CEBAH Awards

• Ellie Archer
• Owen Belisle
• Whittney Beying
• Anthony Biniaris
• Ryan Binion
• Kaleb Blaha
• Landon Blom
• Isaac Blomquist
• Katie Boudewyns
• Laney Brabec
• Peytton Bridges
• McKenna Burger
• Carter Busta
• Mackenzie Byl
• Tyler Dean
• Emma Dinndorf
• Donniejo Dittrich
• Delaney Erb
• Emily Gilmore
• Kinsey Giordano
• Matthew Greeder
• Benjamin Groff
• Emma Gudahl
• Kennedy Harty
• Josie Haugen
• Jp Herrera
• Kaylee Hessler
• Kayla Howell
• Brayden Jansen
• Danialle Janutolo
• Michael Kerr
• Jericka Kirkendall
• Ashley Knefelkamp
• Jakob Kramer
• Gabe Larson
• Kortney Mayer
• Kat McNally
• Mary Miske
• Jade Moreno-Valdez
• Mackenzie Rak
• Jake Regan
• Kaitlyn Regel
• Oliver Riles
• Kaitlyn Ronn
• Bailey Sauve
• Burke Simpson
• Avery Starzecki
• Kalee Sullivan
• Nolan Throndset
• Kayli Turner
• Tyler Ulrich
• Braden Van Roosenbeek
• Anthony Vidrick
• Brenna Yeadon

• Emma Brost
• Madison Castner
• Brooke Glumack
• Megan Goodreau
• Ari Gustafson
• Garret Honstrom
• Allison Kosel
• Nicholas Mohrhauser
• Jordan Nauber
• Kennedy Olson
• Peyton Opsahl
• Thomas Poplawski
• Anna Riebe
• Emily Stewart
• Brianna Stone

• Katherine Bell
• Lauren Best
• Maxime Collette
• Connor Develice
• Brittany Diepenbrock
• Lizzie Felty
• Tom Grega
• Sammie Hayek
• Sophia Heran
• Cassie Johnson
• Haley Karnick
• Eyan Knecht
• Hadley Larson
• Madison Lavergne
• Kayci LeMieux
• Allie Nordskog
• Alexa Peterson
• Sonia Peterson
• Kayley Reimers
• Hailey Reuvers
• Jacob Slagle
• Abbey Sutliff
• Tyler Waram
• Ashley Wert
• Morgan Wurst

• Simon Anderson
• Spencer Anderson
• Braelyn Beiler
• Kallie Beissel
• Ella Biege
• Cassidy Boeckermann
• Trina Bores
• Christina Boyum
• Rachael Braun
• Zoey Buchan
• Lydia Bush
• Onalie Dennis
• Manny Flicek
• Lilah Gilyard
• Ally Herzog
• Olivia Hoerl
• Ella Holden
• MacKenna Kusilek
• Seoan Lee
• Marni Lynch
• Lily Mason
• Bella Olson
• Marguerite Pagnotta
• Dana Petrie
• Kassie Riesgraf
• Mari Ryberg
• Emily Schwinghammer
• Lauren Shamla
• Kajsa Shattuck
• Ruby Straub
• Cassie Vesey
• Ellie Wilson
• Sydni Yarrington

Olivia is this year's recipient of the Health and Human Performance Department Exercise and Sport Science Major of the Year award. Olivia exemplifies the true meaning of a student-athlete. While she excels as a senior captain on the women's basketball team, she also leads by example academically. She maintains a 3.98 GPA as she prepares to enter graduate school to become an occupational therapist. Don't let Olivia's quiet demeanor fool you, she is a driven and dedicated student. She leads by her actions and behaviors as a role model in and out of the classroom. We appreciate the contributions she has made to the EXSS program and wish her continued success. 

Ashley has been an outstanding student in the health and physical education major. She is a leader among her peers and demonstrates excellent teaching abilities. She is amazing at planning for learning and teaching. She will be an incredible role model for her students and we are so thrilled to know she will be a health and physical educator for many years to come!

Lauren Rohr has proved herself not only to be an excellent student throughout her time in the graduate program in school psychology, her performance in her field-based experiences stands out, as well. Lauren's passion for the field and her enthusiasm in sharing that passion with others is beyond compare. 

Unanimously, the counseling program faculty nominate Lauren Reissmann to receive the Outstanding Student award from the program. Lauren graduated in December 2025, having demonstrated exceptional academic work, professional growth, and service to the program. Lauren was always thoroughly prepared for class, submitting excellent written work and other assignments. She collaborated with ease, uniting everyone in her group assignments. Lauren also thoughtfully participated in class, quickly connecting ideas, asking meaningful questions, and integrating the knowledge and skills into her growing professional identity as a school counselor. In her field placements, Lauren built quick relationships with her students. They loved her! As a classmate, Lauren was a leader, modeling academic excellence during class, but also as a Student Association president. She also worked as a graduate assistant and supported the program during a time of faculty transition. Lauren did all of this with grace, humility, and confidence. Lauren obtained a job immediately upon graduation and is now a practicing school counselor. She is well-deserving of this award. 

Bailey was the Team Leader for the 2025 CFA Challenge, a prestigious award among university finance programs. We won over some fifteen other teams from places like the University of Minnesota, North Dakota State University, UMD, etc.  A huge accomplishment for our team of three finance students, as well as recognition of our comparatively small finance program. Bailey proved that small works!

Jonathan is a student I recommend with genuine enthusiasm because his journey reflects both resilience and meaningful impact beyond the classroom. While his academic accomplishments are many, including developing forecasting models in RStudio, conducting A/B testing and market-basket analyses, building KPI dashboards, and applying advanced analytics to real-world hospitality datasets, what truly distinguishes him is how he connects his learning to service. Drawing on his professional background, Jonathan has worked to address critical challenges in assisted living care and hospitality, particularly around nutrition, operational efficiency, and improving outcomes for vulnerable populations. He consistently brings a strong sense of purpose to his work, combining technical skill with empathy and ethical awareness. During the difficult times our communities have faced recently, he has demonstrated leadership and compassion by supporting those in need and contributing positively to the broader local community. Self-motivated, dependable, and deeply reflective, Jonathan embodies the spirit of a Falcon through perseverance, collaboration, and a commitment to using his education to create meaningful change.

Connor Ducklow is a student I am proud to recommend for this recognition, as he consistently exemplifies dedication, integrity, and a strong commitment to growth both academically and personally. A senior student-athlete with a 3.49 GPA and a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, Connor balances the demands of collegiate baseball with his academic responsibilities in a way that reflects discipline and maturity. In my classes, he has been an active and thoughtful participant, regularly engaging with lectures, posing insightful questions, and encouraging his peers to think more critically and contribute more confidently to discussions. His presence elevates the classroom environment not through volume, but through sincerity, respectfulness, and genuine intellectual curiosity. Connor's professionalism, teamwork mindset, and polite, grounded demeanor make him a strong representative of the values we hope to see in our graduates, and it has truly been a pleasure to teach and mentor him during his time in the program.

Anna Riebe is a student I sincerely recommend for the Outstanding Student Award, as she consistently exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, and purposeful growth. With a 3.709 GPA and sustained high performance in rigorous courses such as Operations and Supply Chain Management, Anna has distinguished herself through strong analytical ability, professionalism, and thoughtful communication. Having taught her twice and served as her academic advisor, I have witnessed her development into a confident leader who elevates team discussions with clarity, respect, and intellectual curiosity. Her commitment to her Spanish minor reflects her willingness to go above and beyond academically, and she will be teaching abroad in Spain from August 2026 through May 2027, intentionally applying and expanding the language skills she has cultivated at the university. Anna approaches opportunities with sincerity, discipline, and gratitude, and her decision to immerse herself in a cross-cultural educational experience speaks to both her courage and her global mindset. She represents the very best of our students: driven, reflective, and committed to using her education to engage meaningfully with the world beyond campus.

Manny’s lesson plans and observed teaching performance are truly noteworthy. His lesson plans consistently included clear learning objectives and thoughtfully designed activities that were both meaningful and developmentally appropriate. He worked intentionally to create experiences that kept students active while also fostering the development of skills, knowledge, and positive social behaviors.

When observing Manny teach, his organization and clarity stood out immediately. Directions were concise, transitions were smooth, and the overall structure of the lesson demonstrated strong planning and preparation. However, what truly set Manny apart was his enthusiasm, energy, and ability to connect with students. It is evident when watching him teach that he genuinely loves what he is doing and is deeply passionate about student learning.

