Where Are they now?
Congratulations to Our Fall 2011 Honors Graduates and Associates
The following 10 students have completed the Honors curriculum and will be honored at the Fall 2011 Honors Graduation Ceremony at Pollock House on Monday, December 12. Students who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher will be awarded an Honors Medallion* and those who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.2 to 3.49 will receive a Certificate.
*Sarah Apel (Madison) – BS in Chemistry (emphasis in Biomolecular Science)
*Sarah Horton – BA in French and BA in Philosophy
*Kayde Kempen (Chilton) - BS in Journalism (emphasis in Writing/Editing)
*Amanda Krahn (Trevor) – BS in Biology; minor in Chemistry
Katie Kufahl (Cedarburg) – BS in Psychology; minor in Social Justice
*Steffanie Nagan (Kaukauna) – BSE in Natural Science; minor in Biology (Secondary Education)
*Danielle Schmitting (Brillion) – BSE in Mathematics (Secondary Education); minor in Business Administration
*Dana Van Elzen (Kaukauna/Town of Harrison) – BSE in Elementary Education; minor in Mathematics (Elementary Education)
*Lew Wiest (Verona) – BSN; minor in Psychology
*Kaci Worth (Fond du Lac) – BS in Environmental Studies; minor in History
Here is the latest we've heard from UHP Graduates and Associates....
Spring 2010:
- Dan Curran (BSE in Broadfield Natural Science [Secondary Education] and minor in Biology [Secondary Education]) now lives in Baraboo, Wisconsin, where he teaches biology and physical science at Baraboo High School. In his spare time, Dan is a beekeeper.
- Jessica Gordon (BS in Journalism [Public Relations] and minor in Business Administration) accepted a position as a Marketing and Communications Assistant with Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., a business-oriented Milwaukee law firm. “I am currently living in Grafton and commuting downtown,” Jessica said. “I am happy to be working with this amazing company and look forward to the many growth opportunities.”
- Sarah Roswell (BSE in Elementary Education; minors in French and Mathematics) is teaching fourth and fifth grade half-time at a private schoolin Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She also has a tutoring job in the afternoons where she works with first-grade students on remedial math and reading skills through the Chippewa Falls Area School District. Sarah also volunteers one day each week at a middle school library. “I’m very busy!” Sarah admits. “I’m still ruminating on the possibility of graduate school but am enjoying where I am for now.”
Fall 2009:
- Katie Dahlvig (BS in Psychology; minor in Spanish) worked for the Fox Valley Autism Treatment Program as a line therapist, where she offered one-on-one therapy to autistic children to help them learn about and work on basic life skills. She also worked at ARAS as a promotional model, traveled (including trips to Las Vegas, New York City, and Grand Cayman), and was accepted to graduate school at Loyola University in Chicago. As of fall 2010, Katie is studying Educational Psychology to become a school psychologist.
- Lydia Doerr (BS in Biology [Ecology & Organismal]) worked for an Ohio State University grad student in the coastal marshes of Lake Erie as a Secretive Marshbird Technician. Lydia said this “really meant that I got up really early in the morning and either waded or kayaked through swamps where I played bird songs in the hope that birds of the same species would respond.” She also helped to collect data about the plants present in the swamps, which will help the grad student determine what type of vegetation is needed for the population of several bird species in Ohio. Since then, Lydia volunteered in New Zealand as a Hut Warden in Tongariro National Park and was seeking a biological research position through the next year.
- Amanda Krohn (BSN) is attending graduate school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which Amanda describes as “a lot of work! This is my first semester attending the University of Michigan on a full fellowship while pursuing my PhD in Nursing. My research interests are currently focused on psychiatric mental health of military families and adolescents. I am enjoying living here and spend my time working on endless amounts of coursework and attending Big Ten football games on the weekends. Go Blue!”
Spring 2009:
- John Erickson (BA in English; minor in Women’s Studies) is working on a master’s degree in California at Claremont Graduate University and working as a Graduate Assistant and Program Coordinator at the Queer Resource Center at Pomona College. “I am breaking the norm here,” John stated, “for I am the first guy in the Applied Women’s Studies program.” His area of interest is AIDS in relation to women with a special focus on transmission and prevention.
- Andrew Havlovick (BS in Radio-TV-Film; minor in Business Administration) was teaching English with his fiance in Suwon, South Korea, and signed a one-year contract that ended August 2010. One needs only a Bachelor’s degree to teach English in South Korea and, according to Andrew, “the pay and benefits aren’t too shabby either! I never imagined that after graduation I would be teaching English to elementary school children but it’s very rewarding to see the impact I have on my students’ English skills, even after two short months.“ Andrew hoped to find a job in business-to-business sales after returning to the U.S. . In the meantime, he was making the most of his time in Asia: “Both Gina and I definitely agree that right after college was the perfect time in our lives to travel, before the rest of our lives got in the way. When else does a person have this kind of opportunity?”
