UW-Green Bay’s winter graduating class urged to ‘lead with purpose’ at the 2024 UW-Green Bay Fall Commencement ceremonies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2024

More than 490 students to be awarded degrees at UW-Green Bay’s 2024 Winter Commencement, December 14, 2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay winter graduates will cross the stage while being urged to “lead with purpose” and impact in the region. A total of 497 eligible graduates and their families will celebrate the 2024 Winter Commencement, Saturday, December 14, 2024 in two ceremonies at The Weidner.

Degrees to be awarded include associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in high-demand areas such as business, organizational leadership, psychology, nursing, engineering and education. The ceremony will honor graduates and celebrate with families from all four of UW-Green Bay’s campuses (Green Bay, Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan). This is the University’s 110th Commencement ceremony since its first in June of 1970. Graduates join the more than 50,000 proud Phoenix alumni.

“It’s an honor to celebrate the winter graduating class who are prepared to lead with purpose and determination to make a positive impact on our community and in our workforce,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “I know that our graduates will fearlessly face challenges and solve problems to ensure the vibrancy of Northeast Wisconsin. We are inspired by them.”

Morning Ceremony (9:30 a.m.):  

-College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

-College of Health, Education & Social Welfare

-All Associate’s Degrees from all four campuses

Afternoon Ceremony (2 p.m.):  

-Austin E. Cofrin School of Business

-College of Science, Engineering and Technology

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Morning student speaker Brady Reinhard encourages fellow grads to ‘say Yes.’
Like most first-year, first-generation college students living on campus, Brady Reinhard looked forward to (and was admittedly a bit intimidated by) the typical unknowns of college, such as navigating classes, campus life, cafeteria food and newfound independence. Reinhard grew up in rural Wisconsin and UW-Green Bay was just a short drive down Algoma Road from his hometown of New Franken. The prospect of living on campus promised a vast array of opportunity.

He also saw college as a way to overcome his natural shyness and become more comfortable sharing his voice in both academic and social settings. “Moving just five miles away to campus felt like a whole new world. It was my first taste of real independence,” Reinhard recalls. But this was the Fall of 2020.

The COVID pandemic was unfolding and growing, making college—and life itself—anything but typical.

Most facilities were shutting down, and students still living on campus were confined to their rooms. “My roommate and I spent a lot of time in our room since there wasn’t much to do on campus.” And while Reinhard and his roommate were becoming good friends, his goal of overcoming his lifelong shyness was being severely tested.

But fate brought him a far greater hurdle to overcome at an early age—the death of his father. After that, he discovered that school could be far more than just a building filled with classrooms and realized his true calling. Read his story.

Co-founder of Paradym Shift, Adam Procell to address morning graduates

Via a life sentence handed down three days after his 15th birthday for a gang-related homicide, Adam Procell spent nearly a quarter-century behind bars. During his incarceration, he renounced his gang affiliation and published ‘Anatomizing the Gang Culture.’

Adam is a founding partner at Paradigm Shyft, a strategic reentry consulting firm, and is working to unify Milwaukee’s reentry services through a shared reentry resource model called Home To Stay. Additionally, he wrote Act 233, a law requiring the state to establish a community reentry center and serves as an adjunct instructor at Marquette University. He is also a TEDx speaker, highlighting his work within the trenches of change.

Afternoon student speaker Mia Laufer looks forward to bringing out the best in people.

While it’s often said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, Mia Laufer’s initial encounter with the profession of human resources(HR) proves that first impressions aren’t always lasting ones.

“In high school, I interviewed an HR manager. It’s funny because after that conversation, I didn’t want HR as my career. Somehow, I ended up back at HR, and I don’t really know how.”

As a member of the Good Times Programming Board, she fell in love with the challenge of helping all students enjoy their time on campus. She also recognized the need to include commuter students in campus activities. “Green Bay is a heavy commuter school, so it can be a real challenge to find your group. I focused hard on trying to get everyone involved – whether you lived on campus or not.”

Perhaps it was fate. Or, as she delved deeper into the “art and science” of human resources, maybe it was her appreciation of the profound impact her chosen major could have on the lives of other people. Read her story.

Founding Chair and CEO for Nicolet Bankshares Robert B. Atwell to speak at afternoon ceremony

Nicolet is a NYSE listed banking company (NIC) that provides comprehensive retail, commercial and wealth management services across 55 locations in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Nicolet has grown from a start-up bank in 2000 to the second largest Wisconsin based banking institution. The company holds $8.3 billion in assets and has provided a cumulative return to shareholders exceeding 1,000% since its founding. Nicolet has successfully acquired over 10 banking institutions since 2012. This includes distressed and failing banks as well as multiple public and privately owned banks. Bob stepped down as Chairman in December 2023 and continues as a board member and advisor.

Bob serves on many private company boards including as Lead Director at Ariens Company in Brillion Wisconsin, a fifth-generation manufacturer of outdoor power equipment. He is a director and shareholder at Great Northern Corporation in Neenah, Wisconsin, a privately owned manufacturer of packaging and displays. He is a shareholder and board member of Albert Lea Seed House, a fourth-generation family company that is the largest provider of organic corn and soybean seed in the United States. He is Chairman of Cash Depot, a financial services transaction processor serving retailers across the United States. He is also a board member of Gemplers Inc, Jet Out and Promotion Management Inc.

He has been active in numerous not-for-profit organizations. He is co-founder and a current board member of Relevant Radio, a Catholic radio network which owns over 140 radio stations and broadcasts over many network affiliates. He has served seven years as a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. He also serves on the Board of the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion Wisconsin, which is the only approved apparition site in the United States of Mary the Mother of God.

Bob holds a BA from Beloit College and Masters from Yale University. He and his wife Sally have 11 children and 13 grandchildren (so far).

NOTE: Members of the media, please RSVP your attendance to Kristin Bouchard, bouchark@uwgb.edu. Contact Kristin for interview requests and/or photos.

About UW-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a school of resilient problem solvers who dare to reach higher with the power of education that ignites growth and answers the biggest challenges. Serving 11,118 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students as well as 85,883 continuing education learners annually, UW-Green Bay offers 200 academic degrees, programs, and certificates. With four campus locations in Northeast Wisconsin, the University’s access mission welcomes all students who want to learn, from every corner of the world. Championing bold thinking since opening its doors in 1965, it is a university on the rise – Wisconsin’s fastest growing UW. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.

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