Meet Wisconsin Union student employee Rebecca Widmann
By Heather Heggemeier
Rebecca Widmann
Prairie Fire, Union South
Senior, Graduating May 2012
Major: Actuarial Science and Risk Management Insurance
Hometown: Brookfield, WI
Rebecca Widmann has worked for Wisconsin Union since her freshman year. Her first semester on campus, Rebecca worked for building services and hotels in Union South. When the old Union South closed during the building project, she transferred to Peet’s Coffee and Tea in the Memorial Union, working there for five semesters. When Union South re-opened, Rebecca chose to transfer to Prairie Fire, the new coffee shop and wine bar. A big part of her decision to move back was that she felt drawn to being a part of the new, exciting building.
Rebecca was also interested in learning to serve wine. Through serving at Prairie Fire and working several wine-tasting events, Rebecca has not only learned the basics of serving wine–like the proper way to open and serve a bottle of wine–but she has also developed an understanding and appreciation for white wine and says that is what she typically recommends to customers.
A student supervisor since March of 2010, Rebecca works about twenty-five hours per week. She condenses this commitment into only two days, as a strategy to have more days of the week that she can focus entirely on school. When she’s not working, Rebecca visits Union South a couple times a week to study or relax. Her favorite study spot is The Roost, a secluded area on the second floor near Prairie Fire with its own balcony. She also enjoys frequenting the wine bar and computer lab in Union South.
Working at the Union has also helped Rebecca hone her people skills. You wouldn’t believe this if you watched her serve customers or sat down and had a conversation with her yourself, but she says she used to be a “timid homebody” and that working as a barista has brought her out of her shell. Supervising other employees has also taught her to maintain good co-worker relationships while keeping things running smoothly.
When asked if she’s excited to graduate, Rebecca gets a little gleam in her eye. “Yes,I’m excited, that’s for certain,” she says. With a dual-degree in actuarial science and risk management insurance, Rebecca hopes to find a job in Wisconsin. She plans to take advantage of the new-graduate rate and get her lifetime membership before she leaves campus. Rebecca explains that she has enjoyed working for the Union and going to school at the university, and she wants to remain connected.
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A wine recommendation for you, courtesy of Rebecca: Prairie Fumé, brewed by the Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac, WI. This white wine is her favorite of all those served at Prairie Fire, but Rebecca says she would order it anywhere it was offered.
Heather Heggemeier is an intern in the Alumni Relations Department, and has been there since September 2011. She is also a member of Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Publications Committee and Society and Politics Committee. She also currently helps with administrative tasks in the Directors’ Office. Previously, Heather worked in Peet’s Coffee and Tea as a barista and devoted coffee connoisseur. Heather is a junior in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, with a dual emphasis of reporting and strategic communications. In her spare time, Heather loves visiting her family in Owen, WI. She enjoys running, hiking, photography and piano. Her areas of interest include holistic health, environmental protection and Italian culture.
