Top UW-Green Bay Moments of 2023

As we near the conclusion of 2023, let’s revisit some of the standout moments and highlights from the past year at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay:

UW-Green Bay announces new Literacy Initiative to improve reading rates across the region

In March 2023, driven by University mission to meet regional needs and address community challenges, the University unveiled the UW-Green Bay Literacy Initiative.

The new reading-focused program was designed to provide much needed hours of volunteer reading time to area first through third graders in an intentional effort to boost literacy rates across the region.

Working with several school districts and other community organizations, UW-Green Bay identified specific ongoing volunteer reading opportunities across the region. In addition to identifying volunteer opportunities, the University created a free-to-all online prep course for volunteers interested in joining the charge. Since the program launched, 48 people have completed the course.

UW-Green Bay launched a direct admit program in partnership with GBAPS

In early 2023, UW-Green Bay announced new Direct Admit program. Green Bay Area Public School students applying this year for UW-Green Bay for fall 2024 experience this new initiative. This partnership was the first-in-the-state of its kind and provides direct college admission

to all high school graduating students in GBAPS district beginning in the fall of 2024. Learn more.

Schreiber Foods makes significant impact on women’s leadership in Northeast Wisconsin

Long-term community support for engaging, inspiring and empowering Northeast Wisconsin’s next generation of women leaders took a phenomenal step forward on April 20, 2023, when Schreiber Foods announced a gift to UW-Green Bay’s Institute for Women’s Leadership. With the gift, the Institute was renamed the Schreiber Foods Institute for Women’s Leadership at UW-Green Bay. Ron Dunford, President and CEO of Schreiber Foods made the announcement to the more than 500 attendees of the Institute’s annual event celebrating Northeast Wisconsin women at all stages of their careers, “Celebrate 2023: Phenomenally You,” an evening of connection, education and inspiration open to everyone.

The gift establishes an endowment to provide long-term sustainability for the Institute and its work to become the go-to resource in Northeast Wisconsin supporting women and their leadership journeys.

It also supports the Institute’s work to increase communities’ knowledge and awareness of issues related to women in leadership and advance new knowledge in the state of Wisconsin through benchmarking data on women in business, and research about women and leadership. Read more.

Dina Maleny Capetillo Jimenez honored as 50,000th graduate of UW-Green Bay

From Veracruz, Mexico to Green Bay, Wis., Dina Maleny Capetillo Jimenez’s journey to a college degree hasn’t been without its challenges. But the Business Administration major has placed herself in an enviable position. On Saturday, May, 13, 2023 she was the first in her family to graduate with a college degree, and she was celebrated as UW-Green Bay’s 50,000^th graduate at the University’s Commencement Spring 2023 ceremonies. Capitillo was only six years old when she immigrated with her family to the United States. Unable to speak English, she recalls the kindness of a stranger-turned-friend—a little girl in her Chilton, Wis. classroom who found a way to communicate through non-verbal sign language and helped her with her homework. It was the start of her academic journey that will culminated in grand style, with flowers and fanfare at the Kress Events Center on Saturday. Read her story.

Groundbreaking celebration marks first new residence hall on UW-Green Bay Campus in 12 years

On Monday, May 15, 2023 leaders from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, University Village Housing, Inc., (UVHI) Immel Construction and Berners Schober broke ground for the new residence hall on the UW-Green Bay campus. Following years of growth in enrollment and academic and extra-curricular offerings, this latest campus expansion is considered phase I of a new residence hall, set to open to students in Fall 2024. This is UW-Green Bay’s first new residence hall in more than 12 years.

The new hall will be home to 200 students and specially designed for (but not limited to) first- and second-year students to increase social and cultural opportunities, foster common-interest learning communities and support degree attainment. It will offer both two-person and four-person apartments with an array of shared collaboration and recreation spaces. Upon completion it will become the largest residence hall on campus. Read more.

UW-Green Bay partners with DHS to provide free path to caregiver certification

In August, UW-Green Bay and Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced a new, free program to provide caring individuals a streamlined path to successfully become a certified direct care professional (CDCP). In addition to training, the program includes a registry for qualified home health care workers and a workforce portal, allowing certified workers to see available jobs and post resume information for potential employers. The Wisconsin program also pays out sign-on and retention bonuses for people who complete the program.

Wisconsin’s direct caregiving workforce is the backbone of home and community-based services. At the time of the announcement, one in four direct caregiver positions were vacant, and Wisconsin was projected to need an additional 20,000 home care workers by 2024. As federal health officials push states to invest in the home health workforce, Wisconsin’s efforts to train and connect care workers are being celebrated as a model for other states. Read more about the certification offered by UW-Green Bay’s Wisconsin Training Registries.

UW-Green Bay works with 13-time World Champion Green Bay Packers to offer popular ‘History of the Green Bay Packers’ noncredit certificate program

Classes for the popular and brand new “History of the Green Bay Packers” noncredit certificate program began in September! The live, online sessions are taught by Brent Hensel, curator of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and cover the rich, century-plus history of the team, including the origins of American football, the struggle for survival in the early days of the franchise, the Lombardi dynasty and more. The second round of the program will run beginning in January 2024. The course is one of many offerings sponsored by the UW-Green Bay Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Training, creating access to education at every stage of life.

Estamos Aquí festival welcomes more than 8,000 to campus

In a first-time collaboration, the Estamos Aquí committee along with The Weidner and UW-Green Bay joined forces to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on the UW-Green Bay Campus with a free outdoor Hispanic arts and culture festival open to all, featuring live entertainment, Hispanic food, art, a car show, kids’ activities, and a Hispanic small business market. More than 8,000 people attended the event! “This event exceeded our expectations,” said Paulina Chavira Duran, community engagement and outreach coordinator with The Weidner and part of the Estamos Aquí planning committee. “Celebrating the rich Hispanic/Latinx culture in this way had an incredible impact on our local community, and we can’t wait to do it again next year.”

Enrollment hits milestone, more than 10,000 students

Fall semester 2023 brought great enrollment news for UW-Green Bay. In addition to once again taking the place as the fastest growing Universities of Wisconsin school, UW-Green Bay surpassed 10,000 students for the first time, becoming the third largest regional comprehensive in the state. Read more.

Green Bay Phoenix Men’s Soccer wins Horizon League Tournament for first time since 2009

On November 11, 2023, the No. 2-seeded Green Bay Phoenix Men’s Soccer took down No. 1-seeded Oakland by a final of 1-0, giving the Phoenix an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Green Bay last won the Horizon League Tournament in 2009, with the last overall championship coming in 2017 (regular season). While, the season came to an end in the first round. This is one of the best seasons in the history of the team!

Electronics recycling events in 2023 produce incredible results

This year, UW-Green Bay Office of Sustainability partnered with MRM Recycling and Redemption Recycling on four free electronic recycling drop-off events open to the public. These events occurred on the Green Bay and Marinette Campuses, as well as at Marinette High School. Items accepted ranged from TVs to computers to cell phones.

The final weight totals from four events are are all in, and we’re proud to share that 225,596 pounds, or 112.798 tons of electronic waste were diverted from landfills. Learn more.