Chippewa Valley Times

After a commendable tenure of 36 years, sign language interpreter Rachel Kohn is retiring from her role at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Kohn has been an integral part of more than 170 commencement ceremonies held at Zorn Arena, a 72-year-old facility which is also hosting its last graduation ceremony.

"Commencement day is such a happy day to be a part of," Kohn shared. "There is so much positive energy in the arena. I often get choked up as the graduates enter the arena, and I don't even know most of them.”

In recognition of her dedicated service, Kohn was bestowed with the Honorary Blugold Award by Chancellor James Schmidt during commencement. Over her tenure, she has interpreted for approximately 72,000 Blugolds and taught multiple eight-week sign language classes through UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education.

“It has been an honor and I will certainly enjoy this last ceremony in Zorn Arena as it, too, retires,” Kohn expressed. “It is a place where many memories have been created over the years.”

Kohn's career has been filled with memorable moments such as graduates performing backflips after receiving their diplomas or losing their caps amidst cheering audiences. One special moment was when she signed as her son received his diploma with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Having retired after 36 years as a sign language interpreter in the Eau Claire Area School District, Kohn recognizes the importance of her role at commencements. “Communication and information access is so very important to Deaf and hard of hearing family members, friends and Deaf students who are participating in such an important milestone,” she said.

Kohn intends to continue interpreting for The Forum series and other one-day events at UW-Eau Claire.

The commencement also saw two Mayo Clinic physicians addressing the graduates about realizing their dreams through transformative power of partnerships. Graduates Zachary May and Anna Wendorff will embark on English teaching assistantships in Argentina and South Korea respectively. Meanwhile, Kyra Saylor plans to resume her Blugold studies in the master's degree program for speech-language pathology after a summer break.