Press Release
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Scholarship supports internship opportunities for UW-River Falls political science and international studies students
In 2023, University of Wisconsin-River Falls Political Science Professors Moira Lynch and Davida Alperin (now retired), recognized a need. “Political science and international studies majors recognize the important value of completing an internship while earning their degree at UWRF,” Lynch said. “Internship opportunities bridge the gap between the educational and professional work worlds, but for students in these majors, internship opportunities are often out of reach due to financial
Rockets’ red glare: UW-River Falls Falcon Rocketeers win NASA WSGC Collegiate Rocket Launch Competition
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcon Rocketeers were named Grand Champion of the 2026 NASA Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Collegiate Rocket Launch Competition, held April 24-25 at Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Kansasville. The team received a $3000 prize and a VIP Tour of Sierra Space in North Freedom. “I am very happy with the rocket team's performance,” said Team Lead Brook McLaird, a senior physics major from Kansas City, Kan. “We put in a lot of work throughout the school
Desktop doodles chronicle 40-year history of study abroad program in Scotland
“Your life will change here if you let it” is carved into a battered, stained, antique wooden desktop. The message is one of many left by college students studying abroad in Dalkeith, Scotland over the last 40 years. Many of those former students will have a chance to reconnect this year as the Experience Scotland program, originally titled Wisconsin in Scotland, celebrates its 40th anniversary. Launched in 1986 by a consortium including the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, UW-Eau Claire, UW-La
Falcon Futures: Hands-on opportunities, on-campus job experience help UW-River Falls grad prepare for career in animal science
Afton Nelson, a May graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, didn’t have long to wait to get started on her career after graduation. The double major in dairy science and animal science from Owatonna, Minn., was able to step right into a job as an embryo export coordinator for GenOvations in Lodi. “I heard about the company because we went on a field trip there fall semester for one of my reproduction classes,” said Nelson. Nelson, who transferred to UWRF her sophomore year, said
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Home again: Country singer and UW-River Falls grad Hailey James to headline River Falls Days July 9
Hailey James was 14 years old when she heard something on the radio that set her on her life’s path. James always loved to sing but never thought she would go anywhere with it. “I feel like I had an aha moment when I heard Carrie Underwood for the very first time,” said James, a December 2025 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. “I thought, ‘Wow, I really love this song [Blown Away].’ Wouldn't it be so cool to be like Carrie Underwood and have my songs play on the radio?” Jumping
Professor Grace Lewis receives ADSA Foundation Early Career Award: Dairy Foods Division
The American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA) honored University of Wisconsin-River Falls Assistant Professor Grace Lewis as the 2026 recipient of the ADSA Foundation Early Career Award: Dairy Foods Division Tuesday during an awards ceremony at the ADSA Annual Meeting in Milwaukee. The ADSA Foundation Early Career Award was created to recognize two young scholars (one from the Dairy Foods Division and one from the Production Division) for their potential in research and/or educational leadership in
Looking inside AI: UW-River Falls students apply math skills to AI challenges
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to create new content in imitation of previous human-generated content. But what happens as more and more of that online content used to train AI models has already been generated by AI? That was the question posed in a recent mathematics modeling competition and three University of Wisconsin-River Falls students rose to the challenge. The SIMIODE Challenge Using Differential Equations Modeling (SCUDEM) is presented by the Systemic Initiative for
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Falcon Futures: Internship with barbershop chorus strikes a chord for UW-River Falls grad
When Michael Kerr was approaching his final semester at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, he had a couple of very different choices to consider for an internship. That might not be surprising, considering he was on the verge of completing a triple major in marketing communications, education, and stage and screen arts. Kerr, of River Falls, could have worked in sales for a window company or helped a barbershop chorus implement a social media marketing strategy. The barbershop chorus opportunity
UW-River Falls professor part of gold medal-winning team at world’s most famous flower show in London
Often referred to as “The World Cup of Gardening,” the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show in London is considered by many to be the most prestigious flower show in the world. This year, it drew celebrities and dignitaries as distinguished as the king and queen of England. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Assistant Professor of Biology Benjamin J. Crain was right in the action as a member of a gold-medal-winning international team. The show includes garden, floral and
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Five faculty fellowships funded at UW-River Falls by state-sponsored Dairy Innovation Hub
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) recently awarded five faculty research fellowships to expand dairy-related research through the Dairy Innovation Hub initiative. The selected faculty will lead projects across the Hub’s four priority areas: stewarding land and water resources; enriching human health and nutrition; ensuring animal health and welfare; and growing farm businesses and communities. Funded by a $7.8 million annual
Falcon alum establishes $1 million endowment for UW-River Falls Athletics
A former University of Wisconsin-River Falls two-sport athlete who has been an engaged and generous supporter of the university for more than four decades has established the largest individual-funded program endowment in UWRF history. Paul Dykstra, who was a four-year letter winner in golf and hockey and a key member of the Falcons’ 1983 NAIA national hockey championship team, will donate $1 million to establish the Falcon Athletics Endowment for Excellence. The transformational contribution, one of
Financial Planning and Profit Strategies for Beauty Salon Owners
Beauty salons operate in a unique financial environment. A beauty salon handles high labor costs, fluctuating product expenses, retail inventory, and appointment-based revenue that can vary week to week. Without disciplined financial management, even a busy salon can struggle with profitability.Key Takeaways For Salon Owners Track cash flow weekly to avoid seasonal revenue dips. Separate service revenue from retail sales to measure true profitability. Control inventory shrinkage and over-ordering
