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UW‑Superior student Elsa Olson found her future with the Superior Fire Department
When Elsa Olson first toured the University of Wisconsin-Superior, she quickly knew it felt like the right place.
“What originally brought me to UWS was really the area,” said Olson, a native of Cottage Grove, Minnesota. “When I toured UWS, I fell in love with it. It also helped that my brother was up here at UMD. Family kind of drew me here, and of course I had the opportunity to play basketball. They also had my major available, so it felt like a perfect fit.”
That sense of belonging continued as Olson built an academic and athletic career that would ultimately lead her beyond the classroom and into one of the City of Superior’s most essential public service departments.
A Passion Rooted in Health and Movement
Olson chose to major in exercise science, a decision shaped by her lifelong passion for athletics and physical well‑being.
“Ever since high school, I always loved exercise, working out and basketball,” she said. “I knew I didn’t want to get away from that. I still wanted to learn about the body.”
Once enrolled, Olson found herself thriving in UW‑Superior’s classroom environment, crediting faculty for their approachable and engaging teaching styles.
“My experience in the classroom was awesome,” she said. “I really loved all the professors at UWS. Their communication styles really blended with mine.”
The transition from high school to college academics can be intimidating, but Olson said her professors helped make that adjustment smooth.
Balancing Academics and Athletics
As a member of the Yellowjackets women’s basketball team, Olson was no stranger to managing a full schedule. Balancing practices, travel, classes and studying felt familiar.
“Going back to high school, I had school, basketball and weightlifting,” she said. “So it was a pretty natural transition, just in a different environment.”
That discipline became even more important when Olson chose to double major in exercise science and health – adding new academic demands while opening the door to a future‑shaping opportunity.
Creating an Internship From the Ground Up
The public health degree at UW‑Superior requires a senior‑year internship, and by that point Olson already had a career goal in mind.
“I knew I wanted to get into the fire service after I graduated,” she said. “I thought, ‘What better place to have an internship than at a fire department?’ I knew it wasn’t very common, but I took a chance and reached out.”
That outreach landed directly on the desk of Superior Fire Chief Camron Vollbrecht.
“It was actually Elsa who reached out to us,” Vollbrecht said. “She’s interested in the fire service and was in a health and health science program.”
While the City of Superior typically hosts a health and wellness intern each year, Olson’s academic background and interest in emergency services allowed the department to create a unique role that combined public health, exercise science and exposure to fire service operations.
“This was different,” Vollbrecht said. “Elsa wanted to combine exercise science, public health and the fire service.”
When the general city internship went unfilled, the department redirected funding to support Olson in a paid internship.
“We were able to take those funds and actually compensate Elsa,” Vollbrecht said. “It worked out really well.”
Internships create a win‑win for students and employers alike – giving organizations a way to meet short‑term needs while getting to know potential future hires. At UW‑Superior, those connections are made possible through the Link Center, which helps students and employers design meaningful internship opportunities.
Support from the Campus and the Community
Making the internship official required collaboration, and Olson credits UW‑Superior faculty member Kim Lebard-Rankila, associate professor and chair of the Health and Human Performance Department, for guiding the process.
“She handled a lot of the behind‑the‑scenes communication and logistics,” Olson said.
From the department’s perspective, the partnership came together smoothly.
“Working with Kim at UWS was really easy,” Vollbrecht said. “The city already had agreements in place, so we could piggyback on those.”
Olson began her internship in late January, balancing coursework, basketball season and time at the fire station through mid‑May.
“It was really about communication,” she said. “School came first, but basketball was still going on, so sometimes I’d have to leave the station early. I’d always be back the next day.”
Learning the Reality of the Fire Service
During her internship, Olson became immersed in the daily rhythms of the Superior Fire Department. Ongoing Advanced EMT training limited some hands‑on fire response opportunities but still offered valuable insight into department operations.
“Our crews are in advanced EMT training every day,” Vollbrecht said. “She’s been part of that environment, sitting in on lectures and seeing how the department operates.”
The department also supported Olson’s enrollment in a Lake Superior College course, Concepts of Fire Service Careers.
“That course was huge for me,” Olson said. “It covers resumes, interviews, station life and risks – things I wouldn’t have known otherwise.”
Making a Real Impact
Beyond observing, Olson contributed meaningfully to both the fire department and the City of Superior. She developed wellness presentations for firefighters and helped distribute health and fitness resources to city employees.
“She’s been great to have around,” Vollbrecht said. “She does presentations for our crews and helps send out wellness challenges and health information.”
For Olson, the most rewarding part of the experience was simply being part of the station environment.
“It’s very rewarding to see the work they do and how much it matters to the community,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Set to graduate May 16 with summa cum laude honors, Olson reflected on how UW‑Superior shaped her beyond academics.
“UWS and my athletic career taught me discipline,” she said. “A lot of the fire service is about doing the right thing when no one’s watching.”
For Vollbrecht, the internship represents the value of investing in students and the future workforce.
“This is how we develop future leaders,” he said. “You give students a chance to see what they want to do while they’re still in school. You never know—you might find a future employee.”
As she prepares for the next step, Olson remains grateful.
“I just want to say thank you to Cam, my professors and Kim,” she said. “This opportunity has been nothing short of amazing and has really given me an upper hand moving forward.”