MILWAUKEE — It’s hard for Jenny Nimtz to believe her time at Cardinal Stritch University has come to an end. She transferred from Milwaukee Area Technical College.

During her three years at Cardinal Stritch, she had a lot of her plate from being a full-time student, along with playing softball.

“I double majored in sports and rec business and international business with a minor in communication,” said Nimtz.

Nimtz said she’s not ready to hang her book bag up just yet. She hopes to attend University of Milwaukee-Parkside in the fall to pursue her master’s degree in sports management.

She is of the couple hundred students taking part in the last graduation for CSU after the university decided to permanently close.

“It was a shock,” said Nimtz. “I wasn’t expecting it to close so soon when we got the message about it but it’s a good university and I’m sad to see it close.”

President Dr. Dan Scholz has been with Cardinal Stritch for 19 years.

“It is bittersweet,” said Scholz. “We’re happy and excited for the graduates that are going to have their degrees confirmed today. So proud of them and proud of the 86 year tradition Stritch has had on southeast Wisconsin.”

He said the decision to close is necessary because of the financial state of the university, the downward enrollment trends and the pandemic.

“We’ve been so grateful to our neighboring higher ed institutions that have signed teaching agreements with us, transfer agreements to help our students get safely to their next institution and we feel really great about the work that’s been done,” said Scholz.

Scholz said the university currently has enrollment numbers around 1,300 with 240 students walking at graduation.

“We’re hoping they get the message that we’re so proud of them and we’re confident that what they learned here at Stritch is really going to help them not only in their work but also in their life,” said Scholz.

While the final commencement ceremony is bittersweet, Scholz is confident that Cardinal Stritch impacted many.