Noteworthy service to the department, school, college, or university community:
Manny organized a yoga event for EXSS and HPE students at Bodhi Studios, demonstrating initiative and leadership beyond classroom expectations. Additionally, he provided Physical Education sessions for the River Falls Before and After School Kids Club program throughout the semester.

Noteworthy service in the external community:
Manny is a strong leader among his peers, modeling what it means to be organized, dependable, and committed to producing high-quality work. He consistently sets a positive example through his professionalism, work ethic, and preparation. His sense of humor and flexibility in the classroom contribute to a supportive and ethical learning environment, reinforcing his role as both a leader and a role model.
 

Brayden has been a student worker for us in the School of Business and Economics Office for three years now. He is always a friendly presence and willing to help anyone that walks in. He represents our school and UWRF well on campus and off. He's been president of multiple clubs and advocates for what he believes in. We can't wait to see what he does in his next chapter attending St. Paul Seminary. He will be greatly missed on the UWRF Campus.

I nominate Emma Brost, one of our premiere broadfield social studies students, for recognition for three reasons.

The first reason involves Emma’s stellar classroom performance as a student. Emma is a stellar student all around, maintaining high grades, and serving as a classroom leader to her peers.

The second reason involves Emma’s service to the Teacher Education Department and the School of Education. Emma has served as a student representative on the Broadfield Social Studies Steering Committee, has volunteered as a panel member at UWRF's Nesting Day, and helped with student recruitment at UWRF’s Falcon for a Day.

Finally, Emma is an excellent teacher in the classroom. As one of Emma’s cooperating teachers noted, Emma produced "Fun lessons that were engaging" and "Does a nice job working with [her peers] and exchanging ideas about the classroom. She is going to be an excellent teacher."

These are the reasons why I nominated Emma Brost as an Outstanding Student by the College of Education, Business and Allied Health. Congratulations Emma.
 

Lydia is being recognized as the Outstanding Graduate Student in the communication sciences and disorders program for her inquisitive, insightful, and reflective approach to learning. Her performance in both the classroom and the clinic consistently exceeds expectations, demonstrating strong mastery of content and application. In the clinic, she is an eager learner consistently seeking new opportunities and is thorough, organized, and resourceful. Lydia builds strong rapport with clients, showing quiet self-confidence and adapting smoothly to changes in their mood or behavior. She is also highly respected by her classmates for her professionalism and steady, collaborative presence. Lydia’s curiosity, competence, and adaptability make her truly exceptional.

Students from the College of Education, Business and Allied Health (CEBAH) have continued their strong legacy of success in the Spark Tank! Innovation Challenge, now in its 11th year. This year’s CEBAH participants showcased exceptional creativity, commitment, and entrepreneurial spirit while balancing academics, athletics, student organizations, employment, and community engagement.

First place winners of mopp Cleaning, including Bradley Arndorfer and Ethan Perkins as two of the three team members, impressed judges with their on-demand house cleaning service. Spencer Anderson earned second place with Stock Lock, a financial services educational platform. Third place honors went to Delani Dow for The Dow Project, a solution providing parents with educational tools to help prevent self harm among youth. In addition, Joey Kotten was recognized for his inventive concept Sydequest, which integrates social media engagement with task completion.

Collectively, these students have showcased the values of CEBAH’s innovation, leadership, and a drive to create meaningful impact. Their success in the Spark Tank! Innovation Challenge reflects not only their individual talents but also their dedication to turning ideas into action. 
 

Delani Dow is a wonderful example of student with intrinsic motivation to do good in the world.  She has a passion for helping reduce self harm in kids, so much so that she wants to create a non-profit business. Outside of the classroom she chose to participate in the Innovation On-Ramp series this fall to help refine her business problem and validate her assumptions to future solutions. She then continued on to the Spark Tank! Innovation Challenge where she continued to work on her assumptions and work through her feasibility, her perseverance is inspiring. She ultimately took 3rd place in the competition and I know she will continue her work to reduce teen self-harm. Great job Delani!

I would like to nominate the 'Mopp' team for a group of outstanding students. Brad, Tanner and Ethan have intense drive to build a successful business, outside the classroom and football field. They have worked hard to soak in feedback from the community, their peers, and customers to build a business that works locally and eventually nationally. Their determination, thirst for knowledge and ability to pivot will take them far. Their business took 1st in the UWRF Spark Tank! Innovation Challenge and I look forward to them competing at the State level in April. Impressive students that have learned young to leverage resources to help in their success. Congratulations Mopp team!

Kennedy Olson is highly deserving of the Outstanding CSD Undergraduate Student Award. She demonstrates strong academic performance, consistent engagement, and genuine enthusiasm for speech language pathology. Kennedy applies theory to practice with strong critical thinking, completing an independent study in phonetic transcription and clinical skills, as well as a successful research project showing initiative and scholarly maturity.

In clinical settings, she integrates seamlessly into sessions, demonstrating professionalism, maturity, and effective collaboration. Her warm, respectful demeanor helps her connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Kennedy’s leadership in youth programs, childcare roles, and volunteer work further reflects her commitment to serving others.
 

I am pleased to nominate Maria Mullen for the CEBAH Outstanding Student Award. Maria is a graduate student in the dual MBA/MSBA program, and I have taught her in Managerial Statistics, Data Visualization, and Business Intelligence. In each of these courses, Maria has consistently performed above and beyond expectations. She does not simply complete assignments, she engages deeply with the material, connects it to her extensive professional experience in supply chain analytics, and raises the quality of discussion for the entire class. In her Strategic Marketing course this semester, she took the initiative to design a structured project management system for her team-defining roles, building a task tracker, and creating shared templates that eliminated confusion and produced noticeably stronger deliverables. Maria exemplifies what it means to be a Falcon through her academic achievements and commitment to excellence.

Beyond the classroom, Maria’s service record is remarkable. She led peer support groups for the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Kenosha for nine years, using trauma-informed care to help individuals and families navigate mental health challenges. She simultaneously served as an IT Instructor with the Lakeshore Library Systems for six years, creating curriculum and teaching technology skills to learners ranging from age 9 to over 60 in underserved communities. She has volunteered with the Racine Urban Garden Network for a decade, building garden infrastructure and donating supplies that continue to serve the community. She has coached youth baseball, tutored elementary students, led school PTA and PTL efforts, and designed websites for school and athletic programs. Maria has overcome serious impediments in her own life, earning an associate degree, two bachelor’s degrees, and now pursuing a dual graduate degree while working full-time and raising a family and she has consistently turned those experiences into motivation to serve and uplift others.

Maria also brings exceptional professional contributions that enrich our program. As a Senior Data Analyst and International Demand Planner at BRP, she has reduced reporting effort by 75 percent through database-driven dashboards, improved on-time delivery by 20 percent, and identified $1.2 million in dead stock for removal. She is currently serving as a subject matter expert on a major SAP transition, bridging technical and non-technical teams. These are not abstract accomplishments, they reflect the same discipline, initiative, and problem-solving orientation that Maria brings to her coursework every day. She is a continuous improvement leader who reflects, adjusts, and grows on purpose, and she makes those around her better in the process. I recommend Maria for this award without hesitation.

I am pleased to nominate Sophaknearyratana "Ratana" Mong for the 2026 CEBAH Outstanding Student Award. Ratana is a senior double-majoring in computer science and economics with a 3.73 GPA, and she has distinguished herself through exceptional service to the department, the university, and the broader Wisconsin business community.

This year, Ratana has served as a Student Consultant in the Small Business AI Clinic, operated through the UW Office of Business & Entrepreneurship and the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center. Since October, she has worked directly with 18 small business clients across Wisconsin, conducting one-on-one consultations to assess operational needs, recommending AI-driven solutions, and providing ongoing support. She translates complex technical concepts into clear, actionable guidance that helps real business owners improve their operations. This is noteworthy, client-facing professional work that goes well above and beyond what is expected of an undergraduate student.

Ratana's contributions extend across the university. She tutors students in Analytics for Economics and Business, helping peers navigate R programming and data analysis. She served nearly three years as a Service Center Analyst Team Lead at the Division of Technology Services, where she led a technical support team, troubleshot hundreds of computers, and developed automated asset reporting dashboards that delivered measurable efficiency and cost savings to the institution. As a Chancellor's Student Ambassador, she has represented UW-River Falls at university and alumni events for two years.

As an international student, Ratana has also made a quiet but meaningful impact on our campus community by routinely helping fellow international students with transportation, airport pickups, and the everyday challenges of adjusting to life in a new country.

Ratana exemplifies what it means to be a Falcon. Her combination of academic achievement, technical skill, professional service, and genuine care for her peers makes her a truly deserving candidate for this award.

