Alumni Today Fall 2022

08

Pioneer History in the Making

Johnson family makes largest gift in foundation history

10

Homecoming 2022

Be a part of the tradition

12 In Honor

Collaborative research project pays tribute to Vietnam veterans

18

Milestone

Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium celebrates 50 years

02

Alumni Today

UW-Platteville’s Mission

We promote excellence by using a personal, hands-on approach to empower each student to become broader in perspective, intellec tually more astute, ethically more responsible, and to contribute wisely as an accomplished profes sional and knowledgeable citizen in a diverse global community.

Vice Chancellor for University Relations/ Chief of Staff, External Relations

Rose Smyrski smyrskir@uwplatt.edu

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Engagement

Joshua Boots bootsj@uwplatt.edu

Alumni Relations Manager

Shelby Lang ’96 langs@uwplatt.edu

Contributing Writers

James Hibbard, Southwest Wisconsin Room Stephen Kelley, Division of Professional Studies

Director of Marketing and Communications Benjamin Jedd jeddb@uwplatt.edu

Marketing and Communications

Johanna Belken ’04 Diana Blindert Easton Green Ashley McFadden Andy McNeill ’02

Art Direction

Alison Parkins Kristie Reynolds Katie Weigel Ruth Wendlandt ’06

The ESC Plan | theescplan.com

Alumni Today is produced as a service of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Alumni Association. Letters to the editor are welcome, as are suggestions for articles and Class Notes. Call or write Development and Alumni Engagement, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 1 University Plaza Stop 1, Platteville WI 53818-3099, 800.897.2586, alumni@uwplatt.edu.

© 2022 University of Wisconsin-Platteville

LETTER from the Chancellor

As we begin a year of new opportuni ties, I want to take this moment to acknowledge the legacy of Chancel lor Dennis J. Shields and the import ant work he accomplished during his tenure at UW-Platteville. We will remember his impact as we walk across the campus and no tice the renovations in Boebel Hall and watch the grand opening of Sesquicentennial Hall. We will also reflect on his legacy as we watch important university efforts with a lasting impact on diver sity, equity, and inclusion, of which he was an avid champion. His efforts are appreciated by the entire Pioneer family, and he will be missed.

As we enter a new chapter together, I am excited and optimistic about the future and the work that is ahead. I look forward to collaborating with and supporting our alumni network along side Interim Provost Wayne Weber as I transition into this new role. While there may be challenges ahead, I am confident by working together and focusing on priorities, we will continue in our role as an institution dedicated to hands-on learning and supporting the Wisconsin Idea. In the upcom ing year, I have asked the faculty and staff to turn our attention to student success. Of course, that is something we have been committed to for our entire existence. So, what do I mean?  If we can really hone in on scaling the practices and pro cedures that lead to successful student recruit ment and retention, we can steer the university to a sustainable and successful future because doing this will mean more students coming and more students graduating. As an access institution, I want us to provide the necessary scaffolding that all students need to graduate and enter meaning ful, productive careers.

You, our alumni, friends, and corporate part ners, play a critical role in helping with these endeavors. You are a key variable in supporting student success. Your gifts of money, but also time and connections, are crucial to student suc cess. Through scholarships, grants, internships, and job placements, alumni and donors help pro vide our students a step up and a step in. Thank you all for your ongoing financial support of our university efforts. Your support is a crucial factor in reaching our goals.

While we face a dynamic and sometimes chal lenging landscape, I am confident the Pioneer family, like any family working together, will move forward. Our future is bright.

Be Steadfast. Be Well. Be Pioneers.

Interim Chancellor Tammy Evetovich

“As an access institution, I want us to provide the necessary scaffolding that all students need to graduate and enter meaningful, productive careers.”

NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED

IN STEM

Best in Engineering

UW-PLATTEVILLE GRADU ATES THE SECOND-LARGEST NUMBER OF ENGINEERING DEGREES IN THE STATE, WITH MORE THAN 600 GRADUATES EVERY YEAR.

The opening of Sesquicentennial Hall this fall marked the newest chapter in UW-Platteville’s illustrious history in engineering education. The new building adjoins Busby Hall of Engineering to create a 200,000-square-foot complex to support interdisciplinary engineering and computer science. At the center of the building is the Huff Family Innovation Center—one of the largest makerspaces in the Midwest—where students can turn their ideas into a design, prototype, and eventual business plan. This transformative building, combined with UW-Platteville’s low tuition and number one return-on-investment ranking, ensure UW-Platteville remains Wisconsin’s best in engineering for generations to come.

ORANGE & BLUE updates

Collaborative physician assistant program launches

After several years of planning, UW-Platteville’s collaborative Master of Physician Assistant Studies program is officially open to applicants, with the first cohort scheduled to begin in summer 2023. The UW-Madison  wis PACT@UW-Platteville program will allow UW-Platteville students to earn a degree through UW-Madison’s nation ally-recognized Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, while re maining on the UW-Platteville campus to complete the coursework.

Plans for the program date back to the inaugural Health Care Summit UW-Platteville hosted in 2017, where educators, health care administrators, and regional practitioners joined to dis cuss shortages of health care providers in underserved rural areas.

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies is a two-year program with one year of classroom learning and one of clinical rotations. All of the classes will be held in-person on the Platteville campus or live-streamed from Madison. With a focus on training the future rural health care workforce, clinical rotations will be predominantly in the hospitals and clinics in Southwest Wisconsin.

*The University of Wisconsin-Madison has applied for approval from the Accred itation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant to establish a distant campus in Platteville. The campus anticipates matriculating its first class in May 2023, pending approval at the Sep tember 2022 ARC-PA meeting.

GOING GREEN

Sesquicentennial Hall, UW-Platte ville’s newest engineering building, is the university’s first building to seek certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s international ly-recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Development rating system, known as LEED. To achieve LEED certification, a build ing project earns points based on meeting prerequisites in the areas of carbon, energy, water, waste, trans portation, materials, health, and in door environmental quality.

