Happy New Year, Muskies! 💙💛

We’re excited to kick off 2026 with a full calendar of events, alumni news and ways to stay connected.

Here’s what’s coming up:

January

- Jan 17– Muskie Meet-Up: Chicago
- Jan 23–Mar 6– Visiting Artist Exhibit
- Jan 29– Alumni Wrestling Day (Men’s Wrestling)

February

- Feb 7– Women’s Basketball Alumni Game & Gathering
- Feb 21– Essence of Heritage

March

- Mar 8–15– Student Spring Break
- Mar 10– Alumni Gathering in The Villages, FL
  - 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Havana Country Club 2484 Odell Circle The Villages, Florida 32162 RSVP to Shelby at langsl@lakeland.edu by Monday, March 2, 2026
- Mar 11– Alumni Gathering in Orlando, FL
  - 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Springhill Suites 5828 Hazeltine National Drive Orlando, Florida 32822 RSVP to Shelby at langsl@lakeland.edu by Monday, March 2, 2026
- Mar 9–13– Men’s Baseball & Women’s Softball Florida Trip
- Mar 26–29– Spring Musical: The Addams Family

April

- Apr 3–5– Easter Break
- Apr 10–May 1– Student Art & Design Exhibit
- Apr 14– Music Department Recital
- Apr 15– Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Apr 16– Musko’s Birthday
- Apr 21– Spring Band Concert
- Apr 22– Earth Day Campus Clean-Up
- Apr 26– Spring Choir & Orchestra Concert
- Apr 29– Vibe @ 5 Networking (Sheboygan County Chamber)

May – July

- May 8– Baccalaureate
- May 9– Commencement
- June 11– Blaster’s Golf Outing
- July 31– Athletics Golf Outing

August

- Aug 1– Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
- Aug 22– Women’s Volleyball Alumna Scrimmage

September

- Sept 3– Opening Convocation
- Sept 25– Alumni Welcome Reception at The Osthoff Resort
- Sept 26– Homecoming

December

- Dec 1– Humanities & Fine Arts Colloquium
- Dec 3– Business & Entrepreneurship Colloquium
- Dec 4– Science, Technology & Education Colloquium
- Dec 5– Christmas at Lakeland

Please visit lakeland.edu/calendar for the most up-to-date listing of events.

Let’s Stay Connected

We’re planning even more alumni events and gatherings in the months ahead and would love your support and ideas. Interested in helping organize a Muskies meet-up, hosting a gathering in your area, or sharing where you’d like to see future travel opportunities? We’d love to get connected with you.

Share your interest through this survey Alumni Interest Survey

or contact us at alumni@lakeland.edu — we can’t wait to connect!

Alumni highlighted the value of adaptability, stepping outside comfort zones, effective communication, and making the most of Lakeland’s resources.

Muskies Share the Love 💙💛

February is the month of love, and we’re getting ready to celebrate the meaningful connections made at Lakeland University.

Did you meet your significant other, best friend, or make a life-changing connection at Lakeland? We’d love to share your story during our Muskies Share the Love feature.

To participate, please fill out this form:
Muskies Share the Love

Submissions will be shared throughout the month of February across Lakeland’s alumni social channels. More details and a submission form will be coming soon!

Alumni Travel: Japan

We’re just steps away from announcing Lakeland’s Alumni Travel plans to Japan, tentatively planned for Spring 2027—and we’d love to hear from you!

If you’re interested in traveling to Japan with fellow Muskies (or simply want to learn more), we invite you to complete our interest survey. This will help us follow up with you once the itinerary is confirmed and more details are finalized.

Share your interest: Lakeland Alumni Travel Initiative: Tokyo, Japan

Questions? Email alumni@lakeland.edu

Alumni Spotlight

Jesse Spearo ’03

Jesse Spearo ’03 plays a behind-the-scenes role in emergency preparedness for major sporting events as Assistant Director for Miami-Dade County’s Department of Emergency Management.

He is supporting preparedness efforts for the NCAA College Football Championship and will oversee regional emergency preparedness for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Miami. Jesse is also attending a FIFA World Cup Host Cities Summit in Colorado Springs and recently co-authored an article published in the Journal of Domestic Preparedness on aviation security.

Additional Alumni Spotlights

Phil Gerbyshak ’03 recently published Weathering the Long Winter: A Short Guide for When Life Feels Too Heavy. The ebook is available for free for all alumni and may be especially helpful as we move through the remainder of the winter season. Weathering_the_Long_Winter.pdf – Google Drive

Jenelle Zito ’09 stepped into a new role as Director of HR Data & Strategy with Milwaukee Public Schools.

Jess Nickel ’12 began a new position at MilliporeSigma as a Distribution Supervisor.

Madison Schweitzer ’19 began a new position as Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Ripon College after coaching at Kenyon College.

Rachel Wilson ’21 graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

Have exciting news to share — a new job, wedding, promotion or accomplishment? We want to celebrate with you! Submit your update to be featured on our socials, in Muskie Pride, and in the next edition of Lakeland Magazine.

Alumni Spotlight – Be Featured!

Each week on Facebook, we’ll be featuring one Lakeland alum to share where their journey has taken them since graduation. We’re excited to celebrate the stories, careers, passions, and impact of our Muskies near and far. 💙💛

Know someone we should highlight — or want to be featured yourself?

Support Alum & Professor

Britanni Meinnert

Lakeland alumna and beloved campus professor Britanni Meinnert is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Eastern University and is conducting research for her dissertation focused on career readiness and thriving at work.

Britanni’s study explores how internships, co-ops, practicums, clinicals, student teaching, and other forms of experiential learning impact graduates’ transitions into the workforce. If you work full-time in the U.S., graduated from a U.S. college or university, and completed some form of hands-on learning during your degree, you’re invited to participate in her anonymous survey.

Eligible participants may also enter a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card as a thank-you.

Your participation helps advance important research that directly reflects the value of experiential learning

Stay Connected to Student Life

The Lakeland Mirror is Lakeland University’s student-run newspaper and official news source, serving the campus community since 1936. It features news, stories, and perspectives relevant to Lakeland students, alumni, and the broader university community.

Today, The Lakeland Mirror is published online, with digital archives of past print editions available for readers. The publication is also a member of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.

Follow along and read the latest student news at: The Lakeland Mirror – Lakeland University’s Student-Run Newsite

Got a new job? Got married? Moved? Don’t forget to update your contact information!

Upcoming 2026 Events