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(UW-W media release)

UW-Whitewater’s Department of Theatre/Dance Presents “Le Misanthrope”

Director Bruce Cohen Shows the Softer Side of this Classic Comedy

UW-Whitewater’s Department of Theatre/Dance is ready for you to experience “Le Misanthrope,” Neil Bartlett’s adaptation of the Moliere classic. Single tickets are $13 and Family Viewing Tickets for two or more individuals are $26. All ticketholders will receive an email with a link to view the production on Monday, November 23, 2020 and will be available for viewing from Tuesday, November 24, 2020 – Sunday, November 29, 2020. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling (262) 472-2222 or online at tickets.uww.edu.

Mis·an·thrope: a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society. The 80’s – when greed was good, hair was big, style was loud, and relationships were strategic – is the perfect setting for Bartlett’s adaptation of Moliere’s classic play. At Celimene’s extravagant party, Alceste and Oronte verbally spar for her affection. While Alceste despises society and vows to speak only the truth, Oronte is a wealthy respected member of society who feels he deserves to win Celimene. Vanity and silly flirtations ensue in this time-honored rollicking romp of a play.

Despite its outwardly comedic elements, Director Bruce Cohen shows us this adaptation’s softer side. “’Misanthrope’ belongs to the portion of Moliere’s work that treats character and scenario with more sophistication. It is considered a comedy, yes, but it is also quite an intimate and melancholy play. This emotional complexity lends itself well to our modified approach. I have focused in on those elements that the camera is so good at capturing; the wealth of psychological and emotional tumult that vibrates through the core of this play.”

The cast of “Le Misanthrope” features the talents of Kory Friend as Alceste (the titular misanthrope), Ivy Steege as Celimene, Jon Lotti as Oronte, Bryce Giammo as Philinte, Lindsay Bland as Arsinoe, and Natalie Meikle as Eliante.

 “Playing Alceste has taught me how to avoid judging my character at face value. He could be seen as the protagonist or antagonist of the show, depending on who you ask; I think he’s just deeply misunderstood” says Kory Friend on playing the role of the blunt and ill-tempered Alceste. “He is usually written off to be a jerk, but even in his anger we can empathize with him. He just wants people to be honest with him, and gets frustrated when they resort to flattery or small talk. It feels good to play Alceste from a place of understanding and earnestness, rather than working against myself by playing him as the jerk everyone thinks he is.”

“Le Misanthrope” tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling (262) 472-2222 or online at tickets.uww.edu.  Single tickets are $13.00 and Family Viewing Tickets for two or more individuals are $26.00. All ticketholders will receive an email with a link to view the production on Monday, November 23, 2020 and will be available for viewing from Tuesday, November 24, 2020 – Sunday, November 29, 2020.

(UW-W Press Release – Nov. 9)

First day of COVID-19 “surge testing” at UW-Whitewater draws 260 participants

About 260 community members, including families with elementary school-aged children to teenagers, came to the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena for the first day of COVID-19 “surge testing” at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Testing staff on site were separated by plexiglass and wore gloves, protective gowns and face shields. After visitors checked in, the testers instructed them on how to insert a swab into both nostrils, for about five seconds in each nostril, to collect a sample and then hand the swab back to the tester, who captured it for processing.

Parents were first handed swabs to test themselves and then additional swabs to collect samples from their children.

Knowing and not guessing brings peace of mind, according to Mike Kilar of Whitewater, who brought his children Angel and Kindyl. Angel smiled as he removed the swab from his nose, as if experiencing a tickle.

“One of my daughters and my wife work in the school district,” Kilar said. “We just wanted to make sure where we stood and if we were testing positive or negative.”

As people arrived and were tested through Monday morning and into the afternoon, the process was flowing smoothly, with brief waits in line or no waiting at all.

Brianna Tillett, a UW-Milwaukee student who came home to Whitewater to visit her parents, wanted to get tested before she went back on campus.

“I just wanted to be extra careful because I know that numbers are going up,” she said.

The new testing site at UW-Whitewater is a direct response to the surge of coronavirus cases across Wisconsin.

