Oshkosh attorney Scott Ceman named 2025 UW-Oshkosh Distinguished Alumnus

A University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh graduate built on his academic foundation by earning a law degree and rising as a top attorney in the region.

Scott Ceman '02, graduated cum laude from UWO with a degree in professional geography and a minor in criminal justice. For accomplishments in his professional field and enduring impact on the community, he has been selected for a 2025 UWO Distinguished Alumni Award.

Ceman worked 14 years as a state prosecutor in Winnebago County before leaving his position in 2019 to pursue a criminal defense and civil litigation practice.

It was UWO professor David Jones (now emeritus faculty), who encouraged and assisted Ceman in applying to and attending law school. Ceman graduated from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2005.

"I would not be where I am today without his (Jones') counsel and support," Ceman said.

Among the professional accomplishments he is most proud of is creating the UW-Oshkosh Special Law Enforcement Safe Zone in collaboration with University and Oshkosh police to enhance student safety in the off-campus housing areas.

• He led a task force targeting human trafficking in the city of Oshkosh that resulted in the shutdown of the last adult entertainment bar in the city-one that was facilitating human trafficking and prostitution near a local school.
• He has successfully prosecuted a number of high-profile homicide cases (in his previous role) as well as representing defendants in his current role.
• "As a defense attorney, I have successfully acquitted a young and indigent migrant worker who was wrongfully charged with first-degree intentional homicide," he said. "Of all my achievements since graduating college, giving this young man his life back and returning him to his family is by far the one I'm most grateful to have achieved."

In 2021, Ceman was honored for his work with the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer's Martin Hanson Memorial Award for outstanding advocacy in a homicide defense.

"As one of the few defense attorneys in this area of the state certified to represent indigent people accused of homicide and other Class A and B felonies," he said, "I do a significant amount of defense work for the State Public Defender's Office for people charged with these types of crimes."

Outside the office

Ceman is married to Bryn (Uhlenbrauck) Ceman '03 Human Services, whom he met while attending UWO. He says spending time with Bryn and their three children is his "main hobby" as well as renovating a house that was built in 1912-converting it into the family home- and renovating a second old home in Oshkosh into an office building for his criminal defense firm, Ceman Law Office.

Ceman also enjoys practicing judo and kayaking and canoeing on Sawyer Creek.

Prior to beginning law school, Ceman worked seven years, from April 1995 to August 2002, for Ceman Industrial Welding in Berlin, drafting bid proposals and negotiating design details with corporate engineering staff.

And earlier, from January 1991 to June 1995, he served as a U.S. paratrooper with the U.S. Army's 82^nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Ceman is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled Veterans of America.

Letters of recommendation

Appleton attorney Adam Levin nominated Ceman-his opposing counsel- as someone he says is known as "arguably the best criminal defense attorney in the Fox Cities-for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Distinguished Alumni Award.

Levin said before beginning his criminal defense practice, Ceman handled many high profile, serious cases as deputy district attorney for Winnebago County. He noted that Ceman obtains excellent results for his clients, many of whom are indigent and have Ceman serving as their public defender.

Former Winnebago County Deputy District Attorney Christian Gossett also praised Ceman, saying during his tenure in the district attorney's office, Ceman demonstrated his "commitment to excellence and served as a leader amongst his peers both inside and outside of our office."

In his initial role as an assistant district attorney, Ceman was primarily tasked with addressing a substantial case backlog the office was facing-more than 800 cases dating back as far as three years, Gossett said.

Despite his position being only half-time, Ceman reviewed and analyzed the majority of the backlogged cases, moving forward with prosecution as necessary. Ceman's focus and determination was not unseen, and he was offered a full-time assistant district attorney position overseeing domestic violence cases within the office.

The Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Center publicly recognized Ceman's work with the Partnering to Empower Award in 2009 for his prosecution of domestic homicide cases in Winnebago County.

Ceman later was promoted to deputy district attorney, where Gossett said he maintained a significant caseload of complex and serious cases-serving as the supervising attorney and head of the violent crimes unit. He said the caseload is atypical for a deputy district attorney who is responsible for managing day-to-day operations, including management of personnel.

"It was at this point Scott also collaborated with UWO Police to establish the UW-Oshkosh Special Law Enforcement Safe Zone, designed to increase safety for UWO students living in off-campus housing," he said.

Indeed, it is among achievements Ceman said he is most proud of.

In 2019, Ceman left his position as deputy district attorney, to pursue a criminal defense and civil litigation practice. Gossett, who called Ceman one of the "most intelligent, creative and resourceful attorneys the DA's office has seen," said his departure was an immense loss to the office.

Gossett noted that Ceman's care and support for fellow attorneys as they attempted to balance demands of work, family and self-care, is a focus that Gossett says continues in the office today. It's something he believes contributes to the retention of experienced attorneys and staff.

Titan impact

Waushara County Circuit Court Judge Scott Blader, a 1996 UWO graduate, said he's known Ceman for more than 20 years-both personally and professionally.

Blader praised Ceman's competency and capability as an attorney as well as his integrity.

"He is caring to those around him and an asset to any team. He is an excellent businessman and an even better father," Blader wrote. "If you seek an alumni who has impacted his community with both character and professionalism, Scott Ceman is that person. He is a living example of the positive impact of University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on the community."

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will celebrate the talents and successes of 11 alumni during Homecoming 2025 this October. Ceman is among five top graduates to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for their accomplishments in their professional fields; five will be honored with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for their professional and civic accomplishments within 15 years of receiving their degrees, and one will receive the Alumni Outstanding Service Award for making exemplary contributions to support UWO through volunteer efforts, energy, leadership and/or philanthropic donations.

The 2025 Alumni Awards Celebration will be held Friday, Oct. 17 at the Culver Family Welcome Center, with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by the dinner and program beginning at 6 p.m. Cost of the event is $40 per person. More information is available by contacting UWO Alumni Relations at (920) 424-3449, or [email protected]

Learn more:

UWO Homecoming 2025

Eleven UWO alumni to be honored at Alumni Awards Celebration Homecoming weekend