UW-Green Bay Celebrates Largest Graduating Class with 1,338 New Phoenix Alumni Bringing Curiosity and Bold Thinking to the Regional Workforce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2025

This represents a 21.6% increase over last spring’s graduating class

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In two ceremonies this Saturday, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will award 1,338 eligible graduates with their degrees, the largest graduating class to date for the university. These newly minted Phoenix alumni enter the regional workforce, where they bring curiosity, problem-solving and an internal fire to define the future of Northeast Wisconsin.

“We know that more than 70% of our graduates stay in the region,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “The 1,338 students who will earn their degree this weekend will impact the workforce in amazing ways, through tenacity, critical thinking and a strong desire to ensure the communities that they live and work within are thriving.”

Thousands of friends and family of the Spring class of 2025 will arrive on campus this Saturday, May 17, 2025, in two ceremonies scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Kress Events Center on the Green Bay campus.

In addition to hosting the largest class of graduating students, UW-Green Bay continues to break down barriers to education and continue the positive momentum of the university. Notably:

• UW-Green Bay will celebrate its largest class of Rising Phoenix More than 150 students from state-wide high schools will earn their associate degree before they graduate from high school later this month.
• Close to 50% of Saturday’s graduates are considered First Generation students, meaning they are the first in their family to earn their degree
• 25% of the Spring 2025 graduating class are transfer students, including Tyler Dean who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering after spending time at Michigan Tech and deployment in the Middle East.
• The master’s in Public Administration program will celebrate its first graduates, including Gage Beck.
• Members of the first class earning a master’s in Biodiversity and Conservation Management program will graduate, including Daxton Castellanos, who lives in California and will be stepping foot on the UW-Green Bay campus for the first time on Saturday.
• The first student from UW-Green Bay to earn their Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation prior to a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Adham Elkasses will graduate.

The ceremonies will honor graduates and celebrate with families from all four of UW-Green Bay’s campuses (Green Bay, Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan,) awarding degrees in high-demand areas such as nursing, education, business and environmental sciences.

Morning ceremony (9:30 a.m.)

• College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
• All associate’s degrees from all four campuses including the Rising Phoenix program

Afternoon ceremony (2 p.m.)

• Austin E. Cofrin School of Business
• College of Health, Education & Social Welfare
• College of Science, Engineering & Technology

Every UW-Green Bay student has the power to rise. Graduates from the University are future-minded problem solvers and innovators, poised to transform the communities and the region. The stories from the Class of 2025 exemplify the resiliency and tenacity found in every UW-Green Bay student.

Note to media: If interested in speaking with one of the highlighted students on Saturday, please call or text Kristin Bouchard at 920-360-6045. Or you can email her at bouchark@uwgb.edu.

FEATURED STUDENT SPEAKERS

Morning ceremony student speaker Monica Garcia’s future is defined in mentorship

As a local, first-generation college student, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus was the perfect opportunity for Garcia to ‘try on her wings.’ That opportunity presented itself early, and she became involved with student government and discovered her calling. “It all just took off from there,” Garcia remembers. Now, four years later, “it” includes graduating with a double major in Democracy and Justice Studies and Psychology—plus minors in Social Justice and Political Science. Read her story here.

Afternoon ceremony student speaker Aashvi Pandey perseveres toward medical school

Adaptability and perseverance are essential for a successful college career, especially when aspiring to medical school. For Aashvi Pandey, the ability to adapt came early when she moved half a world away as a child. Equally important as mastery of the art of healing, is the art of caring. She says, “Showing someone respect—sometimes that’s all they need. You just have to listen and care.” Read her story here.

GRADUATES FOCUSED ON MEETING WORKFORCE NEEDS

Alex Freeman pursues a career in crisis management

Alex Freeman will graduate on Saturday, May 17, 2025, during the 9:30 a.m. ceremony.

Crisis is at the heart of Alex Freeman’s career—anticipating, managing and overcoming a crisis, to be exact. And he readily admits, “It’s a unique profession.” As the Emergency Management Coordinator for Waukesha County, Freeman is responsible for developing and implementing emergency response plans, coordinating with local agencies and ensuring community preparedness for various crises. Getting to this point in his career led Freeman to pursue a BA in Public Administration with an Emergency Management emphasis through UW-Green Bay. Read his story here.

Playing in the Water: Watch Jessie Kreiling’s story about being a Water Science major

Jessie Kreiling will graduate on Saturday, May 17, 2025, during the 2 p.m. ceremony.

As a child, Jessie spent countless hours exploring her backyard creek, catching tadpoles and frogs. This sparked a lifelong fascination with water, leading her to discover the Water Science program at UW-Green Bay. She is one of the bold visionaries making a positive impact by solving water-related issues. Watch her story here.

About UW-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a school of resilient problem solvers who dare to reach higher with the power of education that ignites growth and answers the biggest challenges. Serving 11,198 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students as well as 85,883 continuing education learners annually, UW-Green Bay offers 200 academic degrees, programs, and certificates. With four campus locations in Northeast Wisconsin, the University’s access mission welcomes all students who want to learn, from every corner of the world. Championing bold thinking since opening its doors in 1965, it is a university on the rise – Wisconsin’s fastest growing UW. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.

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