COMMENCEMENT MARSHALS

MARK G. ZIDON

9 a.m. | College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture

Dr. Mark Zidon, Professor and Program Coordinator of agricultural education is retiring from UW-Platteville after 33 years. Zidon joined the university in 1990. Throughout his career, he has taught courses in Agricultural Engineering Technology and Agricultural Education. His research interests focus on teaching methods in agricultural education.

Zidon has received several accolades throughout his tenure, including the Wisconsin Teaching Fellow Award, James R. Underkofler Teaching Excellence Award, the American Association for Agricultural Education Central Region Outstanding Agricultural Educator, and the Wisconsin FFA VIP award. Outside of the classroom, Zidon coordinates the School of Agriculture scholarships, supervises World Dairy Expo FFA events, and served as the Superintendent for the National FFA Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems Career Development event.

Zidon earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Dakota University and his doctorate from Iowa State University.

Dale Buechler

12:30 p.m. | College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science

Professor Emeritus Dr. Dale Buechler is the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science commencement marshal. He was a member of the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty until his retirement in 2021. Buechler began as an associate professor in 2006, when he came to UW-Platteville from UW-Milwaukee to help start the Collaborative Engineering Program in Rock County. He was a UW System Wisconsin Teaching Fellow during the 2009-10 academic year. In 2011, he earned the ASEE Mathematics Division Distinguished Educator and Service Award. Buehler gained full professor status in 2012. Buechler earned his bachelor’s and master’s from the University of Arizona. He spent nine years involved in the research and development of cancer treatment equipment prior to earning his doctorate from the University of Utah.