UW-Oshkosh Internship and Career Fair links more than 1,000 students, alumni to industry leaders

More than 1,000 students met with 118 employers during the spring 2026 UW-Oshkosh Internship and Career Fair inside the Kolf Sports Center.

A total of 118 companies, including those represented by dozens of University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh alumni, filled Kolf Sports Center for the Spring 2026 Internship and Career Fair-connecting more than 1,000 students with internships, jobs and future mentors.

The March 2 on-campus event, now in its 21st year, continues to serve as a cornerstone of career preparation, said Jamie Page-Stadler, director of Career and Professional Development.

"What I really hope students get out of coming to the internship and career fair is that they build connections," Page-Stadler said. "Some students are looking for internships or full-time roles. Others already have a job and want to keep their network open. Learning how to stay connected is huge."

Titan alumni recruiting Titans

At the booth for Society Insurance, 2025 finance graduate Elizabeth Buck stood on the other side of the table from where she once nervously handed employers her résumé. Buck, now a commercial underwriter, interned with Society for a year after connecting at the career fair. Upon graduation, she transitioned full time into underwriting.

"Yes, it does work," Buck said of the fair. "It can be so nerve-wracking. We've all been in that seat before. But getting out and doing it is a big, big step."

She credits UW-Oshkosh's business program for helping her build confidence and industry connections, particularly through faculty who brought insurance professionals into the classroom.

"I think UWO does an amazing job connecting you into the business world," she said. "Finding mentors, finding people who were in the same position as you, that's so important when you're starting your career."

At Secura Insurance, multiple alumni returned to recruit. Alex Madden, a 2018 marketing graduate and now a commercial lines underwriter, remembers being "nervous, all sweaty" walking up to employers as a student.

"I wanted to give back and kind of ease that tension," Madden said. "I love working for Secura, so I want to try to get UWO grads into the company."

He said UW-Oshkosh's sales emphasis helped him grow comfortable with public speaking, a skill he uses daily in underwriting.

Fellow alum Michael Powell, a 2019 business project management graduate who now works as a workers' compensation claims representative, also traces his path back to connections made at the campus career fairs.

"The career fair is a big thumbs up," said Powell, who landed an internship through the career fair as a student. "It builds so many different skills, from getting up in front of strangers and shaking hands to making eye contact and starting what could become a professional relationship with your future employer."

Across the fieldhouse, 2023 business administration graduate Riley Anastasi represented Sprocket Security, where he works in business development. His advice to students seeking jobs is not to let a single handshake be the end of the conversation.

"Don't think that shaking hands here is something someone's going to remember forever," Anastasi said. "Go the extra step. Shoot them a message. Follow up."

Employers welcome Titan talent

For 2021 history graduate Jacob Patterson, now a talent attraction specialist with Hoffmaster Group, the fair offers a chance to keep talent local.

"Obviously I love UWO. I went here," Patterson said. "We're local, so it helps bring in local talent instead of needing to ship people in from elsewhere."

He encourages students to focus on perseverance and clear communication.

"Make sure you're communicating your skills and abilities clearly, both through your résumé and when you're speaking to people," he said.

The event also drew alumni from public service. Troy Krepsky, a 1994 psychology graduate and behavioral health supervisor with Sheboygan County Health and Human Services, said his department has successfully hired UW-Oshkosh graduates, including one recent connection first made at the career fair.

"We got a sense of who she was before we offered her an interview," Krepsky said.

Students making the rounds

Among those working the booths this year was UWO senior finance major Andrew Schad of Kiel, who has attended the fair every year since arriving on campus.

"I've made great connections every single year," Schad said, adding he secured an internship through a previous fair.

For Page-Stadler, those success stories, internships turning into full-time roles and alumni returning to recruit, are the reason the event continues to grow. Roughly half of the recruiters are UW-Oshkosh alumni.

"They have a shared story with our students," Page-Stadler said. "They can talk about their time on campus. They care. And they can get the students' questions answered."

She describes UW-Oshkosh students as "humble and qualified."

"They're dedicated. They're loyal. They're hardworking," she said. "And they want to stay in Wisconsin. That's a real good fit for a lot of these organizations."

Learn more:

UW-Oshkosh Career & Professional Development

View photos from the career fair

Career Fair headshots album