UF's Short List of '16 Outstanding Graduating Seniors

Each year, the University of Findlay identifies a handful of outstanding graduating seniors to spotlight just prior to commencement. Here are their stories:

Margaret Wuebker
Hometown: Chickasaw, Ohio
Major: Nuclear Medicine Technology
Minors: Biology and Gerontology.
wuebkerm.findlay.edu
Weubker has been an Oiler’s basketball player for the past four years. She says that the sport gave her the opportunity to meet some amazing people and make lasting memories that she’ll have for the rest of her life. During her freshman year of high school, both of her parents died. Although this was a difficult time in her life, she gives credit to her supportive three siblings. To her, they were a huge reason why she as able to attain success on both the court and in the classroom. Margaret says that choosing to attend and stay at UF has been one of the best decisions she’s ever made. At the end of August she will graduate from the Nuclear Medicine Technology program and plans to move to Columbus to work. She would also like to continue her education in the healthcare field by attending graduate school.

Traci Willis
Hometown: Mansfield, Ohio
Major: Social Work
Minor: Political Science
willist@findlay.edu
Willis has completed two internships for the social work program. The first was at TASC (Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities) of Northwest Ohio, an agency that helps combat jail recidivism. While working there, Traci co-facilitated a men’s treatment group. She said she found it really interesting to view the changes in their personalities. The second internship was at the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services. Traci assisted with the organization’s policy certifications, soliciting donations for Compassion Fatigue Training, and researched the workforce shortage of social service professions.
Along with her faculty advisor, Professor Joyce Jackson, Traci also created the student organization “I Am Enough,” a movement that promotes positive life choices, empowers individuals and encourages them to stand against substance abuse. During the club’s first year, members sent letters to local elementary, junior high and high school students, hosted a community-wide naloxone training event and conducted a Bridges Out of Poverty simulation.
In May, Traci and 29 other women across Ohio will participate in NEW Leadership Ohio, a weeklong conference that will allow them to meet female leaders and politicians.
After graduation, Traci plans to attend the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work to receive a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in social policy evaluation.

Megan Nedds
Hometown: Marion, Ohio
Major: Children’s Book Illustration and Graphic Design
neddsm@findlay.edu
Megan says she now has clear professional and life goals thanks to her experiences at UF. She has become passionate about sharing ideas through art to promote education, curiosity and learning, especially with children. She has volunteered at the Mazza Museum’s Funday Sunday events, and credits the museum’s conferences with helping her to improve as a student and as a person. For the past four years she has created the banner for each monthly Funday Sunday.
Megan has also managed her own small online business, creating life-like needle-felted animal sculptures on commission and selling needle felting supplies. Recently, she participated in UF’s first Innovation Competition, where her business plan made it to the final round of judging by a panel of local community leaders. She said she plans to grow her business and see where it takes her.
Megan would also like to become  children’s book illustrator. In the meantime, she is seeking a graphic design job.

Jordan Garcia
Hometown: Fremont, Ohio
Major: Marketing and Business Management
Minor: Finance
garciaj@findlay.edu
At UF, Jordan has been an active member of the baseball team, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and has served as the social media coordinator for the Dance Marathon committee.
Jordan said his biggest challenge during his four years in college was dealing with his father’s death. At one point, he said he was unsure if he could continue to attend college, but the friends he met through the University made it possible for him to continue to thrive. He also says he doesn’t think he would have handled the tragedy as well as he did without the friends and mentors he met at UF.
After graduating, Jordan will head northeast for a full-time internship with the Cleveland Browns. He will be working in their Fan Experience and Special Events departments.

Nathan Wheeler
Hometown: Pioneer, Ohio
Major: Environmental Safety and Occupational Health
wheelern@findlay.edu
Nathan has been involved in the OESHO (Oiler Environmental, Safety and Health Organization) club for the past three years and has held the office of vice president. He has also played junior varsity basketball. As a hardworking student, he has taken as many as 24 credit hours in one semester; this spring semester, he has taken 21. He joked that he got through it by having no social life or sleep, but noted the key is to learn how to adjust.
Nathan had an internship with Newman Tech in Mansfield, Ohio and took what he learned from it to land an internship at the PepsiCo bottling plant in Indianapolis, Indiana. After graduating he will be working for Amazon as a safety specialist, a position that could involve working on delivery drone safety as well.

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