When Gina Peterson received a phone call this past February, she expected to fill out an order for customized stationery—a business she has led for over 15 years. Instead, she received the surprise of a lifetime: she had been named the newest alumni inductee into the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School Hall of Fame.
“I was definitely surprised and honored to be nominated,” Peterson said. For the 2004 JWP graduate and class valedictorian, the honor marks a full-circle moment for a career defined by academic excellence, creative passion, and deep community roots.
During her time at JWP, Peterson was the definition of a well-rounded student. From the volleyball court and a state tournament appearance in basketball to the stage for show choir and musicals, she took full advantage of the district’s “small-town flexibility.”
“JWP is one of those schools that allows students to explore these different avenues and supports them,” she noted. Her drive to excel was a family trait: “My parents set a high bar for me. I’ve always been an advocate for pursuing passions and having a sense of care about anything you do.”
Though she graduated with a near-perfect GPA—joking that a single A- might have been the only blemish on her record—Peterson found her true strength at the intersection of logic and art. While science courses were a challenge, her creativity flourished in unexpected places. “I really enjoyed creating the board during the science fair,” she recalled, citing it as an early precursor to the design career that followed.
After earning a marketing degree from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, Peterson began her professional life in agriculture marketing. However, a personal milestone sparked a business revolution. While designing her own wedding invitations in 2010, she spotted a gap in the customized stationery market.
What started as a “for fun” Etsy project in 2011 quickly evolved. By 2016, Ginger P. Designs moved into its now-iconic building with the pink doors on Main Street. Today, the business is a global powerhouse, providing wholesale paper goods to over $4,000$ retailers, including Anthropologie and Barnes & Noble. Her work has earned three prestigious “Louie Awards” and a spot on the national “Top 40 Under 40” list for design and print.
Despite her international reach, Peterson’s focus remains local. Whether serving on the Janesville Economic Development Authority board or the Bulldog Backers Association—where she has helped raise over $\$200,000$ for students—her motivation is simple. “It goes back to caring about the community,” she explained. “The school means a lot to me, and being able to contribute toward these students’ passions means a lot to them.”
As she prepares to address the graduating class at the induction banquet on May 20, her advice is a reflection of her own journey: try everything. “Now is a great time to try new things in high school, whether it be a sport, a club, or a class,” she advised.
It is a philosophy that took a JWP valedictorian from the local volleyball court to the top of the design world—and now, back home to the Hall of Fame.
