THE PROFESSORS WHO CHANGED OUR LIVES
Passionate instructors leave an indelible mark
Beyond the Diploma
Alumni Today
SPRING 2024
UW-Platteville’s Mission
We promote excellence by using a personal, hands-on approach to empower each student to become broader in perspective, intellectually more astute, ethically more responsible, and to contribute wisely as an accomplished professional and knowledgeable citizen in a diverse global community.
Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement
Stacia Stephenson stephensons@uwplatt.edu
Contributing Writer
James Hibbard, Southwest Wisconsin Room
Marketing and Communications Contributors
Johanna Belken ’04
Diana Blindert
Stephen Kelley
Andy McNeill ’02
Art Direction
Alison Parkins
Kristie Reynolds
Katie Weigel
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DOG DAY AFTERNOON: Students lounge in the grass with their pup, enjoying the warm weather .
MILESTONE Investiture of our 15th Chancellor
Celebrating our 15th Chancellor
On April 4, UW-Platteville celebrated the investiture of Chancellor Tammy Evetovich, welcoming more than 400 faculty, staff, students, distinguished guests, alumni, and community members to Bo Ryan Court in the Williams Fieldhouse.
I am humbled and honored to be leading this great university. As we look to the future, I want UW-Platteville to continue to lean into its strength as an access institution. We will understand our centers of excellence and build our brand as an institution that understands our role in the region by listening closely and authentically partnering. We are instrumental in preserving culture and heritage and recognizing the uniqueness of rural identities. This is what I love about UW-Platteville and why I want to be here and here specifically. I want to be part of the fabric of this wonderful community, and I consider it a privilege to live here.”
DESIGNING THE CHANCELLOR’S MEDALLION
During the ceremony, the university bestowed a special medallion on Chancellor Evetovich. The medallion had an upgraded design, led by a fine arts student. The process of the Chancellor’s Medallion began with a consultation with the chancellor to discuss precious metal and crafting options, her desire to honor legacy and excellence in education, and general design aesthetics. The next step was researching UW-Platteville’s history and the symbol-
was important to keep the meaning while working to refresh the design elements. The search for the right manufacturer/ foundry would be the next challenge, which ended up being MedalCraft, located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Four design options were presented and reviewed by the Chancellor’s Office. The design incorporates four elements into the medallion’s chain: the laurel banner, which names past chancellors; the laurel symbolizing the excellence that unites each chancellor; the tome to reflect the book motif in our campus’ unique architecture; and the redesigned logo to reflect our new chan-
Ceremony Highlights
WHAT IS AN INVESTITURE?
One of the oldest traditions in academia, an investiture ceremony is held during a new chancellor’s first year in office. It is an opportunity for a university to officially recognize and celebrate its new leader. The ceremony typically carries many academic traditions and protocols, including an academic procession of delegates from the hosting institution and other institutions, in which participants wear their own academic regalia. The ceremony represents a new era of leadership for the university and is an important event in the university’s history, as well as an opportunity for community celebration.
Chancellor Emeritus David Markee, who led UW-Platteville from 1996 to 2009, served as the marshal for the ceremony.
Before being bestowed upon the chancellor, the medallion was delivered to the stage by the world champion winning robot from the student organization WiscoBots.
Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman gifted Chancellor Evetovich a personalized wooden oar—a tribute to her own Chancellor’s Oar Award she gives individuals and teams for making an impact on
ORANGE & BLUE updates
UW-Platteville excels in rankings
UW-Platteville earned top rankings in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best College lists. UW-Platteville is ranked 14th for Top Public Schools – Regional Universities Midwest and 49th for Best Undergraduate Engineering – Non-Doctorate.
“This latest recognition reflects our commitment to excellence and our dedication to serving our region as a leading, accessible public institution,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich. “We are providing our students with exceptional experiential learning opportunities and equipping them with skills and knowledge necessary for jobs of the future.”
Student-led efforts reinvigorate the “M”
Platteville’s iconic “M” on Platte Mound has been a cherished landmark for alumni and the community alike for more than eight decades. One UW-Platteville student is leading initiatives to make sure it stays that way well into the future.
“My passion for the ‘M’ comes from a young age,” said Cade Klefstad, a senior construction management and construction safety management major, who is originally from Boyceville, Wisconsin. “I have family in Kieler, Wisconsin, and whenever we would drive down to visit them, we would see who could spot the ‘M’ first.”
Klefstad joined UW-Platteville’s chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers—the student organization that volunteers its time to maintain the “M.” The group is responsible for weed wacking the “M” every fall; whitewashing the “M” every spring; and setup, cleanup, and lighting of the “M” each Home-
with the upkeep of the space, he came up with his own ideas for further improvement.
“Last year, I decided I wanted to bring back more of the natural aspect with native grasses,” said Klefstad. “I was able to partner with the Reclamation Club and get a controlled burn up there for the first time in a couple of decades.”
Last fall, the students pushed back the tree line, and in the spring, the Reclamation Club plans to burn and seed it with prairie grasses, so in the future it will be all native, prairie grasses.
“I’ve always had a passion for giving back to the community, because they support us,” said Klefstad. “I love the ‘M.’ It’s a great location and a big thing for our community.”
The Mert W. Bennett ‘M’ Preservation Fund, through the UW-Platteville Foundation, supports maintenance at the “M.” Visit www.uwplatt.edu/give to help support
NEW FACES AND SPACES
Dr. Laura Reynolds has been appointed Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. Reynolds has spent the majority of her career working at comprehensive regional public universities, both as a faculty member and academic leader. She brings extensive leadership experience to UW-Platteville, most recently serving as provost at Missouri Western State University.