According to Dr. Philip Parker, Acting Dean of the College of Engi neering, Mathematics and Sci ence, a number of Sesquicentennial Hall’s sustainability features dou ble as teaching tools, such as a vis ible storm water system wrapping around the building and a solar array on the rooftop. One of the most

recognizable sustainability features is the accessible green roof.

While many of the prerequi sites for LEED certification aren’t outwardly visible—from water and energy use to the selection of building materials and more—an augmented reality tour of Sesqui centennial Hall will allow students and visitors to learn more about these features. With an app, visitors can use their phone to move around the building and see a digital overlay with more information about partic ular features.

“Students have to understand how everything they design impacts people and the environment at some level,” said Parker. “To have a build ing where they will be surrounded by that all the time will help educate future engineers on the importance of their decisions.”

UW-Platteville alumnus and Vice President of Electric Vehicle Excellence at General Motors Tim Herrick recently visited campus and shared advice with students from his 38 years with General Motors, many of which were spent in leadership roles. Herrick’s presentations centered around leadership and his journey from UW-Platteville to General Motors. He said he attributes much of his success to characteristics he developed at UW-Platteville, including grit and perseverance. But, above all else, he emphasized the importance of being a leader and mentor. Herrick helped launch the Leader Foundry which supports stu dents in the Metro Detroit schools with mentorship and scholarships. Herrick graduated from UW-Platteville in 1983 with a degree in industrial technology.

Alumnus, Vice President at General Motors shares advice

STUDENTS WIN BIG IN COMPETITIONS

Student teams have been representing UW-Platteville in competitions across the country, taking home top honors and putting Platteville on the map. Here are just a few highlights from last spring.

Cast in Steel Team

UW-Platteville’s Cast in Steel Team won the grand prize at the Steel Founders’ Society of America CastExpo 2022 Cast in Steel Competition. The contest challenged university students to use mod ern casting tools to creatively design and produce a functioning version of a Celtic leaf sword. The team competed against 34 other teams, including big names like Texas A&M University, Ohio State University, and Penn State University.

Robotics Club’s VEX U Team

The Robotics Club’s VEX U Team won the Vex U College and University Competition at the VEX Robotics World Championship in May. For the competition, teams construct two robots, using custom parts and components. College teams compete in head-to-head matches, which start with an autonomous routine, where robots run off of pre-programmed instruction, followed by a driver-controlled period. The UW-Platteville team went undefeated, 7-0 in the elimination matches to be crowned world champions.

Collegiate Soils Team

UW-Platteville’s Collegiate Soils Team took home third place in the 60th Soil Science Society of America National Collegiate Soils Contest. Student Isaac Nollen also placed third in the individual con test, earning him a spot on the four-member team representing the United States at the International Soils Competition in Scotland over the summer.

Destination education: 69-year-old graduates with honors

Education has been the vehicle to a better life for Mickey Peasley. Last December, the soon-to-be 70-year-old earned her bachelor’s degree in business from UW-Platteville. It’s a journey that has spanned decades and is far from finished.

“Every time I went back to school, my life got better,” said Peasley. “Every time I go back, it just gets better. So how do you stop? When do you stop?”

Peasley earned her first associate degree in 1977. The single mother of two became a licensed vocational nurse to provide a better life for her kids. In 1985, she went back to better her life again, this time becoming a registered nurse.

After decades living in California, she returned to Grant County, Wisconsin, to take care of her mother as she dealt with health issues.

“I have been a nurse for 40 years, and that means a lot of sacrifice in taking care of others,” said Peasley. “I would do that at work and then come home and take care of my disabled son or my mother, or both.”

In 2015, Peasley found herself in an unfamiliar position—living alone.

“For the first time in my life, I could do what I want instead of taking care of others. I wanted to do something for me,” Peasley said

That’s why she decided to earn the bache lor’s degree she never had the time to pursue. She started the process by enrolling in classes at UW-Platteville Richland. However, education had changed greatly in the 30 years since she had last stepped foot in a classroom.

“In my first class, I didn’t even know how to turn on the computer. I had to ask the student next to me how to do it.”

Peasley faced quite the learning curve, but she had a support system to back her up. She cred its her Advisor, Joanna Muller, with keeping her spirits up and helping her navigate the challenges in front of her.

“Joanna was my personal cheerleader,” Peas ley said. “She told me over and over again that I could do this.”

Peasley also credits Professor Marnie Dresser and IT Specialist Marilyn Peckham with help ing her navigate and understand the technology needed to reach her educational goals. She said that included working with her during lunch breaks or after hours to provide additional tutoring. Peasley also tapped into her thirst for knowledge by taking advantage of every adult computer class she could.

“I doubt I’ll ever be an expert, but I’m not afraid of it anymore,” Peasley boasts. “It’s become my friend.”

That friendship would continue. After earning her third associate degree from UW-Platteville Richland, Peasley decided to enroll in the 100% online Bachelor of Arts and Sciences program through UW-Platteville. She admits to being scared to move to a fully online program, but said it was a painless transition. She credits that to fan tastic professor communication, saying she had the same level of interaction as an in-person class.

“I didn’t feel distant,” Peasley said. “I felt like they were there for me. I was not alone on an island in the middle of nowhere.”

MICKEY PEASLEY EARNED her bachelor’s degree in business from UW-Platteville last December, nearly 45 years after she earned her first associate degree.

Peasley tapped into her curious and deter mined nature to excel in the online program. Last year, she graduated summa cum laude with a 3.95 GPA. Her desire to do her best was exempli fied by her decision to skip her graduation cere mony. She instead used the weekend to study for a psychology final.

“When you don’t know if you can do something, and you do it, your level of self-efficacy raises so much higher than it was. You just say to yourself that I did it, and maybe I can do even more.”

Peasley has decided to continue challenging herself. She is now pursuing an online master’s degree in psychology from Northcentral Univer sity in San Diego, California. She hopes to use the knowledge obtained from the graduate degree to work at a women’s shelter or a local social ser vices department. Until then, Peasley is exploring teaching opportunities, including Headstart and being a substitute at local schools.

