By Emily Matesic
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WLUK) — The countdown is on for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s December commencement.
More than 500 students are set to graduate Saturday. Of the graduates, 55% are first-generation students, meaning they are the first in their family to earn a college degree.
It was only about six months ago when Elena Talingo graduated from Green Bay’s Preble High School. And this weekend, the 19-year old will accept her bachelor’s degree diploma from UWGB.
“It’s definitely — I’m not going to say surprising. I’m just very — I feel accomplished. I’m just speechless. Like, I actually did it,” said Talingo.
She did it with the help of Rising Phoenix, a UWGB program that gives students at partnering schools an opportunity to earn their associate’s degree while they’re still in high school.
In fall 2023, Talingo started taking college courses through Rising Phoenix, and she didn’t stop — accumulating 132 college credits before she even stepped onto the UWGB campus. This past semester, she finished her degree in supply chain management.
“I had a different college experience, obviously, and a high school experience, but I really think it was worth. I think it was worth my degree,” Talingo said. “It’s just, I really valued my college. I really valued my education and I just went for it.”
Motivated financially, Talingo’s focus saved her more than $80,000 in tuition costs. She’s already accepted a job and will be moving to Minneapolis next month to start working for Honeywell Aerospace.
“I’m going to be somewhat more financially stable compared to the other average graduate. So, I don’t have that idea on the back of my mind of, ‘Oh, I have to pay this loan,’ and I’m not struggling financially in any way,” she said.
While Talingo doesn’t believe she’s a unicorn, Green Bay officials say she is the exception. No other Rising Phoenix student has graduated from college as quickly as she has. But she is an example of how the Rising Phoenix program works with students to help them accomplish their goals.
“I think we’re really lucky at UW-Green Bay to be able to offer a variety,” said Provost Kate Burns. “That’s really what modern education needs to look like, is to be able to think about, ‘What are the many pathways that students might need?’”
The first Rising Phoenix class had only 25 students. Now, more than 600 are enrolled in the program.
Source: Rising Phoenix program helps UWGB student get degree 6 months after high school graduation