UW-Oshkosh senior Grant Luedtke of Fond du Lac will deliver the afternoon commencement address during the university’s May 16 ceremony. A finance major in the Honors College, Luedtke completed his degree in just two years while balancing academic excellence, leadership roles and professional experiences that helped shape both his career path and personal perspective.
For University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh senior Grant Luedtke, the path to graduation was never about slowing down.
Grant Luedtke, foreground, developed hands-on investment and portfolio management experience through UW-Oshkosh’s Student Managed Endowment Fund class in Sage Hall’s Trading Room, where students oversee a $2 million investment portfolio using real-time financial data and market analysis tools.
A finance major in the Honors College, Luedtke, who is from Fond du Lac, accelerated through his degree in just two years while maintaining a 3.85 GPA, balancing coursework, leadership roles and consistent work experience. From analyzing investments for a $2 million Student Managed Endowment Fund portfolio to serving as a Community Advisor and student government leader, he built a college experience defined by drive and discipline.
But as he prepares to deliver the afternoon address at UW-Oshkosh’s May 16 commencement ceremony, Luedtke’s message reflects something deeper than achievement. Shaped by personal challenges and a shift in perspective, his speech encourages graduates to slow down, be present and recognize the people and moments that make the journey meaningful.
Q&A with Grant Luedtke
What made UW-Oshkosh the right choice for you, and how did your experience here shape you?
UW-Oshkosh was the right choice for me because it gave me the opportunity to move quickly toward my goals while still being part of a close, connected community. Even though it is one of the larger schools in the UW System, it never felt that way. Class sizes and campus life made it easy to build real relationships with professors, and I often found myself seeing the same students across multiple classes.
That environment made a big difference. It allowed me to stay engaged in the classroom while also getting involved through leadership roles and experiences like the Student Managed Endowment Fund and being a Community Advisor.
Looking back, UW-Oshkosh gave me both the structure to stay driven and a community that helped me realize the importance of relationships and shared experiences along the way.
Grant Luedtke, left, meets Craig Culver, co-founder of Culver’s, during the Culver’s Business Model Competition held April 9, 2025, in Sage Hall at UW-Oshkosh.
Looking back, what moment or experience changed your perspective the most?
One of the biggest shifts in my perspective came during this past year. I had always approached college with a focus on efficiency, taking heavy course loads, working and always thinking about what was next. But after going through some personal challenges, I started to slow down and really think about what mattered.
That’s when I began to appreciate the people and everyday moments I had been moving too quickly to notice. It changed how I define success. It’s not just about what you accomplish, but who you share it with and how present you are along the way.
What UW-Oshkosh experience will you carry with you, and what did it teach you?
One experience I’ll carry with me is studying abroad in England. It gave me a new perspective on a culture that was both similar and different from my own, while also helping me develop a stronger appreciation for musicals, plays and the arts.
That experience taught me the value of stepping outside of my comfort zone and being open to new perspectives. It pushed me to engage with subjects I had not previously explored and to see value in areas outside of my main focus.
More than anything, it showed me the importance of being present. Taking in new environments, ideas and experiences without always thinking about what comes next made the experience more meaningful.
You took an accelerated path and stayed highly involved. How did that shape your definition of success?
That pace taught me a lot about discipline, time management and how to handle pressure. Balancing coursework, leadership roles and work pushed me to stay organized and focused.
At the same time, I initially viewed success as how quickly I could move forward. Over time, I realized that mindset can cause you to overlook the people and experiences that actually make the journey meaningful.
Now, I see success as both achieving your goals and being intentional about how you spend your time and who you spend it with.
Working with fellow students in UW-Oshkosh’s Trading Room, Grant Luedtke built real-world financial analysis skills through the Student Managed Endowment Fund program. The immersive classroom experience helped prepare him for a future career in real estate appraisal and finance.
Who made the biggest impact on your experience at UW-Oshkosh, and what did you learn from them?
One person who made a lasting impact on me is Dr. Carlin. I had the opportunity to study abroad in England with him, and that experience completely changed how I look at things outside of my major.
Before that trip, I had never given much thought to the arts. Through that experience, I developed a real appreciation for plays, musicals and paintings. Dr. Carlin had a way of bringing everything to life. The way he shared information and built excitement around it made it stick and at times even gave me goosebumps.
Another person who made a lasting impact on me is Professor Morrison. Through my time in the Student Managed Endowment Fund, the Finance Club and in class, I was able to learn from him in multiple settings.
He showed me that you can take your work seriously while still bringing energy and personality into it. That balance not only makes you better at what you do, but also makes the experience more meaningful for the people around you.
What message do you hope to share with your classmates, and what advice would you give to incoming students and future graduates?
During a January-term Honors College study abroad experience in England, Grant Luedtke explored the history, ethics, arts and culture of the United Kingdom while broadening his worldview beyond finance. The experience became one of the defining moments of his UW-Oshkosh journey, reinforcing the value of stepping outside his comfort zone.
I would tell students to be the first to say hi. Be the first to introduce yourself, shake someone’s hand and start the conversation. A lot of the friendships, opportunities and experiences you will have in college start with that one small step.
It is easy to assume other people will come to you, but most are thinking the same thing. Taking that first step makes campus feel smaller and helps you build real connections.
I would also tell students not to put too much pressure on getting everything perfect. It is important to stay driven, but it is just as important to slow down and focus on the people around you.
For future graduates, I would say it is okay to not have everything figured out right away. There is a lot of pressure to have a perfect plan, but most people are still learning and adjusting as they go.
What matters most is being willing to take the next step, stay open to new opportunities and remain connected to the people who helped you get there.
What’s next for you after graduation, and what are you most excited about?
After graduation, I plan to begin working in residential real estate appraisal with Jaeger Appraisals in Fond du Lac, building on the experience I’ve gained during my internship and continuing to develop my skills in property valuation and market analysis.
I’m excited to keep growing within the real estate and finance space while building a career that allows for flexibility. Outside of work, I’m looking forward to traveling, spending time outdoors and visiting national parks across the country.
What I’m most proud of from my time at UW-Oshkosh is not just what I accomplished, but how I grew along the way. I came in focused on moving quickly and making the most of every opportunity, and I was able to graduate in two years while staying involved in leadership roles, academics and work.
Over time, what I became even more proud of was the shift in my perspective. I learned that success is not only about achieving goals, but also about being present and appreciating the people and experiences around you. That balance is something I will carry with me long after graduation.
Learn more:
School of Business at UWO
Study Finance and Business Law at UWO