Stephen Kelley

When you don’t know if you can do something, and you do it, your level of self-efficacy raises so much higher than it was. You just say to yourself that I did it, and maybe I can do even more.”

Pioneer history in the making

JOHNSON FAMILY MAKES $10 MILLION

GIFT, LARGEST IN FOUNDATION HISTORY

After graduating from UW-Platteville in 1981, Todd Johnson joined his family’s business and credits his experiences at UW-Platteville for pre paring him to be successful in growing the com pany into what it is today—Capstan Corporation, of which he is currently Chairman and CEO.

“I have always been sincere with my respon sibilities, honored my obligations, and paid my debt,” said Todd. “From my perspective, a debt was due to UW-Platteville for the excellent edu cation and experience I gained while attending school there.”

This is one of the reasons why he, and his wife Susan, chose to give back to UW-Platteville with the largest gift in the UW-Platteville Founda tion’s history—a transformational $10 million to establish the Capstan Scholars Program. The pro gram will provide scholarships covering full tui tion, room, and board to selected students every year, beginning this fall, allowing them to grad uate debt free.

“The education and knowledge I acquired [at UW-Platteville] blessed me with many success ful opportunities, allowing me to make this gift,” said Todd.

The university community celebrated the announcement of this gift, with the Johnsons, at a ceremony on April 15.

“Many people have asked me, ‘why UW-Plat teville?’ Because I saw firsthand the passion, dedication, and commitment the professors and administration made to make my college expe rience meaningful and worthwhile,” remarked

Todd at the event. “The extra effort was always evident. It raised the bar, and it challenged me to do the very best that I could when I attended. I could not have received a better education than the one I received here.”

The scholarships are renewable for four years, allowing the Capstan Scholars Program to grow every year. Eligible students must have a will ingness to work hard, overcome obstacles, show case gumption, demonstrate moral character, and have financial need. The scholarships will be provided to students majoring in STEM-related fields or accounting and finance, from the Mid western states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Min nesota, or Michigan.

“Capstan Scholars will need to be dedicated to their goals, curious and hungry to learn, tena cious to push through the tough and challeng ing classes, and have the personal commitment to prioritize their time to maximize their edu cational opportunities at UW-Platteville and the willingness to help others aside them on their journey,” said Todd.

The namesake of the scholarship program

Susan and Todd Johnson

serves as a metaphor for an idea that is cen tral to its philosophy. A capstan is a mechanism that requires people to work together to move or raise heavy weights. Similarly, Capstan Scholars will understand that becoming a college gradu ate takes teamwork and determination and that success often hinges on surrounding oneself with like-minded people to work together for a com mon goal.

“Being a Capstan Scholar is intended to be more than just a funding source for higher educa tion, but to be an ongoing and growing family of Capstan Scholars at UW-Platteville—supporting each other, both while on campus and after com mencement,” said Todd.

“Todd and Susan’s generosity is inspir ing,” said Joshua Boots, Assistant Vice Chancel lor for Development and Alumni Engagement at UW-Platteville. “The scholarship program they have developed will change lives and become one of the most prestigious, celebrated scholarship programs around. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate and admire Todd and Susan.”

Alison Parkins

The education and knowledge I acquired [at UW-Platteville] blessed me with many successful opportunities, allowing me to make this gift.”

—Todd Johnson

Be a part of the tradition

JOIN US FOR HOMECOMING 2022

Celebrate fellow alumni

The following alumni will be honored with UW-Platteville’s Distinguished and Outstanding Alumni awards.

Outstanding Alumni

Aaron Athas ’10, choral and general music

“I came to UW-Platteville with zero inhibi tions about what college could be and left with a lifetime of friendships and pride. I continue to serve this university and advocate for its storied past, pride in the work of the present, and care for the future. My success in my career and volunteerism started with extensive involvement at UW-Platteville. I consid er myself proud to be one of the many alumni of this great place.”

Alumni

Dr. Tori Erickson ’83, education and ’88 counseling and student personnel (master’s degree)

“UW-Platteville provided me with a strong base in critical thinking skills, confidence, and motivation that help ad vance my career and higher education.”

taught me critical thinking and prob lem solving. Those basic skills not only served me well as an engineer, but also allowed me to succeed in anything I set my mind to, including project manage ment, product management, and lead ing large organizations.”

www.uwplatt.edu/homecoming

View an event listing on page 33.

Jill Furman ’03, electrical engineering

“My solid engi neering foundation at UW-Platteville

Kevin McMullen ’86, civil engineering

“Every lecture I give at UW-Plat teville, I proclaim that I am a proud 1986 graduate, and I challenge the students to be able to say that during their entire career. I have worked for 36 years and will proudly proclaim it for the rest of my life. UW-Platteville was the cornerstone for my career, and I was able to build on it. I am very thankful for everything UW-Platteville gave me.”

Jim Ryan ’77, agribusiness and business administration

“UW-Platteville

provided me the opportunity to learn, to take risks, gain lifelong skills and friendships, instilled passion and defined the importance of commitment that has not only been the foundation for a fulfilling career in the alcohol beverage industry, but as im portant, has helped make me the person I am today with a family I cherish every day of my life.”

Richard Weber ’79, civil engineering

“I have been for tunate to work on many projects in many states across the U.S., as well as in Hong Kong and Germa ny. My well-rounded engineering edu cation at UW-Platteville formed a strong foundation for my engineering career. UW-Platteville made a huge difference in my life, for which I am extremely grate ful, and I know it continues to make a difference in the lives of other engineer ing and non-engineering students.”

Save the Date

Lana Wiese ’71, business

“My education and experience at UW-Platteville provided the foun dation for years in a large corporation and then establishing Studio Gear. After graduation, my recruitment in 1971 into the management training program at Wisconsin Bell was the first class that included women. As a first-generation college student in the late 60s, UW-Plat teville was a positive, encouraging envi ronment for a young woman majoring in business. The breadth of my experiences was critical in becoming a successful entrepreneur.”

