Jacob Heron, UW-Oshkosh’s midyear commencement speaker and an information systems major, in one of the campus computer labs where he completed much of his technical coursework. He will step into a full-time systems engineer role with Faith Technologies Incorporated immediately after graduation.

Jacob Heron did not arrive at UW-Oshkosh with a perfect roadmap. What he did arrive with were honest questions about cost, value, and whether college would truly lead him where he hoped to go. 

“I came to school to get a job,” said Heron, who majored in information systems (IT) with an emphasis in computer science. “I wanted an education that would actually lead to something.”  

That “something” arrived sooner than he expected. Before even reaching graduation day, Heron had already secured a full-time systems engineering position at Menasha-based Faith Technologies Incorporated. 

He will take the stage Dec. 13 at Kolf Sports Center as UW-Oshkosh’s Midyear Commencement student speaker, delivering a message shaped by the lesson that has defined his time on campus. His speech centers on belief — specifically, believing in yourself even when you’re not completely sure you can do something. For Heron, that wasn’t just a theme. It was the way he learned to move through college. 

That straightforward goal guided nearly every decision he made at UWO, from choosing his major to pursuing internships, joining the Honors College, attending networking events and even studying abroad in London. What he didn’t realize at the time was that each step would build something larger: confidence, clarity, communication skills, professional relationships, and a sense of direction that would ultimately launch his career. 

Why UW-Oshkosh was the right choice

Heron considered several universities, but UW-Oshkosh rose to the top for practical reasons he still stands by today. 

“As an out-of-state student, getting the Titan National Scholar Scholarship, which gave me in-state tuition, was huge,” said Heron, a Waukegan, Illinois, native. He also received the Business Dean’s Scholar Scholarship during his first semester. 

“What really sold me on UW-Oshkosh was the business program’s reputation for getting students internships and jobs,” he said. “I knew I would have opportunities here.” 

Those opportunities came quickly. Heron credits UWO’s career fairs as pivotal to his success. They connected him to employers who offered opportunities he didn’t even know to look for. 

“I wouldn’t have two of my internships without the career fairs,” he said. “They gave me direct access to employers who were excited to talk with students.” 

Heron gained substantial hands-on experience through internships as an IT intern for the Aspen (Colorado) School District, a project coordinator and business analyst intern with Alliance Laundry Systems, and as a systems and infrastructure intern at Faith Technologies Incorporated, where he will now begin his full-time career as a systems engineer 1. 

He also had the opportunity to be part of a cybersecurity vulnerability audit and remediation plan for Haviland Hearing in Appleton and explored emerging tools by creating simple applications built entirely using artificial intelligence.

“I wanted to learn by doing,” he said. “The real-world projects are where everything really came together.”

Entrepreneurial curiosity 

Heron’s time at UW-Oshkosh also strengthened his interest in innovation. Early in college, he experimented with entrepreneurship, launching a creative venture called TooSilly with friends and later joining the Titan Accelerator Program to develop CarbonPointe, a concept for carbon fiber pointe shoes. 

“Those projects taught me how to problem-solve, how to pitch ideas, how to work with uncertainty,” he said. “They pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way.” 

Although Heron excelled in the technical side of information systems, he says the soft skills he learned at UW-Oshkosh are what prepared him for the real world. 

“In information systems, you have to talk to people, managers, clients, higher ups,” he said. “You cannot hide behind technical skills. You have to be clear, confident, and able to explain things so everyone understands.” 

Group projects, presentations and interview preparation taught him how to communicate with professionalism and ease. 

“Communication is everything,” he said. “Being able to talk clearly, to advocate for your ideas, to network, to be someone others can rely on, that is what UWO gave me.”

Heron credits Michael Patton, an assistant teaching professor in information systems at UWO, for encouraging him early on to get involved and develop strong communication habits. 

“Jacob understands that being technically proficient is not enough for a successful IS career,” Patton said. “He approaches every business and technical need as a human need first. When our IS 413 class worked with a local nonprofit on their cybersecurity needs, the professionals there commented on Jacob’s professionalism and his understanding of their challenges. He has proven he’s ready to use the knowledge and skills he gained at UWO to make the world a better place.”  

A global perspective and a personal one 

One of Heron’s most meaningful experiences at UW-Oshkosh was the Honors College study abroad trip to London, led by Dean Laurence Carlin. 

Heron describes himself as someone who usually flies under the radar. Public speaking, especially, was never something he sought out. When Honors College Dean Laurence Carlin encouraged him to apply to be the commencement speaker, Heron hesitated. 

“Dr. Carlin emailed me and said, ‘I think you would be great for this,’” Heron said. “At first I was not sure. But after he sent that email, I felt like I had to try.” 

Belief, both his and others’, is a thread that runs throughout his time at UW-Oshkosh. 

“It has taught me that you do not have to feel 100 percent ready,” he said. “Sometimes you just have to step forward, and the belief comes after.” 

As he prepares to begin his career at Faith Technologies, Heron says he is bringing not just technical skills, but the confidence that develops only through lived experience. The doubts he felt years ago about whether college would be worth the investment have faded. 

“Was going to college, coming to UW-Oshkosh, worth the investment?” he said with a grin. “Absolutely. One hundred percent worth it.” 

Learn more:  

UWO Midyear Commencement: all the details and the Dec. 13 livestream

Study information systems at UWO 

In Video: UW-Oshkosh Internship & Career Fair