Dr. Showalter elicits reactions from students
Changing of the dressing rooms
James Helf ’16
Jacob Heinen ’15
After 20 years of guest lecturing to MUHS chemistry students, Dr. Don Showalter delivered what may be his final interactive chemistry presentation at MUHS in November. The popular presenter gained notoriety with students because of his successful The World of Chemistry (1990) video series shown in MUHS chemistry classes.
Over the summer, MUHS renovated space below the O’Rourke Performing Arts Hall to address inefficiencies and environmental concerns with its theater dressing rooms. According to Fine Arts department chair Sue Sajdak, “Over 50 years of use and abuse, along with having the unfortunate luck of being built under boiler pipes and without ventilation, the rooms had become unusable.”
Showalter, a professor emeritus and Department of Chemistry chair at UW–Stevens Point, was always happy to make time in his schedule to present at MUHS. “He keeps coming back because he genuinely loves the Marquette University High School community,” chemistry teacher Mike Chaney ’63 says. “He loves the enthusiasm of the students and the warm reception he receives with each visit.” Born in Louisville, Ky., Showalter excelled in high school chemistry and physics and went on to college and graduate school to study science. “To me chemistry is easy,” Showalter says. “I became a teacher because I love being able to explain it to students who may struggle with the concepts.” Showalter received his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and his doctorate from the University of Kentucky before teaching at UW–Stevens Point. The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents honored Showalter in recognition of his career accomplishments with the Excellence in Teaching Award in 1994 and the Helen M. Free Award for Public Outreach in 2006.
Originally converted basement storage areas, the area lacked much of what would today be considered essential in a basic dressing room. The space couldn’t accommodate all cast members or adequately store costumes and lacked adequate lighting, electrical, temperature control, ventilation and restrooms in the area. The much-needed renovation included claiming adjacent space to create larger dressing rooms, allow access to both the O’Rourke Performing Arts Hall and to the Black Box Theater and add two bathrooms. While some may say that the old rooms had character, no one will argue that the changing of the dressing rooms has been a welcome upgrade to the theater program. In the words of Sam Pickart ’15, the new rooms are “way more efficient.” The theater renovation project was funded with a lead gift from Dan ’79 and Mary Druml and Jim and Meg (Druml) Boyle in memory of their parents, Oscar ’35 and Ann Druml, along with other private donations.
Showalter is somewhat of a celebrity in the world of science and said that his World of Chemistry videos were the highlight of his career and have given him unique and special opportunities such as traveling all over the world. During his presentation, Showalter, accompanied by his wife, Char Showalter; Chaney; Jim Kostenko; and J.R. Collier, performed many demonstrations from his videos, including a demonstration on the effects of spreadable diseases and water lock. He concluded the presentation by setting a balloon filled with oxygen and hydrogen on fire, before literally going out with a bang.
Science teacher JR Collier (left) with Don Showalter. Photo by Evan Tobin ’15
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