Future Home comings will be held: 2023 October 6–7 2024 October 11–12 2025 October 3–4

Collaborative research project pays tribute to Vietnam veterans

Telling the stories of servicemen killed in war started as a small, personal project for Mac Kolar, a 1969 graduate of UW-Plat teville. Several years ago, the retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel began researching and writing about family members and residents of his hometown of Fennimore, Wisconsin. The efforts led him to connect with fellow alumnus Dr. Jim Lawton, a 1967 graduate of UW-Platteville and a

In Honor

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be located near the flag poles out side of Ullsvik Hall. The dedication ceremony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2022, is open to the public.

The identified servicemen being honored include:

Specialist 4 John C. Imrie, Army

Lance Corporal Daniel F. Gal lagher, Marine Corps

Second Lieu tenant Vasilios Demetris, Marine Corps

Sergeant Edwin F. Brown, Army

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ronald R. Blohm, Army

fraternity brother and soccer teammate of Vasil ios Demetris—one of the fallen servicemen Kolar was honoring. As Kolar and Lawton came to real ize that no comprehensive list of UW-Platteville students or alumni killed in action in the Vietnam War existed—the pair set out to change this.

Through a collaborative endeavor that has spanned nearly three years and included the help of faculty, staff, and students across campus, 12 students and alumni who were killed in action have been identified. Names of the 12 fallen will be featured on a UW-Platteville Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which will be dedicated on Nov. 11, 2022.

In late 2019, Kolar connected with Dr. David Krugler, UW-Platteville Professor of history, who happened to be teaching his Vietnam War his tory course in the spring of 2020. Krugler built a research assignment into the course. His stu dents were able to participate in a conference call with Kolar to learn more about his goals and cur rent research. The students visited the university archives and scanned indexes from past Pioneer yearbooks, which they then converted from PDFs into searchable text files. The files were used to match names from the yearbooks to those on the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which is available online. Dr. Arghya Das, a UW-Platteville Assistant Professor of computer science, coded a program to match the UW-Platteville names to all those killed in action in the Vietnam War.

The program returned approximately 800 names, and Kolar and Krugler tediously pur sued the task of cross-checking the names, typ ically using obituaries and newspaper articles. Due to common names, most of them were false matches. However, the effort did allow them to positively identify several students and alumni who were not previously known.

“I think the project was highly beneficial to the students, helping them to understand the human

cost of the war for not just the United States but also our little part of the nation—UW-Platte ville,” said Krugler. “It’s important to know, of course, that more than 58,000 Americans died in the war. Through their research, the students got to know some of the personal history of 12 of those men, who attended or graduated from UW-Platteville. They also provided insightful, creative ideas on how to create a virtual and phys ical memorial to these men.”

Kolar also placed notices in UW-Platteville’s alumni newsletter, which helped lead to some identifications. The efforts of Kolar, Krugler, and his students, along with several others who assisted, have resulted in the identification of 12 students or alumni who were killed in action in the Vietnam War. With the assistance of the next of kin, newspapers articles, and official military records, Kolar has been able to write biographies of each of the fallen.

“As a history major and a retired Marine, I can put a unique perspective on the service of what would be my peers at Platteville,” said Kolar. “I am just honored to be able to find out more and to cre ate something to allow their memory to live on.”

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be located near the flag poles outside of Ullsvik Hall. The dedication ceremony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2022, is open to the public.

Additionally, Kolar volunteers to help write the stories of the 400,000-plus Americans who died in World War II, as part of a national proj ect known as Stories Behind the Stars. He plans on writing the stories of the 53 UW-Platteville stu dents and alumni—16 from the Wisconsin Mining School and 37 from Platteville State Teachers Col lege—whose names appear on the UW-Platteville World War II Memorial.

Alison Parkins

Private First Class Louis L. Zittergruen, Army

Hospitalman Richard E. Sutherland, Navy

Specialist 4 Brian S. Perlewitz, Army

Corporal Francis T. Mulvey, Army

Specialist 4 Paul E. Mattson, Army

First Lieutenant Dean W. Krueger, Air Force

Hospitalman Larry W. Knight, Navy

National Archives and Records Administration (100310304)

Sept. 9, 1972

First game held at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. The first touchdown scored was a 28-yard rush by Bob Walgenbach against Iowa Wesleyan. UW-Platteville shut Wesleyan out 38-0.

“It was our first game of the season and there were a lot of new guys. We were pretty unsure how good we were going to be, but we beat them pretty hauntingly. It was ex citing,” said Bob Walgenbach’73. “Starting in the new stadium after playing on Hill Field, which was basically a cow pasture, was quite the upgrade. It was awesome.”

Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium celebrates

YEARS

1976

The Pioneers win all their home games for the first time, as the four victories help propel them to a conference championship.

Rangerettes

“The Rangerettes were brand new to campus. We had to organize the group, rehearse, and decide on the uniforms. We then waited for them to be hand sewn by a member of the community,” said Deborah Rice ’75 and ’04. “In the 70s, football Saturdays were campus events. I have many good memories of foot ball Saturdays, and to top off the wonderful stadium experience, we had a good football team as well.”

1972 2022

“Jack Eastlick breaks this tackle and scores the first of Platteville’s many touchdowns in their 52-43 win over Eau Claire.” —The Exponent, November 13, 1980

1984-2002

Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium and the surrounding practice facilities served as the sum mer home of the Chicago Bears training camp for 18 years.

Nov. 15, 2008

Butch Leitl Field named in honor of former UW-Platteville head football coach, Lester “Butch” Leitl.

1980 Miracle Comeback Game

UW-Platteville came back from a 33-0 deficit against UW-Eau Claire for a 53-43 win on the last day of the regular season, clinching a tie for the con ference title under legendary coach George Chryst.

June 16, 2014

2013

UW-Platteville hosts the first NCAA Division playoff game in stadium history, defeating Con cordia (Wisconsin) 54-20.

Feb. 7, 2022

Ryan Munz named the 16th Head Foot ball Coach in UW-Platteville history. The 2012 WIAC Assistant Coach of the Year completed his 15th season as the Pioneers’ offensive coordinator and fifth season as associate head coach in 2021. Munz is a two-time graduate of UW-Platteville, earning his bachelor’s in business finance in 2006 and a master’s in proj ect management in 2008. He was a four-year letter winner for the Pioneers.

