Commencement Photo Gallery: Rising into the Good Life
Joy, reflection, inspiration and a plethora of clever mortarboards were in abundance as Commencement returned to the Kress Events Center on the UW-Green Bay campus for the first time since May 2019 on Saturday, May 14, 2022.
For Graduating Class Speaker Kelsi Englehardt, it was a day to think about the meaning of “the good life.” “Yes, today is about you and your successes,” she told those gathered, “but remember that lasting happiness and having a good life doesn’t come from us alone, but rather from our close, genuine relationships with others.”
Classmate, fellow commencement speaker and Mechanical Engineering major Jordan Cioni shared gratitude for the special community he found while attending UW-Green Bay. “We have a community that literally built us a school,” he said in reference to the Richard J. Resch School of Engineering. “And not one of us would be here without the collective efforts of Northeast Wisconsin. Green Bay truly is a special community.”
UW System Regent President Edmund Manydeeds III, who attended UW-Green Bay during his own academic journey, underscored the important role graduates play in the state’s future. “I know there has been plenty of uncertainty and unknowns these past couple of years, but there’s one thing that’s very clear – and that is how important our graduates are to the state of Wisconsin and beyond. And never more so than now.”
Support and advice for those graduating was also shared by International businessman Richard Gochnauer and New York Times bestselling author Angeline Boulley. For Gochnauer, the secrect to a good life comes at the intersection of purpose and career. “I have learned that it is at this junction that people become their best selves …many of the happiest and most successful people I have found are those who find their purpose in their work…purpose is not about you but your positive impact on others.” From Boulley: “As you celebrate your accomplishments today, may you be among people who cherish you and cheer you on to whatever is next in your journey. Be brave. Take chances. Pursue dreams. Practice self care. Be the hero of your story. May it be a thrilling and satisfying adventure.”
Congratulations to the Class of 2002. Keep rising!
Click to advance slideshow or view the album on Flickr.
– Photos by Dan Moore, Marketing and University Communication.
