Fox Cities News

Mary “Christina” Moodie, a communications major at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, was awarded her bachelor’s degree posthumously in a ceremony on August 1. The event took place in the Chancellor’s Office and was attended by her family and university officials.

Chancellor Manohar Singh presented the diploma to Christina’s husband, Barry Moodie, their children Emmett and Kate, and other family members including her parents Alan Meyer and Mary Altenburg. Also present were Provost Ed Martini, COLS Dean Anne Stevens, Registrar Jennifer Bonack, and Chief of Staff Alex Hummel.

“Christina’s life reflected courage, devotion and a deep commitment to her children’s future,” said Chancellor Singh. “When her family asked us to consider a posthumous degree, it was clear to everyone that we would honor her in this way, ensuring that her legacy endures through her children and through this University.”

Moodie died unexpectedly on July 3, 2024 at age 34 from an underlying heart condition at her home in Stevens Point. She had nearly completed all requirements for graduation when she passed away. Her mother reached out to the university after Christina’s death seeking formal recognition of her daughter’s work.

The university allows posthumous degrees if a student is within one semester of finishing their program and receives approval from key administrators. Christina met these criteria.

During the ceremony, Christina’s father read aloud from an application essay she wrote in 2023: “The most significant success and challenge I have come to in my life is becoming a mother and raising my children. Caring for them and teaching them has been my greatest joy and the hardest thing I have ever done. It has developed a new level of patience, compassion and wisdom that I would not have without going through the last nine years of childrearing.”

In her essay, Christina also described pausing her studies to raise her children: “That was incredibly difficult for me. I was so set on finishing my degree that it was hard to stop without completing it. Being there for my family is a high value for me so I knew I had to make that hard choice. I promised myself that when they were older that I would go back and finish the work I had started.” She later resumed classes with hopes of showing her children “how valuable higher education is” by earning her degree.

Registrar Jennifer Bonack said reviewing Christina’s academic record highlighted how important this goal was for Moodie: “Christina was a very beautiful and gifted writer, which was evident in her essay,” Bonack said. “What struck me was her dedication to completing her education because she wanted to set an example for her children by finishing her degree and showing them that she was able to work hard and accomplish her goals. Her children were her greatest success in her life, and she wanted them to know that she was doing this for them.”

Mary Altenburg expressed gratitude on behalf of the family: “The ceremony in the Chancellor’s office was more than a symbolic gesture—it was a profoundly meaningful moment for our entire family,” she said.

She added: “Losing Christina so suddenly last year left a void that words can’t fully express. But seeing her dream fulfilled and knowing that her dedication and hard work were recognized brought a sense of peace and healing that we truly needed… Receiving her diploma in person, surrounded by those who cared about her journey, helped us honor her legacy in a way that felt deeply personal and true to who she was.”