ºÃÉ«TV

Meet eight of the University of Northern Colorado's (UNC) spring 2025 graduates who shared their stories with us about their time at UNC, both challenging and exciting, what their plans are after commencement and their advice to current and future Bears. 

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Overcoming challenges and achieving success: I found the love of my life at UNC. I only wish I could have met her sooner. She has been there for me no matter how tough things got. We met in Wilson Hall during our freshman year. We started dating around Thanksgiving break of 2019. Our first date was at Margie’s Java Joint, just north of Skinner Music Library. The following Spring, COVID-19 was challenging every part of life, yet we stayed together and made it work. It has been over five years, and my love for her is as strong as ever. I feel like since our love survived a pandemic, it can survive anything. 

What's next for you: I started my MBA in the fall of 2023. I knew I would regret not applying to some of my dream schools in Europe, so during my first semester at UNC, I sent applications for master’s programs to top schools in Norway and the Netherlands. The unexpected happened. I got accepted to every school. I was faced with two problems. I couldn’t afford another master's degree, and I had never set foot on either campus. Both acceptance letters only allowed two weeks to accept the offer. I couldn’t accept either. I asked to defer both. I was only allowed to defer my offer to study applied ethics at Utrecht University. If I wanted to study at UiO in Norway, I had to apply again next year. Over the summer, separating the first and second year of my MBA, I saved up enough to tour both schools. I must have been working 45-50 hours a week caring for animals in the shelter to save up for school and the trips. After seeing both campuses, I thought Norway was a better fit. I applied again and got accepted again. This has been an emotional rollercoaster, but I’ll be studying Practical Philosophy in Norway after my time at UNC. I hope to reduce inequalities. I want to use my experience in the MBA program to create opportunities. I want to use my understanding of complex ethical issues to deliver effective solutions in a world full of conflict. 

Advice for future or current Bears: Build strong relationships with one to three people at UNC. They could be your partner, your mentor or your friend. Together, each of you will be stronger. These people will help you through a pandemic if you let them. 

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Overcoming challenges and achieving success: I'm going to sound like an Honors representative, but they helped me through most of my challenges and celebrated my accomplishments. A challenge I faced was losing most of my freshman friends when I became a sophomore. The Honors Program has an office and lounge where I studied constantly during that time. That space allowed me to connect and get involved with the Honors Program, and it’s where I made many great friends. For achievements, I completed my undergraduate capstone research investigating the lack of pockets in women's clothing. I was sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Honors Program to present this research at NCUR (National Conference of Undergraduate Research). I felt very fancy. 

What's next for you: Ah, the dreaded question. Like many seniors, I don't entirely know. The only thing I can confirm is that I will be living with my mom, which I'm excited about, and I am looking to go into a field where I can help others. Since that goal is so vast, until I find another passion, I'm looking into local government positions. 

Advice for future or current Bears: The opportunities to get involved and make friends are there, but sometimes you have to reach out first. It's intimidating, but everyone is just as nervous as you. If it seems like they aren't nervous, that's because they are really good at hiding it!

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What's next for you:   I am planning on working in Clark, Colorado, about 30 miles north of Steamboat, at Home Ranch as a gardener. I am so excited to use my capstone research on regenerative agriculture and apply the concepts I have learned from multiple ENST classes to help me connect with the food I eat. 

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Loree Crow, the Criminal Justice Department and the Honors Program were the main reasons for my success at UNC. They supported me not only on my good days, but on my bad days too, and that is what has meant the most. 

Overcoming challenges and achieving success: ºÃÉ«TV is a challenging experience, not to mention when you add a thesis or extracurriculars on top of it. It was important for me to have a reprieve; whether it was going home for a weekend, doing something that wasn't schoolwork to take my mind off it or simply taking a drive. I have found that this experience is riddled with peaks and valleys, and the most important thing you can do is care for yourself when things get hard and let yourself be okay with leaning on others for help, because you would help them when they need it too. 

What's next for you: After graduation, I am going to take time for myself. I have always been defined by school, and I am excited to find out who I am outside of that. I want to get my master's and doctorate eventually. I love my research and want to improve on it, but I want to jump into criminal justice. I hope to work at a correctional facility in Larimer County or a mental health facility here in Greeley, so I can get a better feel for who I want to be in the future. 

Advice for future or current Bears: Get involved and go to as many events as you can. They are fun, relaxing and provide you with social connections that you need to succeed. 

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It was not too large of a place to where connection is difficult, but not too small to where connection was limited. My support came after a summer basketball camp where I got the opportunity to just explore the campus, and it inspired me to seek opportunities outside of the regular big schools you see on TV all the time. 

Overcoming challenges and achieving success: I overcame the social aspect of college taking me down the wrong path. Influence is huge as a freshman, and you are supposed to find your friends; they shouldn't necessarily find you. This can be a lot for freshman because many seek comfort, and it wasn't until later on that I embraced the uncomfortable. 