2005

A stadium renovation took place that included the installation of a turf surface for the first time.

“UW-Platteville is my home,” said Munz. “I take great pride in ushering a new era in Pioneer football.”

Tornado touched down damaging campus and the Platteville commu nity. The tornado swept through the stadium causing the turf, lights, and visiting bleachers to be replaced.

May 14, 2022

Spring commencement held at the stadium for the classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022.

LANDSCAPE

UW-Platteville celebrated a memorable 208th commencement in May. Held in the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium, the ceremonies celebrated the class of 2022 and welcomed back alumni from the classes of 2020 and 2021.

UNEARTHED from the archives

Celebrating 20 years of the Markee Pioneer Student Center

By James Hibbard, University Archivist

May House to the Markee Mention the Markee Pioneer Student Center and two words come to mind: tradition and inspiration. Tradition can be heard when the old Normal School Bell rings on the hour; inspi ration is represented in the design of the building, inspiring students to achieve their educational opportu nities. This year marks the 20th an niversary of the Markee Pioneer Stu dent Center, making it a good time to review the history of the university’s student centers.

The first student center was a house purchased from Hugh and Ann May. Called the May House, this stu dent center opened on June 3, 1936. Located at the corner of Main and Hickory, it contained a reception room, fireplace room, and several study rooms. It was used exclusively by female students until 1953.

Student Center

The impending merger of the Platte ville Teachers College and the Wis consin Institute of Technology in 1959 created the need for a larger stu dent center. In 1957, the May House was relocated to make room for a new student center on the same site. After two years of construction, the new student center was dedicated on April 30, 1959. It held the distinction of be

1 Pictured here in the 1970s, the Student Center’s cafeteria was a popular gathering spot.

2 Events were often held on the Student Center’s ice-skating rink, which was located in what is presently the Harry and Laura Nohr Gallery.

3 One of the Markee Pioneer Student Center’s most popular traditions is the Late Night at the Markee—an annual celebration to close out the year

ing the first modern student center opened at a Wisconsin State College.

The Student Center quickly became a gathering point on campus. As one student recalled, “Following each class session, the main flow of traffic moves towards the Stu dent Center,” where students could relax in the Rendez vous Room, affectionately called the “Vous,” play pool, or shuffleboard. The student center also held multiple events, such as the Madrigal Dinner in December, the Crystal Caprice in February, and ice skating events on the Student Center’s rink—today’s Nohr Gallery in Ullsvik Hall.

Markee Pioneer Student Center

A new century brought the need for a new student cen ter. On April 1, 2002, the Markee Pioneer Student Center opened. To make it more convenient for students, the new student center, affectionately called “the Markee,” was constructed closer to the center of campus. The Markee, like the previous student center, has a student-services focus. It contains meeting rooms, dining services, a cam pus bookstore, the Bears Den computer lab, and other ser vices students use on a regular basis.

The Markee, moreover, contains two very symbolic, cultural items, both located in Heritage Hall. The first is the international flags. They represent the many countries

our students call home. The second is the Peace Pole. Ded icated when the Markee opened, it contains the sentence “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in 12 languages. It was ded icated in the memory of the victims of the 9-11 tragedy.

In designing the Markee, two specific themes were emphasized: tradition and inspiration. Tradition is visible in the sepia-toned Heritage Hall wall mural, which high lights several historic UW-Platteville buildings and sym bols. Adjacent to Heritage Hall is the Alumni Lounge and the UW-Platteville Alumni Wall of Fame. Hanging on the outside wall of the Alumni Lounge is the Normal School Bell, which represents the university’s educational back ground. Cast in Troy, New York, in 1870, the bell has a unique history. It announced classes for more than 100 years in both the old Normal School Building and Doudna Hall before being installed in the Markee.

Inspiration was built into the Markee’s design, which is subtle yet bold. This is best represented in the exposed support construction. Whether it is an entryway entabla ture, the bookstore’s visible ceiling HVAC system, or the Pioneer Crossing dining area’s load-bearing columns, the Markee’s support structure is visible. This was done to emphasize the university’s engineering background.

These two themes, tradition and inspiration, are united at the Markee’s Heritage Hall, which represents the cross roads of the university. It is here that the exposed struc tural supports are the most noticeable, from the towering two-story support columns to steel beams to glass-walled elevators to visible HVAC. This is complimented by the sepia-toned mural and large university seal on the south facing window that is lighted during Homecomings. The seal itself unites the university’s traditions of education and engineering: the Normal School’s bell and the Mining School’s M.

The Markee’s focus on tradition and inspiration sets it apart from other student centers. Both are empha sized in the openness of Heritage Hall’s two-story pavil ion. Designed to inspire by creating an airy, contemplative space, Heritage Hall reminds students that they are part of something traditional yet inspires them to contribute to something greater than themselves.

Recent grad makes a splash in the Platteville community

When Baird Miller came to UW-Platteville, the Madison, Wisconsin, native and former compet itive swimmer described himself as feeling “like a fish out of water.” However, his love for swim ming opened up new, unexpected connections for him on campus and in the greater Platteville com munity that he still holds on to, even after gradu ating with his degree in psychology last December.

“I experienced a little culture shock,” said Miller. “Spending my whole life in Madison, I was more accustomed to larger metropolitan areas.”

Miller looked for any excuse to be in the pool. After the first couple weeks of classes, he started teaching children’s swim lessons for UW-Platteville’s Continuing Education Institute. Miller found out that the Continuing Education Institute also coordinated senior water classes and thought teaching would be a great way to meet the community.

“I hadn’t met much of the town or [immersed] myself into the community outside of the univer sity bubble,” said Miller. “Teaching water classes shattered that box.”

Teaching the classes played a pivotal role in Miller’s college experience. While teaching the water aerobics night class, he met Matt Wunder lin, the Head Swim Coach for the Platteville High School swim team. Miller began helping to coach the boys and girls high school swim teams. Some of the swimmers he coached had grandparents in his water aerobics classes, which have a large following.