Stacia Stephenson has been appointed Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement and the UW-Platteville Foundation. A Pioneer alumna, Stephenson brings more than 13 years of fundraising leadership experience, with the majority spent at UW-Platteville. Her experience has fostered strong relationships with alumni and donors and contributed to four consecutive years of record-breaking fundraising for the UW-Platteville Foundation.
The newly renovated Cyberlab, located in Busby Hall of Engineering, is a state-of-the-art facility designed to attract, recruit, and train top cybersecurity talent. Equipped with the latest technologies, the lab provides students with hands-on experience—such as ethical hacking and penetration testing—in order to prepare
Michael Knipe joins UW-Platteville as Athletic Director. Knipe brings more than a decade of experience within both Division II and Division III athletic programs. He spent the past four years in leadership roles, including serving as director of athletics at North Central University and deputy director of athletics at Fort Lewis College.
Ullrich Hall may be UW-Platteville’s oldest building on campus, but the recently renovated first floor now offers a modernized experience for students in the new collaborative Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. The remodeled space includes a neuroscience lab and clinical exam room suite.
Celebrating 45 years of pioneering distance education
This year marked another milestone in UW-Platteville’s storied history as a pioneer in distance education. The university celebrated its 45th year of providing high-quality distance education to students across the globe.
UW-Platteville has come a long way since the first distance education program was launched in 1978. At that time, the university offered a single print-based distance degree. Today, UW-Platteville boasts a number of online programs, including three associate degrees, nine bachelor’s degrees, and 10 master’s degree programs, as well as 16 undergraduate and graduate certificate programs.
The success of UW-Platteville’s Extended De-
A MASTER’S DEGREE candidate receives her hood during the 2022 spring commencement ceremony.
With world-class faculty members and a diverse range of courses, we are dedicated to continuing our legacy of engaged learning that empowers our alumni, current students, and future graduates to positively impact their field.”
of students to take distance courses. These printbased programs allowed students to earn a degree from the convenience of their homes, receiving and sending assignments through the mail. This degree format was the main vehicle for delivering distance education in the first 20 years it was offered through UW-Platteville.
As technology advanced, the university was among the nation’s first to develop cutting-edge ways of delivering quality programs. In 1999, UW-Platteville became the first public university in Wisconsin to offer degrees 100% online. From the first graduate in 1980 to the more than 3,000 distance graduates today, UW-Platteville’s journey in the distance realm has been one of academic and innovative excellence, according to Associate Provost Dr. Carolyn Keller.
“For 45 years, we have been committed to serving students beyond our physical buildings. Few institutions can boast such an awesome heritage and commitment to excellence,” Keller said. “I am proud of where we’ve been and excited for where we’re going. With world-class faculty members and a diverse range of courses, we are dedicated to continuing our legacy of engaged learning that empowers our alumni, current students, and future graduates to positively impact their field.”
The first online program, the Master of Science in Project Management, was soon followed by online graduate degree programs in engineering and criminal justice. UW-Platteville continued re-
To learn more about UW-Platteville’s online programs, visit go.UWPlatt.edu/online.
market and industry demands, adding bachelor’s degrees, associate degree programs, and eventually certificates to their online offerings.
Because the university blazed the trail for delivering distance education, it has often served as a model for other institutions looking to establish their own programs. But as technology has evolved, the programs have also, according to longtime Project Management Program Coordinator Bill Haskins.
“Our programs stand out because we’ve delivered distance education for a very long time, with ample institutional memory and experience to draw upon,” Haskins said. “Change is a fact of life, so we also strive to incorporate new content, processes, and technology wherever it makes sense to advance student learning. Interactive discussions, small group projects, video resources, and guided presentations create a more dynamic learning experience.”
Haskins said there are many reasons students seek an online education over a traditional on-campus experience. UW-Platteville’s programs are intentionally designed to be asynchronous, allowing students to take classes to fit around their busy schedules. The university also has prioritized supporting students from day one through graduation, with dedicated academic advisors, the state’s top online resources, and unmatched professor access.
BEYOND THE DIPLOMA
College is a time of growth and exploration, and for many students, their professors play a pivotal role in this journey. We asked alumni to share their stories of professors who made the biggest impact on their lives—those who taught more than what was in the curriculum, extended their classroom beyond the walls, and helped shape who they are today.
BY STEPHEN KELLEY
The UW-Platteville professors who changed our lives
“I’M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THE ENGINEERING PROGRAM WITHOUT DR. JOANNE WILSON’S SUPPORT.
As a young woman in the College of Engineering, I was one of only a few women students. Dr. Wilson started at UW-Platteville at the beginning of my sophomore year in the fall of 1986. She was an important role model for me and provided the encouragement that I needed to get through some challenging times. She was always available
when the stress of classwork was too much and I needed a sounding board. I was the sixth female to graduate with an electrical engineering degree from UW-Platteville. Knowing she was there to give sound advice and encouragement helped me finish the program.”
– Carol Weber ’89
“I am always humbled when a former student acknowledges a contribution I may have made to their time at UW-Platteville. I am proud of all of my former students and their accomplishments. Many have significant accomplishments in their professional lives, and many have beautiful families. If I made their academic career at UW-Platteville just a bit better, that makes me very happy.”
– Dr. Joanne Wilson
“DR. THOMAS LUNDEEN WAS MY FAVORITE.
He made history classes much more interesting, and if you ever took the time to speak to him outside of class, he was a fascinating man.”