- Anne Herlache (BS in Psychology; minor in History) is working on a master’s in Experimental Psychology at UW Oshkosh. “So far it’s going really well. It’s challenging, but rewarding,” Anne remarked. “I’m currently working on expanding the research I started with Dr. Anca Miron for my Honors thesis. We are also developing another research design on an unrelated topic.” She is also working during the day as a graduate assistant for the Psychology Department, as well as in the evenings for the Center for Academic Resources. As for future plans, she would like to apply to PhD programs.
- Ashley Johnson (BS in Political Science; minor in Legal Studies) is working for Ricoh Business Solutions in Appleton selling software and hardware. She also planned to apply to law school.
- Tyler Krombholz (BBA in Marketing) is working as a financial representative by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Oshkosh. He helps clients achieve their financial goals through insurance, investment, and retirement solutions.
- Bethany Lerch (BA in German and BA in International Studies) worked at a grammar school in Koblenz in the heart of the German Rhineland as an English Teaching Assistant, an opportunity made possible by the U.S. State Department and PAD, a German academic exchange organization. She also served as the students’ guide to all things relating to the United States and American culture. Bethany was then awarded a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship to complete graduate study abroad and is curently studying at the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland. Her studies include Fundamental Issues and Structures of Terrorism and Research Methods. “We are given approximately twenty hours of reading per class per week so the emphasis is very much on independent learning.” Bethany plans to graduate in November 2011, and then hopes to work on national defense issues and policy in Washington, D.C.
- Kylie McGowan (BS in English; minor in Journalism) is interning in Oshkosh at Triangle Manufacturing where she researches new sales leads, maintains the company blog, assists with social media communications, and is starting a new marketing campaign to bring in more business. Kylie is also working as a writer for the Winnebago County Literacy Council where she produces press releases, donation letters, and grant proposals.
- Ben Vollbrecht (BS in Computer Science; minor in Mathematics) is working at ImproMed, Inc., a local business that is the largest manufacturer of management software for the veterinary industry, as a web developer. “ImproMed is located right here in Oshkosh on Ohio Street just over the bridge from the university,” Ben remarked. “We develop software such as our main product, Infinity, and provide services for veterinary practices.”
Fall 2008:
- Alexandra Brehmer (BBA in Marketing and BA in Spanish; minor in Global Business) explored the market, networked, researched companies, and took an internship with Kimberly-Clark in Neenah. She then interned with a small agency in Green Bay, continued reaching out to professionals, seeking advice, and planting seeds. Zandi reconnected with a company in downtown Chicago, got an interview the same week, was offered a job two weeks later, and moved to Chicago in another two. She is currntly an analyst for GfK Custom Research Strategic Innovation, a market research consulting firm.
- Sam Mark (BS in Radio-TV-Film [emphasis in TV Producing/Writing/Advertising]; minors in History and Mathematics) moved to California where he worked on ABC’s game show Wipeout and promotional shoots for Fox Reality Channel and Fox Sports West. Sam is now an Associate Producer for Urban Legends Film Co., which is based in Los Angeles. He produces and writes college football promos for Fox Sports Network ("My scripts even get read by Joe Buck during NFL games") and he has been an assistant director for numerous shoots for FSN, TLC, and SPEED Channel. Recently, he took a scriptwriting workshop. Sam lives in Culver City, California.
Spring 2008:
- Stefanie Adkins (BA in Political Science; minors in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies) moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, to attend Hamline University School of Law. She was elected to the Student Bar Association and works with the Twin Cities Urban Debate League, where she coaches inner-city middle school kids about the fundamentals of debate.
- Leslie Cormack (BSE in English [Secondary Education] and BA in English; minors in ESL and Spanish [Secondary Education]) is teaching seventh grade English at DC Everest Middle School near Wausau. “It is a great district and a beautiful, new school,” she said. “The students keep me laughing, working my hardest, and perpetually challenged. I put in long hours but feel fortunate and privileged to be these students’ teacher.” Leslie also serves on many committees, including one that is focused on bringing speakers from around the world to north-central Wisconsin.
