Throughout 2025, we had the privilege of sharing the remarkable journeys of UAGC students and alumni whose determination, resilience, and ambition continue to shape the future of our institution.
These stories matter. They highlight the real impact of accessible, flexible education and show how our learners are transforming workplaces, strengthening communities, and redefining what’s possible for themselves and their families. Each student and alum featured this year demonstrates the power of perseverance and the promise of investing in one’s goals.
As tradition, we invited UAGC faculty and staff to vote for one alum and one student whose stories stood out among this year’s honorees to be named as our 2025 UAGC Student and Alum of the Year. The competition was incredibly close — an inspiring reminder of the excellence across our community — but two individuals rose to the top.
We are proud to introduce Crystal Cowe and Jeanene Zagajeski as the 2025 UAGC Alum and Student of the Year. Their achievements reflect not only personal triumphs but also the direction UAGC is heading: forward, boldly, and with purpose.
Continue reading to revisit their stories and join us in celebrating this year’s honorees.
2025 Alum of the Year: Crystal Cowe
Crystal Crowe’s higher education began at Cal State Fullerton where she earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies. She exercised her knowledge in a preschool before taking a six-year hiatus as a stay-at-home mom. When she did return to work as a teacher’s aide, her world shook with the tragic loss of her husband to suicide in 2022.
Crystal transformed heartbreak into action. She realized how difficult it was for widows and widowers to find practical, accessible support, so she created the Birdie Foundation to change that. While raising two children and tending to her own healing, she completed her Master's of Arts in Psychology at UAGC in June 2025, finding connection in the Psychology Club and community among her peers.
Whether she’s hiking in southern California, cooking with her kids, or nurturing families in her church’s Mommy Ministry, Crystal leads with compassion and resilience. Her UAGC journey not only fit the rhythm of her busy life — it strengthened her understanding of grief and fueled her mission to help others move forward with hope.
Today, Crystal hasn’t slowed her work with the Birdie Foundation.
“There are so many incredible nonprofits already serving those who are grieving,” she says. “My goal is to connect these efforts in ways that truly support widowed parents and their children — and to be intentional with those connections.”
Her advocacy has supported her own healing, giving purpose to her loss and helping transform what is often an isolating experience into meaningful support for others.
Her UAGC courses affirmed what she had witnessed firsthand. Theories like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory reinforced the importance of stability, consistent relationships, and strong support systems before widowed parents or their children can begin to heal.
“Healing begins when basic needs are protected,” Crystal explains. “When support is rushed or reduced to a ‘band-aid,’ children may lose the opportunity to process grief in a healthy way.”
Being named UAGC Alum of the Year is an honor Crystal doesn’t take lightly.
“After losing my husband, life felt like an abyss of decisions and changes,” she says. “The only direction I knew was growth — for myself and for my children. This recognition reinforces the need for support and strengthens my commitment to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and helping widowed families find stability.”
Her efforts are making an impact for others as well as her own family. Her children remain her greatest motivation, a driving force in her determination to bring healing at home and throughout the community.
“Watching them flourish reminds me how vital stability and community are after loss,” she says. “I also think of the tens of thousands of children who lose a parent each year, and how overwhelming it is for the remaining parent or guardian to provide security and hope through that uncertainty.”
Crystal often returns to one guiding thought: look toward the end goal. She also credits her faith for carrying her through.
“Earning my master’s degree still feels surreal,” she says. “After everything, I’m humbled by God’s hand in my life. I’m learning to take each step as He provides.”
She closes with gratitude:
“Being named Alum of the Year is an honor, but I’m inspired by the courage I see in others,” she shares. “We never know what people are carrying, yet we can choose to keep moving forward. I’m grateful to be part of the UAGC community and to continue advocating for widowed families and children facing grief.”
2025 Student of the Year: Jeanene Zagajeski
Jeanene Zagajeski has always believed in the power of technology to create connection. It’s an outlook shaped by years of managing chronic health issues, building her career, and navigating the family court system, all while living in a remote environment.