– Walter Fellows ’97
“Dr. Christina Curras, of course! You get to get dirty and play with ‘soil.’ And an extra bonus, she always had her dogs at outside labs!”
– Sarah Ericson ’09
“Dr. Jerry Strohm saw something in me that I didn’t know was there. He believed in me, and for that, I will forever feel a debt of gratitude.”
– Carolyn Timmerman ’99
“Dr. Rea Kirk was an amazing educator. So kind, caring, and compassionate. We still keep in touch to this day. She has had a huge impact on my life in so many ways!”
“IF I HAD IT MY WAY, I WOULD HAVE HAD DR. WAYNE WEBER AS MY TEACHER FOR EVERY CLASS I HAD AT UW-PLATTEVILLE.
It didn’t take me long to figure out in my first course with him that this was the type of teacher I wanted to be. His style of teaching, his knowledge base, his charisma, his sense of humor with the students—it was Dr. Weber that solidified what path I should take in life. Dr. Weber brought so much energy and enthusiasm into the classroom that every single student would give it their all to do their very best. I was truly excited to learn and excited to see what came next. And here I stand, a 23-year veteran biology teacher—and still to this day, my style of teaching, energy, and humor that I bring to the classroom each and every day is all as a result of one incredible role model—Dr. Wayne Weber.”
“We at this university, and especially those directly engaging students in learning, have a tremendous impact and, quite literally, transform student lives. This is an inspiring and noble endeavor that, at the same time, is an incredible responsibility and humbling. However, to be able to make a difference every day, how lucky we are!”
– Dr. Wayne Weber
“I was a psych major and had a few classes with Dr. Marc Wruble. At first, I found him intimidating when he spoke, but he was such a strong and knowledgeable speaker. You could hear the passion in his voice every time he talked. One thing that still sticks in my mind to this day is when he taught us the difference between asking the question ‘How do you feel about that?’ versus ‘How did that make you feel?’ because no one should have the power to make you feel anything. Only you can manage your emotions. I think about that almost every day as I’ve worked in the education system for 12 years now.”
– Emily O’Brien Castle ’10
“DR. COLLEEN MCCABE WAS A CONSTANT GUIDING LIGHT FOR ME!
I know my teaching career would be nothing if it weren’t for her. Among the many things she did for me, she got me my first job. I owe it all to her!”
– Bridget Krupa ’06
“Dr. Adam Stanley was probably the best professor I had at UW-Platteville. I majored in technology education, and I was never really into history. When I had to take World Civilization II, I was not excited about the class. After a few weeks, it became my favorite class. Dr. Stanley was always so enthusiastic about his lectures and so personable and helpful in discussion sessions. 10/10 would recommend.”
“DAN ROMÁN IS SINGLEHANDEDLY
THE BEST PROFESSOR I’VE HAD AT UW-PLATTEVILLE …
and, in my humble opinion, the greatest asset to the criminal justice department. He was a police officer with the Madison Police Department for over 33 years and had the greatest stories. He talked about scenes he’d been on, how he handled them, and how he would have handled them differently. He is always one who will admit when he was wrong and steer his students to do the right thing. He also talks very openly about the mental health struggles those in the criminal justice field will face, which was something I didn’t
understand until going into this line of work myself. Whenever I struggle, I think back to classes with Dan and the stories he would tell that helped him through his personal struggles. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Dan. I now work as a Corrections Officer for the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department in Rockford, Illinois. If I turn out to be half the officer that Dan Román was, then I’ll hopefully be able to inspire future officers in the way he did for me.”
– Katherine McKinney
’21
“Prior to joining the university in 2017, I worked in law enforcement for more than 33 years, the last 26 as a senior crime scene investigator. While television and movies might portray being a CSI as “cool,” there is a dark side to the work. While patrol officers handle routine police calls, critical incidents are the domain of the CSI and include much more expertise, including scene analysis, photography, identifying and collecting evidence, scene reconstruction, fingerprint identification, bloodstain, shootings, and death investigations. While much of this is covered in the material taught in the UW-Platteville program, the “darker” elements of the work need to be taught by instructors with field experience. In my experience, there are aspects of the job that aren’t found in textbooks, which is why I make it a point to address the emotional elements of the work. This includes the need for compassion and kindness when dealing with victims of crimes, as well as emphasizing professionalism, ethical standards, and truthfulness. I teach my students how to channel any negative emotions, like anger, into positive energy. This ensures that they leave no stone unturned and can build the strongest case possible, ultimately focusing on justice for the victim.”
“I am a 1951 graduate of Platteville Teachers College. The teacher who had the most impact on my life was Marjorie Hugunin. It was a great time to be in college. WWII veterans were there and were serious students. We all had to be more serious. Some teachers had to change because the veterans demanded excellence, decent lessons, and accurate information. Miss Hugunin didn’t need to change. From the beginning, she demanded hard work and excellence. She taught courses in grammar, English literature, Shakespeare, and the novel. She required that all tests be written with a fountain pen. Many of us English majors felt if we could pass any of Miss Hugunin’s tests, we could pass any test any time and/or any place. After graduation, she became a friend. I always felt if I could teach one-half as well as Miss Hugunin, I would be a success.”
–
Dido Nash ’51 “Dr. Kris Wright’s excitement and spellbinding stories about ecology and evolution would always leave me inspired during my year as an exchange student at UW-Platteville. I teach science in Norway now, and I try to incorporate a little bit of him in the way I teach.”