“Through water aerobics, I became friends with over a hundred different community mem bers, many having spent years of their personal and professional lives working in Southwest Wis consin,” said Miller. “Making all these friends drastically shifted my view of Platteville, and I really fell in love with this town.”

Miller noted how beneficial it is for students, especially those not from the area, to involve themselves with the community in Platteville. He said he has learned much from the university,

through teaching classes, attending commu nity events on adulthood/aging, Alzheimer’s and dementia, and learning more about the effects of exercise on offsetting memory-related conditions.

“I learned a lot at UW-Platteville that has helped me teach classes. I model the commu nication skills and structure that the teachers in my classrooms demonstrated,” said Miller. “UW-Platteville also humbled me a lot, which has helped me teach the classes. Over half the women enrolled [in his water aerobics classes] hold Ph.D.s and master’s degrees, but you would never know unless you ask. The more I got to know the par ticipants, the more I was able to pull knowledge from their vault of experience. It sometimes feels like I’m a student teaching a class of professors.”

Miller actually has a couple of his former teachers in his class.

“[My] experience taught me a lot about myself and helped me transition into launching my career as a teacher,” said Miller. “This city is filled with untapped opportunities within the commu nity for students; all they need to do is cross South Hickory Street.”

Kristie Reynolds

BAIRD MILLER TEACHES senior water classes for UW-Platteville’s Continuing Education Institute.

I learned a lot at UW-Platteville that has helped me teach classes. I model the communication skills and structure that the teachers in my class rooms demonstrated.”

PLATTEVILLE PORTRAIT

Remembered as an “individual more concerned with making a difference than making a fortune,”

TERESA KIRKEENG-KINCAID ’80 was a leader in the engineering field, respected as much for her care and compassion as for her expertise and drive.

TERESA’S TEAM CARRIES ON A GIVING LEGACY

It is this legacy that her family hopes to see carry on through others with the Teresa Kir keeng-Kincaid Memorial Schol arship for Women in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Teresa earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UW-Platteville and her master’s degree in water resource man agement from UW-Madison. She joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a civil engineer with the Rock Island District in 1981, where she worked for 26 years in roles that included the assistant chief of the Planning, Program and Project Management Divi sion. Teresa passed away in 2007.

Teresa and her husband, John Kincaid ’80, met as students at UW-Platteville.

“One of the things that attracted me to her was that she had a strong faith, a big heart, and a social consciousness that I didn’t see in everybody else,” said John. “She was able to work hard and she was a good engi neer, but she always took the time to mentor other people, and she had a lot of people in the organization loyal to her because of that. She built her reputation in the Army Corps of

Engineers, not just in the dis trict, but around the nation, as one of the people who would give you her best.”

This drive earned her numer ous accolades, including being named as Rock Island District Woman of the Year in 1983, Junior Engineer of the Year in 1987 by the Quad City Engi neering and Science Council, and Rock Island District Profes sional of the Year in 1994.

“At the time she entered the

workforce, as a female engineer she was like her own little bull dozer, paving her own path,” said Teresa’s daughter, Ann Drapcho. “It was very cool to see that, and I think as females at any workplace, sometimes we have to do that. I wish I could talk to her more about that now, but I was able to glean a little bit about that as a high schooler or middle schooler, and from hearing others’ stories about her after she passed.”

TERESA KIRKEENG-KINCAID ’80 with her daughter, Ann, at the 2002 Bix 7 Road Race in Davenport, Iowa.

Ann remembers her mother’s professional approach as a blend of confidence and kindness— an example she follows in her career now as Shopper Market ing Manager at Cameron’s Cof fee in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“My mom assumed the good in everybody, and I’ve been able to carry that into my life,” said Ann. “I feel like when you approach life from that per spective, everything else falls in place. Us females go into situa tions and sometimes don’t have as much confidence as everyone else in the room. Whether it was outward or inward, my mom had confidence and said to her self, ‘I know I’m good enough to do this.’ Besides being con fident, she was also just kind. She would enter a room and acknowledge everybody there.”

The Kincaid family’s deci sion to create a scholarship to support women engineers was a way to continue the legacy that Teresa had begun herself.

“Teresa was speaking at a STEM event in the fall of 2006 at one of the inner-city schools in Davenport, to encourage high school girls to go into STEM,” recalled John. “There was a girl there named Rebecca Bries moore who heard her talk and felt her passion for women in

STEM, and changed her mind about her career. She went to Iowa State University, earned her engineering degree, and came to work at the Rock Island District Corps of Engi neers. When she graduated high school, she received a presti gious scholarship, and I was fortunate to watch her accept that scholarship and she talked about how impactful Teresa’s story was on her life.”

This confirmed for John, his son Jacob, and Ann that they wanted to share Teresa’s story to make an impact on more students. In 2009, they cre ated the Teresa Kirkeeng-Kin caid Memorial Scholarship for Women in Civil and Environ mental Engineering. Since its inception, more than $90,000 has been raised for the fund, and more than a dozen students have received the scholarship.

The Kincaids turned to a family tradition to help raise money for the scholarship—the annual Bix 7 road race in Davenport, Iowa.

“As a running family, both my mom and dad would always run the Bix,” said Ann. “It was the quintessential Quad City summer event.”

They created “Teresa’s Team” to give family and friends an opportunity to participate in

the event while raising money for the memorial scholarship fund.

“Because that was some thing that always brought our friends and family together, it was an easy way to keep her leg acy going,” said Ann. “There’s always something special about doing an activity that helps remember somebody.”

Jacob agreed that seeing so many people participate in the event for so many years is inspiring.

“The number of partici pants really shows that mom positively impacted many peo ple throughout her life,” said Jacob. “People are still continu ing to celebrate her life by run ning the Bix and supporting the scholarship. I’m sure the partic ipants are also motivated to sup port such a good cause—the next generation of women engineers. Mom was a role model who inspired me to pursue engineer ing as a degree and as a career. It’s very special for me to know that the Teresa Kirkeeng-Kin caid Memorial Scholarship will not only support the next gen eration of women engineers, but also the next generation of role models who can inspire others just as mom did for me.”

