The longtime “face” of Graduate Studies at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will receive a Friends of Graduate Education Award at an upcoming celebration event and reception on May 22.
The Friends of Graduate Education Awards and Reception will be held at the Pollock House on the UW Oshkosh campus beginning at 4 p.m.
Nancy Vincent, who worked for the Graduate Studies office on campus from 1996 until her recent retirement is described as loyal, helpful, passionate and committed by nominator Greg Wypiszynski, director of Graduate Services at UW Oshkosh.
In his nomination, he wrote: “After many years of providing distinguished service to both undergraduate and graduate students, it is her dedication to graduate students that’s worthy of distinction for the Friends of Graduate Education Award.”
Beyond her work within Graduate Studies, Vincent also worked in many other areas at UW Oshkosh, for a total of around 19 years on campus; she also earned her degree in elementary education from UW Oshkosh in 1967. She first came to campus in 1963 as a student.
“When I came to UW Oshkosh to work, I was going to stay for a couple of years to occupy some of my time. I found, though, that the people at UW Oshkosh became more then colleagues, they became close friends and family,” she said.
During her years on campus, Vincent, of course, saw many changes–in the physical campus and in students.
“Student input is more valuable than it used to be,” Vincent said during her last day on campus earlier this spring. “These days, students don’t have to protest to make impressions.”
Vincent’s connection to UW Oshkosh runs deep and covers a lot of years.
“Over the years, I stayed at UW Oshkosh because I wanted to. I loved what I was doing. I love the students,” Vincent said.
Leaving a longtime job is hard, Vincent said, but she acknowledges she gets to keep all the memories and friendships she built during her years at UW Oshkosh.
“The Graduate Studies office is a team. The big thing is respect and helping each other out and that’s really hard to give up,” she said on her last day in the office. “We enjoy humor, we laugh, we sing. And that’s the hard part–leaving all of that. We all got along so well. I worked with some really fabulous people who understand and respect each other. I’m going to miss them.”
Other Friends of Graduate Studies Award recipients include:
- Aaron Baer, co-owner of the New Moon Café in Oshkosh
“For going above and beyond in the support of the Department of English and graduate education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh by providing a meeting space in which scholars and artists can grow and share.”
- Lac du Flambeau Tribe and School
“For going above and beyond in the support of graduate education through the Department of Literacy and Language at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh by providing meeting space, recruiting educators, financially supporting participating teachers, committing to additional professional development opportunities and inviting UW Oshkosh faculty to tribal community events.”
- Menominee Nation and School District
“For going above and beyond in the support of graduate education through the Department of Literacy and Language at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh by providing meeting space, recruiting educators, financially supporting participating teachers, committing to additional professional development opportunities and inviting UW Oshkosh faculty to tribal community events.”
- Oneida Nation
“For going above and beyond in the support of graduate education through the Department of Literacy and Language at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh by providing meeting space, recruiting educators, financially supporting participating teachers, committing to additional professional development opportunities and inviting UW Oshkosh faculty to tribal community events.”
- Lorraine Gerhart, retiring instructor in the Literacy and Language department
“For going above and beyond in the support of graduate education in the Department of Literacy and Language at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh first as an ad hoc instructor, then as a cohort leader, organizer, recruiter and instructor working with groups throughout Northeast Wisconsin.”
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