RIVER FALLS, Wis. (January 20, 2023) – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls fall semester Dean’s List honoring 1,593 students has been released by Registrar Kelly Browning.
To be named to the Dean’s List, a full-time undergraduate must earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a scale of 4.0, or midway between an “A” and “B” average.
About UW-River Falls:
UWRF is a student-centered institution that provides excellent accessible academic programs serving the needs of our region, the state and beyond.
Editor’s note: The following announcement was received from Pamela Sonmor-Wintz.
Brooke Mason, Aidyn Amundson, Mayte Navejas, and Andrea Alcala have been chosen to attend Badger Girls State in 2023! Badger Girls State is a program designed to develop leadership skills in high school students and train future stateswomen in the science of government. It will be held on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus from June 18-23. Participants are chosen for their interest in American Government and their outstanding qualities of leadership, character, cooperativeness, dependability, and participation in extracurricular activities. Thank you to the Whitewater American Legion for sponsoring these four delegates this year!
MENOMONIE, Wis. (January 19, 2023) – The following students from the area have been named to the University of Wisconsin-Stout Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester.
The award is presented to students who have a grade point average of 3.5 or above.
UW-Stout, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, has 49 undergraduate majors and 23 graduate programs, including one doctoral degree. UW-Stout, established in 1891, prides itself on the success of its students in the workplace, with an employment rate above 98% for recent graduates. The university was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2001.
UW-Stout is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes.
Cassandra Hoxie, Junior, BS computer and electrical engineering Luke Rule, Senior, BS digital marketing technology Gabe Schemmel, Junior, BS digital marketing technology
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
This week’s image from c.1900 shows one of the best Queen Anne style homes built in the late nineteenth century in Whitewater, the house at 166 N. Fremont St., as taken in winter by historic amateur photographer Henry Scholl with a glass plate negative. The three-story square tower gives this house a distinctive appearance and for many years the owner would put lighted Christmas trees in each of the windows of the tower.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents today unanimously approved King’s appointment, following a recommendation made by a selection committee. King will assume the leadership post on March 1.
King served as Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Financial Services at Bethune-Cookman University prior to his role at UW-Green Bay. He was Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at Florida Atlantic University and led the Council for Student Affairs of the State University System of Florida. King also held leadership positions at East Carolina University, Wheeling Jesuit University, and the University of Florida.
“Corey King’s vision for UW-Whitewater and commitment to student success is extraordinary,” said Jay Rothman, UW System President. “He’ll put student learning at the center of his work at UW-Whitewater, and we are looking forward to where his talents can take the university.”
“I am excited to join the faculty, staff, students, and broader community as we continue to advance UW-Whitewater’s mission of being a ‘preeminent academic institution driven by the pursuit of knowledge, powered by a spirit of innovation, and focused on transforming lives,’” King said. “The university’s demonstrated commitment to student success and excellent educational experiences at both the Whitewater and Rock County campuses will continue to be our driving force.”
“Corey’s background in guiding student success, commitment to student learning and the student experience, and enthusiasm for everything public higher education can bring to the community and the state offer a bright future for UW-Whitewater,” said Regent Vice President Amy Bogost, Chair of the Search and Screen Committee. “I am especially thankful for the search committee’s tireless work and the leadership of Vice Chair Lynn Gilbertson.”
King earned a bachelor’s degree in curriculum and instruction and a master’s degree in higher education administration/student affairs from Florida State University. He earned a doctorate in educational administration and leadership from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
President Rothman and the Special Regent Committee for the UW-Whitewater Chancellor Search recommended King to the full Board of Regents. The Committee includes Regents Bogost, Ashok Rai, Jill Underly, and Kyle Weatherly.
The Search and Screen Committee includes members of the Special Regent Committee; Gilbertson, Associate Professor and Department Chair in the College of Education and Professional Studies; Tanja Anderson, Campus Administrative Specialist, Rock County campus; Ciera Edwards, Associate Director, University Bookstore; Lynn Gardinier, Community/Alumni Representative; Kimberly Nath, Associate Professor, College of Letters and Sciences; Praveen Parboteeah, Professor, College of Business and Economics; Davin Stavroplos, Student; and David Wachanga, Professor, College of Arts and Communication.
King will earn $265,000 as chancellor.
Founded in 1868 as a normal school for training teachers, UW-Whitewater offers more than 48 undergraduate majors, 22 master’s degree programs, one doctoral degree, and one education specialist degree. It has an enrollment of more than 11,000 students and employs about 1,230 faculty and staff. It has campuses in Whitewater and Rock County.
Rothman also thanked Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth.
“I want to think John Chenoweth for stepping into the interim role of chancellor and building a foundation for future success,” Rothman said. “His dedication, with over two decades of service to UW-Whitewater, is exemplary. We owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Update 1/19 @ 6 p.m. – Editor’s note: The following message was posted in the UW-W announcements on January 19.
Message from Interim Chancellor Chenoweth
Dear university community,
This afternoon the University of Wisconsin System announced that Dr. Corey King will be our next chancellor for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
I can tell you Corey is an exceptional person and a highly-respected leader. I am excited to work with him and eager to welcome him as our new chancellor. I recognize that any change in leadership can evoke a range of emotions, and I can say with no pause, that my emotion right now is complete confidence. I have infinite belief in the new chancellor. His values, accomplishments, and reputation are all highly admirable. With complete certainty and conviction, I have full faith in our future.
