Happy New Year, Muskies! 🎉
As we step into 2025, we’re filled with gratitude for our vibrant Lakeland community and excited about what’s ahead. We hope you’re ready to join us in making this year unforgettable with more engaging alumni events, valuable networking opportunities, and lots more Muskie moments!
New Year, New Opportunities!
Join the Lakeland Alumni Mentor Program
Want to make a lasting impact this year? Join our Alumni Mentor Program and guide our current students toward success. Your experience could shape the future of a Muskie and strengthen our community.
Sign up now and make a difference! Alumni Cooperative Education Opportunities
Share the Love This February
This February, we’re celebrating the incredible bonds formed at Lakeland—love, friendship and connections—that last a lifetime. But we need your help!
Send us your story, a photo and how your Lakeland connection continues to inspire your life. Bonus points for throwback pics! Let’s celebrate the love that makes Lakeland so special!
Your stories will be featured on our social media and alumni platforms.
How to send us your story:
Email us: alumni@lakeland.edu
Fill out a form online: Submit News
Message us on Facebook:
Let’s celebrate what makes Lakeland so special—our amazing community! 🐟💕
Upcoming Alumni Engagement & Event Opportunities
Mark your calendars and stay up to date! We have a series of engaging activities planned that you won’t want to miss:
January
Men’s Wrestling Senior Night: January 31. Celebrate the careers of our senior wrestlers.
Student Alumni Board Recruitment: Contribute as a mentor or advisor for the Student Alumni Board’s upcoming initiatives. Interested? Email PingitoreS@lakeland.edu to learn more.
February
Essence of Heritage: February 15. Save the date! Lakeland’s annual Black History Month celebration is always one of the most popular events of the year. Stay tuned for more information.
Men’s and Women’s Basketball Senior Nights: February 8. Honor our senior basketball players during their final home games.
Cooperative Education and Career Services Career Fair: February 13. Network with potential employers and discover career opportunities. Alumni/Employers: This event is invite-only. Please contact the Cooperative Education & Career Readiness Office at career@lakeland.edu if you are interested in attending.
March
Florida Spring Trip: March 10–14. Support the Muskies during their spring sports competitions in Florida. Join fellow alumni and cheer on our softball and baseball teams. Interested in learning more? Email alumni@lakeland.edu.
Northwestern Mutual Student/Alumni Engagement: Join us on the main campus to learn more about Northwestern Mutual’s services, job opportunities, and key factors for employers. Stay tuned for event details.
April
Spring Musical: April 4–6. Don’t miss the creativity and talent of our students in this year’s Spring Musical.
International Night: Explore a showcase of global cultures right here at Lakeland.
Undergraduate Research Symposium: April 16. Be inspired by the innovative projects our students have been working on.
May
Commencement: May 10. We’re looking for alumni volunteers to help during commencement as we welcome our students into the alumni association. Interested? Email PingitoreS@lakeland.edu
Want more details or to get involved? Email us at alumni@lakeland.edu for more information on how you can participate.
Lakeland Alumni in the Spotlight
We’re proud to continue showcasing the incredible achievements of our alumni:
Mark Edmond ’05 and Michael Etheridge ’23 MSLOD was recognized as one of Wisconsin’s 40 Most Influential Black Leaders for 2024.
Wisconsin’s 40 Most Influential Black Leaders for 2024 | Madison365
Patty (Kaestner) Taylor ’87 retires after over four decades of dedicated service at Lakeland University, profoundly shaping its financial aid landscape and enriching countless student lives.
Patty Taylor retires after distinguished career
Chanel Bradford ’22 leverages her master’s in sport psychology to launch Bradford’s Mental Performance Consulting LLC, empowering athletes and performers with essential mental skills to excel in their fields.
Additional Alum Spotlights
Staci Schluechtermann, ’96, recently became Senior Manager at BDO USA in the Tax Automation & Innovation practice, where she leads projects to transform client tax processes, enhancing data management, automating calculations, and streamlining reporting.
James Trazille, ’13, earned his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Concordia University-Wisconsin.
Judy Bredeweg, ’63, served as the grand marshal of the 59th Pathways Parade themed “Bolingbrook – Beyond the Stars,” recognized for her efforts in preserving Bolingbrook’s history.
Clarissa Reis, ’10, has been promoted to Director of Philanthropy at the Fort Wayne Zoo.
Dan Wilk, ’12, began a new position as Senior Cardiometabolic Educator at Novo Nordisk.
We love hearing your stories! Have exciting news to share? Whether it’s a new job, wedding, or family addition, we’d love to feature you in the next edition of the Lakeland Magazine and on our social channels.
Muskie Athletics Update
The Muskies are hitting their stride! Upcoming highlights include Men’s and Women’s Basketball traveling to Edgewood on Jan. 18 and hosting Rockford on Jan. 25. Wrestling takes the mat at Aurora on Jan. 31, and Men’s Volleyball kicks off the home portion of their season with matches against Maranatha Baptist and Trine on Jan. 24.
Catch all the action and stay updated at Lakeland University Athletics – Official Athletics Website
Stay Connected with Lakeland Alumni on Facebook!
Follow the Lakeland Alumni Facebook group for updates, events, and Muskie pride! Join the fun with #MuskoMonday, #TriviaTuesday, #WehrWednesdays, and #ThrowbackThursday.
Share your memories with #aLUmni and follow us here:
Got a new job? Got married? Moved? Don’t forget to update your contact information!
Upcoming Events
Please visit lakeland.edu/calendar for the most up-to-date listing of events.