College of Education, Business and Allied Health Awards Ceremony 2023-24

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

Claire Anderson
Wyatt Bauch
Reanna Benson
Gabrielle Brandt
Morgan Buckley
Nicole Burlingame
Brock Draeger
Danielle Gerdts
Riley Grahek
Joshua Hanka
Alex Hantge **
Madison Haugen
Rylee Henjum
Millie Hernandez
Christian Hjelmen
Madeline Jagerson
Madeline Jaques
Amanda Kelly
Emma Knobloch
Emma Knospe
Nicholas Koren *
Madelyn Luhrs
Rose Lutz
Olivia Lynner
Maddie McCollins **
Kameri Meredith **
Zach Miland
McKenna Miska
Olivia Morrisey
Mikayla Nordeng
Abby Peterson
Jake Reeck **
Alexis Ringler
Darien Ross
Vilho Saariluoma
Nathan Schoot
Serina Scott
Vanessa Seipel
Chloe Smith
Faith Stachowski
Cati Suckow
Josie Swenson
Adam Thom
Olivia Thompson
Derek Trippel
Brooke Voigt
BreeAnn Volk
Brandi Weiland
Ben Williams
Rachel Zastoupil
Jackson Mackley

*Honors Program member
**Student Athlete 

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.

Emily Angstman *
Ava Bailey
Mackenzie Beam
Nicholas Bros
Madelyn Dick
Holly Eckers **
Savanna Frie
Jade Gerlach
Allison Glenna
Maddie Greelis
Justin Haag
Allie Jennings
Hannah Johnson
Lauren Johnson
Veronica Klenke*
Joshua Martin **
Sam Maxwell
Ashley Prax
Noah Ranem
Jager Reissmann **
Nora Schletty
Julia Sylvester
Sophie Ulman
Jacob Ward **

*Honors Program member
** Student Athlete 

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.

Lindsey Augustine
Cassidy Balciar
Kaylee Birch
Ellie Cary
Carlie Davies
Emma Erb *
Carolina Gathright
Lydia Greden
Emma Heerey *
Lindsey Johnson **
Piper Juza
Drew Kenworthy
Grace Macht
Lea Newman
Braelyn Sathers **
Kate Seymour **
Rae Smit
Alyssa Spreckels
Alexandra Squier
Abby Swan
Amanda Thao
Kelsi Welle
Olivia Willkom
 

*Honors Program Member 
** Student Athlete 

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.

Josephine Altmann
Megan Anderson
Desire Dillon
Ellie Duncan
Cassie Fay *
Grace Grunseth *
Izabel Kane *
Carley Larson
Sarah Lenzendorf *
Aunakah Lilly
Mallory McKay
Anika Nordin
Steven Rasmussen
Tyler Sampson *
Ella Schmidt
Julia Seidel **
Zachary Shelby
Grace Wachtler
Austin Walters
Ella Tollison *
Jasmine Windsor

*Honors Program member
** Student Athlete 

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

Mallory McKay, Business Administration major 

Lynn Leitner: Lynn is an outstanding student who came into this program with passion and a purpose. Lynn had worked as a carpenter for 7 years upon entering the program. She saw many in that trade suffering with compromised health and wanted to take action. She has used this passion and her desire to try to change a culture as her motivation as she progressed through the program. Her passion and drive are contagious. She has actively engaged in her classes and absorbed as much knowledge as she could. She has continued to work while in school, maintaining over a 3.9 GPA. Lynn is a difference maker. She has positively impacted this program and this is just the beginning. 

Rae Smit: Rae is the type of student who makes everyone around her better with her energy and positive attitude. She has a dedicated work ethic and takes great pride in her performance. She is an outstanding student in the EXSS major, and also highly engaged in Campus Recreation and across campus. She is a true Falcon. 
Reagan Stocker: We are pleased to recognize Reagan Stocker as the 2023-2024 UWRF School Counseling Program Outstanding Student. As there are many outstanding students throughout the program, the faculty carefully consider a number of criteria in selecting the final recipient of this award.
 