“At UW-Whitewater, we’re ready to do our part to combat the spread of COVID-19 in our region during this public health crisis. Our partnership with the University of Wisconsin System and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will allow us to conduct thousands of tests right here on campus, providing critical health information to people so that they can act appropriately and keep their families, friends and fellow community members safe,” said Chancellor Dwight C. Watson.

“I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to all of the employees who have made this COVID-19 testing site a reality. Over the past week, they have adjusted their workloads and pivoted quickly to meet the community need for a robust testing program.”

After a short wait in line and then moving through a testing station in about five minutes, Christina Schwab, UW-Whitewater head women’s wheelchair basketball coach, said, “It was pretty easy.”

“With the wheelchair basketball program, we are testing so that we can practice in some capacity. Since I’m making my athletes do it, I want to make sure that I’m doing it as well. And then also just for the safety of my family at home, too. My (college) background is in community health so I also think about the bigger picture and how this can affect, not just campus, but when I go home and my kids go to school in a different district. And so the big picture is what I think about.”

Testing information

The testing site is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, at the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in the Williams Center, 907 W. Schwager Dr., Whitewater, WI 53190. Free parking is available in lots 7 and 9 on Warhawk Drive. Please note, during Thanksgiving week, testing will be offered Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday only (Nov. 23-25), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Anyone 5 years and older can get a test. Pre-registration is required at doineedacovid19test.com. This is a rapid antigen test (nasal swab). People will receive their results within 15 minutes; space is set aside for people to safely distance while they wait.

Individuals who test negative using the rapid antigen test, but also are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or who test positive but do not have symptoms, are urged to get a confirmatory PCR test. A free PCR test will be available immediately to those who qualify on site. 

The “surge testing” program complements an already existing partnership between UW-Whitewater, UW System and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to regularly test university students, which began earlier this semester. UW-Whitewater students will continue to get their COVID-19 tests through University Health and Counseling Services at Ambrose Health Center on Starin Road by making an appointment at uww.edu/uhcs.

For more information on COVID-19 testing at UW-Whitewater, visit uww.edu/warhawks-return/testing.

(This announcement was sent to Lincoln parents on Nov. 9)

Dear Lincoln Elementary Families,

The Whitewater Unified School District is working hard to assure our students remain in school, as we know that is where they learn best.

The District adopted a plan requiring a school to shift to virtual instruction for three days after three or more positive COVID-19 cases are confirmed within a seven-day period.   Unfortunately, we have confirmed three cases at Lincoln Elementary School.  The building will be closed for in-person attendance Tuesday through Thursday. There is already a planned closure day for the entire District on Friday.  In-person instruction at Lincoln will resume on Monday, November 16th. 

Surge testing initiated today at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  The purpose of surge testing is to rapidly identify cases so that individuals can quarantine or isolate if they are COVID-19 positive. We expect this will impact WUSD as testing progresses.

Conferences this Evening:

Conferences will continue to be held at your confirmed time today.  

Contact Tracing:

Upon receiving the notification and confirmation, the school conducted initial contact tracing and has contacted any students or staff who were directly impacted by close contact via phone. If you did not receive a call, you were not a close contact.

Chromebooks & Supplies: 

Today, in order to prepare for the closure, teachers will be sending home any materials and supplies that students will need to participate in learning from home Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (AM). 

Online Meals:

The deadline to order online meals for Tuesday has been extended to 8:00 pm today (Monday).  The deadline to order online meals for the remainder of the week will remain at 10:00 am the day before pick up.  Families are able to order meals by following this link:  https://sites.google.com/wwusd.org/wusd-covid-19/food-service.  Meals ordered for pick up at Lincoln will be available for pick up outside of Lincoln.

Online Instructional Schedule:

Beginning Tuesday AM,  students should log into their SeeSaw classroom.  Assignments will be posted and class meetings will begin at 8:00 am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. These virtual meetings are important for students so please make every effort to help your child connect with their teachers during the scheduled times. 

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Kilar at (262) 472-8401.

Best, 

Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty

District Administrator

———–

Estimadas familias de la primaria Lincoln, 

El Distrito Escolar Unificado de Whitewater está trabajando duro para asegurar que nuestros estudiantes permanezcan en la escuela, ya que sabemos que es donde aprenden mejor.

