Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- While walking around WSUP, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville radio station, or through the dark photography laboratories in Russell Hall one is sure to run into Eileen Dushek-Manthe. This usual friendly face will no longer be evident in a month as Dushek-Manthe is looking forward to graduating from UWP this May.

Dushek-Manthe is a non-traditional student who came back for a degree in communications with a public relations emphasis and broadcasting and business minors.

"Eileen relates very well to traditional students and also serves as a peer leader," said BJ Reed, communication technologies associate professor. "Her enthusiasm for learning appears to be contagious."

She and her husband Bill currently live in Lancaster with their daughter Elise, a freshman at Lancaster High School. The couple's son Brian is a sophomore at UW-Green Bay.

"Family is very important to me," said Dushek-Manthe. "I was fortunate that my husband and my children were so supportive in my going back to school. My daughter Elise enjoys telling her friends that now she can tell her mom to do her homework."

Another unique aspect of Dushek-Manthe's time at UWP was that her son and her both attended the university together for a semester and even had a class together.

"Coming to UWP has really helped me connect better with my children and appreciate what it takes to earn a degree," Dushek-Manthe commented.Besides her family keeping her busy, Dushek-Manthe has been involved with many organizations at UWP and within her community. In Lancaster, Dushek-Manthe is on many committees and boards including, 4-H, Lancaster Recreational Swimming, the Lancaster Community Scholarship Foundation, St. Clement's Choir, and the Lancaster Community Players.

At UWP she is a member of the Public Relations Organization (PRO!), on the Public Affairs staff at WSUP, and has also been involved with the Wisconsin Badger Camp Telethon which is held on the UWP campus.

Wisconsin Badger Camp became a significant part of Dushek-Manthe's experience at UWP, because she was able to complete her internship there by co-coordinating the annual alumni weekend and open house, as well as taking pictures of the campers and staff for publications.

When Dushek-Manthe thinks back about some of her favorite things about UWP, she is reminded of all of the fun she had interacting with the traditional students and developing friendships with them. She also enjoyed learning and creating photos and projects she was proud of from the photography classes she has taken.

"I was taken back by how much teachers want students to succeed and the open-door policy they have," Dushek-Manthe stated.

Dushek-Manthe doesn't currently have a job lined up for after graduation yet. "I am really focusing on my classes and completing my degree right now," she said. "I'm open to a lot of different things and I just hope to find a good fit.