Pa Dao Xiong: Pa Dao Xiong is a third-year practicum-level graduate student in the School Psychology Program. Recently, she was named one of only seven graduate students from across the country to receive the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP's) ERT Minority Scholarship Award for 2024. She was recognized formally at the NASP convention in New Orleans in February. Pa Dao is a true leader. While not always easy, she engages in challenging conversations in and outside of the classroom, with a clear goal to better support all students and all communities as a future school psychologist. 

August Baumann: August embraced the opportunity to compete in the UWRF Innovation Challenge this year. By utilizing the Business Model Canvas and showcasing the great opportunity his business provides, He made several pivots with his business model and spent time above and beyond his academic studies to review and refine his plan in preparation for the presentation. His hard work and dedication paid off and he placed second in the UWRF Innovation Challenge, securing seed funds to support his business. 

Guma Jackson: Guma is preparing for graduation, but he has also successfully launched a new business venture, Koja Cafe, and participated in the UWRF Innovation Challenge. Through this opportunity and hard work, Guma has been able to effectively network with other like-minded business entrepreneurs, support his business startup through special events, and begin his engagement and launch of the Koja Cafe with an available space at the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center. 

Laney LeMere: Laney is a strong student, both academically and clinically. She excels in both areas, is well-respected by her cohort and continually strives to improve in her treatment skills. 

Justin Haag: Justin is an incredibly invested student in our program. He participates frequently in class discussions, asks good questions that show how he is applying his knowledge to practice. Justin has chosen to work in jobs that strengthen his skills in working with children who have special needs, such as school district extended day programs. He volunteers as a peer mentor in the Disability Resource Center on campus and is described by them as authentic, genuine, and hard-working. 

Angela Kaul: Angela works full time, has children, a partner and an elderly parent who needs care ... and she still does OUTSTANDING master's level work. She always maintains a positive demeanor, is quick to make connections and conclusions and just as quick to reach out and help another with understanding or examples. Angela advocates for her needs, demonstrates respect for all people and performs at a high academic level. 
Sara Vine: Sara has been an excellent student, her GPA, test scores and field experiences were all excellent, she has been a top performing student throughout her program. 

Cassidy Balciar: Cassidy is a responsible and thoughtful student. She meets expectations - comes to class on time, is prepared, takes notes, follows instructions - does all of the things we want our students to do to be successful in school. Because of that, she has earned top grades and has been accepted into graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, for which our department is very proud. In addition, and maybe more importantly, Cassidy is emerging as a quiet leader. She observes before she speaks, and she likes to gather evidence before taking action. This has been evident in her role as the President of the Student Social Work Association, her well-designed baccalaureate thesis examining the relationship between substance use and academic performance at UWRF, and her outstanding performance as a field student at Red Rock Elementary School. Her Field Instructor stated that "Cassidy is one of the most conscientious, accomplished, and skilled field students I have had the pleasure to work with. She is a valued member of the student support team at Red Rock Elementary. Any school would be fortunate to have Cassidy as their school social worker." We are excited to continue watching her become a competent, caring school social worker who can make lasting impacts on children, families, and systems. 

Kristin Pronschinske: Virtually all MBA students are balancing their career and academic success. Kristin's engagement with the university does not stop with her academic involvement and commitment. She has served on the Alumni Board for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences for several years, and currently holds the position of Board President. She has also supported various student organizations, including the Professional Sales Club as she assists with coaching and development. With Kristin's past, previous, and future contributions, she is very deserving of the Outstanding Student recognition. UWRF is lucky to include her as a soon-to-be three-time alumna! 

Jake Regan: Jake is a strong student who showcased his love of business and networking by participating in the 2024 UWRF Innovation Challenge, where he took third place. As a first-year student, we look forward to seeing what Jake can do in his time with UWRF! 

Logan Rowe: Creating a business plan in collaboration with his fellow students, Logan and his team then conducted market research and surveyed prospective business clients as part of the 2024 UWRF Innovation Challenge. Along with the normal workload for a finance major, Logan exceeded in balancing his workload.
 
Spencer Burden: Along with his teammates, Spencer explored the possibility of turning his business idea into reality through the UWRF Innovation Challenge. Spending time and effort with his team and faculty mentor, his presentation showed a commitment to the challenge as well as being a student. 

