2019 Class Success Stories

Class of 2019 Success Stories: BGSU inspires dual major in construction management, architecture and environmental design Dec 20, 2019 1:00 AM Drawn to historic buildings, Lauren Schmenk was determined to pursue a degree in architecture and environmental design program at BGSU. As a freshman, she also decided to major in construction management. As a dual major, she already is seeing the benefit of her dual-industry background on the job site.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Third-generation Falcon graduates with third degree in less than two years Dec 15, 2019 4:32 PM Many college graduates are thankful to get one degree in four years. As for Kyle Baker, one degree wouldn’t cut it and four years wasn’t quick enough. With the help of the College Credit program, he already holds two associate degrees from BGSU and earned his bachelor’s degree in December.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Opera singer ends college career on a high note Dec 12, 2019 4:32 PM A corrections officer who loves to sing sounds like it could be the premise for a stage musical. For Bowling Green State University graduate Nick Kottman, it’s a reality. His road to graduation, though, has been anything but straightforward. He majored in music education with specialization in choral performance.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Three members of Detroit Police Dept. earn master’s degrees in criminal justice Dec 12, 2019 4:28 PM Three students from the Detroit Police Dept. earn degrees in Bowling Green State University’s nationally ranked Master of Science in Criminal Justice program. Keeth Williams, Elaine Bryant and Elvin Barren credit program’s flexibility and best practices to position themselves as competitive individuals in their field for the future.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: BGSU marketing major launched his own ice cream business as a sophomore Dec 6, 2019 3:00 PM Tyler McCann is graduating from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing, but he already has blazed an entrepreneurial trail by applying what he learned in the College of Business by launching his own ice cream business in his hometown of Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Advancing across the gain line in the classroom, on the pitch Dec 5, 2019 11:00 AM For this graduate, a College of Education and Human Development degree meant long nights and early mornings to excel in his combined roles as an employee, a dad, a student and a rugby teammate.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Political science major utilizes multiple opportunities to grow as a leader at BGSU Dec 5, 2019 11:00 AM Kyron Smith, a December 2019 political science graduate, is thankful for the many academic and leadership opportunities that Bowling Green State University has provided. However, what he is most grateful for is the extended family he’s developed over the past three and a half years at BGSU.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Antwon Lillard’s college career at BGSU is a ‘slam dunk’ Sep 3, 2019 1:15 PM Men’s Basketball standout Antwon Lillard received his Bachelor of Science in sport management in August after completing his required internship. The story of how Lillard came to BGSU from Cleveland on a scholarship is emblematic of how BGSU is an outstanding framework for students with diverse talents and backgrounds.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Leadership, access to faculty help advance Samantha Abrass to graduate school Sep 3, 2019 9:59 AM Alex Darr’s journey to commencement and career started well before he stepped foot on BGSU’s campus. As the son of a mechanic, Darr’s first teacher was his dad, and the garage, his classroom. After two co-ops, the engineering technology major accepted a full-time job offer from Tiffin Metal Products in May.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: BGSU graduate who majored in math education puts plans into ACTION Jun 7, 2019 11:28 AM Recent graduate Melody Freeland calls Bowling Green State University a place with countless opportunities to grow intellectually, think critically and express yourself. After earning a degree in math education, Freeland will return in the fall to obtain her master’s degree in Spanish.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Aliyah Gustafson concludes BGSU career as a champion May 28, 2019 11:00 AM Aliyah Gustafson ’17, ’19 has been instrumental in making BGSU one of the nation’s top places to compete in the hammer throw, shot put and discus. Her journey from growing up in a single-parent family in Iowa City to becoming an elite college athlete and graduating summa cum laude in her undergraduate and graduate studies is notable.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Track and Field star next to compete in field of health care May 22, 2019 9:00 AM After starring in track and field, Allison Farmer is graduating from BGSU with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science and will continue her education in the fall in the MHSA program. She also has a job lined up at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Active-duty airman completes BGSU online bachelor program May 21, 2019 2:57 PM Ian Aspen is an active-duty technical sergeant serving in the U.S. Air Force as a weapons specialist. He serves as a non-commissioned officer in charge of maintenance operations. He will travel from his deployed station at the Ghedi Air Base in Italy to receive his diploma at the Stroh Center.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: BGSU Firelands is making chemistry major’s dreams possible May 20, 2019 12:10 PM Jayda Jackson, a Sandusky, Ohio, native and chemistry major at BGSU Firelands, is graduating with an Associate of Science degree. Her journey with Bowling Green State University, however, does not end here. Jackson holds a 3.77 GPA as she continues to work for her bachelor degree.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: New Music program exceeded Emilio Gonzalez’s expectation May 20, 2019 11:50 AM Emilio Gonzalez had a lot of difficult choices to make after earning his undergraduate degree in composition. Picking BGSU for his graduate degree is one for which he is grateful. Gonzalez is graduating with a Master of Music in composition in an environment much different than his hometown of Tacoma, Washington.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: BGSU graduate David Chalupsky credits College of Business for landing job at Google May 20, 2019 11:44 AM David Chalupsky had four internships while attending BGSU and spent countless hours preparing for his post-collegiate career at the Business Career Accelerator. He is graduating from BGSU with a Bachelor of Science in business with a specialization in marketing. Chalupsky is set to begin his career with Google in July.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: BGSU allows Elle Fullenkamp to grow beyond limitations of her small hometown May 20, 2019 11:28 AM Although education was her major, that was just one part of the journey Elle Fullenkamp made through her years at Bowling Green State University. Student organizations, including the Vagina Monologues, Queer/Trans Student Union and Task Force on Sexual Assault, rounded out her academic career.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: BGSU journalism student believes it’s her duty to help people May 15, 2019 10:30 AM Bowling Green State University journalism student Angelica Euseary has high expectations for journalists, namely credibility, ethics, integrity and accuracy. After graduating May 18, she’ll begin graduate school, then use her education and experiences to help people through a journalistic platform, while living these traits.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: BGSU sport management graduate goes for the gold May 15, 2019 10:30 AM Internships are a critical tool that BGSU students use to build work experience in preparation to enter a professional field, and sport management major Courtney Burson has worked several. Burson's highlights include USA Hockey, the University of Michigan athletics and her current position, Paralympics intern with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Class of 2019 Success Stories: Graduate candidate takes nontraditional route with unparalleled experiences May 15, 2019 10:30 AM At 33 years old, with a loving husband and three children at home, Lakeisha Davis is graduating from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in inclusive early childhood education. Only the second of her family to graduate with a college degree, she overcame many struggles to attend BGSU.

BGSU Class of 2019 has developed lifelong skills, friends May 6, 2019 5:30 AM They’ve made lifelong friends, tried new activities, visited new countries and developed skills to take into the workforce or the next phase of their education. We checked in with five students we first met in August of 2015 as they prepare for Bowling Green State University’s May commencement ceremonies.

Army Reservist earns bachelor’s degree at BGSU while deployed in Syria Jan 14, 2019 1:19 PM Thurman Dieter has been in the Army Reserve for the past six years. He didn’t get a chance to walk across the Stroh Center stage in December to receive his diploma with his Bowling Green State University classmates. Instead, he watched his graduation ceremony on the web from a tent while deployed in Syria.