What do Siracha, Death Valley, and the Student Employment Summer Summit have in common? Usually nothing. But thanks to the broken cooling pipe they all found themselves in the same conversation on June 29th at the Pyle Center.

Despite the unexpected heat, 124 attendees kept their cool and stayed focused on the real reason they came together: sharing ideas, learning from one another, and celebrating student employment. The day featured an evocative keynote, first-time presenters, student panelists, and colleagues from UW–Stevens Point who shared innovative approaches to student employment.

Perhaps the biggest testament to the day’s value? Despite the rising temperatures, just over 50 participants stayed through the very end of the program which featured a rousing rendition of “The Job is Right” and cheeky infomercials to highlight other student employment offerings. When people choose learning and connection over air conditioning, you know you’ve built something worthwhile.