UW-Green Bay alumna thanks Education program for support through pregnancy

While many graduates pose with their newly earned diplomas, UW-Green Bay Spring 2021 graduate Eden Erickson clung to her newborn. Hers is quite a journey… from Iron Mountain, Michigan to the Spring 2021 Commencement Celebration at UW-Green Bay. And she says she has the UW-Green Bay Elementary program to thank for helping her cross the finish line.

“I started at UW-Green Bay in 2016. The professors in Education gave me so much support throughout the years,” she said. “I went to Uganda in high school to teach in primary schools for the summer and ended up hospitalized with malaria, which caused other health issues throughout my life. My professors supported me through these health issues and provided me with so much extra support! They really went above and beyond.”

Considering what she has been through, especially in one of her final weeks of the semester, teaching should be a cakewalk.

“During my pregnancy, I was supported by my family and my amazing teacher I was with for student teaching, as well as my supervisors. I ended up passing my FORT test, graduating college, interviewing for my teaching job at 40 weeks pregnant, and then having my baby right after! This was all in the same week! My newborn son was able to see me graduate and I wouldn’t change it for anything!”

Eden will continue to inspire as a second-grade teacher at Sullivan Elementary in Green Bay.