Inspiring Graduate: Mikayla Obsuszt, B.S. Marketing and Business Education

‘Stout is a school that prepares students to be lifelong learners in real-life situations.’
January 13, 2025

Inspiring Graduate: Mikayla Obsuszt (’24)

When Mikayla Obsuszt graduated high school, she was unsure of what path she wanted to take in life. 

“I explored many different options, and none of them felt right. After analyzing what career options would best fit my natural skill set, I decided to become a teacher,” she said

Obsuszt transferred to UW-Stout halfway through her college journey, transferring her general education credits, and beginning her degree in marketing and business education.

Mikayla Obsuszt
Mikayla Obsuszt and Chancellor Katherine Frank at commencement / UW-Stout

“I’ve never been a fan of the common core subject areas, and UW-Stout offered a teaching degree in my favorite elective subject area, marketing and business. Stout simply felt like home,” she said.

Transferring did pose a challenge for Obsuszt to stay on track for graduation, packing in all her program-specific courses and taking multiple WinTerm and summer courses as well in a two-year time. But she persevered.

“Mikaya is a shining example of what it means to go above and beyond in the field of marketing and business education. Her contributions have left a lasting impact on the program, leaving her well-prepared to impact learners in her middle and high school classroom,” said Program Director Debbie Stanislawski.

Obsuszt earned her bachelor’s and crossed the commencement stage on Dec. 14, along with 510 UW-Stout graduates.

She signed a teaching contract before graduation with the business department at Lincoln High School, in her hometown of Wisconsin Rapids. She’ll primarily teach personal finance and IT fundamentals. 

Mikayla Obsuszt
Mikayla Obsuszt celebrates at commencement / UW-Stout

How well has UW-Stout prepared you to work in your field?

When you think about college, most people automatically think about studying, tests and homework. When I look back at my Stout journey, the first things that come to mind are the real-world experiences that I encountered. 

Whether it was taking a tour of a local school-based enterprise or prestudent teaching in a culturally diverse classroom, these experiences have given me a head start in my journey as a teacher.

Having previous experiences in these settings has set me up for success when it comes to managing students’ behaviors, brainstorming learning alternatives for students and creating environments that best fit students’ needs. 

When a situation arises in my classroom, I will already have a bank of experiences to reflect on and make connections. I will be able to better handle situations in real time when students most need the support. 

I am most proud of the completion of my internship at Hostel Shoppe, in Stevens Point. My internship exposed me to marketing-related professional work, helping my ability to give my students examples. 

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What stands out about your UW-Stout experience?

Stout is a school that prepares students to be lifelong learners in real-life situations. 

Although there is importance when it comes to conceptual knowledge, Stout strives in creating learning opportunities in real-world situations. There are many opportunities for you to learn while performing the tasks at hand. 

You can build skills in settings that you would utilize in post-graduation. 

How did your involvement on campus impact your experience?

In spring 2024, I competed at the state WiSys Big Idea Tournament, with teammates Bri Noble and Halle Sullivan. We presented our idea Safe Skin, after participating in UW-Stout’s Ideation Jam. Safe Skin is a line of base-layer clothing to protect wearers of chemically treated uniforms, like firefighters.

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A big idea by three UW-Stout students is headed to the state WiSys Big Idea Tournament.
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I was involved in the Marketing and Business Education Association and took on leadership roles in planning and executing events of many sorts. We organized and hosted the Wisconsin DECA District 1 competition, cleaned the highway, crafted and donated blankets to those in need, organized professional guest speakers, participated in professional conferences and many other events. 

How has your UW-Stout experience changed you?

My time spent at Stout pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone, both personally and professionally. It was the first time in my life that I went to a school with more than 100 other students. 

This gave me a new perspective on what life “in the real world” would look like. This experience helped me strengthen my ability to collaborate with others on common goals and work successfully in diverse team settings. 

Mikayla Obsuszt
Mikayla Obsuszt with MBE faculty and peers / Mikayla Obsuszt

While at Stout, I was also approached with many different opportunities to grow as a young professional. I took on leadership roles within my program area, while also building connections with industry professionals through many different conversations, observations and internships. 

These opportunities helped me on the path of becoming a teacher, as I am now able to provide my students with real-world stories to help them learn and draw their own connections.

At the same time, these experiences helped me to shape my own personality and belief system. They have helped me to mature my professional and personal values, while also building lifelong connections with many individuals. 


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