Jennifer (Biidaasinokwe) Cadotte and Ryan (Ayaabe) Bunker are living proof that persistence leads to success. This mother-son duo not only shared the experience of attending the University of Wisconsin–Superior, but also celebrated a remarkable full-circle moment: they graduated together.

Thirty years ago, Cadotte made the difficult decision to pause her education to raise her three young children, including Ryan. She prioritized work to support her growing family. This spring, she completed what she started, proving it’s never too late to reach a goal.

She reflected on the timing that brought them to this moment: “In 2023, while watching my son Ryan thrive as a full-time UW–Superior student, McNair Fellow, and parent, I felt inspired,” she said.

“His determination rekindled something in me. With the flexibility of UW–Superior’s distance learning program and the relevance of the communicating arts degree to my work in tribal public relations, I knew it was time to finish what I started.”

Rooted in Education and Family Values

Cadotte, from the Hayward, Wisconsin area, is an enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Tribe. Her late father, Gerald Cadotte, worked as a college recruiter at Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

“Education was always very important in our house,” she said.

Cadotte initially enrolled at Nicolet to study computer science, but became pregnant during her first year and had to pause her education. Over the years, she continued to pursue learning, studying at Augsburg University in Minneapolis and taking courses at UW–Platteville. Eventually, she earned an associate’s degree in general education from Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University. Still, she always dreamed of earning her bachelor’s degree.

Throughout her life, Cadotte worked tirelessly while caring for ailing relatives. Her professional journey has included running a daycare, driving a school bus, and nearly two decades in academia. She currently serves as the public relations specialist for the LCO Tribe.

Bunker is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at UW–Oshkosh and expects to graduate in fall 2026. He also works full time as a Tribal Technical Assistance Specialist for the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council.

He is the father of a 9-year-old son, Princeton (Naawigiizhig), who had the unique experience of watching both his father and grandmother graduate together.

Walking the Stage

This week, Cadotte and Bunker walked the commencement stage together, each earning a bachelor’s degree – Cadotte in communicating arts and Bunker in psychology. Cadotte also received her program’s Outstanding Achievement in Communication Award.

Originally, she was on track to graduate a semester after her son. However, her academic advisor, Professor Brent Notbohm, encouraged her to accelerate her studies.

“He knew I was only nine credits shy of graduating with my son,” she recalled. “He really encouraged me to push myself.”

As the big day approached, mother and son reflected on their shared accomplishment.

“My kids are the reason I’ve worked so hard,” Cadotte said. “They’re the ones who motivated me. Achieving this goal alongside my son is hard to put into words – it’s a dream come true.”

“I’m very proud of her,” Bunker said. “My mom has always supported and guided me. I’ve always encouraged her to finish her degree. The timing of this is just amazing.”

Cadotte plans to continue in her current public relations role, while Bunker hopes to enter the field of law enforcement after completing his master’s program.

A Message of Hope and Resilience

Cadotte and Bunker hope their story can inspire others.

“We come from an underserved community, with a lot of struggles,” Cadotte said. “You don’t always see a lot of success stories coming out of our community. We want to be an example of overcoming adversity.”

“We’re both non-traditional students who didn’t give up on our education,” Bunker added. “We’ve both had to work really hard to balance work, school, and family. It’s been hard work, but it’s so worth it.”