Ariana Sotelo of Greenfield graduates with a degree in criminal justice. During her time at UW-Oshkosh, Sotelo built strong connections with faculty and classmates, especially in her hands-on program. She credits criminal justice professor Matthew Richie for helping guide her path. Sotelo plans to spend the next year working in a district attorney’s office before applying to law school. She is considering both criminal and immigration law. “I’ve always wanted to contribute to society and make sure it’s a better place,” she said. “That passion has been there from the start.”

Lena Thao of Menasha graduates with a degree in social work. A first-generation college student and the daughter of immigrants, Thao chose UW-Oshkosh because it felt approachable and close to home. “I thought I was a big city girl,” she said. “But Oshkosh made me feel comfortable. I didn’t feel out of place.” Thao works part time as an advocate at Harbor House in Appleton, supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and she plans to pursue a full-time role as a county social worker or case manager. She credits her college advisor Colleen Hansen for her steady encouragement. “Colleen has always believed in me — from small to big accomplishments,” Thao said. “I really owe a lot to her.”

Kendra White of Shawano graduates with a degree in environmental studies. A member of the Menominee and Oneida Nations, White found a strong sense of belonging at UW-Oshkosh through the community built within her environmental studies program. “I’ve made lifelong friends here,” she said. After graduation, she will begin a position as an ecologist with Menominee Tribal Enterprises’ forestry department. She says her studies have reinforced her values of stewardship and leadership. “I hope to be a tribal leader one day,” White said. “Coming to college and accomplishing this means a lot. Not everyone in my community has that opportunity, and I want to give back.”

Alex Ramirez of Fond du Lac hopes to put his psychology degree to good use working in behavioral health. Ramirez, a 2021 graduate of North Fond du Lac High School, plans to work for a year before pursuing a master’s degree. “I really liked the faculty for my major,” he said, adding that he enjoys living in Oshkosh. Four people, including his parents, will be cheering from the stands as he walks across the stage — his degree symbolizing years of hard work.

A pair of friends in computer science know commencement marks the closing of one door and the opening of another. Carissa Engebose of Green Bay, who graduates with cum laude honors, and Pa Chia Lee of Milton both earn degrees in computer science. Lee, who plans to enter the workforce in software engineering, switched from a math major after discovering she “really liked coding.” Both say they will miss the people in the computer science department.

Sherwood resident Alexander Siebers, an eighth grade math teacher at Hortonville, earns a master’s degree in secondary education–math. Siebers said the degree will allow him to teach CAPP (dual credit) and Advanced Placement courses. He’ll celebrate with his family but admits commencement feels “kind of sad” because “I love going to school, and I love Oshkosh.”

Madeline Ebben, Jenavieve Plutz and Shayne Steffen spent a few moments together Saturday morning before accepting their bachelor’s degrees and celebrating with family and friends. Ebben graduates with degrees in criminal justice and anthropology; Plutz in radio TV film and theatre arts; and Steffen in theatre arts and leadership and organizational development. Steffen revealed to her friends that morning she had accepted a management position with Wilmar Chocolates at its Neenah location.

Sporting a fancy, decorated mortarboard, geology graduate Alicia Laycock of Antigo, said she started at another UW school in natural resources, before discovering her passion for geology and paleontology. “I looked for the school with the best geology program,” she said, of her transfer to UWO. “I’ll miss the good professors and working in the (paleontology) lab where I cleaned dinosaur bones.” Laycock plans to attend graduate school and hopes to someday work in a museum.

Communication studies major Shaely Hoch of Green Lake plans to travel in Europe over the summer before seeking a job with a nonprofit organization. “Honestly, I’m going to miss the professors — they’re really cool people … and they’re great mentors,” she said.

With a degree in psychology and a minor in criminal justice, Cannon Sternitzky of Woodstock, Illinois, plans to combine his education with his military experience as he begins work as an Army recruiter. Ultimately, he hopes to pursue a career in law enforcement. Sternitzky was thrilled that all eight of his allotted commencement tickets were claimed by proud family members and friends.

Abby Godejohn, a native of West Bend, was excited to complete her studies and receive her master’s degree in athletic training — the next step in her journey to becoming a high school athletic trainer. She was among 189 students earning master’s degrees during the spring ceremony.

Clinical work in a psychiatric setting has Sophia Polley of Verona pursuing a nursing position in the field. “I did a clinical at ThedaCare, and I just loved it,” she said, noting she worked with adult patients in crisis. “I definitely am ready to get going with my career.”

Madisyn Van Doorn—or Miss Van Doorn to her students—is proud to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in education. Her seventh-grade students at Greenville Middle School, where she is student teaching, signed their names on her mortarboard. A second-grade class she taught also signed a special cap she keeps at school. “I just had a really great impact from my own sixth-grade teacher,” she said of her inspiration to teach. “I wanted to be that person, and I just love watching them learn.” Van Doorn hopes to continue teaching in Greenville and has an interview scheduled next week.

With diplomas in hand, two College of Business graduates said they’re ready for the next step. Taylor Schultz of Fond du Lac earned a degree in human resources, and Josie Robinson of Fredonia graduated with a degree in marketing. Robinson plans to pursue a job in digital marketing, a field she finds exciting and full of opportunity. “It’s a growing field,” she said. Schultz hopes to work in staffing, focusing on recruiting and onboarding employees.

A position in the transplant unit at Froedtert Hospital awaits Brooke Ver Boort, a De Pere native who earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Ver Boort said she initially enrolled at another UW school before deciding to make a change. She applied to UW-Oshkosh and was accepted. “I couldn’t have asked for a better program,” she said. “I would recommend it to anyone. In fact, my cousin from Nebraska is coming here next year.”

Ian Riehle took a long but fulfilling path to earn his bachelor’s degree in applied science–aviation management, starting with technical school credits that transferred to UW-Oshkosh. A native of Edgar who grew up on a dairy farm, Riehle now lives in Rhinelander, where he works as a pilot with CSA Air, flying cargo for FedEx. He originally considered studying computer science but soon realized he was better suited to hands-on work. He said his new role fits his lifestyle, pays well and is a job he enjoys.

Two College of Education and Human Services graduates reflected on their time at UW-Oshkosh and their student teaching experiences as they prepared to graduate Saturday afternoon. Sara Lowther of Eldorado and Margaret “Maggie” Maki of Germantown both recently completed their student teaching. Lowther was also married in January. “I’ve been away from UW–Oshkosh for a while, and this is a long time coming,” she said. Maki completed her student teaching in elementary and special education in the Mequon-Thiensville School District.