– Maja Kristin Kophamer
’09
“George Smith (at right) and Dave Westerman were instrumental in validating my decision to switch degrees to broadcast production and have a long-term career from it—30-plus years in production now.”
“DR. MARILYN TUFTE WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE AMAZING.
I spent many afternoons on Friday talking with her in the Micro Lab. I still think about her all the time.” – Philip Villani ’91
“DR. ART RANNEY ALWAYS TREATED HIS JOURNALISM STUDENTS AS PROFESSIONALS AND ENCOURAGED US TO SEE OURSELVES AS SUCH.
He held us to a high standard and we flourished because of it, winning countless awards over the years. Professor Ranney was also the advisor to all the journalism-track students and took his role very seriously. He took the time to listen to us, understand our goals, and offer guidance on what courses outside of the track would be most beneficial to supplement our general education credits. He truly wanted us to enjoy our experience and get the most out of it.”
– Amybell Kwallek ’10
“DR. ORVILLE NELSON AND DR. SUSAN STUESSY, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, WERE THE PROFESSORS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME.
Overall, I was impressed with all my professors at Platteville. They were always, always very personable and approachable. I couldn’t have asked for a more wholesome college to attend.”
– Ron Herro ’69
LANDSCAPE
UW-Platteville senior Daniel Inyang competes in the high jump at last spring’s UW-Platteville Invitational.
A Snapshot of Platteville’s Printing Class
By James Hibbard, University Archivist
Hardly a month goes by without an alum donating something to the archives, and these pieces of information, though small, help fill in the gaps in our university’s story, providing snapshots of our rich history. Recently, the archives received one of those snapshots, a donation of a scrapbook of printing examples of business cards, advertisements, and the like compiled by Eugene Fendt ’54, a printing class student. The scrapbook, called a Sample Book, was donated by Fendt’s son, Gregory, and is approximately 12" x 14".
Born and raised in Watertown, Wisconsin, Eugene Fendt, called Gene, majored in industrial arts at Platteville’s State College. One of the classes he enrolled in was a printing class offered by that program.
The Industrial Arts program, originally called Manual Arts, was established in 1926. It instructed students in the trades of blacksmithing, carpentry, electrical wiring, architectural drawing, auto mechanics, and printing. The type of printing press the college used was not recorded. What is known, according to an Exponent article, is that the “print shop is tucked away in a glass cage” in, what is today, Ullrich Hall. The printing students printed everything from school stationary, envelopes, and activity tickets to commencement programs, alumni post cards, and even “telephone slips.”
By the time Fendt arrived in Platteville in 1950, the printing class had added silk screen printing, etching, lithography, duplicating, electrotyping, and stereotyping. Professor Emerson Manzer, the printing instructor, instilled in the students a sense of pride in printing by honoring one of America’s most famous printers, Benjamin Franklin, and stressing “the importance of printing in meeting the needs of business, education, [and] government.”
EUGENE FENDT
EUGENE FENDT’S SON recently donated this Sample Book to the university archive. In
significant is that it is a window into the world of the Industrial Arts program in the 1950s. A researcher may get an idea of what a particular academic course was like by looking at photographs or reviewing its description in the college catalog, but this Sample Book illustrates the actual work performed by a student in that course.
The seriousness of Fendt as a student was indicated at the beginning of his Sample Book. On the first page, he glued the course outline, detailing what kind of printing samples Manzer expected. The Sample Book has 20 categories of print samples, beginning with “Tickets” and ending with “Miscellaneous printing jobs.” Fendt labeled the categories in green ink A–T and systematically inserted numerous samples of each category. Near the bottom of the sheet, Manzer admonished the students about the Sample Book: “Get it started . . . do a PROFESSIONAL JOB.”
Fendt took Manzer’s admonishment seriously, for his Sample Book contains printing samples of holiday cards, college flyers, card stock, playbills, and so forth. He collected them primarily from Platteville and his hometown of Watertown. One of the events that was clearly a priority, by the number of different print items in his Sample Book, was the Industrial Arts Sawdust Ball. This long-forgotten social event was sponsored by the Industrial Arts Club. Held during Homecoming, it was, as described in the Exponent, “the first semi-formal dance of the school year.” It featured an orchestra and had a mascot called “Woody,” a cartoon figure of a man in suit and tie.
In addition, there are several print samples that Fendt printed, such as envelopes, event tickets, and test prints of alphabet letters—called type specimens. His most poignant sample is a Christmas card, entitled “Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men.”
INCLUDED IN THE Eugene Fendt ’54 collection was this small pendant of a printing press with the word STAFF on it.
Included in this collection was a small pendant of a printing press, with the word STAFF on it. Engraved on the back of the pendant is his name: Eugene Fendt. The backstory of this pendant is unknown. The best guess would be that Fendt, who had been a sportswriter and sports editor of the student newspaper Exponent, may have earned this pendant for that work.
Fendt graduated in 1954 with a degree in secondary education. From 1954 to 1988 he was employed as an industrial arts teacher and later as an English teacher. His Sample Book and pendant are treasures to learn from and fill in
A COURSE OUTLINE from one of Eugene Fendt’s printing classes.
ALUMNI
Alumni collaborate on historic transportation project
After years of work, the final phase of reconstruction on one of the busiest interchanges in the state of Wisconsin was completed last fall, and several UW-Platteville alumni led the way on this historic project. The Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee County, whose namesake is the Milwaukee County Zoo, is an interchange of two major freeway corridors. It is the highest traveled interchange in the state, with 350,000 vehicles using it every day.
