Did you know? The latest Bellin Health commercial "Step Up" starring Jordy Nelson was filmed, in part, at the Bay Port High School athletic field in August. Look closely at the 0:23 second mark and you'll see the entrance and concession stand in the background. #‎GoPackGo #‎PirateNation

Nicholas Gries, a nontraditional student at UW-Green Bay, has had many experiences in his life that have made him the man he is today. But it is his military experience that drives his current passion to dive further, dig deeper — both at the University, and in service to his community.

“The number one thing that the military has taught me is not to be content with my situation; you can always do more…” says Gries, a business and finance major. “The military has also taught me to set my goals high and work hard until the mission is complete. We do not fail. We make mistakes, learn from them, and get back up and try again.”

Gries served as a fire team leader in in the 1st Ranger Battalion of the United States Army from 2002 until 2006. In 2010 he joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard as a squad leader. In 2012, he joined the National Guard full time, in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) as a non-commissioned officer, a position he maintains today.

Gries, a graduate of Bay Port High School, was one of the two founders of 4th HOOAH WI (Helping out our American Heroes), a local branch of a national organization dedicated to supporting deployed service men and women, their stateside families and returning veterans. Gries has also helped establish a scholarship at UW-Green Bay for continuing service men and women, or veterans of the armed forces.

Click here to read more. Photo courtesy of UW-Green Bay.

Bay Port High School senior runner Hattie Plumb was featured in a Green Bay Press-Gazette story today. Click here to read more about Hattie and her aspirations on and off the course.