Luke Heggestad: Luke personifies what a 'can do' spirit means for a School of Business and Economics student. In addition to being a wonderful addition to the classroom, he excels in utilizing the opportunities available to our students. He is involved in student organization leadership positions and is a small business owner. This spring, he also participated in the Innovation Challenge for the second year in a row, which is a deep time commitment above typical school, work and life. 

Kristin Taipale: Kristin has frequently mentored our graduate students for practicum placements.  She develops strong relationships with her students and works diligently to ensure that students develop the skills they will need as starting professionals.  

Becky Luetje: Ms. Becky Luetje is a 1993 graduate of the UWRF School Counseling Program and a strong collaborator with the program since then. Becky has supervised many UWRF interns, and she consistently offers students a robust learning experience. Upon observing Becky in action with her interns, it is evident that she provides a variety of and quality opportunities for practice, including classroom teaching, individual work, and with partners such as other staff and parents. Numerous times, Becky has nudged a student to try different aspects of the school counseling role, while underscoring this with support. She works to prepare the intern for the experience, observe and support during the experience, and then offers real feedback after the experience. Students appreciate her feedback aimed at furthering our students' development and readiness for the job. 

SFC Kevin Pigman: Although a familiar face - SFC Kevin Pigman is not actually formally assigned to the United States Army Cadet Command or Senior ROTC command structure in the same way CPT Trotter is. He is in fact a full time Wisconsin National Guard Recruiter who is authorized to lend a portion of his time to assist the program here at UW-River Falls and facilitate enlists into the National Guard concurrent with ROTC enrollment.
That being said, in Cpt. Trotter’s 13 years of serving in a uniform, he has encountered very few Soldiers of his rank and time in service who still serve with purpose and selflessness. Everyone can recognize in their own organizations people who are 20+ years and they are just marking time until they can retire, receive a pension, and ride off into the sunset. Soldiers are no exception to this human quality. SFC Pigman for the last three years of his time in the Wisconsin National Guard has been the most incredibly dedicated and patient servant of these students Cpt. Trotter has encountered. Kevin starts his days at 4:00 AM so that he can drive an hour to the university just to be dressed and shaved in time for morning physical fitness at 6:00 AM. Then – without returning home he goes over to the Hudson storefront to check in with his chain of command before returning to the office before noon so that the revolving door of Cadets can have their problems solved. He does this frequently until 6:00 PM only to get home by 7:00 to eat and go straight to bed. And you might say well he has his weekends! No – he’s doing his actual recruiting job during the weekends. And whatever shred of time is left – he gives to his wife and two children. There are people who give and there are people who take. Kevin is a person who gives so much of himself he’s his own last priority; which, is now beginning to catch up with him in the form of health after 23 years of service to the military. Ask any of our thirty students what they think about Kevin Pigman, and they’ll light up. If there is any collaborator in the three years Cpt. Trotter has served with at this university who is worthy of recognition and who’s actions are commensurate with accolade – it’s Kevin. When he retires Christmas of 2024 it will be a significant impact to the University, the Army and the state of Wisconsin.

Josie St. Peter: Josie St. Peter is a school psychologist in District 916 in Minnesota and she has served as a practicum supervisor for students from the UWRF school psychology program throughout the past decade; she is also a champion of the profession and of UWRF in that she has referred two people who have since been admitted to the program. Josie is the consummate ‘guide on the side’ who supports and challenges students to think through situations, consider various approaches and solutions, and apply their knowledge and burgeoning skills while scaffolding the necessary guidance they may need. Josie is consistently identified as one of the strongest and best supervisors in the field and the UWRF school psychology program is fortunate to include her as part of our community of professionals.