I am writing to nominate Mason Steele for the CEBAH Outstanding Student Award. Mason is a junior pursuing a triple major in economics, finance, and mathematics at UW-River Falls, and he has consistently distinguished himself through academic excellence, ambitious independent research, and meaningful professional achievement. In my time working with Mason, I have found him to be one of the most intellectually curious and driven students I have encountered in my career.

What sets Mason apart most is the caliber of his research. This year, he undertook an independent study in which he is replicating the Holston, Laubach, and Williams (2017) model-a foundational framework in monetary economics used to estimate the natural rate of interest and trend GDP growth for the United States. This is not a typical undergraduate project. It requires facility with state-space modeling, the Kalman filter, and the ability to work with real GDP, inflation, and short-term interest rate data to extract unobserved macroeconomic components. Mason has approached this work with the rigor and independence one would expect of a graduate student, and his progress demonstrates an exceptional capacity for advanced quantitative reasoning.

Mason’s abilities have been recognized beyond the classroom as well. He earned a highly competitive internship at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’, one of the most prestigious placements an economics undergraduate can achieve. Selection for this position reflects not only his strong academic record but also his quantitative skill set, his capacity for independent analysis, and his potential to contribute meaningfully to economic research and policy.

Mason’s broader academic record further underscores his dedication. He has maintained a 3.8 GPA in his major coursework and has earned Dean’s List honors every semester at UWRF. His coursework in econometrics, analytics, and investments has equipped him with advanced skills in R, Python, and Tableau, which he applies fluently in both research and professional settings. In addition, his prior experience as a Credit Analyst Intern at First Bank-where he performed fundamental credit and risk analysis on multi-million-dollar deals speaks to a level of professional maturity and competence that is rare among undergraduates.

Mason exemplifies what it means to be a Falcon. He combines outstanding academic achievement with genuine intellectual ambition and the kind of initiative that leads to real-world impact. I give him my strongest recommendation for this award and believe he is a student our department and university can be proud of.

We are excited to present the Outstanding Student Award to Kortney Mayer. Kortney has overcome many challenges to get her degree in social work and it has been a pleasure watching her grow into a passionate and confident professional. We are proud of you and know you will do amazing things! 

Over Connor’s two semester math apprenticeship experience he exhibited a lot of confidence in his abilities and grew with his teaching skills. Connor has a strong classroom presence and demonstrates exceptional pedagogical content knowledge. He creates lessons that immerse his students in mathematical discovery and understanding. Connor’s development has resulted in a strong student teaching experience where he exhibits characteristics that will set him up for success as he enters the teaching profession!

The school-employed mental health staff members of the Hastings (MN) school district have long supported students and faculty members of the UWRF graduate program in school psychology through various field-based experiences. This includes the collaborative partnership around the district's suicide prevention, education, risk assessment, support efforts at the middle school level through the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program. This initiative has directly impacted thousands of middle school students locally; it has also afforded UWRF school psychology students the opportunity not only to learn best practices and to hone their emerging professional skill sets, but to make a difference in the lives of k-12 students. The Hastings SOS team is top-notch and it is a privilege to learn from and with the best professionals serving public schools. 

Dr. Baker is the consummate professional who continuously has gone above and beyond the UWRF school counseling program. In additional to serving as a faculty member in the program and a past chair of the CSP department, Caroline rose to the occasion in the program's hour of need this past year. She took on the training director role of the program on top of her duties as associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, a position that not only aided in maintaining the program, but of elevating its future status, as well. Caroline's leadership, vision, tenacity, commitment, and dedication are exemplars to all. 

It is with genuine enthusiasm that we recognize the Social Studies Departments of Prescott Middle School’s Aria DeWuske, Tracy Frankowski, and Lance Tokheim and Prescott High School’s Mandy Bernick, Robert Glazebrook, and Jeff Ryan as exemplary collaborators with our teacher education program. Their steadfast commitment to nurturing pre service social studies teachers has made an immeasurable impact on our students, our faculty, and the broader educational community.

Semester after semester, these educators welcome our pre-service teachers with uncommon generosity, offering them an environment that is both supportive and truly immersive. Under their guidance, our UW-River Falls students thoughtful coaching, a timely boost of confidence, and ultimately the opportunity to teach multiple classes throughout the semester. This intentional mentor moves ensure our future educators experience both the responsibilities and the deep satisfactions of teaching within today’s complex educational landscape. They set a teaching standard that is both admirable and deeply inspiring.

For these reasons, we wholeheartedly commend the Social Studies teachers at Prescott Middle School and Prescott High School for recognition as outstanding collaborators. We look forward to continuing our invaluable partnership and to witnessing the ongoing success of the educators they so passionately and skillfully support.
 

The River Falls School District has a history of welcoming students from Teacher Education into their schools over the years and providing observation opportunities. This past year, the partnership has expanded to include a greater number of teacher candidates across all buildings in a capacity that has allowed hundreds of UWRF students to experience K-12 classrooms in our local community. This partnership has greatly benefited our department and university as our large pool of students studying education are making connections with nearby residents and potentially seeking employment in our neighborhoods post graduation. Thank you to River Falls School District!

The House of Avalon at Hudson Middle School has long been an essential partner to the UWRF Teacher Education Department, especially the TED 414 middle-level education course. For more than a decade, Avalon teachers and university professors have collaborated to create a full teaching day for future educators. The master teachers of Avalon who have been so essential to our work of creating future teachers are Mark Majerus (Math), Erica Matson (science), Ross Cambell (English/Lanuage Arts A) Emma Pike (Social Studies), and Alexis Kroening (English/Language Arts B). Two other Avalon teachers, who are no longer with the district, but were essential to this collaboration are Kim Pavlichek and Kari Halstead.

UWRF students work alongside Avalon's master teachers to design lessons. Then, on that day, they do something far more meaningful than sit in the back of the room observing: they step to the front of the classroom and teach middle school students themselves.

It is not simply an exercise. It is a defining and indispensable part of their preparation to become teachers.

We are very pleased to nominate Katie Kroll, Vice President of Growth and Development at Innovative Planning Group (IPG), for her exceptional collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and the College of Education, Business and Allied Health (CEBAH). Katie has demonstrated a strong commitment to student development, professional preparedness, and community engagement, making her an invaluable partner.

Katie supports multiple classroom engagements each semester through the SBE Professional Skills course. She consistently contributes as a subject matter expert, offering industry insight, professional guidance, and practical advice to students preparing for internships and future career opportunities. Her mentoring and coaching extend beyond her classroom engagement, with students continuing to network with her.  She has become a trusted resource in their ongoing professional journeys.

Katie’s influence also reaches across campus. Through her proactive work with Career Services, she has served on speaker panels, supported programming initiatives, and provided her expertise to enhance the student experience. Her willingness to collaborate and her genuine enthusiasm for student success set her apart as a true partner and we are incredibly grateful for this partnership.

Geri Muller and Taylor Stevens-Nudd are co-facilitators for Youth Mental Health First Aid. Geri Muller is a counselor at Renaissance Charter Academy in River Falls and an alumni of the UWRF School Counseling Program. Taylor is a psychology teacher at River Falls High School. Together, they have offered youth mental health first aid training to River Falls community members, teachers, and UWRF students. For the past two years, they have facilitated a training for UWRF students from Teacher Education, CSD, Social Work, and School Counseling to become certified in youth mental health first aid. As nationally certified trainers, they introduced common mental health challenges for youth, reviewed adolescent development, and addressed actions for crisis and non-crisis situations. Collaboration with Geri and Taylor has opened opportunities for CEBAH students to gain access to understanding youth mental health and resources to support their current and future work with youth. Geri and Taylor's expertise, approachable demeanor, and collaboration is valued and appreciated.  

It is my pleasure to nominate Aaron Kuklinski, Regional Vice President at Fastenal Corporation, for the Outstanding Collaborator Award. Aaron has been an exceptional partner to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) Center for Sales Excellence and the Professional Sales Program, demonstrating sustained commitment to student development, experiential learning, and industry-university collaboration.

For more than four years, Aaron and the Fastenal sales team have worked closely with our program to strengthen the connection between academic learning and professional practice. Aaron has been instrumental in promoting the sales profession to our students and in creating meaningful opportunities for engagement between our students and industry professionals.

Aaron has served regularly as a guest speaker, sharing insights from his leadership experience in industrial sales and business development. In addition, he actively participates in our professional sales role-play exercises, serving as an industrial buyer and evaluating students’ sales presentations. His involvement provides students with valuable industry feedback and helps them develop the practical selling skills required for successful careers.