Her path to higher education was far from traditional. After earning her GED and taking a few introductory college courses, she joined the Army at 20, trained as a medic, and later established a career in politics and public service as an executive assistant to a C-suite management consultant. Now, drawing from her lived experience and her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development at UAGC, Jeanene is developing the Whole Child Parent Training Program, an app designed to equip families with the tools they need to support children holistically.
Her desire for meaningful connection extended beyond the classroom. She engaged deeply with the UAGC community, serving as Vice President of Student Government Association, an officer in the Early Childhood Education Club, and a member of the LGBTQ+ Ally Association. Her academic excellence also earned her membership in both Alpha Sigma Lambda and the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Through every challenge, Jeanene has used education — and technology — to expand her world, amplify her voice, and build solutions that help others thrive.
Today, Jeanene’s vision for the Whole Child Parent Training Program is stronger than ever. What began as an idea inspired by her coursework has evolved into a comprehensive, research-based tool for families. She proudly shares one of her latest milestones: “I have now built a database!”
With every new class, article, and assignment, Jeanene pulls relevant source material into the app, translating academic insight into accessible guidance for parents. In the process, she reinforces her own learning.
As she reflects on how far she’s come academically, Jeanene admits that meaningful engagement wasn’t always part of her plan.
“I’m normally the student who sat in the back of the room… head down, did my work, collected my As, and went on with my life. And when I came to UAGC, that’s what I thought I would do.”
But connection found her anyway. Through her involvement in UAGC clubs and organizations, as well as opportunities to lead, she discovered a vibrant community that reshaped her entire university experience.
When she looks back on the period of her life when she was wheelchair-bound due to health issues, Jeanene describes the experience with striking honesty and strength.
“When you face something like that, you have two options: try or don’t. You can say, ‘Okay, I’ve got all these illnesses, I’m done.’ Or you can say, ‘There’s more than one kind of medicine — let’s start looking.’”
Her philosophy of perseverance remains constant even now.
“People say, ‘You’re so strong, you’re so brave,’ but it’s just my life. I’m not going to give up when I know I can push through,” she explains. “You might fail pushing through, but you’re definitely going to fail if you give up.”
Doctors once told her she would not live to see her 40th birthday.
“I am 55 now,” she shares with a smile.
Part of what motivates Jeanene to tell her story is the hope it will encourage others facing their own obstacles.
“I’m hoping my story reaches people who think, ‘Well, if she can do it, I can do it.’ This university took a chance on somebody with technically a ninth-grade education … and here I am,” she exclaims.
Always leading by example, she encourages every student to embrace opportunities outside the classroom.
“Get involved in something — anything — and watch how much your experience at UAGC grows and expand,” she advises.
Jeanene’s experiences transformed her as a student and provided a surprising impact on her outlook on life and her educational journey.
“I was just here for the education,” she admits. “But there’s so much more. You join that one club, you get involved, and suddenly there are people right there to help and support you. The opportunity is truly here.”
Soon, Jeanene will celebrate another milestone: her first-ever graduation ceremony. This moment, decades in the making, marks yet another chapter in a life defined by courage, curiosity, and unwavering determination.
Looking Ahead
Crystal and Jeanene understand how quickly life can shift, and they channel that awareness into resilience. As we close out another year, we’re not only reflecting on what our community has achieved, we’re looking ahead to the momentum these accomplishments create for 2026 and beyond.
Could you be the next UAGC Alum or Student of the Year?
If you are like Crystal or Jeanene and have a unique story, fill out this form or email us at social@uagc.edu for a chance to be featured as an Alum or Student of the Month in 2026!
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Student success stories should not be interpreted as a promise or guarantee of career advancement or future earnings. The stories shared here represent the outcomes of individual students for illustrative purposes only.
Degree programs at UAGC are not designed to meet the state educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification in any state.