Danette Jones: Danette is a licensed school social worker at Red Rock Elementary school in Woodbury, MN. She has been serving as a field instructor for our department for 8 years. We are continuously impressed and grateful for her genuine commitment to student learning and the growth of our profession. Her current student commented that “Danette has been a great supervisor/mentor for me. She is extremely knowledgeable and is always willing to teach me about her job and the profession. She pushes me to be competent and have new experiences outside of my comfort zone. She cares about her students and fellow staff members and is always willing to listen and offer guidance. I am very thankful that I have had such a wonderful supervisor and someone to learn from through my internship experience.” Additionally, not only is Danette an excellent role model for our current students, but she has also gone on to mentor many of our past students as they enter the profession. One of our Alumni, Christina Jenkins, shared that “Danette not only supported me in finding my confidence as a social worker during my field placement, providing me with emotional and professional guidance as I navigated life and changed careers, but she also continued to support me after my field placement in supervision. She continuously pushed me to incorporate boundaries and self-care into my life to ensure that I did not burn out. She wears many hats, and she wears them well. I always felt comfortable asking her questions, knowing that she would not only answer them but also openly support me. I often hear her voice in my head when I am in a challenging situation, and for that, I am grateful.” 

Jason Caballero: Jason is an amazing educator and alumnus. He exemplifies what a teacher education Falcon is. First, he has been an amazing role model and mentor for the Broad Field Social Studies teacher candidates. Teacher candidates who have worked with Jason have noted that he aided their growth as educators by providing positive feedback and an environment in which he challenged them to grow as young teachers and provided them space to try and implement various teaching strategies. Next, Jason has modeled for our students what it means to be a teacher leader on the school and on the athletic field. He is the advisor of the Latino Student Union at Stillwater High School, which has allowed our students to explore how to be an advocate for students. Lastly, he has also modeled how to balance being a teacher and a coach. In addition to his support of the BFSS program, 

Jason has been received numerous honors. 

• St. Croix Education Association Teacher of the Year Honoree (2022-23)
• Selected to represent Stillwater Area High School at the national conference for the B.A.R.R. (Building Assets Reducing Risks) program
• Selected speaker: RISE (Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality) panel about student athletes from different cultural backgrounds addressing race and sports at UW-River Falls
• UW-River Falls Falcon Award for football
• Interviewed for Beyond the Field, a podcast aimed at the intersection of athletic and professional development

He truly reflects what is a TED Falcon!

Derrick Edwards: Derrick Edwards has been a long-standing and excellent supporter of UWRF.  Derrick is the President and Chief Technology Officer of AGS Data Systems.  He has a rich history with the university, serving in several capacities. Derrick’s dedicated focus to our mission and societal impact has provided many benefits and opportunities to the students, college, and university.  Derrick was our very first Innovator in Residence in Spring, 2016, during which his message focused on “Bridging Views of Innovation.”  He has continued to support the focus on innovation, serving as a judge for all nine years of the Innovation Challenge.  In this role, he not only judges, but also coaches and mentors student teams who have competed in the Innovation Challenge.  For many previous Innovation Challenge award winners, Derrick has continued to help mentor and support the startup businesses, providing them with a strong foundation for their new business venture and experienced business coaching. Derrick is a UWRF alumnus, receiving his Master of Science in Computer Science degree in Spring, 2021.  In addition, Derrick and AGS Data Systems has provided multiple internship opportunities to students and added many of those students and graduates to their talented employee base.  Derrick has also served on several advisory roles for the university.

CJ McDermott: CJ has grown into an amazing young teacher who exemplifies what being a UWRF TED Falcon means. There are several reasons why this is true. Since 2021, CJ has worked diligently to create a space where all children thrive in their classroom and school. First, any conversation with CJ and their teaching begins with a focus on the children they teach at Lakes International Language Academy and the needs of their students, whether it is academic, social, emotional, or cultural. CJ exemplifies what it means to teach in ways that are culturally responsive and sustaining. A great example of this is how CJ led a revitalization of the middle school curriculum to include more voices especially Native American history in their Minnesota history class. This was done using inquiry-based, student-driven strategies. Their efforts in revamping the curriculum led CJ to be appointed the District American Indian Education Coordinator. This position has allowed CJ to lead professional development for over 150 educators on how and why we need to teach about Native Americans. Next, CJ is very committed to improving the profession of teaching. This is why they have participated in and led professional development at state and national social studies conferences. CJ epitomizes what it means to be a Falcon and is the type of teacher and teacher leader we need.

