From spring break service to City Hall: UW-Oshkosh shaped Neenah’s new mayor
Brian Borchardt, a three-time UW-Oshkosh alumnus, celebrates his April 7 election as Neenah mayor with his wife, Lori (Zivkovich) Borchardt, left, a two-time UW-Oshkosh graduate. The couple first met as students at UW-Oshkosh, where Borchardt was a member of Delta Chi...
In Photo: Spring Election draws voters at UWO
Voters in Winnebago County—including many students on the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh campus— cast ballots Tuesday for several key local races.
Check out some of the early voting activity in the Spring Election at Culver Family Welcome Center:
Bright ideas: Culver’s Business Model Competition showcases student entrepreneurship
A student-focused digital platform designed to simplify and modernize the academic planning experience took home first place in the 2026 Culver’s Business Model Competition April 2 at UW-Oshkosh.
Josh Lee, who is majoring in information systems, pitched “Titan Academic Advisor” and earned a check for $3,000. Lee hopes to provide value to universities that will pay an annual subscription fee. He said the platform “enables students to search courses, plan degree pathways, track academic progress and receive personalized recommendations—all within a clean, intuitive interface.”
Gabe Torres, also majoring in information systems, took second and $1,500, for his “Nexum–Unified Athlete Management” that is an all-in-one performance platform that empowers coaches and athletes to track wellness, monitor progress and build personalized workout programs. It was developed in collaboration with UWO football staff.
Kellen Grall, a business management major, earned $1,000 by placing third with WI Marquee Co., a letter rental company with locations in Oshkosh and Madison that lights events across the state with three-foot marquee letters and numbers. The primary market is high schools and universities (proms, graduations, signing days), corporate clients (conferences, grand openings, company events) and private events that include weddings and birthdays.
Andrew Fassbinder, majoring in business management and experienced in beekeeping, took home the People’s Choice honors ($250 and bragging rights) with his Fassbinder Fox River Honey. During competition he suggested that Culver’s restaurants consider creating a honey-flavored custard with his honey.
The Culver Business Model Competition is the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development’s signature annual competition, providing the university’s most talented student entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for seed funding and access to venture development resources. UWO alumnus Craig Culver, founder of Culver’s restaurants, was a special guest. In addition to checks, winners received a number of in-kind prizes.
The competition accepts ideas at any stage of development—from initial concept to already operational businesses. Students accepted to compete had four minutes to present their business model, followed by two minutes of Q&A with a panel of judges.
Learn more:
In Photo: National champion UWO gymnastics team honored
UW-Oshkosh women’s gymnastics has won four national titles in the past five years, cementing its place in the record books for its dominance in the sport. A celebration Monday at Kolf Sports Center honored the team for its recent National Collegiate Gymnastics Association championship captured March 20 in New York.
Chancellor Manohar Singh, who was present when the team competed and earned the NCGA trophy, congratulated gymnasts Monday and shook hands with every team member and coach.
Regional sports reporters were on hand for the celebration as a group of fans cheered the athletes who sported championship medals and fancy champion rings.
“They’re amazing,” Lauren Karnitz said about her athletes who were pushed even harder this year to prepare for a title run.
During the historic season, the Titans set a program record score of 195.175 to secure its sixth straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. Another highlight came in February, when, for the first time, the Titans beat a pair of NCAA Division I teams.
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Video: Not all heroes wear capes
The UW-Oshkosh community is grateful for the dedication of grounds and facilities staff members who put in long hours following the historic weather event last weekend—a blizzard—that dumped ice and snow that buried the state.
While many Titans spent their snow day bundled up at home, the UWO grounds crew was hard at work.
Hear all about it in this video:
UWO Spring Internship & Career Fair connects students and employers
Check out this video capturing the outstanding turnout of both UWO students and employers at this week’s Career and Internship Fair. The energy inside Kolf was a powerful reminder of what makes these events so special—students ready to launch, employers eager to connect and a campus community committed to opening doors.
