Campus News

Wheat graduates from McNeese State University

Gwenyth Audrey Wheat of Merrill graduated from McNeese State University during the university’s 166th commencement, held Friday, May 22, at McNeese’s Townsley Law Arena. Wheat earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and a Master of Arts in English. The spring 2026 class included 675 graduates who received 696 degrees during two ceremonies, with students representing 32 parishes, 22 states, two U.S. territories and 15 countries.

Area students named to UW-Stout Polytechnic Dean’s List

The following area students were named to the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic Dean’s List for the spring 2026 semester. The award is presented to students who have a grade point average of 3.5 or above.
• Braden Kapitz, Athens, BS Engineering Technology

• Mathew Redmann, Athens, BFA Game Design & Development-Art
• Abram Millis, Merrill, BS Psychology

Carlson named to Normandale Community College Dean’s List

Joy Carlson of Athens was named to the Normandale Community College Dean’s List for the spring 2026 semester. Students named to the Dean’s List were enrolled in at least nine credits and achieved a grade point average of at least 3.5 for courses completed in the semester ending in May 2026.

Fuchs named to Minnesota State Mankato Dean’s List

Nicole Fuchs of Merrill was named to the Honor List for the spring 2026 semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato. To qualify for academic honors, undergraduate students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours for the semester; the Honor List recognizes students who earned a 3.5 to 3.99 grade point average.

Area students named to UW-Madison Dean’s List

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has recognized area students named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester of the 2025-26 academic year. To be eligible, students must complete a minimum of 12 graded degree credits in the semester; each school or college sets its own GPA requirements for the honor.
• Aubrey Behling, Athens, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, Dean’s List
• Alexa Weiler, Athens, School of Education, Dean’s List

• Claire Calmes, Merrill, School of Education, Dean’s List
• Gus Chrudimsky, Merrill, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
• Lauren Cohrs, Merrill, School of Nursing, Dean’s Honor List
• Carla Higgins, Merrill, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, Dean’s List
• Isaac Johns, Merrill, College of Engineering, Dean’s Honor List
• Carl Knaack, Merrill, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
• Lydia Koehler, Merrill, School of Education, Dean’s List
• Matthew Monnot, Merrill, College of Engineering, Dean’s Honor List
• Brooke Schaefer, Merrill, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
• Kayli Wirtala, Merrill, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
• Laney Zuelsdorff, Merrill, College of Engineering, Dean’s Honor List

Pointer Impact Award recognizes Merrill veterans advocate

Jim Campbell, a 1970 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduate, has been honored with the Pointer Impact Award for his decades of service to military veterans, including his work founding a Merrill support group for former service members.
The award, created by the UWSP Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2020, recognizes alumni whose volunteer work and careers have made a lasting impact on their communities.
Campbell co-founded the Never Forgotten Honor Flight in Wausau in 2009 and has since flown on 58 honor flights alongside World War II, Korean and Vietnam veterans. In 2025, he founded the Merrill Area Veteran’s Coffee and Conversation, a gathering that brings local veterans together.

A retired U.S. Marine who studied biology at UWSP, Campbell worked for IBM from 1976 to 2003. He has served on the boards of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, teaches for UWSP’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman program, and has served as SAFER District Fire Commissioner since 2013. He has also volunteered with the Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement, earning 13 President’s Volunteer Service Awards and the 2018 IBM Platinum Volunteer Award for his fundraising efforts.
“It’s gratifying to see one of our alums so committed to the support and recognition of veterans,” said Joshua Hagen, dean of UWSP’s College of Letters and Science. “Jim’s work with the scouts, Becoming an Outdoors Woman and fire commission shares his biology education with his community in engaging ways.”
Campbell, who lives in Rib Mountain, will be honored during the fall UWSP Alumni Association Board of Directors meeting. He has two grown sons, one daughter, three grandsons and two granddaughters.