Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is preparing for its spring commencement, an event that will mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. The ceremony, to be held in Zorn Arena, will be the last at this venue before next fall's commencement moves to the new Sonnentag Event Center. Among the 1,485 students graduating will be the 100,000th graduate to receive a diploma at Zorn Arena.

Among these graduates are several notable students. Accounting major Emily Fox from Osceola is ending her final semester with pride, having achieved her goal of a four-year degree. Albert Lin, a college student who also serves as a firefighter, has learned valuable lessons about responding to emergencies and helping his community. Paige Williams found her academic home at UW-Eau Claire – Barron County after moving between different schools.

Teagan Jones had never heard of Eau Claire before visiting UW-Eau Claire as a high school student in Illinois. Now she can't imagine being anywhere else as she prepares to graduate. Kyra Saylor is looking forward to graduation and a summer break before resuming her studies in the master's degree program for speech-language pathology this fall.

The spring 2024 commencement also marks the graduation of the first Blugold Biomedical Innovator Scholars cohort. Nine students who began medical science research in 2020 are set to work in industry, attend medical school or seek Ph.D.s.

Honorary doctorates of science will be awarded to Dr. Richard Helmers, regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health System in Wisconsin, and Dr. Tim Nelson, director of innovation for Mayo Clinic Health System in Northwest Wisconsin.

Alumni Association awards will be presented on Friday, May 17 to John Rosenow, Nancy Langer, Gary Jacobus and Jerry M. Bauer.

In addition to these highlights, two recent graduates have been selected for prestigious teaching assistantships. Zachary May, who graduated in December 2023, will participate in an English teaching assistantship in Argentina, while May 2023 graduate Anna Wendorff will be an English teaching assistant in South Korea.