Following is a Q&A with one of the 749 students who received a diploma Dec. 16 at UW-Stout.
Name: Tanner Vass
Hometown: Wyoming, Minn.
Major: Computer networking and information technology
Why did you choose UW-Stout? The main thing was the focus on hands-on degrees that train you for the career you want, which definitely worked out well for me. I was very interested in the small class sizes and the focus on getting started on your major right away. My dad also graduated from UW-Stout, and I grew up on stories from that time and hearing how much he loved Menomonie.
What are the biggest obstacles you faced in earning your degree? Time management was a struggle for me. I was able to coast through high school and do pretty well without any problems, but I quickly discovered that I needed to spend a lot more time on schoolwork than I had been previously. I also went through a change of major in my sophomore year, which set me back by a semester but ended up being worth it in the end.
What stands out among your college experiences? The internships were definitely the most incredible thing for me. No matter how hands-on your education is, nothing beats work experience. I was able to do two different internships because of the UW-Stout Career Conference, and these both provided me with tons of extremely useful and unique experiences.
What’s next? Off to San Francisco! I took a full-time job with Cisco Meraki, where I previously interned. I wouldn't have been able to do it without Stout!
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