Feb. 3, 2018 – Washington Co., WI – UW-Washington County’s February Student Spotlight is on Jon Punko of Slinger. Jon spent his senior year of high school as an exchange student living in Barcelona, Spain.
According to Jon, “Foreign exchange was the best decision of my life and it changed my perspective on things forever. After my exchange, I moved back to Spain for another year before coming home and going to college.”
Punko advises other students, “If you have the opportunity to study abroad while in school, take it! Traveling is much easier before you have to take on added adult or parental responsibilities post-college.”
The Spotlight highlights a UW-WC student’s academic achievement and provides the community with an inside look into campus life and a greater understanding of the diverse profiles and experiences of our students.
Name: Jon Punko
Age: 21
Hometown: Slinger, WI
Double Major: International Business/Finance, Investment & Banking; Minor: Spanish
Career Goal: To work for a large bank or corporation that includes travel to foreign branches or partners.
High School: Slinger High School, 2015 Graduate
Why did you choose your program/major? I want to travel for work, and after living in Europe for two years I decided that if I could get paid to travel back there, I’d be in my dream job.
What surprised you most about UW‐Washington County when you arrived on campus? I didn’t really know what to expect before I enrolled. I was pleasantly surprised that the professors and office staff seemed genuinely interested and invested in my learning. Everyone is very helpful – if you need it.
Outside of being a college student, what takes up your free time? I am the Public Relations Officer for the Student Government Association here on campus, and also work in the Solution Center office. Outside of school, I like to spend time with friends and go to movies and restaurants.
Who is your favorite professor or staff member? The Solution Center staff and Student Affairs department are all great people and coworkers. I enjoy being there because of those I work with.
What is your favorite class? GEO-123 (Physical Science: Weather & Climate). I took this course in Fall 2017 with Professor Sanborn and learned about the relationships between the sun, the planet and its weather. It was highly informational and I found the subject matter to be very interesting!
I’d recommend it to anyone needing a 5-credit lecture/lab. I’m also taking GEO-170 with Professor Sanborn this Spring, which deals with extreme weather, natural disasters, etc. Having GEO-123 under my belt, I expect to be able to make connections between the courses and enhance my learning.
Plans after UW‐WC? I will transfer to UW-Madison and the Wisconsin School of Business to complete my Undergrad. I also plan to stay at Madison for my MBA.
Advice for incoming UW‐WC students? When picking your classes, make sure to check the Transfer Information System online (www.wisconsin.edu/transfer) to see how your credits will transfer to your next institution. You can take the guesswork and worry out of transferring by choosing courses which will transfer properly. Stop in the Solution Center office for help or for an informational brochure. It’s a free service that I used heavily to make sure I could cover all my Associate Degree requirements at UW-WC, as well as all the UW-Madison General Education/Liberal Studies requirements. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to transfer directly into the Wisconsin School of Business next fall.
UW-Washington County is located at 400 S. University Drive in West Bend. The campus is part of the University of Wisconsin System and offers freshman and sophomore level classes in over 250 majors. With dedicated faculty and small class sizes, it provides an optimal learning environment. For more information about the campus, visit the website, washington.uwc.edu or email: wsh-info@uwc.edu