Photos by Dan Moore, University Photographer
Raquel Botbyl is the 2025 Student Commencement Speaker for the 2 p.m. ceremony on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Growing up in Menominee, Michigan, Raquel Botbyl learned early on the value of persistence and, when needed, the art of the pivot. She still recalls falling in love with gymnastics as a three-year-old in the small gym at her local YMCA. “I remember going to classes with my parents, and they would always have little obstacles and things set up, and I would just run right through them.”
As a soon-to-be graduate with a UW-Green Bay Business degree, Botbyl speaks with fondness of her early commitment to gymnastics and how it prepared her for the resilience that’s part of being a Phoenix.
Her childhood training sparked early maturity and self-discipline, and she was captivated by the older gymnasts – their strength, confidence and presence on the competitive stage moved her. “Seeing the high-school girls competing and traveling… that was something I wanted to do,” she said. She pushed herself through nerves, difficult skills and early breakthroughs. She was successful and completely dedicated to the sport.
Turning Setbacks into Strength: A Career Pivot
Then at 15, everything changed. A gymnastics accident caused her to suffer an arm injury. Despite surgeries and occupational therapy, she was unable to return to competitive gymnastics.
Unable to compete, Botbyl poured herself into coaching at the Menominee YMCA, shifting from athlete to mentor. Helping younger gymnasts work through fear and frustration gave her a new sense of purpose. “Coaching helped me stay connected to the sport,” she said. “And it helped me grow.” She honed her early leadership skills, coaching young gymnasts to learn responsibility, how to treat others with respect and helped them build confidence as they advanced into higher levels and earned individual and state titles.
When she arrived at UW–Green Bay, Botbyl was undecided about her major. She considered dietetics, healthcare and several fields connected to her physical therapy experiences, but a single general education business course shifted her path. “Everything just clicked,” she said. “That class confirmed that business was where I belonged.” She found UW–Green Bay to be an environment that encouraged exploration. Advisors helped her test new areas. Faculty noticed her initiative. Student organizations welcomed her leadership.
Researching Resilience and Technology’s Impact
Through the Student Association of Management (SAM) Club, Botbyl discovered the RISE Research Assistant Program, where she paired her interest in human behavior with strong analytical strengths. She joined Professor Radosevich’s research team, spending two years studying burnout, phone usage and the psychological effects of emerging technologies. “This year, we’re looking at how tools like ChatGPT or Gemini affect people’s focus, mood and confidence,” she explained. Her work explored questions that echoed her own experience with pressure and resilience: How do people stay focused? What causes someone to thrive or burn out? Her dedication earned recognition through the Student Community Engagement Value Award, reaffirming her commitment to community impact.
Botbyl also made a significant mark through campus leadership. She co-founded Women in Business and now serves as its president, helping students build community, connect with professionals and grow their confidence. “It’s about helping women find their place in business,” she said. She also serves as vice president of UW–Green Bay’s Association of Supply Chain Management (ASCM) student chapter, bridging classroom concepts with real-world application. The leadership skills she developed as a young gymnastics coach appear throughout her college experience—mentoring peers, planning events and modeling resilience.
Looking Ahead: MBA and a Future in Sports and Wellness
As graduation approaches, Botbyl plans to pursue her Master of Business Administration while continuing her research. She envisions a future in the sports, health and wellness industry, possibly owning her own firm or working with a sports organization. “I’d love to balance both—pursuing graduate school while growing something of my own,” she said. Although her competitive gymnastics career ended far earlier than she expected, the lessons endure. “Resilience, confidence, integrity—they all started there,” she said.
Her advice to future students reflects the perspective she’s earned: “Don’t compare your timeline to anyone else’s. Everyone’s path looks different—and that’s okay. College is what you make it. The growth, the people you meet, the opportunities you find—it’s all worth it.”