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Letter from the Chancellor
One of the lessons that I’ll take from this past year is that when we work together, we can achieve anything. A testament to this idea is represented by the fact that we had our biggest fundraising effort in history for the second year running. I am tremendously grateful for the level of support that we have received in our efforts to continue to provide students access to a high-quality and affordable education.
I am grateful to those of you who will read this edition of the Alumni Today and who have continued to support your alma mater—your efforts are truly making a difference.
Our institution has developed a reputation as one of the most affordable and high-quality engineering programs in the state. Our campus was originally founded in 1866 as the first state teacher preparation institution. Later, it became home to the Wisconsin Mining Trade School, which housed the first three-year degree-granting course in mining engineering in the United States. Many things have changed since those early days, one thing that hasn’t is our commitment to being stewards of place, which is the theme of this issue.
Our university campuses have always been deeply rooted and connected to the communities that they exist within. They can be viewed as an extension of those communities and a symbiotic partner to the places that they inhabit.
It is our collective hope that these partnerships will continue to grow and prosper in the coming years and that our fundamental mission of providing students access to a high-quality and affordable education may continue for years to come.
Every day is a great day to be a Pioneer!
Sincerely,
Dennis J. Shields Chancellor, UW-Platteville
Alumni Today is getting a new look!
Thank you to the Alumni Association board of directors for their support in making this redesign possible.
We’re thrilled to give you a preview of the magazine’s updated design and content, which includes more class notes, stronger photography, and better organization.
We have maintained the magazine’s solid foundation, which includes stories of our incredible alumni and campus. Our goal with this redesign is to make the magazine more alive and dynamic—just like the university itself.
The 2020-2021 academic year was one full of unprecedented challenges and opportunities for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville due to the global pandemic.
Students completed the semester through hybrid instruction, faculty utilized innovative methods of teaching, and most staff worked from home. It was a unique experience for all of us, and although we changed the way we worked, we did not waver in our commitment to securing a sound future for UW-Platteville and expressing deep gratitude for the Pioneer family’s generosity.
The UW-Platteville Foundation is extremely pleased to report that we had the best fundraising year in the Foundation’s history. Through 6,695 gifts from 4,600 individuals and corporate partners, the Pioneer family provided $4,798,120 in support of the university from July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021.
Every gift from our alumni, friends, and corporate partners, regardless of its purpose, ultimately supports our greatest asset—our students. On behalf of our students, who not only will dream of, but who will also create their own Pioneer stories, thank you. UW-Platteville has a bright future in which all of us have an opportunity to play an important role.
Alumni Today FALL 2021
Vision for the Future
CLOPAS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER DAVID ABABIO IS BUILDING A TECH CAREER IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN
As part of this redesign, we are eager to give the publication a name that better reflects the personality of the institution. To learn more about the names we’re considering and to weigh in with your vote, visit go.uwplatt.edu/alumni-today.
This publication is proudly funded by the UW-Platteville Alumni Association.
