Students share messages of community, kindness, belonging with graduates at Dec. 20 ceremony
Menomonie, Wis. – Two alumni guest speakers and three students addressed 527 of their peers as they celebrated graduation from University of Wisconsin-Stout – Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University – on Dec. 20.
During two ceremonies in Johnson Fieldhouse, the alumni speakers encouraged graduates to embrace the unknown and be proud of their Stout journeys as they positively impact their communities and the world:
Polaris Inc. Director of Industrial Design Michael Leighton (’02), B.F.A. industrial design, addressed College of Arts and Human Sciences and College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management undergraduates.
UW-Stout’s Associate Dean and School of Education Director Shannon Donnelly (’00, ’05), B.S. vocational rehabilitation and M.S. education, addressed Graduate Studies graduates.
The three student speakers shared messages on the strength of community, sharing simple acts of kindness and belonging, and being a voice for others:
Sophia Moore, of Red Wing, Minnesota, B.S. applied social science, CAHS speaker.
Grace Rucker, of Oronoco, Minnesota, B.S. real estate property management and B.S. hotel, restaurant & tourism management, CSTEMM speaker.
Hanahh Eggum, of Menomonie, M.S. training & talent development, Graduate Studies speaker.
Embrace life’s uncertainties
In his experiences in design, Leighton said he “found moments of uncertainty to be some of the most valuable, rewarding, surprising and impactful in my life and in my career.”
He offered graduates ideas that helped him navigate, embrace and get the most out of life’s uncertainties:
“Stay curious: If you approach challenges with youthful curiosity, I guarantee you will learn something of value and surprise yourself along the way, while becoming increasingly comfortable with uncertainty.”
“Pursue your passion: Leverage, chase, and pursue your passion. It will guide your own unique path and be a reminder of what is most important to you.”
“Small hinges swing big doors: Never underestimate the value of the impact you can make in this world. The work you do and your actions and contributions matter.”
“Invest in your community: Paying it forward and taking a proactive, caring interest by contributing to the wellness of your community is worth the effort, and you will get back more than you give. An investment in your community is an investment in yourself.”
“It is now the obligation you own as a graduate of this great institution, to apply your knowledge, skills and craft to tackle life’s challenges in ways that improve our world for us, our neighbors and for generations to come,” Leighton said.
#StoutProud is a way of life
When Donnelly first came to UW-Stout 30 years ago as an undergraduate and member of the women’s basketball team, she admitted she was far more interested in being an athlete-student than a student-athlete. She had no idea what to major in, much less what career path to follow. But a conversation with a professor changed her life.
“She said, ‘If your plans of playing in the WNBA don’t work out, I think you should consider being a teacher.’ She suggested an intro class; I took it, and now I’m in my 26th year as an educator. All because a Stout professor saw something in me that I hadn’t yet seen in myself,” said Donnelly, whose first teaching job was in special education.
Donnelly soon returned to UW-Stout for her master’s degree. “The relationships I had built and the support I experienced made it clear – there was no place else I’d rather be,” she said.
She has served in several leadership roles within education, including director of pupil services, high school principal and superintendent. And last spring, she jumped at the opportunity to return to UW-Stout yet again, this time as director of the School of Education.
“I didn’t hesitate. Coming back to the place that shaped my entire adult life was truly a dream come true,” said Donnelly, who on her first day back on campus “felt the true meaning of being Stout Proud. It’s not just a slogan – it’s a way of life.”
This core feeling was at the heart of her message to students: “Wherever you go, Stout Proud will forever be part of your journey.”
‘We lift each other up.’
Moore reminded her fellow graduates that UW-Stout “isn’t just a place where we earned a degree. It’s where we learned what it means to support and be supported. To show up for one another. To build something bigger than ourselves.
“That became my legacy at this university. Being the loudest voice in any room, if it meant being a light for students who once felt like I did. Becoming a beacon for the lost. A wrecking ball to barriers that stood in their way,” said Moore, who was the director of Legislative Affairs with Stout Student Association.
“While Stout has been a cornerstone for teaching us what it means to take part in a community bigger than ourselves, I implore you to explore what this truly means to you,” she added.
“Our community at Stout is made up of people from many corners of the world, every background imaginable and every walk of life. And yet, we found connection, we learned from one another, challenged each other and grew together.
“That’s the kind of community that doesn’t fade after graduation. That’s the kind of community that carries us forward into our careers, into our neighborhoods, into the next chapters of our lives. It reminds us that no matter how big the world feels, we are never truly alone. We carry each other with us. We lift each other up,” Moore said.
Go in kindness
Rucker asked her fellow graduates to reflect on what makes them unique and what their purpose is. Reflecting on her own purpose, she shared a moment from her internship as a Disney cast member when she worked with Make-A-Wish children.
“There was one little girl I’ll never forget. Her family came to watch the fireworks, but every reserved viewing area was full. It had been a long, hot day, and sometimes the magic at Disney can start to feel routine – but not that night,” Rucker said.
She asked another cast member to cover her station, while she escorted the little girl and her family to one of the best spots she knew – a quiet bridge near Cinderella’s carriage, tucked away from the commotion.
“I knelt down to her level, let her choose buttons and stickers and made sure her family had everything they needed. Then she looked up at me and asked, ‘Can I give you a hug?’ She wrapped her arms around me and whispered, ‘This is even better than I imagined,’” Rucker remembered.
From that moment, Rucker will forever carry a lesson: “Our purpose is often found in simple acts of kindness. That spirit of caring, of creating joy for others, is what I see reflected in all of us here today,” she said, looking out across the Class of 2025. “We share the same Stout values: resilience, creativity, professionalism and the drive to make things better.”
Helping others feel belonging
When Eggum transferred to UW-Stout during her undergraduate degree, she thought she would complete her classes, graduate and move on. “What I didn’t know then is that UW-Stout had very different plans for me,” she said.
“Because of UW-Stout, I found my voice. I discovered passions I didn’t know I had. I uncovered strengths I didn’t realize were mine. This university didn’t just change my path; it changed who I believed I could become. And today, standing here, I am, and always will be, StoutProud,” she said.
Eggum returned to UW-Stout to manage Stoutfitters, the university bookstore. Her career then pivoted, and she went on to earn her master’s degree. She is now the orientation coordinator and project manager for the Dean of Students Office, managing projects that strengthen communication, improve operational processes and enhance student experiences.
“My hope is simple: to help others feel the same belonging and encouragement and possibility that I found here,” Eggum said, encouraging graduates to “take every opportunity, even the ones that feel small, unexpected or uncertain, because you never know where it will lead you.
“As we graduate, we have the opportunity to extend that same support to others. To lead with compassion. To build workplaces and communities where people feel valued. To create change in ways both big and small. To use our voices, especially on days when someone else hasn’t yet found theirs.”
UW-Stout, a member of the Universities of Wisconsin, is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.