Aaron has also been a strong advocate for deepening the partnership between Fastenal and UWRF. Through his leadership, Fastenal Days on campus have been revitalized, creating important opportunities for students to connect with Fastenal professionals and explore career paths in sales. Furthermore, Aaron helped restart the Fastenal Scholarship Program, which now awards three $3,000 scholarships annually to outstanding sales students.

His dedication has also led to significant workforce outcomes. Through Aaron’s continued engagement and recruitment efforts, many graduates from the UWRF School of Business and Economics have launched successful careers with Fastenal, strengthening the talent pipeline between our institution and one of the nation’s leading industrial distribution companies.

Aaron Kuklinski exemplifies what a true industry collaborator should be-someone who invests time, expertise, and leadership to support student success while strengthening the bridge between higher education and professional practice. His contributions have had a lasting and meaningful impact on our students and our Professional Sales Program.

Addy Berg, an off-campus speech-language pathology practicum supervisor, is receiving the Outstanding Collaborator Award for creating a warm, supportive learning environment and offering thoughtful, consistent mentorship. Her constructive feedback strengthened the students’ skills, confidence, and reflective practice, and her proactive communication with the university ensured seamless support throughout the placement.

Addy's student shared that she was an exceptional role model, especially in her strong interprofessional collaboration. She ensured all team members were involved in IEP planning, regularly consulted colleagues to improve services, and consistently focused on supporting students’ academic success, leaving a lasting impact on the students’ professional development

We are excited to give our 2026 Outstanding Collaborator Award to Andy Wilcox, a case manager at Northwest Passage. Andy is an alumni of our program and has been taking students for the past several years. Andy is a supportive, non-judgmental, and an encouraging field instructor. Kalee, her current student, said that Andy is "well respected at Northwest Passage, and everyone enjoys working with her and being around her" and that Andy is a "fantastic supervisor and has turned into a mentor and someone I can look up to as a social worker." We are grateful for Andy's service to our students and department and look forward to working together in the future. 

The Counseling Program called for nominations for outstanding alumni, and we have so many! We are pleased to put forward this nomination for Angela Denow, Counseling Program graduate from 2016. Here is what her South Washington County district peers had to say about Angela:

We are nominating Angela Denow for the work she has done for students, colleagues, and the district as a whole. She approaches her role with thoughtfulness, consistency, and a clear commitment to doing the work well. 
One of her greatest strengths is her dedication to developing others. She regularly takes interns from the UWRF Counseling Program and provides them with meaningful, hands-on experiences. She is intentional about modeling ethical practice, strong student relationships, and effective systems work. Interns leave her supervision with practical skills and a clear understanding of what comprehensive school counseling should look like in practice.

She is also a steady and reliable support for new counselors. Starting in this role can be overwhelming, but she helps make it manageable. She shares resources, explains processes clearly, and takes time to coach others through challenging situations. Her guidance is practical and grounded in experience, which helps new counselors build confidence and competence quickly.

What truly distinguishes her work is her ability to design and implement ASCA-aligned systems that are sustainable. She doesn’t create programs that depend on one person to maintain them. Instead, she builds structures, documentation, and processes that are clear enough for anyone to step in and keep them running effectively. Her focus on data, equity, and access ensures that student support is proactive rather than reactive. Because of her systems thinking, students are consistently identified, monitored, and supported.

In addition to her work at the building level, she has taken on leadership roles to help shape a district-wide counseling program. She brings organization, follow-through, and a collaborative mindset to this work. Her leadership has helped create alignment across schools and strengthen the district’s overall counseling framework.

She is innovative without being flashy, hardworking without seeking recognition, and deeply committed to students. Her impact is lasting because the systems she builds continue to function and support students over time.

We recognize Angela's keen work to promote school counseling in all ways. 

Madeline is a 2022 UWRF graduate in health and physical education and adapted physical education. Madeline currently teaches at Ellsworth High School. Since the moment she graduated she has become an asset to the health and physical education community. First as an outstanding teacher who builds strong relationships with her students and shares her passion for health and physical activity and as an amazing collaborator. Madeline has hosted countless students in health and PE, helping them learn how to become teachers in the classroom. She is always open to ideas on supporting new teacher candidates and willing to host candidates throughout the school year. It is for these reasons that I have nominated Madeline Poulos for outstanding UWRF alumni. Although she is early in her professional career, I know she will achieve many more amazing things in the future. 

It is an honor to present the Outstanding Alumni Award to Nora Reid. A UWRF Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate, Nora built a distinguished career at Intermediate School District 916, where she was known for her expertise in autism support, behavior management, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) evaluation and intervention, and for mentoring many UWRF student clinicians. After retiring from 916, Nora returned to UWRF as a clinical supervisor and contributed to the service partnership with River Falls Hospital and Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Center. She also taught courses in special education, child language disorders, and AAC.

Nora has been deeply involved in our program's international service in Jamaica, supervising therapy, supporting virtual sessions, serving on the board of Traveling with a Purpose, and previously chairing the board of BRIDGE for Community Life, helping to foster their partnership with the UWRF Clinic. Most recently, she played a key role in a grant collaboration with UW-Eau Claire and the Parkinson’s Voice Project, expanding voice and speech therapy services for individuals with Parkinson’s disease in this region.

Nora exemplifies excellence in speech-language pathology and service to UWRF.

Alyssa is a 2015 graduate of UWRF in the Social Work Program. Since graduating, Alyssa has done an excellent job as a social worker representing the ethics and values of the field of social work and the UWRF community. Upon graduation, Alyssa worked as a Child Protection social worker for Pierce County, Wis., and then Washington County, Minn. She was well known for her commitment to the children and families she worked with, ensuring children’s safety while helping family members to achieve their caregiving goals. Most recently, Alyssa has been the Falcon Links social worker at UWRF, assisting students in successfully graduating from college. She helps them access basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and transportation, as well as supports their mental health needs when they are facing numerous challenges. Across the nation, students like our Falcon Links students generally do not have other family support and typically have graduation rates of less than 10%. Because of Alyssa’s work, the Falcon Links program has grown from fewer than 10 students to more than 80 students this year. The retention rate is over 80% from semester to semester, and we are just now starting to see our first graduates from the program. Alyssa works hard to meet the individual needs of our students, while also working with the UWRF student support services on campus, community donors, and grant programs to make sure students have what they need to successfully complete their degrees at UWRF. She truly exemplifies our highest Falcon ideals.

Senior Merit: Graduating seniors who have maintained a 3.5 GPA for their last 60 honor credits will receive Senior Merit. 

• Anna Alikin
• Annie Allhiser
• Rachel Amoth
• Jo Ann Arnold
• Kelsey Baker
• Sydney Behrens
• Jared Blichfeldt
• Riley Bresette
• Cole Carpenter
• Olivia Cleary
• Lauren Coenen
• Bailey Davis
• Paige Donnelly
• Emma Eibon
• Beau Fair
• Lynnea Harms
• Jennifer Hauschildt
• Leif Iverson
• Haley James
• Adam Jenkinson
• Megan Johnson
• Ryan Jorke
• Kali Kasten
• Kendra Kern
• Kyla Kubera
• Yer Lee
• Maddie Leick
• Tori Letourneau
• Justin Malecha
• Sawyer Miller
• Brianna Nipper
• Alison Nutt
• Jude Oberdeck
• Anders Olafson
• Leah Pederson
• Jennifer Riley
• Caleb Royal
• Isabelle Sanders
• Andrew Schumacher
• Kayleen Siwicki
• Jacob Spindler
• Zack Thometz
• Andrew Thunborg
• Gage Timm
• Sarah Tronson
• MaKya Vandeberg
• Jewel Waupekenay
• Amberlee Wojcik
• Alex Wright
• Ben Wright 

Cum Laude: Graduating seniors with a minimum cumulative 3.7 GPA for their entire college career at all institutions will receive their diplomas cum laude. 

• Breanna Anderson
• Reese Benware
• Brooke Betley
• Aaron Borgerding
• Bobby Bruski
• Allisen Carothers
• Anya Christenson
• Gibb Coady
• Mackenzie Dunn
• Lily Griffin
• Jaya Hatlestad
• Cole Jannsen
• Emma Jensen
• Ruby Johnson
• Kara Lee
• Paige Pearson
• Regan Schweitzer
• Emily Skjonsberg
• Addie Smittkamp
• Kaylor Soiney
• Abby Tapanila
• Indy Walstrom
• Emmaline Weist 

Magna Cum Laude: Graduating seniors with a minimum cumulative 3.8 GPA for their entire college career at all institutions will receive their diplomas magna cum laude. 

