Class of 2015 graduates

Saturday, May 16, marked the 141st spring commencement at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Nearly 1,400 undergraduate, more than 180 master’s degree and nine Doctor of Nursing Practice became graduates of UW Oshkosh at two ceremonies at Kolf Sports Center.

The future is bright for UW Oshkosh College of Nursing graduate Julia Rock.

Rock, of Green Bay, received a bachelor’s degree in nursing and already has leads on jobs in her field.

“I’ve had some interviews and some of those have been promising,” she said Saturday while waiting with other College of Nursing students for the afternoon commencement ceremony to begin at Kolf.

The caliber of the nursing program at UW Oshkosh attracted Rock to the campus, and the location — not too close and not too far from home — also helped her make her decision four years ago.

Rock is looking for a position on a general medical or surgical floor and she’s confident she’ll find something quickly. The job market for nursing graduates is strong, she said.

For others, like Angelia Schiedemeyer, of Oshkosh, who graduated with a degree in marketing, a new life in the real world already begins Monday with a brand new job in her area of study.

“The College of Business required me to have an internship, which got me my job. I’m excited,” she said.

The road to graduation

For Heidi Disher, of Stevens Point, graduation couldn’t come soon enough. Disher is expecting her first baby in five weeks.

She walked across the stage in Kolf to receive her degree from the Division of Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement. It took her two years to complete a bachelor of liberal studies degree.

“I researched online programs and this was the most referred one,” Disher said, explaining her decision to enroll through UW Oshkosh.

While she plans to take a little time off to be a mom, Disher said she hopes to use her degree to get a human resources position in a hospital or clinic setting where she can help patients navigate the paperwork process.

Disher decided to attend the Saturday ceremony at the urging of her parents.

“My parents really wanted to see me walk,” Disher said. “This is actually the first time I’ve set foot on the UW Oshkosh campus.”

Time flies

2015 graduate

College flew by for Janice Chapp, of Franklin, who came to Kolf to see her youngest son, Cory, graduate with a degree in kinesiology. Students in the program typically go on to work as professionals in exercise and fitness and/or strength and conditioning.

“I’m so excited,” she said, while waiting to enter the arena. “We have three boys and he is the baby. I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”

The time passed at lightning speed; Chapp reflected as tears welled in her eyes.

“We pretty much have them all set now,” she said.

Upon his graduation from UW Oshkosh, Cory is continuing his education in graduate school, his mother said.

Time in college also passed quickly for Kyle Hungerford, of Oakfield, who earned his degree in geography, but said he plans to look for a job in sales.

“I realized these last two years that that is a really good fit for me,” said Hungerford, who came to UW Oshkosh as a transfer student. “But I didn’t want to change my major.”

“I’d like to start somewhere out of state,” Hungerford  said.

Grace Wardin, of Waupun, also likes the idea of heading someplace new; she is heading to Michigan right after graduation to interview for a job in interactive web management at a university.

“I want to develop websites and write content,” the interactive web management major said. Wardin also has a minor in journalism.

Her four years at UW Oshkosh went too fast, she said, and she’ll miss the friends she’s made and the good times she’s had along the way. One of those memories, her best memory, in fact, took place her very first day on campus.

“It was raining and I had just moved into Fletcher and someone came by and said, ‘Come on, get your swimsuit on.’ The rain had formed a huge mud puddle and we all went outside and slid through the mud. It was fantastic. Those people are still my friends today.”

Nathan Smith, of Oakfield, came to UW Oshkosh four years ago unsure what he wanted to major in.

He chose Oshkosh because of its proximity to his hometown and also because of its football program. Smith was nose tackle on the Titans football team.

With the help of resources from UW Oshkosh, he declared his major in the College of Education and Human Services. This summer, he’ll serve as a physical education teacher and will be teaching summer school in Rosendale. After that, he said, he hopes to land a full-time teaching position somewhere in Wisconsin.

 UW Oshkosh graduates first cohort of Korean students

Korean graduates with their UW Oshkosh supporters

For a group of 11 students from Korea, graduating from UW Oshkosh was extra special. The cohort graduated with master’s degrees in educational leadership.

“This master’s degree program helped me reflect on what I’ll do as a teacher and a leader,” Jikwang Baek said.

Baek, with his wife and young son, spent the last two years living in Oshkosh while working toward his degree. Upon graduation Baek will return to his home in Korea where he is a high school teacher.

“I want my students to focus on their life, society and the world. I want them to be critical thinkers,” Baek said. “I want my students to choose what they think is correct, not what a teacher says is correct.”

During his time in the United States, Baek said there were many lessons, inside and outside of the classroom. Baek — along with the other students in the first cohort of Korean students — are forever thankful to their UW Oshkosh professors, he said.

“Because of the ones I met, I could see a democratic style. They taught me not just educationally related lessons, but about the way we live together with people equally.”

Chancellor Andrew Leavitt spoke to the group of Korean students, family and professors at a pre-commencement celebration, thanking the international students for being both a part of the broader community and for being a part of the Titans family.

“Anyone who wants to participate in international education is a risk taker,” Leavitt told the group.

Faculty and staff share in excitement, emotion

Julie Henderson, longtime distinguished journalism professor, participated today in her last commencement ceremony this year. She’s retiring after 22 years (44 commencement ceremonies) at UW Oshkosh.

“It’s always an awesome day,” she said. “This is what they’ve been striving to achieve.”

Wresch

“I think, as I leave, I have so much pride over having the best students in the state of Wisconsin…without a doubt,” Henderson said.

Longtime College of Business professor William Wresch, the afternoon ceremony faculty commencement speaker, also leaves UW Oshkosh after many years as an educator to take advantage of an opportunity to teach abroad.

“As people do when they end one portion of their lives, they do a lot of thinking about their experience,” Wresch said. “How would I sum this all up for a new professor?  I’d say you are in the right place, you will spend your career surrounded by good people, and when you finally wrap it all up, your final thoughts will be gratitude for the opportunity. So let me finish that way – Thank you.”

While some members of the UW Oshkosh Titans family are moving on to retirement, another became a graduate.

Chief LeMire

University Police Chief Joe LeMire graduated with a master’s degree in public administration during the morning ceremony. He proudly wore his Titans tie; he’s long been a Titan at UW Oshkosh, even without a formal degree from the institution.

“I have a new-found respect for those who work full time while pursuing degrees,” LeMire said.”I think it’s important for people in leadership roles to continue their education. I’ve always intended to go back to school to get a master’s degree. I’ve worked a lot of commencement ceremonies in my role with University Police and now, today, I get to walk across the stage.”

 

Read more:

• Morning ceremony commencement class speaker: ‘Yes…And?’ 
• Morning ceremony faculty commencement speaker: ‘The story of what happens next starts now…’
• Afternoon ceremony commencement class speaker shares four life lessons
• Afternoon faculty commencement speaker: ‘Thank you’