
UWO grads continue to find success above US average, bolstering Wisconsin workforce
UW Oshkosh graduates continue to land jobs or other opportunities above the national average, according to the results of the annual First Destination Outcomes survey.

Class of ’23 celebrated at UWO’s 149th spring commencement
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh celebrated the achievements of more than 1,300 students in two ceremonies Saturday inside Kolf Sports Center. The 149th spring commencement included the recognition of candidates for 60 doctoral, 170 master’s degree, 1,002 bachelor’s degree and 111 associates degree students.
Cory Sparks, a radio TV film major from Pleasant Prairie, was the student speaker for the morning ceremony. Breana Vander Wielen, a business administration major from Kimberly, was the speaker in the afternoon. UW Oshkosh Provost John Koker was the faculty speaker at both ceremonies—offering his final remarks before his retirement this summer.
More from spring commencement:

Bye Gosh Fest: UWO students celebrate the end of the school year
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students had a chance to take a break from their end-of-semester schoolwork Thursday with the annual Bye Gosh Fest on the Oshkosh campus. The gathering in the Kolf Sports Center lot included performances by Aly and AJ, and Oshkosh band Mubus, food trucks, artists, games and more. Bye Gosh Fest has been a UW Oshkosh tradition for decades to mark the end of academic year. The spring semester comes to a close May 12.
More photos:

Fox Cities campus students kick back at Farewell Fox celebration
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Fox Cities campus students didn’t even think about the snow outside as they hung out on inflatable toys, entered for prizes and enjoyed a free lunch as part of the annual Farewell Fox event Monday afternoon.
The final celebration of the semester was moved indoors and included visits with Josie the therapy dog, games and final exam survival kits.
The next two weeks are among the busiest for students and instructors; the spring semester ends May 12.

UW Oshkosh year in review: We bid you adieu, 2022
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh community thrived in 2022, with plenty of events and lots of learning and opportunities for connection.
Take a moment to watch the recap video of 2022.
We look forward to seeing what 2023 holds for our University.

60 seconds of joy: UWO midyear commencement video highlights
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s proud alumni community grew by nearly 1,000 on Dec. 17 as the University staged its 58th midyear commencement. The achievements of 922 students were recognized in a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Kolf Sports Center on the Oshkosh campus. The ceremony came at the conclusion of the fall semester and honored those who graduated with bachelor’s, associate, master’s and doctoral degrees in the summer and fall. Cheers to all the “beautiful full-bloomed futures” ahead.
More from midyear commencement:

UWO graduating senior finds passion to go beyond survival to thrive
Since a horrific car accident nearly eight years ago altered forever the trajectory of her life, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh psychology senior Abby Lane has chosen time and again to push forward with her recovery and educational goals. Now just weeks after unexpectedly losing her father, Lane is set to graduate Saturday, Dec. 17 at Kolf Sports Center.
Watch the inspiring story of one of UWO’s soon-to-be alumni:
Learn more:
UW Oshkosh to host WiSys SPARK Symposium Aug. 6-8
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will host the 2023 WiSys SPARK Symposium Aug. 6-8 at the Culver Family Welcome Center on the Oshkosh campus.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to register. Students attend free and, as the host site, UWO can extend free registration for up to 45 faculty and staff members who sign up and use the code UWO20.
As billed by WiSys—the UW System’s official designated technology transfer office for the comprehensive institutions—the SPARK Symposium “is where research, innovation and entrepreneurship collide.” SPARK travels to different UW System campuses each year, bringing together the best and brightest faculty, staff, students and alumni from across the UW System to network, collaborate and celebrate great ideas. It provides outstanding opportunities for UWO students to present their research and creative activities in posters and prototypes for an audience of statewide peers while learning about further studies, scholarship and career pathways after graduation.
The upcoming three-day symposium’s lead UWO host is the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations, and the event is taking on a sustainability theme. The conference agenda is still developing; however, you can expect talks and presentations on a variety of innovations and advancements in environmental sustainability, sustainable agriculture and related science and technology.
The symposium also will feature rapid-fire research talks, panels on student-career success and research-collaborations, poster and innovation showcases, the WiSys Quick Pitch contest finals and plenty of time for networking with peers from throughout the UW System.
SPARK was last hosted at UW Oshkosh in 2016.
Registration is open at the SPARK Symposium website. Registration closes July 21. More conference details are available at the site, and more information will be available as the event draws near.
Learn more:
Still time to register for Milwaukee Beer Barons History Tour
Registration is needed this week for the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Division of Online and Continuing Education’s coach bus trip exploring the history of Milwaukee’s beer barons.
The day-trip on June 8 begins with a self-guided tour of the Milwaukee County Historical Society, which has been nicknamed the “Brewer’s Bank.”
Lunch will then be served at On the Clock, a historic restaurant that features original woodwork, tile arches, leaded and stained glass, and a carved bar.
The next stop will bring patrons to the Holler House, a Polish Bar that houses the oldest sanctioned tenpin bowling alley in the United States. Participants will receive half of a Polish beer and a chance to try a frame on a real wood bowling lane with pins that are still set by human pinsetters.
The day will end with a docent-led tour of the Forest Home Cemetery, the final resting place of many of the city’s famed beer barons, politicians and social elite.
Pick-up and drop-off locations are available in Menasha, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. Registration is needed by May 18.
More information is available by sending an email to conted@uwosh.edu, call (920) 424-1129 or by visiting uwo.sh/travel.
Learn more:
Titans softball to host NCAA regional beginning Thursday
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Titans softball team will make their 10th appearance in the NCAA tournament—and their championship quest begins at home.
UW Oshkosh is among the regional hosts for the tournament, with games at the UWO softball field Thursday through Saturday.
The Titans (34-7) will host Concordia-Wisconsin, UW-Superior and Luther College in a double-elimination regional. The action begins with UWO taking on Luther College at 1 p.m. Thursday, followed by Concordia-Wisconsin and UW-Superior facing off at 3:30 p.m.
The Titans finished fifth in the NCAA tournament in 2021.
As tournament information becomes available, it can be found at uwoshkoshtitans.com.
Rec and wellness center administrative assistant earns April 2023 STAR Award
Ashley Behling, administrative assistant at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s Student Recreation and Wellness Center, has been named the recipient of the April 2023 STAR Award.
Tony Dirth, previously the center’s interim director, offered the following nomination:
“Ashley has done a few things recently to go above and beyond. Student Affairs was looking for a student to be clash at the first football game that the marching band performed in the fall. When no students volunteered, Ashley said that she would do it. She dressed up as Clash for the whole afternoon.
“Ashley served on the very time-consuming associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students search committee. This was actually her sixth search committee she’s volunteered to be on in the recent months, showing her dedication to the University.
“She also volunteered to work at the beverage table at Reeve for Homecoming festivities.
“For all of these reasons, she’s been a great contributor and would be deserving of the award.”
Fond du Lac campus custodian earns March STAR Award
John Nonestied, a custodian on the Fond du Lac campus of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, has been named the recipient of the March 2023 STAR Award.
Events manager Kathy Strong Langolf offered the following nomination:
“John always has a positive attitude and willingness to assist others (students, staff, clients). He frequently asks what he can do to assist with an event and looks for ways in which to make setup and take down easier for all. He makes himself available during events to assist in any way he can and always with a smile on his face.
“John is also an artist and when asked to fill one of our art galleries with his works, he did so with passion and enthusiasm. The exhibit was popular on our campus, and he also assisted with promotion of the exhibit to increase traffic to the gallery. When the exhibit was complete, John donated the majority of his items to our Foundation for their Corks N’ Forks scholarship fundraising event held in spring.”
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Oshkosh Herald, pg. 19, May 24