I am thankful for everyone who supported me during my time as the interim chancellor. Until the new chancellor arrives on campus, myself and Robin Fox will continue to serve as the interim chancellor and provost, respectively. We remain fully focused on the university’s top priorities and preparing for a smooth transition.
After the new chancellor arrives, I look forward to returning to the role of provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs, as well as serving the chancellor and serving on the chancellor’s cabinet. I am eager to continue working on our challenges and building off our strengths. And above all, I appreciate the opportunity to continue working with you, a team unlike any other. My greatest professional accomplishment has, and will continue to be, being a Warhawk.
Thank you,
John Chenoweth Interim Chancellor
Update 1/19 @ 7:45 p.m. Editor’s note: Corey King’s curriculum vitae may be viewed here.
TDS sign located at Blooming Field Drive east of Tratt Street
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
A previous article in the Banner indicated that TDS Telecom (TDS), which is headquartered in Madison, had announced at the September 6 meeting of the Whitewater Common Council that the company has plans to bury a 56 mile digital fiber network that would allow it to serve 98% of the city with internet, television, and phone service. The company stated that symmetrical internet speeds for their residential service start at 300 MB x 300 MB and are offered up to 2Gig. Up to 10Gig is dedicated to business customers. Spectrum is currently the only residential high speed broadband and cable TV provider in the city. It does not have a fiber network here. According to Spectrum’s website, its current maximum internet speed is 1Gig.
No timeline for construction and introduction of service was provided by TDS in the September meeting. Connections to service would be offered on an area by area basis as the installation proceeds. TDS recently built out a fiber network in Sun Prairie, with population over 35,000, in 16 months. Installation of fiber networks is currently underway in Janesville and Fort Atkinson.
The initial commencement of the TDS network installation in Whitewater is evidenced by signs such as the one above that have recently been placed in the area of Blooming Field Drive, Foxglove Lane, and Walton Drive. The Banner is not aware that TDS has made any announcement regarding the timeline for completion of their network and availability of services. However, when an address in the area of the initial construction is entered on their website, a prospective customer is told that “Services are estimated to launch in your neighborhood in Summer 2023.”
TDS encourages individuals who know that they will be interested in their service(s) to register on this website. A $25 deposit is required, which will ultimately be applied to a customer’s first billing, or be refunded if service is never made available. According to TDS, the number of registrations in a given area may influence the timing of the installation. When registering, a potential customer is also given the opportunity to select the services that they would like to purchase. Costs are shown, and in some cases there are offers for discounts and/or fixed pricing for certain terms.
Chief Kelly Freeman presents plaque to Mike Higgins
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
At the Common Council meeting on January 17, a number of fire department personnel were present as City Manager John Weidl read a proclamation honoring Michael “Mike” Higgins upon his retirement from the Whitewater Fire Department effective December 31 after more than 41 years of service. Weidl noted that Mike had served faithfully and conscientiously, making many contributions to the department. He held many ranks, including firefighter, emergency medical technician, motor pump operator, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief and chief. Further, he served on many vehicle committees, the Walworth County radio committee, the Walworth County Chiefs Association, a four year tenure as president of the Walworth County Firefighters Association, and received a number of department and area awards.
In recognition of his service, Kelly Freeman, who followed Higgins as chief, thanked him for his service and presented him with a plaque. Higgins expressed appreciation for the recognition, mentioned the many city staff, council members, and department personnel he had worked with over the years, and said, “I don’t know where the 40 years have gone!” He would enjoy his retirement, Mike remarked.
In the “Helpful Links” section of the Banner, there is a Job Announcement link where government related agencies’ open positions are listed. Currently the following employers are listed: City of Whitewater, Jefferson County, UW-Whitewater, and the Whitewater Unified School District. Since the postings are linked to those organizations, the current positions for which applications are being accepted will be shown as long as the employer is keeping their information current.
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Dr. Richard Haven, who served as a professor of communication at UW-Whitewater from 1972-2011, was one of 137 leading scholars of American public address who in 1999 were asked to recommend 20th century speeches on the basis of social and political impact, and rhetorical artistry. In a brief interview this week with WMTV, Haven shared some of his thoughts on two famous speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Those speeches included the well remembered phrases, “I have a dream” and “I’ve been to the mountaintop.” The former speech was ranked #1 on the “Top 100 Speeches” list that was compiled from the scholars’ recommendations.
The interview may be viewed here. By the way, in the interview Professor Emeritus Haven suggests that everyone should read King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written in 1963 in response to a public statement of concern and caution issued by eight white religious leaders of the South. The letter is reproduced here.
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
As was previously announced, twelve candidates filed to run for one of the three open seats on the school board for the Whitewater Unified School District. On January 16 Nathan Vander Pas notified the Banner that, “After careful consideration, I have decided I will be withdrawing my candidacy for the School Board. I look forward to supporting the remaining candidates through this and after the primary.”
Having been certified by the school district as a candidate, however, Nathan Vander Pas will still appear on the primary ballot on February 21. The six candidates with the highest votes will progress to the general election on April 4. What would happen if Vander Pas is one of those six candidates? Riley Willman, elections specialist with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, told the Banner that his name would still appear on the general election ballot, and if Nathan is then one of the three candidates with the highest votes, he would have the choice of being seated or resigning. Should he resign, it would be up to the school board to decide whether to hold a special election or to appoint someone to the vacant seat for an interim term.
As was previously announced on the Banner, the League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area is hosting a school board candidate forum on January 28. In addition, the Banner has given the candidates the opportunity to answer several questions. The responses will be published within the next week.