- David Flagel (BS in Biology [Ecology and Organismal Studies]) is working toward a PhD as an Arthur J. Schmitt Fellow at the University of Notre Dame. His study focuses on terrestrial trophic cascades, specifically the interactions of gray wolves, whitetail deer, and tree regeneration in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
- Sarah Harris (BA in Theatre [Design] and BA in Theatre [Acting]; minor in Spanish) worked as a props intern for Saint Michael’s Playhouse in Burlington, Vermont, and then moved to Phoenix, Arizona, to intern with Phoenix Theatre. Sarah was then planning to apply to graduate schools for scenic design.
- Leah Hanson (formerly Betz) (BS in Mathematics; minor in Psychology) worked on campus here at UW Oshkosh as a Program Assistant for the Accelerated Online BSN Program, which allows qualified students to achieve a BSN within twelve months. Leah is taking towards another Bachelor’s degree of her own. “My goal is to go straight to grad school after I complete my nursing degree and to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner,” she says. Leah completed her BSN in fall 2010.
- Erica J. Harwell (BS in Psychology; minor in Neuroscience) is working with AmeriCorps at Admission Possible, a nonprofit college access program in Milwaukee. She assists Milwaukee High School seniors with college searches, applications, scholarships, and financial aid. She also plans to further her education in psychology.
- Teresa Hoerres (BA in International Studies; minor in French) joined AmeriCorps and was soon offered a position at the International Institute of Erie, Pennsylvania. “Each day I come to work is like a trip to a faraway land,” she said. “I have the privilege of working directly with refugees from all over the world. My agency assists refugees who have been victims of war crimes and have come here seeking permanent resettlement through the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Some refugees are quite educated [and ] others have very low education levels because they have been living in refugee camps or political prisons for 20+ years in countries such as Nepal and Burma. My primary responsibility is teaching them nutrition and health [and] helping them to acclimate to our culture. I have been met with a lot of success so far, but this job can be quite stressful or emotionally draining some days. I do, however, love what I’m doing, and I view this as a huge stepping stone in my career. “ After her year of service,Teresa planned to “take advantage of the Non-Competitive Federal Employment Advantage granted to AmeriCorps alumni and apply at USCRI. Following that, I will go to grad school for Peace and Conflict Resolution with the ultimate goal of employment at the United Nations. That’s still a few years down the road, though.”
- Mindy Korish (BA in Psychology; minor in Spanish) moved to Madison to work full time as a community support coordinator with Dungarvin, an organization that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the U.S. Providers work within individuals’ homes and offer all sorts of assistance, including physical therapy, cooking, and cleaning. “Some homes are needier than others,” Mindy explains, “and the home that I work in is the only home in Madison that is licensed by the state, so we have more guidelines and rules to follow. As a coordinator, I am in charge of managing individual finances and planning activities for individuals…. I work with individuals with disabilities ranging from autism and mental retardation to traumatic brain injury.” Mindy's plans also include graduate school at UW Milwaukee, UW Madison, or Marquette University.
- Julie Leibold (BS in Chemistry and minor in Mathematics) is a graduate student in the Geochemistry PhD program in the Department of Geology and Geologic Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in Golden. “I just switched departments from Chemistry to Geology and passed my comprehensive exams,” Julie says. Her thesis project is a geochemical study of a roll-front uranium deposit (a concentration of uranium that develops in a confined aquifer through the interaction between oxidized groundwater and the reduced sediment--we had to ask!) in northwestern Nebraska. Julie plans to graduate sometime in 2012.
- Amanda Longdin (BSE in Elementary Education; minors in Language Arts and French [Elementary Education]) is working as a long-term substitute French teacher at Waupun Area High School. While she graduated with a minor in French and is licensed to teach French at the elementary and middle school levels, Amanda was accepted at UW Oshkosh as a re-entry student and is pursuing her teaching certification in French for secondary education.
- Shayla Schermetzler (BS in Psychology; minors in Neuroscience and Philosophy) is pursuing a master's of science in Mental Health Counseling at UW Stout.
- Eric Stetler (BBA in Accounting, BBA in Finance, and BBA in Economics [Business], Spring 2008) served as Vice President and President on the UHSA Executive Board, graduated summa cum laude, and was a Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award Winner in the 2008 “Best in Class” selection. Eric joined Robert W. Baird & Company, an employee-owned wealth management, capital markets, asset management, and private equity firm, in Milwaukee as an investment banking analyst. He then moved to downtown Chicago, to work as a senior analyst in the Investment Banking Division at Baird, which was awarded the #11 position on Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® list in 2010. As a member of the Industrial Group, Eric provides analytical support on equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and other financial advisory services. He is a Certified Management Accountant.
