As hundreds of Pioneers participated in Welcome Weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, one area business is helping to keep students safe as they embark on the fall semester. Lands’ End, headquartered in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, partnered with the university to donate more than 1,000 face coverings to help protect against COVID-19. The blue facemasks feature the UW-Platteville and Lands’ End logos.
Students received the masks as they checked into their residence hall. This has been a project Corporate Relations Development Officer John Fick and Lands’ End worked on throughout the summer. Fick emphasizes the importance of the collaboration between the company and the university.
“It’s really neat to finally see this play out,” he said. “It takes everyone. It takes the community, businesses, students, faculty and staff. Everyone has to be a part of this. It was neat to find a corporation to have the means to help out.”
“Lands’ End is excited to again welcome students back to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. We have a long-standing relationship with the university and look forward to having such talented students be part of our team during peak season,” said Jill Liegel, senior manager of Employee Services.
The masks were individually packaged by a team of employees at Lands’ End, which included UW-Platteville junior Kaleb Liddicoat, who is interning at the company. Liddicoat began his internship in July and is working in the Employee Services Department.
“Preparing masks for students makes me feel more secure in UW-Platteville’s ability to limit the spread of COVID-19 and continue to offer students in-person classes,” said Liddicoat, a business administration major from Linden, Wisconsin. “Safety is the first priority, but I am happy UW-Platteville has maintained hybrid and in-person class options for several classes. Providing masks for students will ensure everyone can safely attend these in-person classes while still being safe and limiting the spread of COVID-19. I am glad to be a part of that.”
According to Fick, the masks will help protect the students, but also gives students the chance to learn more about Lands’ End. He said the company has hired many UW-Platteville students from multiple programs throughout the years.
“We really look forward to these opportunities to be able to help companies be a part of campus,” Fick said. “It opens students’ eyes to who the company is and what they do. We really like to get that across. It’s not just brand awareness, but what do they do.”
Liddicoat notes interning at Lands’ End is giving him an excellent learning experience. “I have had the opportunity to work with several different individuals in all aspects of the employee services field,” he said. “I am happy to work for a company that works with their community and is able to do things like providing masks for college students. I am excited to continue working for Lands’ End for the next several months, and to learn as much as possible during my internship experience.”