As the Teresa Kirkeeng-Kin caid Scholarship fund continues to grow and more recipients join the workforce, John and Ann say they are proud to know Teresa’s legacy has a part in their success.

“It feels satisfying help ing people who have a common vision for humanity succeed in their professions,” said John.

“Because they were exposed to my mom’s story and that’s part of their story now, she’s living on in what they are doing,” added Ann. “And that gives me peace knowing they live on in her legacy.”

Alison Parkins

To donate to the Teresa Kirkeeng-Kincaid Scholarship fund, visit www. uwplatt.edu/give

Support Teresa’s Team

THE KINCAID FAMILY created Teresa’s Team to enable friends and family to participate in the Bix 7 Road Race while raising money for a memorial scholarship fund established in Teresa’s name. Here, Ann, John, and Jacob Kincaid participate in the 2010 Bix 7.

CLASS NOTES

Paul Miller ’65 was inducted into the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association Hall of Fame in February. He is the President of Paul Miller Farms Inc.

Norm Arendt ’70 was recently named Engineer of the Year by the Wisconsin Society of Profes sional Engineers.

Michael Foster ’77 retired from teaching in 2013. He also worked part time for the Spar ta (Wisconsin) ambulance un til April 2022. Foster currently works part time for the Arcadia (Wisconsin) ambulance.

Delmar Bowes ’83 is a retired educator. Bowes began his teaching career with the Bloom ington (Wisconsin) School Dis trict and continued his career in South Dakota. Bowes earned his master’s degree in school administration from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He then attend ed the University of South Da kota and completed coursework for the educational specialist degree for the position as su perintendent of schools at Lake Preston, South Dakota. Bowes and his wife live in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Stefan Halushka ’86 retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant after 28 years, with most of it in Special Operations. Halushka is cur rently employed as an Equal Opportunity Counselor. He earned his MBA from University of West Florida.

Betsy Galbraith ’98 is the As sistant Field Supervisor of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Ecological Services Field Office.

Chelsey (Walker) Meachum ’10 is an Assistant Medical Editor/ Physician Assistant at Hippo Education LLC. Meachum and her husband Dallas welcomed their first child, Leah Kate Mea chum, on Nov. 19, 2021. Mea chum writes, “Hoping that she will be a Pioneer some day!”

Jessie Goodwin ’12 is Director of Operations at The Children’s Museum of Wilmington in North Carolina.

Jerry Vander Sanden ’79 re cently retired as the Linn County Attorney, having served more than 38 years in the office and over 11 years as the Linn Coun ty Attorney. During that time, Vander Sanden conducted more than 200 jury trials, one of which (State v. Carloss Rob inson) was featured on Forensic Files (“Purebread Murder”). Vander Sanden was awarded the Iowa County Attorneys Asso ciation Award of Merit for Out standing Service and served as the 2019 president of the Iowa County Attorneys Association.

Roger Zee ’84 will be retiring from the Darlington (Wisconsin) Community School District af ter 38 years of teaching. As the Technology Education Teacher, Zee helped start the engineering program using the Project Lead the Way curriculum.

Joseph Anderson ’86 retired from 35 years of music educa tion in June 2021. Anderson is now onto his second career as a Producer/Play-by-Play Sports Announcer for Zaleski Sports. Joe and his wife, Kris (Freymill er) Anderson ’87, reside in Loy al, Wisconsin, where he taught for 33 years. Anderson was the longest serving choir director in Loyal High School history.

Jeff Helin ’07 is the Store Man ager at Family Dollar in Madi son, Wisconsin.

Brandt Beer ’13 has been pro moted to Director of Medical at WDS Construction Inc. Beer will oversee all medical construc tion projects across the United States, serve as the point of con tact for medical project owners, expand the WDS medical foot print, and deliver upon owner expectations, timelines, and budgets.

Beta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho celebrated 50 years of brotherhood on the UW-Platteville campus in April. Beta Gamma hosted Alpha Gamma Rho CEO and Chief Development Officer Carol Johnson. The weekend included a social night at Steve’s Pizza. Beta Gamma also held their annual meeting in Russell Hall, had a luncheon at the house, and toured Pioneer Farm and campus. On April 2, Beta Gam ma held their 50th anniversary banquet with nearly 400 people attending.

The 45th Rugby Alumni Reunion took place on April 23. Students and alumni celebrated together at Memorial Park in Platteville. The event included a group of students, an alumni game, and networking. The Rugby Club expressed thanks to all alumni who attended.

CLASS NOTES

Cody Grabhorn ’15 is the Ex ecutive Director at the Ontar io County Historical Society in Canandaigua, New York.

Tim Vodak ’15 is a Talent Acqui sition Specialist at Benchmark in Winona, Minnesota. Vodak wel comed a son, Winston, in 2020.

Dr. Troy Farrell, M.D. ’16 com pleted medical school at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and has entered residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita Family Medicine Residency Program at Wesley Medical Center in Wich ita, Kansas.

Heidi Sattler ’16 was promoted to Operations Manager for the Chilton and Marytown offices of National Exchange Bank & Trust in July.

Brent DeBruine ’17 is the West Regional Sales Representative at Marketing Services Group Inc. in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Eduardo Jany ’15 joined News Corp as the Chief Security Of ficer—SVP of Global Security and Safety. Jany was a career police officer who served in Florida, Minnesota, and Wash ington. He retired as a colonel from the U.S. Military after 33 years of combined active and reserve service in the Army Special Forces and Marine Corps. Since his retirement, Jany has served in corporate security roles including advi sory services for the World Cup and Olympic Games, security operations at Bloomberg, and now News Corp in New York City where his remit includes global security management for Dow Jones, the Wall Street Journal, Realtor.com, Harp er Collins, the New York Post, and several other subsidiaries. Jany’s career has him traveling throughout the world. He has worked with innumerous heads of state, celebrities, and corpo rate leaders.

