Triple Major Named Outstanding University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Student for 2015-2016

Robert Frost wrote that “taking the road less travelled has made all the difference.” For UW-Green Bay graduate Pamela Parish, that meant transferring schools during the second semester of her freshman year and following in the footsteps of her older brother, sister and twin who were attending UW-Green Bay. Looking back, she deems it to have been one of the best decisions she has made in her life thus far.

Pamela Parish
2016 Outstanding Student

Parish is the the May 2016 recipient of the Outstanding Student Award presented by the UW-Green Bay Alumni Association. She accepted the award May 13 at a student award ceremony on campus.

Parish is receiving her bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degrees today with a 3.89 grade point average and summa cum laude, or highest honors, having completed majors in Political Science, Public Administration and Environmental Policy and Planning and a minor in Global Studies.

The Alumni Association, which has been designating a single Outstanding Student Award Recipient for each graduating class since 1976, recognized Parish for her undergraduate student success and as a volunteer in service to others and the community. She was nominated and selected from approximately 930 graduating seniors eligible to receive diplomas at May commencement.

At UW-Green Bay, Parish has been active in both academic and community service initiatives. She has maximized her opportunities as a student leader on campus, serving as co-vice president of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, a peer mentor for a freshman seminar class, and a teacher’s assistant. Parish was also active In the UW-Green Bay Student Government Association as a justice in the Student Court and organized both the student government debate and election.

Parish was one of a select group chosen to collaborate with Political Science faculty to work on creating a Political Science capstone course for future students. She was also chosen as the only student representative on the Political Science Faculty Search Committee. Additionally, her work on an honors in the major project looked at the connection between downtown Green Bay and the UW-Green Bay campus, giving her the opportunity to interview community leaders and report back valuable insights to inform the University’s long-term strategic plan.

In addition to the rigor of a triple major, Parish took advantage of internship opportunities with Northeast Wisconsin organizations to broaden her perspectives, learn from real-world professionals and apply her education. Roles at Downtown Green Bay, Inc. and the Green Bay Mayor’s Office were a significant part of her college transformation, developing her confidence as a leader. While in the Mayor’s office, Parish assisted with writing the 2016 State of the City Address with the Mayor and his Chief of Staff, and her internship with Downtown Green Bay has evolved into a program manager position on the staff, which will continue after graduation.

She has consistently received awards during her time on campus, including being named to the Dean’s list with Highest Honors for five consecutive semesters, being inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and being named as a recipient of this semester’s Chancellor’s Leadership Medallion Award.

In her spare time, Parish worked as a suite attendant at Lambeau Field on game days, volunteered at Red Smith Elementary School and supported the Love Your Melon program on campus.

Parish uses the following words to describe her UW-Green Bay educational experience: phenomenal, transforming, rewarding, amazing and life changing.