When Glorian “Glo” Konieczny hears “no,” it just makes her want to try harder. That has opened opportunities for the psychology major at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP).

After a campus visit the fall of her senior year at South Milwaukee High School, Konieczny knew UWSP was the only college for her.

“I had an amazing vibe here. This was the right fit,” she said.

But her grades were not high enough. “I did not get in. I was devastated,” she said.

She did not give up. She knew UWSP considered factors other than grade point, including what prospective students want to achieve. She rewrote her campus admissions statement, improved her grades and worked with her high school guidance counselor on a new reference letter. And she called her admissions counselor at UWSP nearly every week. She learned to advocate for herself.

“I knew if I was given a chance, I wouldn’t waste it,” Konieczny said.

So, when her admissions counselor called that April to say she was accepted, Konieczny cried. Then she made good on her personal pledge.

“Every day for the last four years I’ve been here, I felt lucky,” said the Milwaukee native who is graduating May 20.

Kozieczny seized many opportunities. She served as a community adviser in the residence halls for three years. She’s sung with the Choral Union, a choir for non-music majors, every year. She joined a sorority, Gamma Phi Delta, and served as president this year. She organized the Colleges Against Cancer Relay for Life event on campus for four years. The event has special meaning because her father died of cancer when she was seven years old.

The Student Involvement Fair on campus made it easy to delve into areas of interest.

“UW-Stevens Point gives you so many opportunities,” Konieczny said.

She’s been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She has interned with Admissions, doing Snapchat tours, assisting with group visits and reviewing applications. She interned with University Advancement as well.

“My resume is really rich already,” she said.

She sought out being a campus tour guide. “I wanted to talk to others about why I wanted to be here and my love for higher education. I wanted give them the chance I was given.”

Konieczny uses her own experiences to encourage high school students on campus tours, said Allison Montsma, an Admissions counselor who supervised Konieczny’s internship. “One of the things I admire about Glo is her passion for UW-Stevens Point. She doesn’t give up on herself or others. She’s worked hard here and was extremely successful,” Montsma said.

So successful, in fact, she was among select graduates to receive the Chancellor’s Leadership Award.

“Every professor I’ve had has been so helpful,” Konieczny said. She learned much in class, found faculty approachable outside of class and enjoyed being on a psychology research team studying emotions and dance.

She plans to go to graduate school – and has already been accepted – at Western Illinois University. Her career goals include working in higher education, either in student affairs or admissions.

“It’s rewarding to see how I’ve grown in four years because of the people I’ve met and the opportunities I’ve had,” she said. “I definitely found the leader in me. People tell me I’m a role model.

“The people of Point really prepared me to take on any challenges ahead,” Konieczny said.