• Jacob Alen
• Josh Anderson
• Jayda Anderson
• Krissandra Bulow
• Jack Craycroft
• Carolyn Decheine
• Tamara Dow
• Kendra Duren
• Sawyer Federation
• Joseph Foss
• Kayden Hersback
• Abigail Lo
• Emma Nawrocki
• Bradley Niekamp
• Madison O'Donnell
• Bailey Olson
• Max Person
• Sam Pirkl
• Alexis Rettig
• Alex Robarge
• Ellie Skuza
• Meg Starkey
• Evie Tiedemann
• Kelly Zschokke 

Summa Cum Laude: Graduating seniors with a minimum cumulative 3.9 GPA for their entire college career at all institutions will receive their diplomas summa cum laude. 

• Mason Anderson
• Ridley Bemis
• Ellie Brice
• Emily Curtis
• Olivia Dumond
• Natalia Ehnstrom
• Brendan Fernlund
• Kate Garbow
• Abigail Goodwin
• Mollee Gruszynski
• Ashley Guse
• Paige Heimerl
• Morgan Honstad
• Brooke Lemke
• Victoria Lindquist
• Lauren Lindstrom
• Norah Lynch
• Lauren Lyons
• Olivia Miron
• Brooke Putz
• Araya Rock
• Ethan Rumpel
• Lucy Thelen
• Averie Varsho
• Sophia Vogel
• Tom Watry

The Rochelle Junkman Seymour recognition is awarded to the graduate from each college at UWRF achieving the highest college cumulative grade point average. 

• Lauren Lindstrom  

Lydia is an exceptionally hardworking and capable student who has consistently demonstrated motivation and active participation in all she does. She has a deep understanding of the concepts discussed in class and a curiosity to learn more, which, in turn, motivates her instructors. 

Lydia completes her assignments with great attention to detail. In group projects, she is highly engaged and plays a significant role in enhancing the learning of her teammates. She has frequently been observed explaining concepts to her peers and genuinely caring about their learning process. What sets her apart is that she not only values her own learning but also positively influences the learning journey of her peers. 

Ridley is a dedicated and hardworking student who has excelled in our program despite facing many personal challenges. He is always looking to learn more so he can be the best social worker possible. He is doing the work for the right reasons and we are proud of all he has accomplished! 

Kaitlyn Grenz is a third year graduate student, currently completing her practicum field experiences in school psychology. Her work ethic and curiosity have been evident since her first year in the program. Kaitlyn is an excellent example of a student going the extra mile in her preparation, all with a warm and confident interpersonal approach that will serve her well as a future school psychologist. Additionally, Kaitlyn has served as one of only two graduate assistants in the program this year, where she has supported the instruction and learning of other program students and offered her time and insights to prospective students; all while juggling other school and life obligations. Indeed, her classmates have often viewed her as a "go to" resource for her advanced knowledge and skillset. Thank you and congratulations, Kaitlyn!

It is an absolute joy to recognize Marissa Haglund for the incredible impact she has had on our class and the School of Education community. From the very start, she has been a leader, excelling academically while lifting others up along the way. She has a rare ability to connect learning to real-life experiences, making discussions richer and more meaningful for everyone. I’ve watched her go out of her way to help her peers find their own connections to the material, making learning feel more relevant and personal. in addition to her generous participation, she creates space for others to grow.  
 
Beyond her academic strengths, Marissa Haglund brings a warmth and professionalism that make her a natural educator. She values collaboration and approaches every conversation with openness and respect, always eager to learn from different perspectives. She challenges herself and others in a way that feels supportive and thoughtful, never losing sight of the bigger goal of excellence, inclusion and shared growth within our class and the larger field of education. While her work is consistently top-notch and on time, what truly sets her apart is the way she fosters community, critical self-reflection and connection in everything she does. Her presence has made a lasting impact on our class and I have no doubt she will do the same wherever she goes next.

Luke Heggestad is highly deserving of recognition for his exceptional achievements in both academic and entrepreneurial pursuits. As a senior double majoring in finance and marketing-professional sales, Luke has consistently demonstrated dedication, creativity and leadership. His critical contributions to the UW-River Falls Finance Team helped secure a historic first-place victory at the CFA Institute Research Challenge local finals, showcasing his excellence in financial analysis, ethical decision-making and teamwork. Beyond the classroom, Luke also earned second place in the UWRF Innovation Challenge with his GeoSki business concept, an innovative solution aimed at improving safety and reducing theft in the ski and snowboard industry. Luke’s commitment to his idea was evident through extensive research, including traveling to Colorado to interview industry professionals. His success in the Innovation Challenge and advancement to the WiSys Big Idea Tournament reflect willingness to go above and beyond, exemplifying the spirit of innovation and impact.  Luke’s participation in these high-level competitions, completed alongside a full academic workload, demonstrates his unwavering work ethic and desire to make meaningful contributions both within and beyond the university community.

Kayden Hersback is an outstanding student and member of the UWRF community. She shows exceptional dedication to her schoolwork and athletics, approaching both with a positive attitude and determination. Kayden is a member of the UWRF women’s lacrosse team and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, where she helps create and inform other peers of upcoming events. In the classroom she continues to excel in projects and groupwork and strives to help her classmates along the way. A consistent member of the honor roll, Kayden approaches her studies with a curiosity to learn, looking for opportunities to apply her knowledge outside the classroom. She is a leader among her peers and embodies what it means to be a UWRF student. 

Kaitlyn Julian is a strong student that is committed to this field and her studies. She entered the program in fall 2020, not letting COVID-19 impact her goals. She has continuously put in the time and energy to truly get everything out of each class she has taken. She is a student that enhances the experience of her classmates by her thoughtful comments and engagement in the class.  She is always looking for ways to improve the quality of life of those around her. Her capstone project, which conducted a needs analysis to examine opportunities for government service employees to have worksite wellness programming at the Naval Medical Center, embodies this passion. Kaitlyn leaves a positive impact wherever she goes. Congratulations, Kaitlyn.

This award is presented to Lacey in recognition of their exceptional dedication to their studies, academic achievements and unwavering commitment to excellence. Over the past year, Lacey has demonstrated remarkable leadership skills as one of the key leaders of the school counseling group, making valuable contributions to the well-being and growth of our school counseling community at UWRF. 

Lacey's academic accomplishments speak for themselves, reflecting intelligence, a relentless work ethic and a passion for learning. Their ability to balance academic rigor with their leadership role in the counseling group has been truly inspiring. They have consistently shown initiative, empathy and dedication, helping create a positive and supportive environment for their peers and the wider school community. 

We honor Lacey with great pride for their outstanding contributions, leadership and commitment to academic excellence. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.

Jennie King has worked so hard to get to where she is today!  She has been an active part of the Burlington Montessori community as a parent, assistant and now a teacher.   

She has worked for Burlington Area School District for the past four years. She has been the lead Montessori Children's House teacher for the last two. Prior to moving to the public school, Jennie worked at the CATHE center, which is a community arts center that also provided childcare through their Children's House Montessori Program. There, she was an assistant teacher for a number of years. After many years of dedicating time to her family and work, she returned to school and began her master's and AMS Montessori credentialing program with UWRF.  

Currently a Lead Montessori teacher at a public Montessori school in Burlington, she is the voice of strength for her community. She advocates for children's rights and the school's needs. Her firm grounding in Montessori philosophy has contributed to the success of her advocacy efforts and the extent of her impact. 

Kyrie Kons is an exceptional student in the School of Business and Economics. Kyrie is passionate about giving back to the UWRF community, serving in several leadership positions, including as Finance Director for the SGA this year and Treasurer for the IHSA Western Equestrian Team. She displays a strong enthusiasm for student involvement and strives to find ways to improve the student experience for others.  Alongside her many extracurricular activities, Kyrie is an outstanding student, excelling in her courses, as a member of the Honors Program and Dean’s List. Kyrie shows a passion for her studies, asking questions and relating her learning to many of the experiences she has had throughout her internships. She exemplifies what it is to be a student leader, thriving in all areas of student life. 

Nancy Lindeman has been in education for nearly 50 years! She started teaching upon graduating from college the year the first law for special education came into being! From that day forward her dedication to working with all children, families, teachers and specialists has never waned. 

