SC Wisconsin News

Skyward has been recognized with the UW Regents Business Partnership Award, marking the company's longstanding collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Leadership from Skyward, UW-Stevens Point, and other members of the Universities of Wisconsin were present at the award presentation, alongside Skyward employees who are alumni of UW-Stevens Point.

Regent Edmund Manydeeds III expressed appreciation for the partnership, saying, “The Board of Regents is proud of the partnership between UW-Stevens Point and Skyward. From scholarships to internships to employment after graduation, Skyward is a great supporter of UWSP.”

Skyward, a Stevens Point-based educational software developer, has supported over 2,500 school districts globally and has provided hundreds of student internships, employment opportunities, and scholarships to UW-Stevens Point students.

In 2021, Skyward established the Skyward Internship Center on the UWSP campus. This center mentors and guides 40-50 student interns annually in programming, customer service, marketing, accounting, and other fields, allowing them to gain practical experience in a nearby environment and the company's professional setting.

In recognition of Skyward's contributions, the university dedicated Skyward Fieldhouse in 2022 to honor Skyward's scholarship program. Founded by Skyward's founder Jim King and his wife, Jean, both alumni, the scholarship fund supports students pursuing programming careers and enhances the curriculum of the Department of Computing and New Media Technologies.

Skyward has employed many UW-Stevens Point alumni, who constitute over 40 percent of its workforce. These individuals often began their careers at Skyward as student interns and built their professional foundation while studying.

Chancellor Thomas Gibson expressed gratitude: “We are extremely grateful to Skyward for its commitment to investing in our students through its robust internship program and generous scholarship endowment. Skyward has proved to be a dedicated educational partner as well as an outstanding example of how people and technology can work together to make a global impact.”

Skyward's CEO Scott Glinski also praised the partnership: “Our successful partnership with UW-Stevens Point is visible every day at Skyward, where talented alumni constantly bring new energy, ideas, and innovation. We’re honored to continue growing together to create opportunities for students, strengthen our community, and help shape the future of educational technology.”

The UW Regents Business Partnership Award honors business-university alliances, which foster innovation and reflect evolving educational needs. Jay Rothman, president of the Universities of Wisconsin, also acknowledged the benefits: "UW students and campus communities receive extraordinary benefit from working alongside our business partners, and Skyward is a shining example. Skyward's investment in students at UW-Stevens Point provides extraordinary opportunities for which we are grateful."