UW-Stevens Point School of Health Sciences and Wellness

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

What started as a summer internship for student Kayla Antos unexpectedly became a full-time position that challenged her to put her classroom learning into practice. After graduating with a degree in family and consumer sciences, Antos initially started at the Boys and Girls Club as the facilitator of the SMART Girls and Girls with Goals programs. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4gRZkKJ. UW-Stevens Point School of Health Sciences and Wellness

08/12/2026

Insights of Interns: Kayleigh Piesik ’26
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences - Child Life and Family Studies (UW-Stevens Point School of Health Sciences and Wellness)
Organization: South Wood County YMCA Early Learning Center - Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
Title: Early Childhood Intern/Volunteer

What I did: During my internship, I played with the children and read them books. I also changed their diapers, helped them go to the bathroom, and I helped them line up to go play outside. I did various activities with the children such as finger painting, coloring activities, and dot painting on various animals or other things.

What I liked: What I liked the most was working with the children and just being able to interact with the children.

What I learned: I learned that working with children requires constant consistency, especially as they get older. I also learned that you should take the lead and not to be afraid to do something.

Future dream job: My future dream job is to work in a birth-to-3 setting doing home visits.

Students from the UW-Stevens Point College of Professional Studies share what it's like get a taste of the working life. Are you interning? Email [email protected] with details and a photo to be featured!

08/04/2026

student Gracie Casper is working with the DAWG Fitness Center on campus to gain experience in program development, research, student engagement and the daily operations of a fitness center. Casper is also collaborating with the campus dietitian to find new ways for students to engage in health and wellness. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4fD0msc. UW-Stevens Point School of Health Sciences and Wellness

07/28/2026

Insights of Interns: Kayla Antos ’27
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences - Child Life and Family Studies (UW-Stevens Point School of Health Sciences and Wellness)
Organization: Red Cliff Boys & Girls Club of Gitchigami / Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians - Bayfield, Wis.
Title: Student Youth Activities Coordinator

What I did: During my placement, I served as the youth activities coordinator at the Boys & Girls Club of Gitchigami. I helped plan and coordinate youth events, educational programs, community outings and field trips while also directly facilitating evidence-based curricula, including the SMART Girls Native Adaptation curriculum. I collaborated with community partners, recruited volunteers and supported daily Club operations to provide engaging opportunities for youth. One of my primary responsibilities was serving as the Club’s main point of contact with the Bayfield School District for Camp Chequamegon, where I coordinated communication, transportation logistics, scheduling and daily collaboration to help ensure a successful summer camp experience for local youth.

What I liked: What I enjoyed most about this experience was building meaningful relationships with the youth and seeing their confidence grow through new experiences. Whether leading SMART Girls discussions, organizing community events or taking members on educational field trips, I loved creating opportunities that encouraged learning, leadership and a sense of belonging. Working alongside community organizations reinforced how collaboration can positively impact children and families.

What I learned: This experience strengthened my skills in program planning, leadership, communication, community engagement and trauma-informed practice. I gained valuable experience coordinating large-scale events, collaborating with schools and community partners and adapting programming to meet the unique needs of children and families. Most importantly, I learned how strong relationships, culturally responsive programming and community partnerships can create meaningful opportunities for youth to thrive.

Future dream job: My dream is to combine child life with family education, prevention, advocacy and other intervention services to create a comprehensive support system for children and families. I hope to establish a community-based center that makes these services accessible to everyone in the Bayfield and surrounding tribal communities. My goal is to ensure that every child and family–regardless of where they live or what they can afford–has access to the education, support and resources they need to thrive.

Students from the UW-Stevens Point College of Professional Studies share what it's like get a taste of the working life. Are you interning? Email [email protected] with details and a photo to be featured!

07/28/2026

07/27/2026

Insights of Interns: Madeline Zirbel ’26
Major: Health Science and Wellness; Certificate: Food and Nutrition for Health and Wellness (UW-Stevens Point School of Health Sciences and Wellness)
Organization: Compass Group & Crothall Healthcare (Marshfield Clinic) - Marshfield, Wis.
Title: Environmental Services (EVS) Intern

What I did: Throughout my internship, I have gained hands-on experience in healthcare operations, patient experience, quality improvement and project management.
My responsibilities have included conducting patient rounding, completing quality assurance observations and environmental audits, participating in leadership meetings, assisting with employee engagement initiatives and creating educational resources for staff. One of my largest projects has been managing a hospital-wide curtain replacement project, where I coordinated logistics, developed training and welcome materials, tracked project progress and worked alongside leadership and vendors to ensure the project was completed efficiently. I also created department reference guides, quality improvement materials and operational resources that will continue to be used after my internship.

What I liked: The part I have enjoyed most is seeing how Environmental Services directly impacts patient care. Before this internship, I didn't realize how much patient satisfaction, communication and cleanliness influence the overall healthcare experience. I have also enjoyed working closely with hospital leadership and learning how different departments collaborate to provide quality patient care.

What I learned: This internship has taught me valuable leadership, communication, organization and project management skills while giving me a better understanding of healthcare operations. It has challenged me to become more confident, take initiative and manage projects that make a meaningful impact within the hospital.

Future dream job: My dream career options are to either start my own private practice and develop a health and wellness nutritional consultation and coaching business, or to continue in this career path to become a regional operations director in healthcare.

Students from the UW-Stevens Point College of Professional Studies share what it's like get a taste of the working life. Are you interning? Email [email protected] with details and a photo to be featured!

07/23/2026

Insights of Interns: Kaitlan Jones ’27
Major: Health Science and Wellness - Pre-Physical Therapy (UW-Stevens Point School of Health Sciences and Wellness)
Minors: Psychology; Strength and Conditioning
Organization: Fix It Physical Therapy – Maple Grove, Minn.
Title: Intern

What I did: Observed physical therapists during patient evaluations and treatment sessions, assisted with clinic operations, scheduled appointments, completed front desk tasks, and participated in research on lower extremity injury prevention and return-to-play protocols. Gained exposure to evidence-based rehabilitation techniques, patient education, and documentation.

What I liked: I enjoyed working closely with physical therapists and patients in an outpatient orthopedic setting. Seeing patients progress toward their goals and being involved in both clinical care and research strengthened my passion for physical therapy, especially sports rehabilitation.

What I learned: I learned how to apply evidence-based practice to patient care, communicate effectively with patients and healthcare professionals and appreciate the importance of individualized treatment plans. I also gained a better understanding of injury prevention, rehabilitation progression and the role of teamwork in providing high quality care.

Future dream job: I hope to become a sports physical therapist specializing in treating athletes, preventing injuries and helping individuals safely return to sport through rehabilitation and performance enhancement.

Students from the UW-Stevens Point College of Professional Studies share what it's like get a taste of the working life. Are you interning? Email [email protected] with details and a photo to be featured!

07/22/2026

From culinary arts and textiles to financial literacy and early childhood education, participants explored the many facets of family and consumer sciences during the 2026 Emerging FCS Teacher Summer Institute. The two-day event brought together emerging educators and professionals–including many current Pointers and UW-Stevens Point Alumni–for hands-on learning, practical teaching strategies and valuable networking opportunities at UWSP.