Extraordinary Graduates: Winter 2005
Released: December 15, 2005
During his senior year at Franklin High School, Jim Leszczynski was waffling between Winona State University (Minn.) and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater as his college choice. There was one person who made his decision easy, UW-Whitewater football assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Stan Zweifel.
“Coach Zweifel told me about the history of Whitewater,” Leszczynski said. “He told me that someday I would be part of that history, and I would have a chance to be remembered as one of the great players to have played at UW-Whitewater.”
Zweifel’s prognostication proved true.
Leszczynski will complete his Warhawk football career setting career records for most yards gained and most touchdowns as a wide receiver, and setting records this season for the most receiving yards and most receiving touchdowns.
While his play on the field is All-American caliber, it is his desire and leadership ability that separates the senior co-captain from others on the Warhawk football team.
“He is one of those team members whose play affects everyone both on the field and in the locker room,” Zweifel said. “His tremendous will power has been a huge reason why this football team has been the most successful in school history.”
Leszczynski’s impact is felt far beyond the gridiron. The Franklin native is also top notch in the classroom, holding a 3.2 grade-point average as a finance major. Dedicating two mornings per week to track down job leads and set up meetings, he said, “One of the things I really want to do is be a financial planner for some major corporation whether it's Wells Fargo or Northwestern Mutual."
Contact Leszczynski at leszczynjm11@uww.edu.
Even after Chicago-native Toni Bush became pregnant at age 16, it wasn’t, “If I go to college,” but “When I go to college.” Bush knew she needed a college degree to be able to give her now seven-year-old daughter Nina a good life.
Despite caring for a baby, Bush graduated at the top of her high school class. However, a two-year period of dead-end jobs after high school pushed Bush to leave her family and friends and move to Whitewater with Nina.
“It was really hard for me to be alone, but I knew I couldn’t feel sorry for myself and I had to do the best I could,” Bush said.
The public policy and administration major with an emphasis in health care seemed like the perfect way for Bush to learn about helping other young parents understand insurance and health care policies. Eventually she was able to get involved in campus programs like Young College Parents, Black Student Union, Kappa Xi and Zeta Phi Beta along with working part-time and regularly presenting papers and research projects.
“Having a daughter doesn’t stop me from being successful,” Bush said.
Bush’s education will not end when she graduates from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with honors in December. She has been accepted to the Northern Illinois University public health graduate program and plans to pursue a doctorate immediately after. Moving to Whitewater showed both Bush and Nina what options are available in the world.
“Not many seven year olds talk about what they want to study in college and which sorority they plan to join,” Bush said. “Growing up with Nina has motivated me to keep working to do the best I can.”
Contact Bush at (262) 893-7196 or busht@uww.edu.
Christopher Washebek of Delafield wanted to “start somewhere small” when he headed off to UW-Waukesha in 2000. Two years later, Washebek transferred to UW-Whitewater and the campus wasn’t prepared for the big impact he was about to make.
“I decided to come here because the computer end-user-technology major was very appealing,” said Washebek. “The campus had a smaller atmosphere. It was an easy transition for me.”
Washebek hit the ground running when he arrived at UW-Whitewater joining Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a music social fraternity, playing all four years in the concert band and jazz band and joining the Warhawk Marching Band. According to director of bands Glenn C. Hayes, Washebek became the “go-to” person for the Marching band and on his own, designed the Marching Band Website.
“An amazing person, an outstanding individual,” said Hayes. “He’s done an increasing amount of service to this institution in the short amount of time he’s been here.”
Such service as reestablishing the Warhawk Pep Band that at one time had been a “for credit” course before being discontinued. “I pitched the idea to Bob Lanza and then talked to Dr. Glenn Hayes,” said Washebek. “By the end of the week a new pep band of 20-25 members was established,” with Washebek as its director.
Washebek has gone so far as to arrange for Warhawk musicians to play with the UW-Madison and Marquette pep bands as fill-in members. Academically well prepared, he will graduate with a BBA in computer end-user technology and a minor in geographic information systems.
“He has all of the attributes that will make him successful in life,” said Kathy Gibbs, Distance Education coordinator. “He’s the kind of person you’d want on your team.”
The next team Washebek will join will be at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo where he will start his graduate studies program in spring 2006. Meshing technology, geography and business, Washebek is leaning toward a master’s degree in geography, and has been accepted as a fully funded graduate teaching assistant.
Contact Washebek at (262) 470-0231 or washebekcj17@uww.edu.
- N & P Staff,