Nancy took a particularly creative and innovative path in her doctoral work that has earned her an award of outstanding student for academic and humanitarian reasons. Nancy’s dissertation research is on Intergenerational Montessori-Based Instruction to Mitigate Ageist Attitudes Among Children Ages 3-5. Her research design deserves recognition as well as her husband, Jeff who traveled with her for the five-week stay in Albuquerque, N.M. for the site research at the Intergenerational Montessori community where older adults and young children spent time laughing, crying, playing, giving to and learning from each other! 

Nancy also accomplished several amazing things during her doctoral program. She is a recipient of the Age & Community Scholarship from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Helen Bader School of Social Welfare and she completed a certificate in Applied Gerontology while also completing her doctorate. Just as a Montessori student plans and executes a ‘going-out’ to satisfy a thirst for knowledge that the immediate classroom environment cannot feed, Nancy sought out courses for her specific research interest and did all the logistical and academic leg work in order to integrate this knowledge into UWRF doctoral work and research. Nancy was just honored at the UWM’s Helen Daniels Bader Legacy Reception on Wednesday night for her terrific contributions to their program as well. 

Finally, Nancy’s nomination for this award is in recognition of the academic networking and Montessori connections she has been creating and maintaining since she started this program. Throughout her program and research, Nancy has been working with AMI and AMS teachers, schools and professionals, has stayed connected to Generations Working Together, a UK-based international academic group, has attended non-Montessori conferences such as Generations United in order to bring Montessori to other fields in the academy, specifically that of the Aging and Older Adults. 

And lastly, as if her dissertation was not enough to do, she recently presented at the Hope Montessori Conference, St Louis, Mo. in February on "Developing a Community of Belonging With Adults and Children" and "Equity-Based Trauma-Informed Practice" at the AMS Conference in March.

I am pleased to nominate Derek Marquardt for the Most Outstanding Clinical Exercise Physiology Master’s Student Award in recognition of his exceptional academic performance, research contributions and dedication to the field. Derek excels in his coursework, consistently demonstrating a deep understanding of clinical exercise physiology and applying this knowledge to both his studies and clinical settings. His upcoming internship at Hospital Sisters Health System in Green Bay will further enhance his practical experience and prepare him for a successful career in the field. Transitioning from a physical education teacher, Derek brings a unique perspective and a strong passion for helping individuals improve their health through exercise. His work ethic, leadership abilities and commitment to his professional growth make him an ideal candidate for this prestigious recognition.

Bri is our HPE Major of the Year award winner because of her service to the program, GPA, leadership and her potential to be a great health and physical education teacher. Bri produces outstanding work in the classroom. She plans for lessons and units in ways that consider all her students’ needs and address the standards and content in creative and engaging ways. She is passionate about health and physical education. She shares her passion with her students, her peers and colleagues and inspires them to feel the same.

Jared Organ is deserving of recognition for his outstanding contribution to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Finance Team, which earned first place in the CFA Institute Research Challenge local finals. This achievement marked the university’s first-ever win in the prestigious competition. As a junior double majoring in finance and economics, Jared demonstrated exceptional analytical skills, professionalism and ethical judgment throughout the challenge. His thoughtful contributions and poise under pressure were instrumental in the team's ability to craft and defend a compelling investment thesis. Jared’s reflection on the experience, citing both the deepening of his understanding of equity research and the discovery of new career pathways, illustrates his commitment to academic excellence and professional growth. His performance exemplifies the caliber of our students and the impact of our academic programs, making him a worthy candidate for this recognition.

Marguerite is a future elementary educator that makes visible efforts to connect students to each other and to resources. During the fall of 2023 when many UWRF students were grappling with the loss of classmates, Marguerite was a visible support to friends, shared a letter with the parents of a lost classmate and reached out to classmates for connection in class. Her genuine care is welcomed by others and deeply appreciated. Marguerite also shares her energy and interest in education with fellow future teachers. As the president of Aspiring Educators, she thoughtfully organizes meetings for future educators to talk directly to teachers, librarians and principals in the field. Further, she consistently excels across her coursework and runs the "all booked" book club. In the spring of 2025, she also completed her certification in youth mental health first aid. Marguerite is a hardworking individual, a valuable collaborator and an asset to the field of education.

Jake has been nominated based on his outstanding performance in the 2025 UW-River Falls Innovation Challenge. Jake demonstrated creativity, initiative and entrepreneurial skill through the development of his business concept, Screen Buddy, an innovative solution to improve the portability and storage of window screens. His first-place finish among a highly competitive field highlights not only the strength of his idea but also the depth of research, planning and presentation he brought to the competition. He engaged with mentors, refined his business model and delivered a professional presentation to a panel of judges and a large audience. His success in the Innovation Challenge and advancement to the WiSys Big Idea Tournament reflect both his potential as a future business leader and his commitment to personal and professional development. Jake’s contributions represent the values of innovation, hard work and excellence that we strive to instill in all our students.

Brian Rejman is a committed and passionate student. He is a student that really engages! He engages with the content, his peers, his instructors and his community. He values the opportunity to learn as well as the process of learning. But he never stopped there, he used his knowledge to enhance the lives of the people and communities around him. Throughout his program his has worked as a personal trainer and a wellness/life coach, often applying the things he was learning in the moment while working with his clients. He has balanced academics and work with starting a family and all of life’s happenings. He is truly deserving of this award.

As a math apprentice last year, Alex developed a strong understanding of best practices related to teaching mathematics. He knows how to use a variety of emerging technologies (through iPads) such as Desmos, CPM etools and virtual manipulatives in very purposeful ways to teach mathematics. He also has a great understanding for using vertical whiteboards to engage his students through active learning with rich mathematical tasks. He continued to grow during student teaching, as I have received strong reports from the teachers he works with.  Alex is very articulate and creative with the materials he prepares and is always willing to go the extra mile to assist students to better understand mathematical concepts. Alex has a great outlook on the teaching profession, a strong understanding of mathematical content and pedagogical content knowledge, works well with students, can use technology to successfully facilitate lessons and is a true professional with colleagues.

Kelsey is an outstanding student in the elementary education program. She is a leader and positive role model in her cohort, helping to foster a learning community that is supportive and willing to help one another learn. She exemplifies what it means to have a growth mindset, seeking feedback and seeing mistakes as an opportunity to learn. Kelsey effortlessly connects with her students and cooperating during her practicum experiences, creating learning experiences that demonstrate that she cares both about learning and also about her students' experiences in school and lives outside of school. We in the teacher education department have been lucky to work with Kelsey and are confident that she will be an exceptional teacher. 

Ethan Rumpel is pursuing a B.S. in business administration-finance and economics and is an excellent student. Following graduation, he will work towards becoming a financial adviser. On campus, he is involved in the UWRF Marching/Pep Band and serves as an officer of our Beta Gamma Sigma chapter at UWRF. He helped coordinate and implement the BGS Informational Session this spring, helping other students learn about the benefits of this honor society. Ethan has worked at WESTconsin Credit Union since he was in high school, almost six years and his current title is member service representative. Ethan serves both UWRF and the local community professionally and ethically.

Bailey Sauve, an excellent business administration major and military leadership minor, is our CFA Institute Research Challenge team captain for UWRF.  We won this very prestigious competition this year our team poured their hearts out in hours and creativity to do it - a huge deal for our school. Bailey also participates in the ROTC program at UWRF. CDT Sauve is Bravo Company's Executive Officer (XO), responsible for company staff, ensuring the commanders' intents are met and managing the company's weekly meetings. As a contracted cadet, he is learning how to conduct large-scale movement operations with the Wisconsin National Guard. Bailey serves as Treasurer of the UWRF Finance Club and is an entrepreneur who founded both an insightful financial newsletter and a very successful snow removal partnership. Bailey also works as the Finance and Administrative Assistant for the UWRF Foundation office, gaining experience in his field and serving the institution.

Kaylor excels in her academic performance, campus involvement and is a role model in the exercise and sport science major. She is thoughtful, dedicated, reliable and motivated in her career aspirations in the field of pediatric physical therapy. On behalf of the Health and Human Performance Department, we congratulate Kaylor on an outstanding undergraduate career and wish her the best in her future endeavors. 

Camille is a consistently strong performer in coursework and clinical practice. She is actively engaged, contributes meaningfully during class discussions and is well-respected by her cohort. Camille demonstrates a consistent desire to improve her clinical practice and her supervisors praise her for her willingness to try new approaches with clients and take constructive feedback. She is a grounded student who is extremely likeable and is appreciated by faculty, clinical supervisors and clients. 

