University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumni benefit from a host of perks, including once-in-a-lifetime trip opportunities.
In April, alumnus Dale Drake ’63, and his wife, Jo Ann, of Oshkosh, met up with alumnus James Scheuermann ’64, and his wife, Rosemary, of Lakeville, Minn., for a 10-day scenic steamboat river cruise down the Mississippi River.
UWO alumni are offered special opportunities through GoNext and Collette Vacations, the UWO Alumni Association’s group travel partners. Each year, GoNext offers a wide variety of trips to alumni and their friends and families. These trips include cruises to Alaska, Italy and the South Pacific, as well as vacations in the United States and beyond.
After exploring trip options, the Scheuermann and Drake families decided on a beautiful, relaxing trip to the Antebellum South. This trip brought them aboard the American Queen, a steamboat that took them from New Orleans to Memphis to explore authentic Americana. From the cultural hustle-and-bustle of the French Quarter to the blues and country capital of America, this trip offered a chance to enjoy the sights and learn the history of the Antebellum South.
Scheuermann, an Oshkosh native, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Immediately following graduation, Scheuermann got a job at Kimberly Clark, where he worked until his retirement in 2003. Since then, Scheuermann and his wife have enjoyed traveling. Having taken river boat cruises throughout their travels overseas, Scheuermann and his wife decided to go on one a little closer to home.
“We had gone on river cruises in Europe, so we thought going on one in our own country would be a great experience,” Scheuermann said.
GoNext provided the Scheuermann and Drake families with the trip of a lifetime and an enjoyable experience.
Drake, who earned his bachelor’s degree in social work, worked his way through college as a married student with a baby on the way, graduating in four and a half years and working part-time. After many years of work in his field, Drake and his wife have spent their retirement traveling.
“The boat trip itself was great,” Drake said. “There was wonderful food and company. GoNext was really good about everything.”
From the trip, the boat, the stops and the food, “everything was outstanding,” Scheuermann said. “Nothing about the trip wasn’t wonderful!”
Having enjoyed their 10-day trip, the Scheuermann and Drake families have both discovered the perks of being UWO alum.