Once I moved past my fears, I became chapter president of a business organization on campus, started getting heavily involved in intramural sports where I properly built a community of friends, I became a Finley Fellow Scholar in which I began working with the head of the Business Management department to do event marketing/business research and then I started to go after my passions of working on creative content within the Athletics department. My happiness couldn't have been brought to life in any other way, shape or form. 

What's next for you: I will be going straight into grad school to get my master’s degree in marketing, hopefully to obtain a graduate assistantship position with the Athletics department as well. 

Advice for future or current Bears: Just embrace the change you experience because you are going to live through it regardless. 

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Reflection on your time at UNC: I am a once-a-Bear, always-a-Bear. I earned my undergraduate and master's degrees from UNC, and soon, I will have a doctorate from UNC. UNC has always felt like home. I joined UNC as staff in 2019, and in 2020, I applied for the Educational Leadership doctoral program. During my doctoral journey, I had unwavering support from Dr. Cieminski, Dr. Vogel, Dr. Cohen and Dr. Cooney, who guided this chapter of my education. I also had immense support from my ºÃÉ«TV of Education and Behavioral Sciences colleagues.

Overcoming challenges and achieving success: Like many students undertaking an academic journey during a global pandemic while working full-time, I had moments of distress and frustration. Still, with the support of my colleagues, instructors and family, I completed a degree that I thought would take more than five years in four years. 

What's next for you: After graduation, I plan to continue as the executive director for UNC's inclusive higher education program, Go On And Learn (GOAL). I also plan to continue conducting research with rural educators to support them in building transition planning to increase post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities. 

Advice for future or current Bears: Never be afraid to ask for help. Faculty and staff want to help you be successful. Never feel like you have to struggle in silence. 

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I joined a sorority later on in my freshman year, and it ended up being one of the best decisions I have made. I was supported, uplifted and celebrated by amazing women in this chapter. I also had Christine Kyser, who is an amazing professor and person, who has helped me along the way throughout my college career. I honestly don't think I would be where I am if it weren’t for Chris. She has also helped me apply for graduate school for my master’s in Elementary Education. 

Overcoming challenges and achieving success: I struggled with the PRAXIS tests you have to take in order to be a teacher and receive your license. Those affected my abilities to be able to student-teach, and started to make me lose confidence in myself when trying to become a teacher. The opportunity to do my master’s was my best decision because I will get another opportunity to pass those tests, student-teach and receive my license. I have also received Latin honors on my bachelor's degree, along with keeping a 4.0 for three semesters straight.

What's next for you: I am going in the master’s program for Elementary Education with a Licensure Concentration. So, I will be doing that for a year and a half. Along with working with Alpha Sigma Alpha’s National Headquarters as a volunteer. 

Advice for future or current Bears: Take your time, enjoy your time here. I know it is hard sometimes, but trust me when I tell you that you will miss it as soon as you leave. 

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But looking back, what made my time here truly meaningful wasn’t just the classes or the degree — it was the people. The friendships I’ve made, the mentors who have guided me and the experiences I’ve had outside the classroom have shaped me more than I ever expected. 

One of the biggest influences on my journey has been Interim Dean Keiko Krahnke. Her guidance and encouragement helped me push through challenges and see my potential in a way I hadn’t before. Leading a media company, starting a podcast and getting involved on campus gave me the chance to apply what I was learning in real time. UNC has been more than just a school to me — it’s been a place where I’ve grown, taken risks and built something that will last far beyond graduation. 

Overcoming challenges and achieving success: When I came to UNC in August 2022, I only knew about 10 other students from my high school who came along with me. Stepping onto campus, I realized I would have to meet new people and build new relationships — something I hadn’t really had to do in years after growing up with the same classmates from kindergarten through high school. It was a little intimidating at first, but looking back, it was one of the best things that could have happened to me. 
   
Over the past three years, I’ve built a strong network of friends, faculty mentors and peers who have pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. Stepping out of my comfort zone wasn’t always easy, but it made my college experience so much more meaningful. Somewhere along the way, my perspective completely shifted. I came to UNC thinking I’d follow the traditional path — graduate, get a job and work my way up. But through the relationships I’ve built and the opportunities I’ve had, I’ve realized I don’t just want to work for someone else my whole life. I’ve become excited by vision, by possibility and by the idea of building something of my own. UNC didn’t just give me an education — it changed the way I see my future. 

What's next for you: I will most likely be pursuing a real estate license and getting connected with a brokerage firm to start learning from other realtors/mentors and selling homes. 

Advice for future or current Bears: Go after every challenge, even if it feels out of your comfort zone; jump in and don't look back. Ask questions when you don't have the answers, and advocate for those around you!