Said Garaad: Mr. Said Garaad graduated from our School Counseling program in Spring 2017. During his time in the program, Said was actively engaged, skilled in his academic work, and gifted in building relationships with peers and faculty. Committed to education at all levels, Said has worked in Minneapolis Public Schools as a Community Liaison Specialist and Multilingual Family Outreach Coordinator, a school counselor, and as instructor for Normandale Community College's new Somali Language and Culture courses. Currently serving as Edison High School's Assistant Principal, Said has collaborated with the MPS Office of Black Male Student Achievement. In 2018, Said co-facilitated a presentation titled "What Happens at the Intersections of School Counseling, Trauma, and Immigrant Student Needs?" at the International African Mental Health Summit. Said remains engaged with the UWRF School Counseling Program through participation in many class speaking events, as a member of our stakeholder group, and in support of our recruitment goals by referring prospective students to the program. His Edison High School bio quotes him- "At the center of my leadership is a commitment to creating positive and productive relationships, working collaboratively toward common shared goals, and empowering others." This genuine sentiment is clearly evident in his actions and accomplishments. A strong leader and advocate, Said confronts issues with passion and a unique ability to unite people for a common goal. When we first met Said Garaad in 2015, we recognized a special individual. His work in the program and since then demonstrate his exceptional leadership qualities. 

Jen Heebink: Jen Heebink graduated from UW-River Falls in 2010 with a degree in Physical Education and Adapted Physical Education. She is a teacher in the Buffalo School District and is the coordinator of Unified PE. In 2020 she was name the Minnesota Society of Health and Physical Education Adapted Physical Educator Teacher of the Year. In 2022, she was named the Central District Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year and the National Society for Health and Physical Education Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year. This national award is the highest recognition for an Adapted Physical Education teacher in the United States and is highly prestigious. Her commitment to physical education and adapted physical education is immeasurable. She brings innovative ideas to the classroom every day. She works with students in school and in extracurricular activities through Unified Physical Education. Her unified PE integrates physical activity, fitness, sports, health, wellness, and student leadership into the class and broader school community. She is the epitome of what all educators should aspire to be. Her enthusiasm, commitment to her students and constant innovations are the reasons she been named the national teacher of the year and why we would like to recognize her for the UWRF College of Education, Business, and Allied Health Distinguished Alumni Award.

Lourdes Flores-Hanson: Mrs. Flores-Hanson is a graduate of the MSE-Elementary Education program. She is currently the multilingual/DLI program administrator with Roseville Schools. In this role she helps to develop and support the language programs in the district. Prior to this role, she was a classroom teacher and then administrator in St Paul Schools. She last served as a principal at the French Immersion school there. As an alumni, she has worked tirelessly to support new teachers with a goal of all students becoming lifelong learners as well as for as many as possible to become bilingual. Additionally, she has worked to recruit students to the university as she brags about our programs and how we helped to shape her as an educator. More specifically, she has worked to support a specific UWRF student (also English as a second language) who is graduating this year to be an amazing teacher.

Nichole Smith: Nichole holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UWRF!  Her undergraduate courses and experiences in TED which were both here and abroad opened her up to Montessori education. Through a WI Work Force grant between UWRF Montessori Teacher Education and her charter school in Eau Claire, Chippawa Valley Montessori, Nichole was selected to receive funds for her graduate Montessori teacher education program. When Nichole joined our program - and even brought her then infant to class on the weekends- her impact in classroom was tangible among her peers and instructors. For her master’s final paper, she conducted an exciting action research study on reading and literacy and true to the purpose of action research as a practitioner in the field, Nichole continues to revisit her outcomes, adapt her instruments for her changing students and stay connected to her research area. This connection is most evident in her continual engagement in professional and academic opportunities. Some examples include that Nichole updated her literature review and presented her research at our Graduate Research Symposium last October for our Montessori EdD students; she co-presented with Dr. Gay Ward at National Montessori Conference in March and most recently, she is engaging in advocacy at the state level surrounding the new legislation concerning the science of reading.  She continues to grow as a researcher, serves as Montessori liaison for her local community and finally, I would not be surprised if she were to apply to our doctoral program.