Almost 2,000 set to graduate at UW-Whitewater’s May commencement ceremonies

Almost 2,000 set to graduate at UW-Whitewater's May commencement ceremonies

May 01, 2026

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will celebrate the achievements of its graduates on Saturday, May 16, and Tuesday, May 19, as proud families and friends gather for the 2026 spring commencement ceremonies on the Whitewater and Rock County campuses.

Commencement on the Whitewater campus

On the university's Whitewater campus, more than 1,850 May and August graduates will receive their degrees on May 16. At the morning ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m., 662 undergraduate and 114 graduate students from the College of Arts and Communication, the College of Business and Economics and the School of Graduate Studies are expected to cross the stage.

The afternoon ceremony begins at 3 p.m. and recognizes the 521 undergraduate students and 157 graduate students from the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Integrated Studies, the College of Letters and Sciences, and the School of Graduate Studies who are expected to cross the stage.

The ceremonies, which last approximately two hours each, will be held in the Kachel Fieldhouse at the Williams Center.

Included in the graduates earning degrees on May 16 will be 109 students who are veterans, 12 international students and 204 nontraditional undergraduate students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 154 self-identified students with disabilities will receive degrees.

Six graduates of the university's LIFE Program, which provides a complete college experience for young adults between the ages of 18-25 who have an intellectual disability, will cross the stage during the afternoon program - including three who are earning an advanced certificate.

Commencement speakers
The commencement speaker for the morning ceremony on the Whitewater campus is Peter Glerum, who earned a BBA in management computer systems in 1990. On campus, the Wauwatosa East High School graduate discovered core fundamental skills, the ability to connect with people and the ability to communicate - qualities that served him in a long career including a role as chief investment strategist and partner emeritus with the private equity firm Castlelake. He keeps close ties to UW-Whitewater by serving as an advisor to the finance program and as board treasurer and chair of the investment committee on the UW-Whitewater Foundation.

The commencement speaker for the afternoon ceremony on the Whitewater campus is Reggie Lawrence, who earned a B.S. in elementary education in 1990 and an M.S. in curriculum and instruction in 1992. As he describes his approach as an educator, he points back to UW-Whitewater - noting the encouragement and support he received as a young adult from campus leaders such as Roger Pulliam and Frida Briscoe have been foundational to the way that he works with faculty, parents, students and community members. Lawrence currently serves as superintendent of Harvey School District 152 in south suburban Chicago.

The student speaker for the morning ceremony is Joe Balistreri, a 2021 graduate of Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills who is earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in management. Balistreri, a Wisconsin Air National Guard member, has balanced his academic work and military service with extensive service and involvement. He has served as a resident assistant, held multiple roles on Whitewater Student Government, served as intercessor with the faith-based organization EVOLVE, and helped to revive the campus racquetball club. This fall, he will return to campus to pursue an MBA with a planned emphasis in management.

The afternoon ceremony will feature two student speakers: Sabrina Wolf and Cade Stowe.

Sabrina Wolf, a 2022 graduate of New Lisbon High School, is earning a B.S. in environmental science with an emphasis in geosciences with a minor in general business and a certificate in geographic information systems. A campus-sponsored travel study trip that involved storm chasing helped shape her subsequent academic and professional goals. In addition to conducting undergraduate research, Wolf has worked as a resident assistant and been involved in DECA, the American Sign Language Club and the Chancellor's Student Advisory Council. After a GIS internship last summer, her plan is to work in conservation, water quality, environmental science or mapping.

Cade Stowe, a Milton High School graduate, is earning his B.A. in psychology with a minor in sociology. Stowe, who has neurodivergent conditions and has used the services of the Center for Students with Disabilities, has studied on both the Rock County and Whitewater campuses. On each campus, faculty members helped him understand what he can achieve through the power of perseverance. He has worked as a peer tutor and mentor, took part in intramural sports, and served as an assistant at the Lenox Library on the Rock County campus. This fall, he will begin graduate studies in counselor education at UW-Whitewater with an emphasis in clinical and mental health.

The commencement ceremonies on the Whitewater campus will be broadcast live online by UWW-TV, the university television station.

Commencement on the Rock County campus

The College of Integrated Studies on the UW-Whitewater at Rock County campus held its commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Frank Holt Gymnasium at Wells Cultural Center.

The graduation ceremony for more than 116 students earning their associate degree from the College of Integrated Studies at UW-Whitewater at Rock County will be held on Tuesday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Wells Cultural Center.

The commencement speaker is Quint Studer, the founder of The Studer Group, an internationally respected healthcare consulting company. Studer earned his bachelor's degree in education in 1973 and a master's degree in special education in 1978 from UW-Whitewater. Over the course of his career, he has authored 16 books on leadership, healthcare excellence, and organizational performance. He and his wife Rishy have maintained strong ties to southern Wisconsin, investing in local businesses including the Bodacious Shops in Janesville and the soon-to-open Bodacious Shop in Beloit. They have also donated over $1,000,000 to UW-Whitewater and proudly host the university's baseball team each spring in Pensacola, Florida.

The student speaker is Jasmine Bertschy, a proud first-generation college student who is earning her Associate of Arts and Sciences. A scholarship recipient and scholar in the TRIO Program on campus, she transferred to URock from the Wisconsin School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Janesville, which highlighted her journey in a 2025 story. After earning her associate degree she is transitioning to the Whitewater campus to complete a bachelor's degree in psychology and has been accepted as a scholar in the McNair Scholar Program, which seeks to prepare eligible undergraduate students for doctoral studies through research. Bertschy's goal is to earn a master's degree in mental health counseling.

During the ceremony, the Outstanding Alumni Award will be presented to Connor Fox-Haines, a Janesville native, dedicated real estate professional, and passionate community leader. Fox-Haines earned his associate degree from UW-Rock County in 2015 and his B.A. in communication-public relations with a minor in history from UW-Whitewater in 2017. He is deeply involved in the Janesville community, serving as board president of Downtown Janesville, Inc., and as a member of the Dean's Advisory Board for UW-Whitewater at Rock County. He appears on A&E's "Betting on Beloit," where his passion for real estate and community revitalization is on display.

Visit the UW-Whitewater commencement website for more information about the ceremonies on both the Whitewater and Rock County campuses.