The project required a lot of crossover and collaboration between design, construction, financial management, traffic management, and the public information team. Among the key contributors were a number of UW-Platteville civil engineering alumni, including Patrick Wiseley ’96, Senior Project Manager at Lunda Construction Co.; Jason Zembroski ’97, Construction Project Engineer at CGC Inc.; Bill Koutnik ’00, Construction Project Engineer at CORRE Inc.; Aaron Bubb ’99, Design Project Manager at Kapur; Laura Shadewald ’99, Bureau of Structures Development Chief at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation; Jason Roselle ’01, Southeast
at the Wisconsin DOT; Stephanie Leranth ’02, Southeast Freeways Traffic Engineer at the Wisconsin DOT; Eric Hanson ’10, Construction Project Manager at the Wisconsin DOT; Charles Payant ’12, Construction Project Engineer at the Wisconsin DOT; and Elizabeth Wells ’12, Construction Project Engineer at the Wisconsin DOT.
Although some of the members of the Zoo Interchange project attended UW-Platteville at the same time, they didn’t all know each other in school.
However, their shared educational background, coupled with working together on this massive billion dollar-plus project over the past decade has allowed the group to build a strong relationship.
“It’s been a great experience working on the Zoo Interchange, in general, but all the relationships that have come out of it have been really the most rewarding aspect of it,” said Roselle, who added that while they have good working relationships, they’ve also built friendships.
“It was kind of cool to build this relationship professionally and personally. We had this shared experience, even though on campus,” said Bubb of Roselle. Bubb, who started on the project in 2007, worked on the design of the interchange, putting together plans and specifications. Roselle, who started on the project in 2012, oversaw the construction of the entire program. His team oversaw the day-to-day construction of the project and made sure it was built according to the plans and specifications put together by Bubb and his team.
Bubb credits UW-Platteville with developing him into a well-rounded candidate when he started his career by encouraging him to find summer jobs, internships, and co-ops,
THE
TERCHANGE in Milwaukee County is the highest traveled interchange in the state, with 350,000 vehicles using it every day.
to get real world experience. He said that because he was able to work in surveying, construction management, and inspection, he was exposed to different parts of civil engineering, in addition to design.
Both Bubb and Roselle agree that the educational foundation built at UW-Platteville is immensely important. For that reason, they both say UW-Platteville graduates are often at the top of their list to hire—both as professionals and as student interns. This included the opportunity for student experience on the Zoo Interchange project. Isabelle Holcomb ’22 was a Wisconsin Department
Roselle’s team, who worked on the Zoo Interchange project the summer before she graduated. She credits the internship with opening the door to accepting her job at the Wisconsin DOT, where she has continued to work on the project the last two years as a Civil Engineer.
“She’s really jumped into her role on the team, bringing energy, passion, and wanting to get involved in everything she can,” said Roselle, calling Holcomb a rising star in the industry. “She wants to learn about all the aspects of construction, and we’re really trying to foster that environment for her and help her grow.”
common, Holcomb said she’s been able to connect with many of her co-workers, especially as a newer employee. She said talking about UW-Platteville is a great way to connect with supervisors and chiefs and that their shared experiences make for a good ice breaker.
“We almost always have something in common, which I think is a direct result of UW-Platteville being a small, close-knit community. Among my peers, I find that it is easy to make connections and develop friendships by talking about common experiences,” said Holcomb. “As an intern and new grad, it can be intimidating to join a project as large as the Zoo Interchange, so being able to connect with other UW-Platteville alumni on the team made that transition feel smoother.”
ISABELLE HOLCOMB ’22
JASON ROSELLE ’01
AARON BUBB ’99
ZOO IN-
PLATTEVILLE PORTRAIT
SSETTING THE STAGE FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
eniors Isabelle Emerson and Anna Fassbinder
spent last summer doing what they love: working in theatre. Collaborating side-by-side with professionals, they were able to build up skills in their chosen areas—Emerson in set construction and stage managing and Fassbinder in hair and makeup.
Spending full days in production meetings or working with costume designers or in the shop, the students helped bring the award-winning musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 alive on stage in front of hundreds of audience members.
It was a rare opportunity to experience a full-time, paid position in theatre—without leaving Platteville—all thanks to a unique, new internship fund established by alumni Lana ’71 and Bob ’70 Wiese.
The Wieses’ passion for giving back to students stems from their own time at UW-Platteville and the support they received. Bob attended college through the GI Bill and Lana received scholarships. Now, as owners of Studio Gear, LLC—an audio, video, lighting rental and sales company that facilitates live events—the Wieses make it a priority to give back to UW-Platteville.
“These students at UW-Platteville are the future,” said Lana. “This university is an anchor for this region, and we want to support the place that set a path for us. I am at a stage
ON THE SCENE: Isabelle Emerson (left) and Anna Fassbinder
STRONG SUPPORTERS:
Lana ’71 and Bob ’70 Wiese
difference, and I am taking action to help and give back.”
Strong supporters of the UW-Platteville Foundation and scholarships over the years, the Wieses recently started envisioning a new form of support for students—one that leverages UW-Platteville’s strengths as a student-focused, handson university.
“Smaller state universities, like UW-Platteville, give students so much,” said Lana. “They give access to professors and access to assistance. At UW-Platteville, you are not a number, you are a person.”
With an abundance of opportunity for high-impact, handson opportunities already on campus, the Wieses decided to support UW-Platteville students by creating the means for
This university is an anchor for this region, and we want to support the place that set a path for us.”
activities, while getting paid, ensuring they are able to stay on campus full time. They created the Studio Gear Student Success Internship Fund, which makes available high-impact paid internship positions on campus for students with event-related roles.