I am honored to nominate Abby for the Outstanding Student Award. Her dedication to academic excellence is evident in her impressive 3.85 GPA in her major and her commitment to professional growth through presenting at state conferences. Beyond the classroom, Abby has taken the initiative to foster a sense of community among her HPE peers by organizing social activities that strengthen connections and collaboration. Her passion for teaching is reflected in the engaging, student-centered PE lessons she creates, ensuring meaningful learning experiences for all students. Through leadership, innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Abby has made a lasting impact on her peers, her field and the campus community, making her truly deserving of this recognition. 

I nominate Sophia Vogel, a broadfield social studies student, to be recognized for her outstanding accomplishments as she works toward graduating from UWRF and moves into her future profession as an exemplary social studies teacher. 

A first of Sophie’s outstanding accomplishments involves her stellar classroom performance. The social studies teacher education courses require students to complete a rather difficult end-of-semester assignment. That assignment is to develop a Unit Plan and is to be taught in a classroom. This Unit Plan is massive. It contains several sections and sub-sections and these unit plans end up being an 80–90-page document. Last fall, while practice teaching at Prescott High School, Sophie produced a Unit Plan focused on U.S. Foreign Policy during World War II. Sophie’s Unit Plan was top in its class. This 92-page document was far superior to the other plans produced by her peers. 

Moreover, Sophie’s classroom performance extends to her outstanding performance as a future teacher. The cooperating teacher at Prescott High School described Sophie’s commitment to sound teaching as reflecting someone who “wanted to know the best way to work with students and staff” and noted that Sophie “[w]orked well as a team seeking advice and making connections” with students. 

A second of Sophie’s outstanding accomplishments is based on her service to the department. Last summer, Sophie served as a student representative on the Teacher Education Department’s Search Committee. She helped interview teaching candidates, interacted as a consummate professional with faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences and she volunteered her time observing multiple teaching demonstrations by potential teaching candidates. Sophie has also helped the Teacher Education Department with retention and recruitment efforts. She volunteered last fall to sit on a Student Panel for UWRF's Nesting Day for incoming First Year Teacher Education Students. She also volunteered this year to help with student recruitment by presenting UWRF’s best face to hundreds of potential high school students on Future Teacher Day. 

These accomplishments are not exhaustive. Indeed, there is more to say about Sophie: her positive personality, her presentation last fall in Boston at the National Council for Social Studies conference, her ability to model high quality teaching to her younger peers. In the meantime, however, it is because of her accomplishments that I believe Sophie Vogel should be recognized as an Outstanding Student by the College of Business, Education and Allied Health.

Tom Watry is an excellent accounting student and helped get the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society UWRF chapter relaunched over the last year. Tom is highly ethical, always has a positive attitude and helps others to learn and grow. He has worked as a sales professional at Schuler Shoes for four years while furthering his education and has interned in Tax at EY in summer 2024 and spring 2025.  After graduation, he'll join the EY Financial Services Organization Tax team in Minneapolis, where he will continue to build his professional, analytical and collaborative skills. 

Lindsey Wildberg, a double major in management and accounting, is an excellent student and has provided outstanding service and leadership both on-campus and off-campus. Lindsey has served as the Senior President of the Accounting Society student organization at UWRF since September 2023. In this role, she plans meetings and events, including inviting and hosting guest speakers from the field of accounting, mock interview Career Fair preparation, internship panels and the culminating de-stress event at the end of each semester. Lindsey is also the treasurer and a small group leader for Intervarsity and she develops and maintains the budget for that UWRF student organization. Wildberg has also been a member of the Women in Business student organization since September 2022 and has helped plan workshops, seminars and panel discussions on professional topics. 

She also worked as an accounting tutor at UWRF in spring 2024. Lindsey worked as a Title Processor at Gowey Title in Medford in summer 2024, helping with tax and budget analysis and processing detailed real estate title documents. Wildberg also worked as a mentorship student at the Hawkins Ash CPAs accounting firm in Medford in spring 2022. Lindsey is very professional and ethical in all of her activities. 

Tyler has excelled both in the classroom and at his internship where he puts into practice the principles that he is learning in the STAC program. He is consistent and excellent in his work. He engages with his classmates and helps to multiply their efforts in the classroom. 

I am honored to nominate Hayley for the Distinguished Collaborator Award. For many years, she has consistently provided our education students with valuable special education field experience opportunities. Hayley exemplifies how to support middle school students in becoming independent, which significantly influences our students' future aspirations. Additionally, she participated in a research project funded by UWRF five years ago and has been an advocate for enhancing students' self-determination. 

Dr. Bill Hudson is currently the Head of School at Mounds Park Academy, an independent pre-k through 12 school in Maplewood, Minn. Dr. Hudson is the consummate exemplar of what it means to be a servant leader. He operates first and foremost in the best interest of students, creating safe, welcoming and inclusive communities of learning for all children, youth, families and staff members.  
 
In 2017, as a result of national conversations about youth suicide and a spate of adolescent deaths by suicide locally, Dr. Hudson reached out to the faculty of the UWRF school psychology program to inquire about youth suicide prevention initiatives. Through ongoing conversations and planning, MPA instituted the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program, a research-based youth suicide prevention curriculum. Each year since 2018, with the support of graduate students and faculty of the UWRF school psychology program, all 7th, 9th and 11th graders at MPA have received suicide prevention education and mental health screenings through the SOS program. To date, over 1,000 MPA students have benefited from this initiative; furthermore, nearly 100 UWRF school psychology graduate students have grown in their own professional identities and effectiveness as a result of supporting the SOS initiative at MPA.  
 
So, as Dr. Hudson prepares to retire at the end of the current school year, the UWRF school psychology program wishes to honor and to thank him for all he has done in the support of student development, both at MPA and at UWRF, the lasting impact of which will be felt for years to come.  

It is with great enthusiasm that we recognize Highwood Hills Elementary (all faculty and staff) as an outstanding collaborator with our teacher education program, specifically Block II. Their unwavering commitment to fostering the growth and development of pre-service teachers has made an invaluable impact on our students, our faculty and the broader educational community. 

Each semester, Highwood Hills Elementary welcomes our pre-service teachers with open arms, providing them with a nurturing and immersive learning environment. Our pre-service teachers are actively included in opportunities and field trips, allowing them to gain hands-on experience that extends far beyond traditional observations. This holistic approach ensures that our students are well-prepared for the complexities and responsibilities of teaching in diverse educational settings.  

Over 80% of their dedicated classroom teachers serve as mentor educators (with many others within the building supporting and guiding our UWRF students), guiding, supporting and shaping the next generation of educators. This remarkable level of participation demonstrates not only the school's commitment to teacher development but also its belief in the power of experiential learning. Their dedication to mentorship and their willingness to invest in future educators set a standard that is both commendable and inspiring. For these reasons, we wholeheartedly recommend Highwood Hills Elementary for recognition as an outstanding collaborator. We look forward to continuing this invaluable partnership and witnessing the continued success of the educators they so passionately support. 

This award is presented to Dr. Courtland Lee, an internationally renowned scholar and retired counselor educator, for his exceptional contributions to multicultural counseling. Dr. Lee is the author of seven books on multicultural counseling, three on counseling and social justice and three on counseling African American males. He has also published numerous articles and book chapters and his leadership includes serving as Past President of the American Counseling Association and former editor of the Journal of African American Men. 

Dr. Lee's dedication to supporting the school counseling program, especially during challenging times, has been invaluable. His multicultural, social justice and ethical counseling expertise has dramatically enriched the program and his commitment to advancing the field inspires students and faculty alike. This award honors his outstanding collaboration and lasting impact on the school counseling community. 

Erica Matson is a science teacher at Hudson Middle School, where she has been supporting UWRF teacher candidates in various mentorship roles for well over a decade. Erica is an outstanding collaborator who has always been open and, along with the other teachers in the Avalon House in the middle school, Erica has always helped, ”since the beginning, in fact,” with our Teacher Education Programs shadow and teaching days. Most recently, Erica has been serving as the lead teacher and mentor for pre-service teachers' field experience in our middle level course. Under her guidance, our candidates are partnered with teachers in 7th grade Avalon House for observation of teaching, exploration of curriculum and one-on-one co-coaching alongside UWRF faculty. Serving as a professional development site is heavy lifting for our partner teachers, as they help our pre-service teachers gain valuable hands-on experience designing and facilitating lessons that merge with the school's regular curriculum. Our teaching candidates are also able to see principles of classroom management, motivation and adolescent development as eyewitnesses to models and first-hand practice under the supervision of seasoned master teachers. It is the planning, coordination and direct participation of teacher leaders like Erica Matson that makes UWRF among the very best at preparing the next generation of teachers. 