Fall 2007:
- Charity M. Bratz (BSE in Elementary Education; minors in French and Math [Elementary Education]) interviewed with the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Programme in Chicago and was hired to be an Assistant Language Teacher for a year at Inazono High School in Amagasaki, Japan, to assist with both English and French classes.
- Cassie M. Kautzer (BSE in Elementary Education; minor in Mathematics) moved to Arkansas and began working as an Education Coordinator for ClubZ! of Northwest Arkansas, which is a one-on-one, in-home tutoring company that hires certified teachers or degreed professionals to tutor in their areas of expertise. While still working with Club Z!, she began teaching fifth grade in Springdale, Arkansas.
- Erin Rammer (BS in Human Services; minor in Psychology) worked as a Career Advisor for the College of Letters and Science here on campus where she assisted students with their resumes, helped them find internships, and provided resources for securing employment after graduation. She earned a master’s in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Global Education from UW Oshkosh in December 2009.
Spring 2007:
- Katrina Bell (BS in Psychology and minor in French) departed for Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to begin the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Central Michigan University.
- Marisa Cuellar (BS in Journalism and minor in History) is working as a Marketing Coordinator at Kalmbach Publishing in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
- Heather Freund (BSE in History and BSE in Social Science and minor in English [Secondary Education]) is teaching psychology, crime and social issues, and U.S. history at Eisenhower Middle/High School in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
- Michelle Glines (BFA in Graphic Communications) is working for Silver Editions, a children’s publishing company, in New York City.
- Meghan Iverson (BA in Spanish) took a summer course in Web design at UW Oshkosh and then studied Web design and coding at Milwaukee Area Technical College. She began working for Marcus Corporation in 2008 and loves her job, which focuses on Marcus Hotels and Resorts.
- Margaret LaBorde (BA in Environmental Studies, BA in International Studies [Latin American Studies], and BA in Spanish) began a 27-month commitment to the Peace Corps as an Agro-Forestry and Environmental Education Volunteer in El Salvador. Margaret taught sustainable agricultural methods to rural farmers and worked with rural schools to incorporate environmental education into their curriculum.
- Heath Mynsberge (BA in Political Science and minor in History) attended law school at UW Madison.
- Laura Roemaat (BA in Spanish and BSW) started her Master’s in Social Work at UW Milwaukee.
- Bryce Scherer (BA in Radio/TV/Film; minor in History) is living in Los Angeles, California, and working as a Production Assistant for the reality show Wipeout. She described the show as one in which “people go through difficult obstacle courses [and] usually fall off or get run into by things and land in big mud puddles.”
- Greta Voit (BSE in Physics [Secondary Education] and minor in Mathematics [Secondary Education]) is teaching Physics and Biotechnical Engineering at New Berlin West High School in New Berlin, Wisconsin. In her first year of teaching, she received the Wisconsin Society of Science Teacher’s Frank Zuerner New Teacher Scholarship. Greta also began the master’s program in Curriculum and Instruction (Physics Education emphasis) at UW Oshkosh.
- Melissa Whalen (BA in Journalism [Advertising/PR] and minor in English) is working as a Public Relations Account Coordinator at Boelter and Lincoln Marketing Communications in downtown Milwaukee.
- Alexander Zinoviev (BBA in Marketing) found work at Risdall Advertising Agency Interactive in Minneapolis, the largest interactive firm in Minnesota. There he learned a great deal about web development but always planned to continue his education. He completed a master’s of international business as well as a master’s of commerce from the University of Sydney, Australia, and graduated in spring 2011. Alex then planned to visit South America to Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. “Upon my return to Australia, I will be looking for opportunities to keep pursuing my career here,” he said.
Fall 2006:
- Catherine Schmitz (BSE in Mathematics [Secondary Education]; minor in Spanish) is teaching Spanish at Sabish Middle School and Fond du Lac High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Spring 2005:
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Kelly Bezio (BA in English, BA in French, and BA in History; minor in German) started the MA/PhD program in 2005 at the Department of English and Comparative Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she continues to study today. She completed her master’s in English in 2007, and her Master’s Thesis Option was titled “The Methodological Unity of Science and the New Criticism.” Her dissertation examines American fiction and travel writing from the 1790s through the 1860s alongside major American medical periodicals (such as the nation’s first medical journal the Medical Repository) to ascertain the relationships between theories of disease transmission and constructions of national identity in the early national and antebellum eras.
We'd love to hear from you!
Please send updates and news to Julie Russo, Assistant Director: russoj@uwosh.edu.
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Please let us know where you are now!