“The creation of this fund is the culmination of a lot of things,” said Lana. “After several conversations with UW-Platteville leadership and UW-Platteville Foundation officials, we determined that we wanted to plant our philanthropy in helping students stay on campus to get high-impact experiences and make some money to support themselves. It is so important for us to be able to support those kids.”
Emerson and Fassbinder both say they are grateful for this internship fund, and without it, would have had to take fulltime jobs off campus during the summer, limiting their ability to be involved with the Platteville Summer Arts Festival’s theatre production. Instead, they spent their summer building new skills for their resume and networking with professionals.
“This internship gave us skills that I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise on my own,” said Fassbinder, a theatre major originally from Dubuque, Iowa, who plans to pursue theatre in Chicago after graduation. “It gave me a push to do things
it gave me things I’ll take with me when I go to job interviews. Learning these skills that I can take to Chicago and be ready to go is really valuable.”
Emerson is majoring in both English education and theatre. She hopes to help build up a theatre department in her future school district.
“This internship really confirmed a lot of things for me,” said Emerson. “I got to work with an amazing set of designers and crew and cast and bring them all forward and onto a project. It helped me find other opportunities as well. I made a lot of friends with cast members with similar goals, who gave me tips on managing being both a teacher and growing a theatre department.”
Both students express their gratitude to the Wieses, acknowledging the unique opportunity and impact it will make on more students.
“Giving an internship for theatre and the arts is so valuable, because there are so many available for engineers, and sometimes arts get pushed to the background,” said Fassbinder.
Emerson agreed, adding “To have this opportunity to work here and stay on campus and do all things to help rear the next generation of kids in theatre is really important. This kind of support and opportunity will undoubtedly domino down.”
CLASS NOTES
Rick Stecker ’69 recently published his second book, The Entrepreneur and the Secret Book of Business Branding. He writes, “the book covers business work that I have done and secrets I discovered as an entrepreneur over the last 15 years.” The book is available through Barnes & Noble and on Amazon. Stecker’s personal business name is Rick Stecker’s Grounds to Grow.
Diane Hanson ’70 was inducted into the Pecatonica Vikings Athletic Hall of Fame (Blanchardville and Hollandale) in September. Hanson was also inducted into the Barneveld Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Burlington Wall of Fame in 2019 for her pioneering efforts on behalf of girls’ athletics. Hanson also accepted the volunteer position of Special Olympics track and field coach in February 2023 for Western Racine County.
Jim Ryan ’77 was awarded the 2023 Jeff Becker Beer Industry Service Award, by the Beer Institute, for his leadership and dedication to the U.S. beer industry. Ryan has held several senior-level field sales management positions with Anheuser-Busch, Pabst Brewing Company, and the G. Heileman Brewing Company before joining
to Crown Imports and Constellation Brands Beer Division—in 1988. He eventually served as senior vice president of corporate affairs at Constellation and was a member of the Beer Institute’s Management Committee before his retirement last year.
Scott Ingwell ’79 was inducted into the Pecatonica Vikings Athletic Hall of Fame (Blanchardville and Hollandale) in September 2023. Ingwell is retired from the brewing industry after more than 39 years. He started at Jos. Huber Brewing Co. in Monroe in 1980 in QA. Ingwell went to Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago in 1982 and received his degree in brewing science, earning the title of valedictorian. He was then promoted to brewmaster. Ingwell started to work for Anheuser Busch Brewing in Jacksonville, Florida in 1989 as a manager in the brewing department. He was promoted to startup team at a new brewery in Cartersville, Georgia, in 1992. Ingwell continues to live in Cartersville with his wife, Karen (Hermanson) ’79.
Bob Byrnes ’79 was awarded the CC Ludwig Award, the highest award presented by the League of Minnesota Cities. Byrnes has served as Mayor of the City of Marshall since 1992. He is also being awarded the Southwest Minnesota State University Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award and Lifetime Membership.
Dan Anderson ’80 recently retired after 43 years in the workforce, with 35 of those years spent at Kavanaugh Restaurant Supply.
Jaynellen (Johnson) Holloway ’82 retired at the end of last year. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1982. She writes, “I have had the pleasure of working in my chosen field over the past 40 plus years in both the private and public sectors. I am retiring from the City of Watertown, Wisconsin, where I have been employed for the past 10 plus years. I started as the city
motion to Director of Public Works/City Engineer a little over two years ago. I am proud that I broke barriers as the first woman in many professional settings. I was the first female engineer at the county highway department I worked for and the first female chapter president of a professional engineering society. Notably, I made history as the first female Director of Public Works/ City Engineer in the City of Watertown.”
John Gerbitz ’83 started a dairy farm consulting company called Cow Corner LLC. Gerbitz is putting his experience as a dairy farmer, artificial insemination technician and trainer, reproductive management consultant, and milking equipment consultant into this new venture. Cow Corner LLC specializes in herd management monitoring and advice for dairy farms using box-
ON SEPT. 8, 55 soil and crop science alumni and friends gathered for the annual golf outing and picnic at Apple Canyon Lake Golf Course. Pictured from left to right are Joe Kennicker ’91, Paul Simon ’90, Wayne Loeffelholz ’90, and Guy Mathais ’93.
Mary Louise (Cermak) Resch ’86 started a Community Resource Brokerage and Grant Writing firm in Columbia, South Carolina, following her retirement in June 2022. Since its launch, the firm has already raised over $2.7 million dollars in grants and other funding for 13 South Carolina nonprofit organizations. On Jan. 7, 2024, Resch was featured on an AARP telecast addressing Social Security and Medicare on all of the broadcast networks in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, and Florida. This program also included several of the major presidential candidates and their views on these critical issues. A video of the broadcast is posted to the AARP Advocates YouTube Channel.