El Distrito adoptó un plan que requiere que la escuela cambie a la instrucción virtual por tres días después de que se confirmen tres o más casos positivos de COVID-19 en un período de siete días.   Desafortunadamente, hemos confirmado tres casos en la Escuela Primaria Lincoln.  El edificio estará cerrado para la asistencia en persona de martes a jueves. Ya hay un día de cierre planeado para todo el Distrito el viernes.  La instrucción en persona en Lincoln se reanudará el lunes 16 de noviembre. 

Las pruebas en aumento de COVID-19 se iniciaron hoy en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Whitewater.  El propósito de las pruebas en aumento tiene por objeto identificar rápidamente los casos para que los individuos puedan aislar si son COVID-19 positivos. Se espera que esto afecte a WUSD a medida que las pruebas se realicen..

Conferencias esta noche:

Las conferencias continuarán llevándose a cabo a la hora confirmada hoy.  

Rastreo de contactos:

Al recibir la notificación y confirmación, la escuela realizó el rastreo de contacto inicial y ha contactado por teléfono a los estudiantes o personal que fueron afectados directamente por el contacto cercano. Si no recibió una llamada, no fue un contacto cercano.

Chromebooks & Materiales Escolares: 

Hoy, con el fin de prepararse para el cierre, los maestros enviarán a casa cualquier material y útiles que los estudiantes necesiten para participar en el aprendizaje desde casa el martes, miércoles y jueves (AM). 

Comidas ordenadas en línea:

La fecha límite para ordenar comidas en línea para el martes se ha extendido a las 8:00 pm de hoy (lunes).  La fecha límite para ordenar comidas en línea para el resto de la semana se mantendrá a las 10:00 am del día anterior a la recogida.  Las familias pueden ordenar las comidas siguiendo este enlace: https://sites.google.com/wwusd.org/wusd-covid-19/food-service.  Las comidas ordenadas para ser recogidas en Lincoln estarán disponibles para ser recogidas afuera de Lincoln.

Horario de instrucción en línea:

A partir del martes por la mañana, los estudiantes deben ingresar a su clase de SeeSaw.  Las asignaciones serán publicadas y las reuniones de clase comenzarán a las 8:00 am los martes, miércoles y jueves. Estas reuniones virtuales son importantes para los estudiantes, así que por favor haga todo lo posible para ayudar a su hijo a conectarse con sus maestros durante los horarios programados. 

Preguntas

Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor contacte a la Sra. Kilar al (262) 472-8401.

Lo mejor, 

Dra. Caroline Pate-Hefty

Administradora de Distrito

(Whitewater Unites Lives submission) Sheila and Melvin Juette are WUL Hometown Heroes, and have been nominated for “Fostering and adopting many children, and just recently extending their love and welcome during Covid when the unexpected death of a Whitewater High School student’s mother caused him to need a family. During a time when most families are closing off, they did what they do best and opened up their home and their lives.”

The nomination includes:  “The Juettes are working hard to do virtual school with all of their children, elementary level through high school. They are working hard to make the best of this situation and doing it with love.  Because hard work and love is what the Juettes do. 

And I’d like to end my nomination for the entire Juette Family as hometown heroes by quoting Sheila Juette, ‘Love will give us the strength and inspiration to get through this together.’ Together and love are what the Juettes do best and how the greater Whitewater community will come out of this better on the other side. Thank you to the Juettes! You are my heroes.”

The Juettes are currently parenting eight children at home, and have parented 80 children together. 

Melvin Juette said, “We are always thinking about what our community needs, and one of the things we thought the community really needed was providing a temporary, stable, environment where kids can come in and be loved and nurtured and being able to excel.  Even though we have them temporarily, we still consider them a part of our family.  We have had over 80 kids in our home so we still keep the connection…they reach out to us and we are always there to support them.”