I am honored to nominate Morgan Wilson for the Outstanding Collaborating Teacher award. She consistently goes above and beyond to create a welcoming and supportive environment for teacher candidates, ensuring they feel valued and included. With clear and constructive feedback, Morgan fosters professional growth by identifying strengths and providing guidance for improvement. She actively involves teacher candidates in lesson delivery, encouraging them to take on responsibilities while offering mentorship along the way. Through expert modeling of best teaching practices, engaging instruction, effective classroom management and student-centered learning, Morgan equips future educators with the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Her dedication to collaboration not only enhances the experiences of teacher candidates but also strengthens the teaching profession as a whole. 

The Social Work Department has been collaborating with Red Wing High School for over a decade and working with Kaycee and Ashley since 2019. We are grateful for all the time and energy they have dedicated to supervising our students in their Field Placements and for their ongoing support of our program. They are excellent role models and our students have nothing but good things to say about their experiences with Kaycee and Ashley, year after year. Thank you for helping shape the future of our profession!  

Kai Rodgers has made a profound impact on the River Falls Montessori Community in the last year and half. The 2024-2025 academic year is Kai's second year as Principal at River Falls Public Montessori Elementary and she has improved the school community's lives in numerous ways. She has increased fidelity to the Montessori pedagogy at the school, she has increased scores and created many strong new relationships with the parents and teachers within the school community. River Falls Public Montessori serves as a teaching site for UWRF's Montessori Programs and we are grateful for her attentiveness to our instructional needs and thoughtful and hard working collaborator with UWRF. Thank you for all your dedication to quality Montessori and to UWRF's Montessori programs. 

Michaela is a speech-language pathologist and frequent supervisor of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) graduate practicum students at the River Falls and Hastings Allina/Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute locations and a favorite, at that. 

Her balance of being straight-forward and honest while also portraying kind intentions is appreciated by her students and patients alike. She never fails to find a way to connect with her patients and troubleshoot the most impossible clinical scenarios and her students say that they take much of what they learn from her into their subsequent experiences. Students comment that she is exactly the type of supervisor they would have wished for. "She is not in her line of work for the praise, but she certainly deserves it most of all." 

As a speech-language pathologist, Sasha consistently exhibits the qualities that make her an exceptional collaborator in the field. She is highly skilled in the profession and possesses an outstanding ability to work effectively with others. Her interpersonal skills enable her to foster strong, supportive relationships with the students she mentors. She creates an environment of trust and respect during the mentorship experience and her guidance and support are highly appreciated by the UW-River Falls graduate CSD students and supervisors. Her knowledge and experience help the students grow professionally and they gain invaluable insight into both the clinical and interpersonal aspects of the profession. Feedback from students consistently highlights the positive impact she has had on their learning and growth as clinicians. 

 I am honored to nominate Rachel for the Distinguished Collaborator Award. Rachel has been a dedicated cooperating teacher who has provided exceptional field experience opportunities to our education students over the years. Our students have learned a great deal from her teaching and her genuine care for their success. Additionally, Rachel participated in a research project funded by UWRF five years ago, where her vision for self-determination was evident through her support for students. 

I am honored to nominate Syndy for the Distinguished Collaborator Award. For over a decade, Syndy has exemplified the role of a dedicated cooperating teacher for our UWRF education students. Bridge View is a special school that serves only students with IEPs and Syndy has been exceptionally helpful in providing our education students with valuable field experience opportunities. She is caring and greatly impacts our students' learning through her teaching. 

Kevin Wold, Human Resources Director of Mahoney CPAs and Advisors, dropped by UWRF back in June 2023, offering to partner with the department and students. He has since become a regular guest speaker, initiated the Mahoney social hour after the last day of the fall semester Career Fair and continues to support the Mahoney CPAs and Advisors Accounting Scholarship. The students always enjoy hearing about the variety of opportunities that he experiences in his career and learning more about the job search process in general. 

Brenda Geraghty is a school psychologist and notable leader in the Shakopee Public School District. Among her many roles in Shakopee, she has served on the District Crisis Steering Committee, helping facilitate discussions about crisis planning. Additionally, Brenda promotes a positive public image of school psychologists by going into high school psychology classes and talking about her experiences as a school psychologist in a warm and welcoming manner. Moreover, she teaches an education-focused community education class outside of her day job. Finally, for numerous years, Brenda has taken on the supervision of practicum students or interns from the UWRF school psychology program. She is a great ambassador of UW-River Falls School Psychology! 

Laura Kropp holds both an undergraduate and graduate degree from UWRF, receiving her MBA in 2017. She is an Executive Recruiter and Account Manager on the Business Professional Team at Dahl Consulting. With over a decade of experience in recruitment, Laura is an expert in talent acquisition and has served in many roles including as adjunct faculty for Globe University teaching a capstone course focused on recruitment. 

In 2020 and 2021, she was recognized as the Highest New Business Recruiter. In addition to her many work achievements, Laura has never failed to give back to the UWRF community. She has supported students within the School of Business, dedicating time each term to share her expertise and experience with undergraduate students in SBE 300. Students share their excitement and appreciation for her insights and advice and she has become a friendly face in the hallways of South Hall. Laura continues to excel in her career and serve as a mentor within the UWRF community. She exemplifies what it means to be a Falcon and we are honored to be able to call her an UWRF alumni. 

Rachel graduated from the UWRF Communicative Disorders (previous program name) graduate program in 2007. She left the area to work elsewhere in the U.S. but returned several years later with a strong desire to start her own private practice. Since then, she has built a thriving and well-respected pediatric outpatient therapy practice, Therapy OPS, offering occupational, physical and speech therapy services to children and adolescents in two locations in the south metro area, Inver Grove Heights and Hastings. 

Rachel has strived to create a business that truly enriches the communities around it. Aside from rehabilitative therapies, they offer support groups, parent and community education through regular events and an active blog on their website, in addition to sensory-friendly entertainment events. Rachel and Therapy OPS have recently begun offering an annual $5000 scholarship for a local high school student entering fields of occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech therapy. Finally, Rachel has also hosted several CSD graduate students for practicum placements, giving back to UW-River Falls as a mentor to future speech-language pathologists. 

Amanda Linehan, CPA, is a partner at Guinn, Vinopal & Zahradka, LLP. Linehan works with small to mid-sized businesses and their owners in the areas of tax compliance, tax planning, accounting assistance and business strategy. Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UW-River Falls and a master’s in business taxation from the University of Minnesota. 

She returns to UWRF regularly to guest speak to the Accounting Society and recruit interns and staff members. She presented training on "Accounting for Small Businesses with QuickBooks" at the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center in September 2024. In 2023, she served as the River Falls Chamber of Commerce board chair. She also shared her musical talent as a member of the St. Croix Valley Community Band for many years. 

Sarah graduated from the UWRF Communicative Disorders (previous program name) undergraduate program in 2004 and the graduate program in 2006. She is a speech-language pathologist working with the elderly in skilled nursing facilities (SNF), most recently at Christian Community Home in Hudson for the last nine years, where she also holds the leadership title of Director of Rehab Services. 

Sarah has provided expert adjunct instruction in the UWRF graduate program in the areas of Cognitive Disorders in Adults and Aphasia for more than 12 semesters. It is common for students who have taken her courses to request SNF practicum placements because of her inviting, calm and professional demeanor in explaining the disorders and patients she encounters there on a daily basis. This has been termed "The Soderberg Effect" by the program because SNF experiences are typically less sought after, but Sarah's approach gives them an allure they wouldn't otherwise have. 

Sarah continues to give back to the program and the profession as a mentor to future speech-language pathologists by hosting two UWRF graduate students for off-campus placements each semester. Students praise her empathetic demeanor, wisdom and calm problem-solving skills in evaluation and treatment. Her mentorship of students emphasizes self-reflection and two-way communication, resulting in a shared respect and excellent collaborative relationships with her students. 

Brandon Wait exemplifies the spirit of a Falcon through his unwavering service, dedication and impact on the UWRF School Counseling program and the broader community. A foundational member of the school counseling program who was instrumental in creating the practicum class and the approved practicum site list. 

He has also been a steadfast supporter during the CACREP accreditation process for the school counseling program. His contributions to the department have helped shape the school counseling program and its future. 

As an alumnus, Brandon’s work at Paladin School since 2008 has been marked by his extensive experience across various educational sectors, where he has championed social-emotional learning, trauma-responsive practices and restorative approaches. His leadership is grounded in collaboration, equity and empowering students to thrive. His dedication to both the field of school counseling and his community reflects the values of UWRF and what it means to be a Falcon.