Brent Frankenhoff ’89 is Executive Director of the Jensen Community Center in Amherst, Wisconsin. In 2020, he added Editor/Ad Manager of the monthly Community Spirit newspaper to his job duties. He previously worked for 20 years at Krause Publications in Iola, Wisconsin, as an editor on Comics Buyer’s Guide. In 2022, he celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary.
Jennifer Gasner ’96 has published her memoir, My Unex-
Beyond My Diagnosis. The memoir chronicles her journey after being diagnosed with a rare, progressive neuromuscular disease at the age of 17. Find more information at https:// jennifergasner.com/
Tristan Lambert ’98 was named the William T. Miller Professor of Chemistry at Cornell University. He also recently became Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.
Rachael (Lehr) Staab ’06, Manager of ESG and Sustainability
Reporting at The Hershey Company, is the distinguished recipient of the ESG Influencer of the Year award for her exceptional role in advancing ESG within her organization.
THE UW-PLATTEVILLE SOILS TEAM alumni reunion was held last July. Alumni who competed on the UW-Platteville Soils Team had a fun time reminiscing with each other.
THE 1953 WISCONSIN State College football team went undefeated with a record of 6-0. Three members of this team were All Conference and are members of the Athletic Hall of Fame: James Zimbrich ’56, Howard Murphy ’55, and Neil Kohn ’57.
Becky Haddad ’12 just celebrated a one-year anniversary at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an Assistant Professor in agricultural education/skilled and technical sciences teacher preparation. Since graduation, she spent five years teaching in Minnesota, obtained a master’s degree from North Dakota State University, Ph.D. from Oregon State University, and taught at the University of Minnesota for two years prior to joining Husker
CLASS NOTES
Jessie Goodwin ’12 was promoted to Executive Director at The Children’s Museum of Wilmington in North Carolina. She has been named in the 2023 WilmingtonBiz 100 recognizing the top 100 power players, influencers, innovators, connectors, and rising stars impacting southeastern North Carolina’s business landscape. She has been with the Museum since 2019.
William Clift ’13 is the Director of Development at the University of Northern Colorado.
Brandon Hall ’13 is the winner of the 2023 Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Award. Hall is a Location Operations Manager/Crop Specialist for West Central FS.
Jordyn Belken ’16 is the recipient of the George Tipler Founders’ Scholarship from the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association. Belken is the Director of Communications and Marketing at the Platteville School District.
Joshua Luoma ’19 is pursuing a Ph.D. in laser-plasma interactions at Cornell University. He recently received the DOE NNSA Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship.
Sam Gueli ’20 was recently promoted to Patrol Lieutenant with the City of Appleton Police Department.
Collin Thompson ’21 is a Manufacturing Engineer at SS White Technologies Inc. in St. Petersburg, Florida. SS White makes shafts for thousands of different applications across the aerospace, automotive, and medical fields.
Miranda Ko Cui ’22 continues to make strides in the medical device industry as a Senior Engineering Leader at Roche and serves as the youngest elected member on the advisory board of directors in the history of the Birch Aquarium in San Diego,
Kyle Corrigan ’22 has launched a Republican primary bid for a U.S. senate seat in 2024. He is Owner and Investigator at Bright Line Investigations LLC, a private detective agency. He earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from UW-Platteville in 2022.
Kishore S. Thota ‘23 was appointed by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to serve as the Director of the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
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Tell us about any updates in your professional or personal life—promotions, accomplishments, awards, moves, marriages, baby announcements, and more.
ALUMNI AND FRIENDS gathered in Ft. Myers, Florida, on Jan. 23, where they reconnected with fellow Pioneers and heard campus updates from Chancellor Evetovich.
