Celebrating December 2022 Grads
Celebrating #UWECgrad Achievements
Check out these stories featuring the achievements of a few 2020 Blugold grads.
Senior Shoutouts and Memories
Watch these shoutouts and memories from members of the Class of 2020!
#UWECgrad Featured Stories
Check out these virtual tools for celebrating our 2022 grads!
Facebook cover photos
Give your social media profile a graduation "glow up" with these tools
Virtual photo frame
Add a photo of yourself and post this virtual photo frame to any or all of your social media accounts. And be sure to add details on your studies and where you're headed next. Don't forget to tag @uweauclaire!
Senior Shoutouts & Memories
What are they wearing?
The head covering developed from the skullcap worn to protect tonsured heads in cold weather. In the universities, the skullcap acquired a point on top, which gradually evolved into a tassel. In Europe the bonnet with tassel is still worn but has been replaced in America by the mortarboard cap or tam with tassel.
In the Middle Ages, those with bachelor’s and master’s degrees could be distinguished by the simplicity or elaborateness of their gowns. The master’s gowns were often furred, a decoration surviving as the three velvet bars now used on the sleeves of the doctoral gown.
First worn by faculty and students, the hood is now added to the apparel of those with master’s, specialist in education and doctoral degrees. The color of the velvet trim on the hood indicates the scholarly field: for example, dark blue (philosophy), golden yellow (science), light blue (education), pink (music), apricot (nursing), drab (business), white (arts).
Congratulations,
Blugolds!
Social Media Toolkit
Really deck out your Facebook and Twitter profile with one of these #UWECgrad cover photos!
Check out some stories about our May 2020 graduates
Soon-to-be #UWECgrad, Carolyn Bauer, will wrap up her college journey with a degree in biology. While her final semester is ending in an unexpected way, Bauer is grateful for the connections and experiences she made on her rather unconventional college journey, which started at the UW-Eau Claire — Barron County campus and ended at the UW-Eau Claire campus. Check out her unique success story!!
"Proud of my Blugold" badge
Use this special "Class of 2022" badge to show support for your #UWECgrad on social media. Simply download the image and use it as a profile picture on your account OR post it to your timeline. Don't forget to tag your grad.
Upload these digital notes to Instagram Stories and share a message with your #UWECgrad
Two nursing majors who will graduate from UW-Eau Claire this month say that even a pandemic can't keep them from celebrating together. And they won't break social distancing guidelines to do so. The two are twin sisters with a shared passion for nursing.
Senior Monica Dickson will begin veterinary school at University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign in the fall. While she is confident that she has the knowledge to succeed in veterinary school, the path to make her dream come true wasn't always easy. While struggling through some UW-Eau Claire biology courses, Dickson says it was the supportive campus community that pushed her and helped her succeed.
A formal in-person commencement ceremony for the Blugold Class of 2020 has been rescheduled to
Friday, Oct. 2, 2020!
More details to come
Study abroad programs can be transformative. For LeeAnn, her time at Harlaxton College in England revealed a hidden passion and a new career path! Read how this Blugold's experience has set her up for success post-graduation.
Blugold grad reflects on her unconventional college success story
Twin sisters to earn nursing degrees from UW-Eau Claire
New grad built connections, embraced opportunities to make the most of college
History class in England inspires Blugold to pursue new major, new career
International grad will put his Blugold degree to work in Bolivia
Finding the right college takes some careful thinking, but for Alejandro Lema, the decision to attend UW-Eau Claire came easy. Lema, an international student, knew he wanted to attend a college with a strong business program and a low student-to-faculty ratio. He got everything he needed at UW-Eau Claire and will be graduating with a job lined up in La Paz, Bolivia.
Spring 2020 grad is making basketball dreams come true thanks to UW-Eau Claire
Five years after beginning his college career, Zixuan (Jason) Jiang, will graduate from UW-Eau Claire with a kinesiology degree. Ever since he was in high school, Jiang knew he wanted to devote his future career to something related to basketball. Through his studies and other experiences like assistant coaching men's basketball, Jiang was able to land an internship with the NBA China program.
Senior Slideshow
Check out these photos submitted by our senior class
Grit and determination: No stopping Kristie Ash, Class of 2020
Blugold's roller-coaster college journey ending with psychology degree
The Blugold Beginnings Program at UW-Eau Claire is a ongoing effort in equity, diversity and inclusion, aimed at inspiring and educating students from underrepresented groups. When Blugold Beginnings director Jodi Thessing-Ritter was asked if any spring 2020 graduates stood out in her mind, she immediately referenced Kristie Ash. Check out the interview we had with this incredible young woman.
Senior Megan Hansen has had quite the college journey, complete with many surprise twists and turns. She transferred to UW-Eau Claire halfway through her freshman year and was the caretaker for her aunt who eventually died due to lymphoma. In addition, Hansen overcame her own mental and physical health issues. But despite the obstacles, she'll be graduating a year ahead of schedule. Check out her inspiring story!
Health care administration grad finds passion, career path at UW-Eau Claire
Brendan Riordan came into college as a 21-year-old freshman who was recruited to play hockey at UW-Eau Claire. While he was undecided about his major at first, he eventually chose to study health care administration and then landed a yearlong health care administration practicum at Aiden Terrace of McHenry, a care facility in northern illinois. See how the final months of his practicum played out amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
New grad finds life lessons in college journey that includes cancer, pandemic
Brock Orton, a senior finance major, is gearing up to graduate this semester. After reflecting on his college journey, he says there is one thing he knows for sure — people are willing to help you if you reach out to them. This is especially true for Orton, who found out he had testicular cancer two years ago. Luckily, with the help of his professors, he was able to stay on top of homework and arrive at a cancer free diagnosis. But the hurdles didn't stop there. Check out how Orton has navigated the pandemic despite obstacles.
UW-Eau Claire — Barron County Virtual Commencement
Congrats to our UWECBC graduates!
Hear from Provost Patricia Kleine, Chancellor Jim and Student Body President Miranda Ricci
Graduating with a second family: OMA grad Gaoki Lee
Gaoki Lee will graduate this semester with her bachelor's degree in information systems. Looking back on the past few years, Lee says she will always remember the friends and memories she made in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. We asked Lee to share a few specific memories about how the program accomplishes the goal of making students feel safe, welcome and supported.
New grad is fifth in family to graduate from UW-Eau Claire
Austin Burzynski will be the fifth in his family to graduate from UW-Eau Claire. While he is disappointed that COVID-19 upended his plans to walk across the stage in Zorn Arena, Burzynski is still celebrating the fact that he is part of his family's Blugold legacy. He says, "Being Blugolds is a bond that brings us together, which is really cool."
You Did It, Blugold Grad!
It's been another crazy year, but you persevered and worked so hard to get to this point. Make sure you celebrate this accomplishment with these fun social media graphics.
Political science major earns UW-Eau Claire degree in two years
This spring, 19-year-old Liam Barnes will graduate from UW-Eau Claire after just two years with a major in political science and a minor in economics. The Elk River, Minnesota native has had a busy couple years complete with multiple internships, working as an economics tutor and participating in Greek life. Find out how he did it all and managed to line up a job before graduation.
In-Person Commencement
Saturday, Dec. 17
9 a.m.
Celebrate the grads from the College of Business and the College of Education + Human Sciences
1:30 p.m.
Celebrate the grads from the College of Arts + Sciences and the College of Nursing + Health Sciences