Learn more:
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UW-Oshkosh Career & Professional Development
View photos from the career fair
Student sports announcer Brayden Junkers finds his voice at UW-Oshkosh
UW-Oshkosh sophomore Radio-TV-Film and journalism student Brayden Junkers found his voice by BEING the voice of Titans Athletics.
Student-athletes at UWO aren’t he only ones whose journeys are enriched by championships. Junkers had a seat at the radio microphone for UWO Volleyball’s fall 2025 championship run, merely one example of the outstanding athletics performances he has helped capture in just the first two years of his education at the university.
Here’s Junkers in his own words about the career-enhancing power of his experience so far…
Advance-Titan wins 14 Wisconsin Newspaper Association awards
Five students earned first-place honors, and The Advance-Titan took third place in the “general excellence” category.
“These awards represent the hard work that the staff puts in every week while producing the A-T,” Advance-Titan Editor-in-Chief Jacob Link said. “It awesome that we are able to showcase one of the oldest student newspapers at the state level and I am constantly impressed by the way that our staff performs hyper-local journalism that serves the community.”
“This year was a massive success, and these students should feel incredibly proud of their hard work,” said Advance-Titan Faculty Adviser Ben Birkinbine. “To be honored by working professionals in their field is a testament to the high-quality work they are producing.”
The WNA competition this year was judged by members of the Colorado Press Association.
The Advance-Titan received the following awards from the WNA:
FIRST PLACE
- Freedom of Information Award – “Save our bookstore” by Jacob Link
- Editorial Writing – “SNAP out of it!” by Angela Satterlee
- Business Reporting – “Oshkosh businesses still weigh effects of tariffs” by Elijah Plonsky
- Infographic –“UAW members on strike at Cummins” by Jessica Duch
- Use of Multimedia – “‘No Kings’ protest condemns the Trump administration” by Josh Lehner
SECOND PLACE
- Arts and Entertainment Story – “Local home provides Halloween fun” by Jessica Duch
- Health Coverage – “Fox Valley prepares for cases of measles” by Jacob Link
- Infographic – “Enrollment continues to drop” by Josh Lehner
THIRD PLACE
- General Excellence – The Advance-Titan
- Public Affairs Reporting – “Oshkosh deals with SNAP delays” by Vladyslav Plyaka
- Technology Coverage – “Chancellor, Provost launch ‘UW Infinite’ strategic planning effort at launch day” by Elijah Plonsky
- Environmental Coverage – “UWO pushes toward sustainability goals” by Josh Lehner
- Page Design – “Drones: the game changers of the war in Ukraine” by Cassidy Johnson
- Website – The Advance-Titan
Established in 1894, the Advance-Titan is produced entirely by students at UWO and serves the campus and the city of Oshkosh. The Advance-Titan is published weekly in print and is distributed across 35 locations in the city while publishing daily on its website.
UWO’s Kvam to participate in Universities of Wisconsin 2026-2027 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars program
Dani Kvam, associate professor of communication studies with the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, is among Universities of Wisconsin faculty and instructors selected as a participant in the 2026–2027 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars.
The participants include 23 faculty and instructors from 12 universities, nominated by provosts for their excellence in teaching and learning.
The program provides UW faculty and teaching academic staff a unique opportunity to collaborate with other exceptional teachers from across the Universities of Wisconsin and from various disciplines. In addition to discussing effective evidence-based teaching and learning approaches, participants are guided through systematic research focused on improving student learning through a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning project.
The yearlong program begins in May and will culminate with a research presentation in Spring 2027.
Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars is one of three programs offered by the Universities of Wisconsin’s Office of Professional and Instructional Development (OPID). OPID supports the UWs’ 13 Centers for Teaching and Learning in fostering a culture of teaching and learning excellence in Wisconsin. Together they offer professional development programs that seek to enhance student learning in face-to-face, online, and blended learning environments.
The Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars program is directed by two faculty leaders, Sarah Riforgiate, a communications professor at UW-Milwaukee, and Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges, a psychology professor at UW-Green Bay.
The 2026–2027 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars participants each will receive a $4,000 stipend from their university.
UW-Oshkosh alumni Class Notes: April 2026
’71 Sister Esther Szambelan (MST), of Racine, took her vows as a nun in 1941 and celebrates her 85th jubilee in 2026 as well as her 105th birthday. Szambelan credits following directions and an attitude of gratitude for her longevity.
’77 Dave Holtgrieve, of Williamsburg, Virginia, retired from the New Hampshire Army National Guard as a Colonel and U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer in 2011. Holtgrieve has kept busy with volunteer work and enjoys living with his wife near the ocean and mountains of Virginia.
’82 Barbara (Wilson) Wulf (MSE), of Menasha, published book two of her Cellar Spider Series, The Cellar Spider Who Went Camping. Wulf began writing during the Covid pandemic to encourage children to explore the outdoors, plant seeds and learn that not all spiders are scary.
Barbara Wulf
’83 Robert Brinkmann, of Dekalb, Illinois, has been named the 16th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Brinkmann was previously the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Northern Illinois University.
’84 Scott Martin, of Stevens Point, is on a national tour for his memoir Play From Your Heart, an inspiring story about a successful, young college soccer coach who became a quad amputee following a devastating illness. It’s a story of resilience, redemption and proving that the labels other place on us don’t define who we are.
’88, ’14 Joanne (Bader) Horvath (MBA), of Greenville, is the vice president of operational finance with Emplify Health. Horvath was previously an associate vice president of corporate finance and shared services at Banner Health.
’92 Michael Bauman, of Los Angeles, California, was nominated for an Oscar at the 2026 Academy Awards in the category of Best Cinematography for One Battle After Another.
’01 John “Jack” Schindhelm (MSE), of Suamico, is a retired industrial arts teacher who enjoys custom woodworking in his retirement.
’01 Amy (Lenz) Springer, of Greenville, is an associate with McMahon. Springer is a certified public accountant who has served as controller and finance manager for six years.
’04 Betsy Winnekens (MSN), of Sherwood, is a nurse practitioner with ThedaCare Weight Wellness.
’05 Neil Riegelman, of Brookfield, senior vice president and head of Commercial Banking-Milwaukee and Madison, also assumed the role of Milwaukee market president with Associated Banc-Corp. Riegelman also serves on the boards of Discovery World and Ducks Unlimited of Milwaukee.
’05 Rob Wyman (MBA), of Elderon, joined the board of directors for Sanford Health Foundation Marshfield Clinic. Wyman has over 30 years of experience in the finance and banking industry and currently serves as vice president of business banking for IncredibleBank in Wausau.
Scott Martin
’08, ’14 Jessica (Harrington) Johnson (MSW), of Neenah, is the program manager at Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan where she has worked since 2015.
’11 Amy (Gearhart) Bahrani, of Lake Bluff, Illinois, was nominated for an Emerging Leader nominee for the 27th Annual Women in Technology (WIT) Leadership Award. Bahrani is the AI and data senior manager with Accenture Federal Services.
’13 Derrick Ferry (MSN), of Luxemburg, is a nurse practitioner with Prevea Neurosurgery’s Allouez health center. Ferry focuses on the treatment and management of spinal disorders, brain tumors, peripheral nerve disorders and more.
’15 Sam Larson, of Menominee, Michigan, was named the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) Region 1 Athletic Director of the Year for his outstanding leadership, service and unwavering commitment to education-based athletics. Larson is the assistant principal and athletic director for Menominee Junior and Senior High School.
’17 Ben Binner, of Nashville, Tennessee, the senior director of commercial development and strategy for Sun Label Group, made MusicRow Magazine’s 2026 Next Big Thing (N.B.T) Industry Directory list, highlighting a rising class of music industry leaders.
