Two College of Liberal Arts & Education graduates received special recognition on May 9 during the University's annual Commencement ceremony on the McNichols Campus.

Monroe

As valedictorian, new graduate Windy Lee Monroe addressed more than 800 graduates and their families in Calihan Hall. Monroe, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Administration, is a non-traditional student who attended full-time classes while also working full-time as a legal secretary, remaining busy as a wife and mother of four teenagers and participating in numerous fundraising activities throughout the years, all within four years.

Through all this, she continued to maintain a high standard of academic excellence, evidenced by such achievements as the Dean's List, Dean's Golden Key Award, National Honor Society, Nation's Dean's List, Delta Epson Iolta Honor Society, the Virginia Wagner Scholarship and valedictorian. Already looking to the future, Monroe says she will be enrolled in law school or a graduate program in the fall.

Abdoo

The University also awarded an honorary degree to business and community leader Richard A. Abdoo '69, who holds a Master's in Economics from the University. Abdoo is president of R.A. Abdoo & Co. LLC, an environmental and energy consulting firm. Prior to his own business, he was chairman and chief executive officer of Wisconsin Energy Corporation from 1991 until his retirement in 2004. He also served as president from 1991 to April 2003 and joined the company in 1975 as director of Strategic Planning.

Read more about Abdoo in the UDM news release.