More than 1,200 undergrads walk across UW-Whitewater stage
By Tom Ganser
Correspondent
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students as family, friends and the university community celebrated their achievements as graduates, including 14 international students, 205 nontraditional undergraduate students, 72 military veterans and 110 self-identified students with disabilities May 14.
More than 1,200 undergraduates received their degrees in the Kachel Fieldhouse ceremony beginning at 10 a.m., including five UW-W ROTC cadets commissioned as second lieutenants earlier that morning. In a ceremony at 3 p.m., 228 students were awarded Master’s and education specialist degrees.
In opening the undergraduate ceremony, Chancellor Beverly Kopper credited graduates for leaving their mark on the campus by exploring languages and culture; expressing artistic passions through music, theater and dance; using entrepreneurial spirit to create companies, conducting research, volunteering in service to community and donating thousands of dollars for good causes.
“As graduates of UW-Whitewater you have the tools, the experience and the skills to positively impact your community, your state, your country and, yes, the world,” Kopper said.
Quint Studer, commencement speaker for the undergraduate ceremony, earned his bachelor’s (1973) and master’s (1978) degrees at UW-W.
This year’s graduating class included the first recipients of the Janesville Promise Scholarships for graduates of Craig and Parker high schools through the Janesville Promise Fund established by Quint and Rishy Studer.
Admitting that school was not easy due to hearing loss and a speech impediment, Studer called educators “difference makers” who helped him in meeting the challenges he faced.
“There’s a certain grit that comes with going to a school like Whitewater,” Studer said. “When you get out, you want to show that you can do it and you will do it… you’ve got a great foundation.”
With what can be described as the charm and disarming candor of a good storyteller, Studer shared how his third grade teacher “taught me to read by finding me a thing I would like to read – the sports page of the Chicago Tribune.” She also added into a school play a single sentence for him based on words he could say despite his speech impediment.
He said his sixth grade teacher, knowing that he couldn’t sit still or pay attention, moved his desk next to Studer’s to provide the extra help he needed to experience success. He also said the teacher had told his mom, “He’s a bundle of energy. We’ve just got to keep moving it in the right direction.”
Studer recounted how his soccer coach took the time to praise him for hustling, even when he missed the ball.
“The people that have had good coaches and good mentors keep going even when they miss the ball, because somebody found something right,” he said.
As a UW-W student, Studer said he got the extra boost he needed from Florence Kopas, Special Education department secretary.
“She just made a kid that didn’t know he could make it feel a little bit more comfortable and a little bit loved,” he said.
“These were the people that kept me going. So there were difference makers all along my life. We’re all difference makers so don’t underestimate the difference that you have made. Don’t underestimate the difference you can make. And, please, don’t underestimate the difference that you will make,” Studer said.
Lauren Kats, a biology major, was the student speaker for the undergraduate ceremony.
Kats said her fellow graduates are filled with “bright, new, innovative ideas; a powerful drive for success; resounding focus; and the ability to learn,” but cautioned them that the new paths they have chosen will have bumps and changes, and not always play out as expected.
“Every next level of your life will demand a different you,” she said.
Kats said the life the graduates have ahead of them is “about much, much more” than the day’s celebration as they have the power to initiate change, and to recognize and address issues.
“Remember that life is not always perfect, but it is always what you make it. So make it count and make it memorable,” Kats said.
Lois Smith, a professor and associate dean of the College of Business and Economics who retired in 2015, was the commencement speaker for the graduate ceremony.
“I want you to fail, to fail often, to be embarrassed, and to lose to competitors—and to have the real courage to keep going when you have an idea that could change one person’s life for the better or improve your workplace or even your world,” Smith said.
Recalling Eleanor Roosevelt’s recommendation to “Do one thing every day that scares you,” Smith said, “For many of us, fear of failing paralyzes us into not doing those scary things.”
The graduate student speaker was Chelsea Anne Rasmussen. She received a master of professional accountancy degree.
Rasmussen offered thanks to the many people, including family and friends, who offered support and encouragement, often taking on extra roles as “housekeeper, head chef and mental health counselor,” to make graduate studies possible.
Rasmussen offered her own spin on ideas often associated with graduation.
“Instead of pursuing our dreams, let’s invest in our dreams. A dream isn’t an elusive finished product… it’s a continually changing ambition,” she said.
“Maybe we can also replace chasing our dreams with being present wherever our passions take us. Rather than launching for the stars, let’s try staying and growing deep right where we’re at,” Rasmussen said.