’18 Ryan Lindley, of Brodhead, was awarded the 2026 Outstanding Young Choral Director Award by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association. The award is given to choral educators within the first 10 years of their service who demonstrate exceptional enthusiasm, musicianship and professionalism. Lindley is a chorus teacher at Perry Tipler Middle School in Oshkosh.
’23 Bryan Krause (MSW), of Kaukauna, a provider at ThedaCare Behavioral Health, is board-certified by the American Board of Clinical Social Work.
’25 Riley Schussler (MS), of Hortonville, was appointed principal of New London High School as of July 1. Schussler currently serves as the interim co-principal and has been a member of the School District of New London since 2020.
UW-Oshkosh alumni Obituaries: April 2026
’50s
Louise Coumbe ’52, Oshkosh, Feb. 14, 2026
’60s
Rosalyn Bourgeois ’64, Two Rivers, March 4, 2026
John Francois ’66, ’68, Menomonee Falls, Feb. 20, 2026
John T. Wagner ’68, Oshkosh, March 6, 2026
’70s
Frederick Bergman ’78, Fond du Lac, March 3, 2026
Harvey Burman ’73 MBA, Fond du Lac, Feb. 11, 2026
Patricia “Patsy” Collins ’77 MSE, Reedsburg, Feb. 27, 2026
Lorn Dilley ’78, Appleton, Feb. 26, 2026
Nell (Portman) Freye ’72, Wausau, Feb. 23, 2026
Dean Roe ’71 MA, Kewaskum, Feb. 9, 2026
Leonard Schleh ’74, Holmen, Feb. 22, 2026
Carol Schram ’71, Sheboygan Falls, Feb. 23, 2026
Tom Sekulich ’78, Oshkosh, March 7, 2026
’80s
Jean Ries-Potter ’83, Hayward, Feb. 22, 2026
‘90s
Daniel Cashin ’98, Whitefish Bay, March 4, 2026
David Guse ’90, Cedarburg, Feb. 20, 2026
Friends and Faculty
Harlan Linsley, assistant and associate professor of psychology 1966-1999, Oshkosh, March 4, 2026
Andrew Perrie, math professor 1969-2006, Oshkosh, March 6, 2026
Harry “Skip” Shock Jr., Residence Life head resident 1969-1972, Oswego, New York, March 2, 2026
Milda Steinbrecher, communications instructor 1966-1996, Oshkosh, Feb. 24, 2026
Christine Weston, School of Nursing faculty assistant 1981-1983, Oshkosh, March 4, 2026
UWO professor releases book about pointing a new way forward in higher education
A newly-released book by a nationally renowned writer, speaker, author and University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh faculty member on a new path forward for higher education, includes stories of UWO alumni and institutional history.
Douglas Haynes
Professor of English Douglas Haynes recently was interviewed by Inside Higher Ed about his new book, Teaching Toward Slow Hope: Place-Based Learning in College and Beyond, which was published March 10 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Teaching Toward Slow Hope reimagines college as a space where students cultivate the skills and relationships needed for collaborative survival in an increasingly unpredictable world. Against a backdrop of mental health crises, ecological instability and structural inequality, Haynes traces how students and educators across the Upper Midwest are remaking college into a place for connection, meaning and collective resilience.
Read the Inside Higher Ed interview
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UWO alumnus Jamal Scott named Highland Community College’s next president
WIFR, April 10
The Astronomers: UWO grads build music careers from Oshkosh home studio
WBAY’s Small Towns, April 9
Special Olympics Wisconsin Spring Games to bring 1,000 athletes to UW-Oshkosh
WBAY, April 9
UW-Oshkosh professor, accounting students discuss long-running VITA program in WFRV vodcast
WFRV’s Off the Desk, April 8
Spirit of America: UW-Oshkosh students learn through action and innovations
WFRV, April 7