Megan (Kubatzke) Brincks ’17 is the Marketing and Entertain ment Manager at Great River Entertainment, FunCity Resort, and Catfish Bend Casino.

Kyle Rokusek ’18 is a Category Insights Analyst at Mark Antho ny Brands.

Susan Williams ’18 is a Training Capacity Coordinator at Mich igan Coalition Against Home lessness. Williams received her master’s degrees in project management and business leadership. She also did a year in the AmeriCorps NCCC pro gram and recently re-upped for a year in the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Williams was assigned to nonprofits working to end homelessness and poverty.

Ryan Meiners ’14 is the City En gineer for Winona, Minnesota.

Kari (Cattle) Bell ’19 is a Men tal Health Therapist, MSW, APSW at CWM Counseling LLC. Bell earned her master’s de gree in social work from Clarke University in August 2020. Bell and her husband were married in 2021 in Platteville.

Alison (Lawrence) Putman ’21 is the Logistical Manager at Col ony Brand Swiss Colony.

1930s

Lucille E. (Condy) Ellis ’37, La Crosse, WI

1950s

Stephen Bruce Bingham ’53, Safford, AZ

John F. Haskins ’53, Lombard, IL

Shirley M. (Rielly) Leu ’54, Darlington, WI

Roland O. Smith ’57, San Diego, CA

Margaret M. (Schmitz) Spillane ’56, Shullsburg, WI

Herbert Buss ’58, Fayetteville, GA

Dale C. Adams ’59, Jacksonville, FL

1960s

William R. Minch ’60, Grand Rapids, MI

James J. Tindell ’60, Surprise, AZ

John D. Horton ’62, Madison, WI

Gerald W. Meier ’62, Watertown, WI

Warren O. Somerfeld ’64, Madison, WI

Steven K. Luter ’67, Rockford, IL

Alan W. Matts ’69, Oregon, WI

Caroline Werner ’21 is a Re cruiter at Oxford Global Re sources in Madison, Wisconsin. Werner writes, “During my time at UW-Platteville, I had many ups and down. I had to put my health first before my education. I decided to take a step back and dropped out at the end of my fourth year with only one se mester left. Once I took the time to get better, I finished my de gree slowly but surely, and start ed working in the field I’ve al ways wanted to! Never give up.”

Hayden Pierce ’21 is a Com municator for the Dane County Department of Public Safety Communications.

Kaelyn Johnson ’21 is a Grad uate Civil Engineer at Realtime Utility Engineers in Fitchburg, Wisconsin.

1990s

Bradley V. Adams ’96, Cuba City, WI

Joseph G. Huggins ’96, Winnebago, IL

Jeffrey S. Bliss ’97, Delavan, WI

Jeremy J. Schepp ’99, Fort Atkinson, WI

2000s

Robert J. “Josh” Schmitz ’00, Berlin, WI

Elizabeth A. Bland ’02, West Allis, WI

Joan N. Bahr ’09, Belmont, WI

Employees

Jeanette M. Bockhop, Belmont, WI

Irena Z. Edge, Platteville, WI

Rodney G. LaBarge, Platteville, WI

Marc R. Heidorf, Belmont, WI

Nancy E. Kirby, Platteville, WI

Merle L. Klein, Platteville, WI

Scott W. Ringgenberg, Verona, WI

Dr. Kurt C. Rolle, Platteville, WI

Joel “Joe” Schambow, Platteville, WI

John P. Schreiber, Dubuque, IA

Robert O. Sommer, Platteville, WI

1970s

Jane E. (Gardner) Borroughs ’70, Verona, WI

Ted G. Heiser ’70, Vernon Hills, IL

Fern E. (Kang) Nall ’73, Platteville, WI

Donald H. Schultz ’70, Oak Brook, IL

Thomas R. Walther ’71, Eau Claire, WI

Gary Pedley ’75, Mayfield, KY

1980s

Bryan S. Burni ’84, Browntown, WI

Mark M. Dalsing ’88, Dubuque, IA

Robert “Bob” G. Leigh ’89, Sobieski, WI

Friends of the University

Dorothy “Dottie” E. Johns, Madison, WI

Some alumni and friends inquire about making a memorial gift. If you would like to do so, please contact Josh Boots at bootsj@ uwplatt.edu or 608.342.3961.

EVENTS

PIONEERS DAY OF GIVING

Oct. 6, 10 a.m.–Oct. 7, 5:06 p.m.

Help us celebrate our annual Pioneers Day of Giving. The Day of Giving spans two days, allowing for 1,866 minutes to give, in honor of the university’s founding year.

COMMENCEMENT

Dec. 17

Celebrate the class of 2022 at the fall commencement ceremonies. www.uwplatt.edu/commencement

KATIE BINNING MEMORIAL 5K

Dec. 3

Join fellow alumni and current students in this annual memorial run to honor the legacy of Katie Binning; All registration contributions will be directed to the Katie Binning Memorial Scholarship Fund.

HOMECOMING 2023

Oct. 6–7. 2023

Mark your calendar to join us and continue the Homecoming tradition that began in 1924.

To request disability accommodations, contact Shelby Lang, Alumni Relations Manager at langs@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1181. Plans are subject to change, based on health and safety measures that may be in place at the time of the event.

Alumni Association Award Ceremony Oct. 14 • 5 p.m. • Center for the Arts

Alumni Hospitality Parade Tent Oct. 15 • 9 a.m. • 385 Main Street

Homecoming Parade Oct. 15 • 10 a.m. • Main Street

Alumni Association Luncheon Oct. 15 • 11 a.m.–1 p.m. • South Patio, Ullsvik Hall

Pioneers vs. UW-River Falls Football Game Oct. 15 • 1 p.m. • Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium

Lighting of the M and Fireworks Oct. 15 • 9 p.m. • Platte Mound

Alumni, we need your help to recruit the next generation of Pioneers! Alumni are among our greatest ambassadors. As a graduate of UW-Platteville, you know best what the university has to offer and who would be a great fit for the Pioneer experience.