When Max Kauphusman walks across the stage at Winona State University Commencement this spring, he’ll be doing more than receiving a diploma — he’ll be continuing a legacy that began more than three decades ago. Max, a Composite Materials Engineering major from Chippewa Falls, Wis., is graduating from the same innovative program that launched his father’s career 34 years earlier.
His father, Scott Kauphusman, was a member of the very first class of Composite Materials Engineering graduates at Winona State, earning his degree in 1991. Now, Max joins the ranks of Winona State alumni with a sense of pride and continuity that stretches across generations.
“Winona State offers a unique and competitive engineering program at a reasonable price,” Max said. For him, it wasn’t just about following tradition — it was about choosing excellence.
Winona State offers a one-of-a-kind program – a Bachelor of Science in Composite Materials Engineering, the only undergraduate CME program in the nation. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under both the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Materials, Metallurgical, Ceramics, and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
The Composite Materials Engineering program is known for its hands-on learning, extensive lab experience, and strong ties to industry. Students work with cutting-edge materials used in everything from aerospace to wind energy, preparing them to solve real-world problems in high-tech fields.
Max credits his success to the close-knit learning environment and the dedication of the Winona State faculty.
“The mentorship from WSU faculty has been my favorite part,” he shared. “I didn’t expect to grow as close to the WSU faculty as I did.”
With a degree that is respected in industry and rooted in innovation, Max is now preparing to take the next step in his journey. He’ll be pursuing a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tennessee.
He leaves behind a few words of wisdom for future Warriors, delivered with characteristic engineer brevity: “Engineering = good.”
For the Kauphusmans, Winona State is more than a university. It’s a place where passion for engineering runs deep, and where a family legacy continues to grow.
