between technical and soft skills that she’d experienced on campus – an approach that she feels has helped her stand out from others in the field.
“Throughout the engineering programs at UW-Platteville, there has always been an emphasis on written presentation and providing a professional product,” Wildeck said. “I think this is an important aspect as the technical information I learned makes me competitive with my peers, but I feel that my aptitude for technical writing and related skills is what sets me apart.”
Now preparing to earn her second degree this May – just a month shy of what would be the 101st anniversary of her great-grandmother’s June 1918 commencement – Wildeck said her relationship with UW-Platteville will continue to grow.
“I am a big supporter of the women in STEM programs and hope to still be in touch with the various programs that they provide on campus and with ties to industry. I hope to keep an active relationship with UW-Platteville to show my support for the support that I was given,” Wildeck said. “My family and friends also gave me ongoing support throughout this graduate program, and I am very appreciative of each of them.”