By Mark Mone
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Mark Mone
Graduation and recognition ceremonies at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee (UWM) are the times when you hear some of the most inspiring student stories of the year.
Commencement on Dec. 14, 2014, was no exception. Nearly 2,100 students were eligible to participate in our graduation ceremony, with 300 of those students also eligible to participate in UWM’s Honors Convocation the week before.
Combine these students with those who graduated last spring, and there were more than 5,400 students who earned their degrees from UWM in 2014.
That is a great number of college graduates who earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Even more remarkable are the stories of our students.
I’d like to share just a couple of these many stories from our December graduating class.
It’s clear that in each story individuals overcame some tough challenges and succeeded because of determination and support, whether through student services at UWM, friends and family, or other organizations.
Jennifer Beamon is an extraordinary example of leadership born of hardship. As a child, Jennifer recalls rummaging through garbage to find something to eat, and being called “dum dum” and “stupid” by the adults in her life.
Jennifer’s life changed when she joined Public Allies AmericCorp and began using her life experiences to serve young people.
She completed the program and began her studies at UWM.
A single mom of two children, Jennifer had the support of her employers and worked throughout her time as a student.
Last month, she graduated with a degree in criminal justice. Jennifer is employed full time with the I Have a Dream Foundation.
Honor student Christopher Medina Kirchner described himself as a “low-income, first-generation minority student” who, “if it wasn’t for education I do not know where I would be right now.”
Christopher was involved in gangs and drugs and dropped out of high school when he was a sophomore.
After earning his GED, Christopher wanted to change his life and enrolled at UWM, where we are known for our access as well as our research mission.
He said, “I didn’t even think I would get in, but they accepted me. At this point my life completely changed.”
Working with UWM’s McNair Scholars program, Christopher applied himself and went from a low grade point average to a high level that earned him Honors status at his graduation in December.
Along the way, Christopher became interested in brain imaging and neuropsychology. He did research in labs and presented academic papers at national conferences. He was a teaching assistant, and is heading to graduate school.
Jennifer and Christopher are just a couple of examples of the inspiring individuals who graduate from UWM and go on to positively impact others in our world.
Our university graduates large numbers of students and is the most diverse campus in Wisconsin. It is the individual stories of people such as Jennifer and Christopher that show how powerful higher education can be.
As we celebrate the Mark A. Mone birth and impact of Martin Luther King Jr., let us remember his wise words, “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”