IN MEMORIAM
1940s
Edith M. Parkins ’47, Lancaster, WI
1950s
Delbert “Dell” B. Schuster ’52, Lancaster, WI
Bernard “Bud” F. McGinley ’52, Sheboygan, WI
Jerome “Joe” W. Goeman ’54, Cuba City, WI
Robert “Bob” W. Chambers ’55, Seneca, WI
John F. Weger ’55, Elroy, WI
Norman L. Anderson ’56, Kerrville, TX
Lyle F. Novinski ’56, Irving, TX
Patricia A. (Ziech) Erickson ’58, Stoughton, WI
John P. Schockmel ’58, Mundelein, IL
Basil R. Eastwood ’58, Round Hill, VA
Thomas Bakke ’59, Madison, WI
Donald A. Gruber ’59, Fort Atkinson, WI
Carol J. Knox ’59 Dousman, WI
Norman “Norm” E. Ellefson ’59, La Crosse, WI
1960s
Ronald A. Sandstrom ’60, Germantown, WI
Gretchen S. (Steffens) Davisson ’60, Redding, CA
Robert J. Sebranek ’61, Green Bay, WI
Lillian (Tagalicod) Salazar ’62, Pahoa, HI
Emily M. (Hynek) Christianson ’62, Hillsboro, WI
Ruth A. Uppena ’63, Dodgeville, WI
James M. Hennings ’63, Ankeny, IA
Alan “Al” R. Beery ’63, Los Alamos, NM
Hugh Dalton ’63, Dubuque, IA
Judith A. Loos ’63, Marshfield, WI
Rosemary (McDonald) Liggett ’63, Oak Creek, WI
James S. Huffman ’64, Monroe, WI
James S. Wejcman ’65, Minneapolis, MN
Vivian L. (Dunning) Bauman ’65, Mineral Point, WI
John “Jack” N. O’Neill ’66, Belmont, WI
William “Bill” Balaam ’66, Lake Mills, WI
Ronald J. Allbaugh ’66, Vancouver, WA
Dr. Larry F. Lemanski ’66, McAllen, TX
Donald William Rumler ’67, Elizabeth, CO
Michael D. Radl ’68, Rock Hill, SC
Mary Jane Hanfeld ’68, Kieler, WI
Robert “Bob” Murray ’68, Fitchburg, WI
Joseph D. Butters ’69, Janesville, WI
Beverly M. (Knudson) Schwierske ’69, Mount Horeb, WI
Shirley M. (Smith) Sheehan ’69, Dubuque, IA
1970s
Ronald L. Gruenwald ’70, Venice, FL
Robert “Bob” T. Bates ’70, Sedalia, CO
Khalil E. Kardous ’70, Charlotte, NC
Craig L. Sauey ’71, Baraboo, WI
David R. Champeau ’71, Reedsburg, WI
James M. Lang ’72, Champaign, IL
Michael T. Horkan ’72, Wisconsin Dells, WI
John “Jack” F. Stanton ’73, Fishers, IN
Roger D. Leitzen ’73, Milaca, MN
Harvey W. Bastian ’74, Richland Center, WI
Paul G. Jones ’76, Verona, WI
Lynn M. (Casper) Bell ’78, Platteville, WI
Richard “Dick” W. Reisinger ’78, Newburgh, IN
1980s
John A. Ramuta ’80, Laveen, AZ
Carol E. (Carpenter) Benson ’82, Darlington, WI
John M. Fico ’82, Auburndale, FL
Brian F. Nerheim ’83, Edna, MN
Thomas S. Paulus ’83, Platteville, WI
James A. Kinder ’85, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Nina L. Carns ’89, Dodgeville, WI
1990s
Bruce D. Wilcox ’90, Monroe, WI
Joseph P. Foley ’93, Boscobel, WI
Randi S. Wulf ’95, Elkhorn, WI
Tyrone “Ty” R. Larson ’95, New Glarus, WI
Joseph S. Ehlers ’95, Green Bay, WI
2000s
Jeremy D. Diermeier ’02, Tomahawk, WI
Heidi J. Bloyer ’06, Prairie Du Chien, WI
2010s
Mitchell M. Dehn ’10, Berlin, WI
Mary K. (Biron) Sprosty ’15, Prairie du Chien, WI
Employees
Suzanne Mary Schroeder Buchert, Platteville, WI
Roger E. Gottschalk, Platteville, WI
Ilah F. Harvey, Platteville, WI
Thomas P. Hickey, Platteville, WI
James A. Kinder, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Bill Klein, Oregon, WI
David “Dinger” L. Maahs, Bagley, WI
William “Bill” K. Miller, Platteville, WI
Kristina Navarro-Krupka, Platteville, WI
Jennifer M. (Hass) Schnurer, Platteville, WI
Delbert “Dell” B. Schuster, Lancaster, WI
Marica J. Sola, Dubuque, IA
Dr. Irfan Ul-Haq, Platteville, WI
EVENTS
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
May 19
The UW-Platteville athletic department will induct the following four individuals into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
• Ross Bennett ’08, baseball
• Mike Jones ’01, men’s basketball
• Kelly Laschinger ’08, volleyball
• Chris Walter, wrestling coach
SPIKERMAN/WIMER PICNIC AND ALUMNI GATHERING
June 8 | Black Earth, Wisconsin
Steve and Marjorie Holzhueter Residence
MADISON MALLARDS
ALUMNI GATHERING
July 26 | The Duck Pond, Madison, Wisconsin
Connect with fellow alumni while rooting for the Madison
GOLF OUTINGS
Football Golf Outing
May 18 | Platteville Country Club
Swinging for Scholarships Golf Classic
June 14 | Platteville Country Club
Join us for a day of golf, reconnecting with alumni, and supporting music scholarships at UW-Platteville.
Baseball Golf Outing
June 22 | Platteville Country Club
Pioneering Forward Golf Outing
June 27 | University Ridge, Madison
This annual golf outing supports the Pioneering Forward Athletic Fund, which provides facility enhancements and opportunities that impact each student-athlete and realize the department’s mission and vision focused on competitive excellence and transformational experiences.
Women’s Basketball Golf Outing
July 26 | Dodge Point Country Club, Mineral Point
Men’s Basketball Red Dog Memorial
Aug. 3 | Platteville Country Club
Alumni Golf Outing Supporting BILSA Scholarships
Aug. 16 | The Oaks, Cottage Grove Money raised provides scholarships for students studying within the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture.
ASCE Tom Nelson Benchmark Open
Sept. 20 | Platteville Country Club
Join the UW-Platteville American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter for the 31st annual
More info online! uwplatt.edu/events
Contact Development and Alumni Engagement for more information on these events at alumnievents@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1181.
Schedule a visit or take a virtual tour.
Do you know a high school or transfer student with Pioneer potential?
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. RANKED
Schedule a visit for future Pioneers
www.uwplatt.edu/visit
To streamline communication, UW-Platteville will be moving to producing one issue of Alumni Today, released in the spring, while continuing to produce the Annual Report in the fall. If you are not already signed up for our quarterly e-newsletter, you can do so at www.uwplatt.edu/alumni-friends.