“Choosing to begin my college education at UW-Barron County has been one of the wisest decisions I have made — financially, it couldn’t get any better! Not only am I saving money through the low tuition rates, living at home, and continuing to work at my jobs, but I am also managing to get through my Associate degree without student loans.”
“The faculty are very personable and involved with the education of each individual student; this level of interaction promotes both academic gain and artistic growth that is lost in larger educational settings.”
“I decided to go back to school so I could help provide a better life for my family. I was unsure how I would fit in with the younger students, but after starting classes I realized that this was not an issue, there are many non-traditional students at UW-BC. For others wanting to go back to school, my advice would be to start out slow so you give yourself and your family time to adjust to the new routine.”
“When I transferred to the U of M, I experienced the daunting realization that the learning environment was to be much different than what I was used to at UW-BC. I did, however, feel more academically prepared than many of my peers, who had been taking lectures with at least 200 other students for the last two years.
“Having the personal attention from such highly qualified faculty [at UW-BC] has certainly prepared me for my upper-division courses at the U of M. After one semester, I was accepted into the honors program. I am proud to say that the UW-BC faculty are not only some of the best in their fields, but that their dedication to students is unmatched. My time at UW-Barron County has certainly prepared me for success at a larger university.”
Angie Merritt graduated with honors and an Associate of Arts & Science degree in spring 2006. She is a senior at the University of Minnesota and was recently awarded a scholarship to study abroad in Germany.
Read about our UW-Barron County Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award Winners.
Lance (Allan) Hajdasz got his best start at UW-Barron County from 1988 to 1990. In 1992, he graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in broadcast journalism. An avid sports fan all his life, he is now a sports anchor/reporter at the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee, working up-close and personal with all his favorite local teams: Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers, Green Bay Packers, and Wisconsin Badgers.
John Paul Gamoke got his start at UW-BC from 1974 — 1976. A native of Arcadia, Wisconsin, he went on to a professional career in the performing arts. He has acted on stage throughout the country, performed in over 350 television commercials and has had numerous roles in television shows. In these venues he has worked with Ed Asner, Andy Griffith, Bruce Willis, Kris Kristofferson, Muriel Hemingway, and Robert Urich.
Shari Bilodeau Brunette got her best start at UW-Barron County. After graduating from UW-Eau Claire with a B.S. and M.S.T. in education, her interests in technology led her to a position as manager of IT Business Systems for a global travel, hospitality and marketing business. Today she consults with customers and internal departments, helping them select technology solutions for their business needs.
