Northland College Students and Staff Share Reflections Ahead of Closure

ASHLAND, Wis.–A lot of emotions are being felt at the Northland College, because tomorrow will be their final commencement after being open for 133 years.

“It’s honestly been kind of a rollercoaster. Because before my freshman year last year, and then obviously we didn’t, and then we found out in February this year again, that we would officially be closing. So, it’s not really been like a normal really haven’t had like a normal year, but it’s even it’s been very chaotic, but at the same time fun somehow,” explained Thomas Szymanski, Sophomore at Northland College.

Northland College has been a key landmark of the Ashland area… according to their website, they were the first college in the United States to fully integrate an environmental focus in its liberal arts curriculum.

Back on February 19th, after deciding back and forth, the school officially announced its decision to close permanently.

“There’s a somber nature to it. I think a lot of us have… we’ve almost forgotten, in a sense. Just because the community here, especially now in the May term, we have a lot less people here, so the few that are here, we’ve connected a little bit more even,” said Szymanski.

That being said, both the students, and the staff are looking back on their experiences fondly.

Barb Lundberg, the Interim President of the school, has roots with Northland College.

“Both my parents are Northland College graduates. My mother and father went here. My brother also went here; two-year natural resources program. And my father worked here for 13 years in a student-centered program called ‘Upward Bound’ And so you know, we’ve spent a lot of time here,” said Lundberg.

“You know, when you come to a small, rural, private college, you know everybody knows who you are. And so, you know, tomorrow, when we go through graduation, and I see the seniors coming across the stage, you know, a lot of those students and their stories, and we’ve and we’ve had some fun times together.”

And the impact the school has left, is not limited to just the campus.

“You know, lots of teachers came here when, you know, went through our education program, became teachers. There were people who went through our business programs and became accountants or business managers, business owners, I think there are a lot of people who work in the public sector. There was one of the, I think, public agencies that came to help us out and talked to our employees who said, I think the majority of their staff were Northland alumni,” said Lundberg.

As finals week comes to a close, both staff, and students alike are seemingly holding their heads high as they look forward to what’s in store.

“I’m undecided, but I’m looking towards a water policy, which I’m planning on continuing at UW Milwaukee, but the water program here is really cozy, might even be the right word.  The school closing definitely gave me a greater appreciation for the overall community here. And what it means to be a lumberjack,” beamed Szymanski.

I just want to do the best that I can to help the college and everyone get through this. And then after that, maybe take a breath and see what comes after that.

As for the future of the buildings here on this campus, the President told FOX 21 it’s looking uncertain.

But what is known, is that the students and staff will hang on to the memories they’ve made forever