Student speaker Samuel Bardales made the most of his Warhawk journey
December 01, 2025
Written by Dave Fidlin | Photos by Craig Schreiner
Samuel Bardales made a pivotal decision in the murkiness of the pandemic that, as he reflects, has been fruitful in ways that surpassed his own imagination.
In 2021, he made the decision to come to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater after choosing it over another institution near his home in Gurnee, Illinois.
“I just visited the campus and fell in love,” said Bardales, a Warren Township High School graduate, of his first impression of UW-Whitewater. “I liked the environment, the community and the way the students talked about the school. I definitely saw myself living on the campus.”
Bardales will serve as the student speaker at UW-Whitewater’s 2025 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. He is earning a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, secondary education licensure, and a minor in business law.
From the onset, Bardales decided to get involved in a number of different student organizations on campus and, at various points throughout his undergraduate experience, held leadership roles in more than a half-dozen disparate groups.
Early on, he joined the Leadership Involvement Team for Wells Residence Hall, where he took part in putting on programs, experiencing the hands-on importance of using a budget and working with other residence hall officers.
“I just loved getting involved in the residence halls and helping people get educated on different aspects of life on campus,” Bardales said. “From there, I was just hungry to get involved. I wanted to keep getting involved.”
Bardales points to his involvement in Whitewater Student Government as another foundational experience that helped chart a path for his time on campus. His roles within the organization include student body vice president, senator, secretary of the Academic Affairs Committee and a role on the Student Affairs Committee.
“It was really fun, just being able to serve the university and leave my mark,” Bardales said. “I really just wanted to leave Whitewater better than the way I found it.”
Bardales also was involved in Whitewater Cru, where he led and facilitated a Greek Life Bible study, and gave more than 80 hours of community service as a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
He took part in the National Residence Hall Honorary, where he was recognized for outstanding leadership in student government and residence life. He also played a collaborative role within the Residence Hall Association and volunteered with the UW-Whitewater Empower community service initiative.
Sam Bardales, a mathematics education major from Illinois, wears UWW on his hands as he works as a peer mentor, helping new Warhawks paint Warhawk Drive purple, on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023.
Bardales credits the culture of UW-Whitewater campus with providing the groundwork that enabled him to spread his wings — growing personally and professionally and discovering his true calling in life.
“This is the kind of place where professors know your name. It’s where people hold doors open for you. It’s a place where you can find a home if you just let yourself experience it,” Bardales said. “Being here is not just about the degree that you get; it’s also about the person that you’re becoming.”
Looking back on the math courses he took within his program at UW-Whitewater, Bardales said he is especially grateful he was challenged and was given the opportunity to stretch his abilities.
The support of UW-Whitewater’s professors, and his fellow students, brought the soft skills necessary to reach the finish line and grow intellectually.
“We’re all on this long journey to get our degree,” Bardales said of his interactions with his classmates. “It’s not easy, but I always tell people that nothing worthwhile is.”
Bardales said he also is grateful for the opportunity to have studied business law, learning such important life skills as the necessity of a power of attorney, the ins and outs of trusts and the types of important documents adults should sign.
“Math pairs really well with law because of the logical thinking aspect,” Bardales said. “I was able to meet with different professors that were experts in very unique fields. It was a really fun part of my academic experience.”
Ultimately, Bardales said UW-Whitewater helped him hone in on his ultimate goal of servant leadership, which he views as the bedrock of his personal and professional goals, post-graduation. Through student teaching, he has worked to instill the value of math in his students.
Sam Bardales, second from right, grades student work from his student teaching assignment as he participates with his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, in a study night at Andersen Library on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.
“Teaching is serving your students,” Bardales said. “They are the reason why I am there. I want to see them achieve success. I want them to feel confident in what they do no matter where they go after they leave my classroom.”
As he looks to the future, Bardales said he is eager to work as a full-time high school math teacher. Down the line, he also is interested in furthering his education. Along the way, he said he also wants to grow his servantship skills and, whenever possible, to help people learn their calling in life.
“No matter where you start, when you start, you can make something incredible out of your story,” Bardales said.
For more information on UW-Whitewater’s December commencement, visit the commencement website.