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

 Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com 

(Discover Whitewater submission) The Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Council is inviting residents to drop off new or gently used coats, sweaters, hats, mittens, and other warm clothing items as part of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Big Bundle Up campaign. The Big Bundle Up is a statewide collection program running Nov. 5–Jan. 5, 2021. This is the tenth year of the Big Bundle Up and to date, the program has collected over 185,000 warm winter items to help families in need. Donating warm winter items is the perfect way to give to Wisconsin families in need as the holiday giving season approaches. A box will be located at the Discover Whitewater offices, 150 W. Main St. in downtown Whitewater for donors to drop off warm clothing items. Items can be dropped off Monday–Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. All items donated at this location will be given to local families. For more information about why Discover Whitewater is participating in the Big Bundle Up, please contact Kellie Carper, Exec. Director at (262) 473-4005.

(UW-W Press Release – Nov. 8)

COVID-19 testing for the community begins Monday at UW-Whitewater

Anyone 5 years or older can get free, fast COVID-19 tests starting Monday, Nov. 9. The testing site will be open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in the Williams Center.

Since the rapid test is less reliable than the PCR test, it will be recommended that those with positive results should follow up with the PCR test that generally takes several days for results.

For more information, and to register, visit: https://www.uww.edu/warhawks-return/testing

To see a video about the process, click here. (Although the video refers to testing for students, community members may use the link above to register.)

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
November 8, 2020

• With a 7-day case incidence as of November 8 of 77.6, Walworth County’s positive cases have essentially doubled in the past week. The county is deeply into the “very high risk” category (which begins at 25) under the Jefferson County model that Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) is no longer using as guidance. Whitewater’s case incidence, 69.6, is similar to that of Walworth County. Meanwhile, Jefferson County is currently reporting a 7-day case incidence as of November 4 of 72. The statewide case incidence is reported to be 75.7. (Case incidence = daily average new cases per 100,000 people.)
• The school district had the first two school closings since the gradual return to in-person school, with classes going virtual at Lakeview for 11/5-6 and at the High School on 11/9. WUSD’s current data indicates that since September 1 there have been sixteen positive cases among students and five staff members, a change of one student and two staff members since our report of November 1. In-person classes resumed fulltime for 4K – 5th grade on September 28; grades 6-12 began a hybrid model on October 12, and fulltime in-person classes resumed on November 2.
• UWWs current data shows that last week there were 70 students and 6 staff with positive PCR tests. This is more than double compared with 24 students and 7 staff in last week’s report. In the initial four weeks of the semester there had been a total of 371 students and 15 others. In the past five weeks there have been 142 students and 15 others with positive PCR tests. Positive results from the rapid antigen tests that are administered to asymptomatic and random volunteers have increased from 1.1% four weeks ago to 1.9% three weeks ago, 3.35% two weeks ago, to 8.15% last week.
• Per this state website, every county in the state current has a “very high” COVID activity level. Per the state, “COVID-19 remains very contagious and most people in Wisconsin are still at risk of getting sick from the virus.”
• The majority of new positive cases in Whitewater still appear to be at UW-W; however, it appears there is ongoing community spread in the remainder of the community.
  
  

DAILY CASE INCIDENCE PER 100,000 PEOPLE – WALWORTH COUNTY

End Date	New cases/14 days	Incidence	New cases/7 days	Incidence
9/15	527	38.8	403	59.2
9/22	648	47.7	245	36
9/29	379	27.9	134	19.7
10/5	302	22.2	176	25.9
10/16	308	22.6	176	25.9
10/25	427	31.4	265	39.0
11/1	533	39.2	268	39.4
11/8	795	58.5	527	77.6

DAILY CASE INCIDENCE PER 100,00 PEOPLE – CITY OF WHITEWATER (WALWORTH COUNTY PORTION)

End Date	New cases/14 days	Incidence	New cases/7 days	Incidence
9/15	345	206.8	284	340.4
9/22	419	251.1	132	158.1
9/29	180	107.9	48	57.6
10/17	42	25.1	20	24.0
10/25	61	36.6	45	54.0
11/1	75	44.9	30	36.0
11/8	88	52.7	58	69.6

TEST POSITIVITY RESULTS – CITY OF WHITEWATER (WALWORTH COUNTY PORTION)

End Date	# Tests Reported – 14 days	# Positive	Positivity %	# Tests Reported – 7 days	#Positive	Positivity %
8/22	216	27	12.5%	103	6	5.8%
8/29	240	19	7.9%	128	13	9.2%
9/7	421	77	18.3%	274	60	21.9%
9/20	958	404	42.2%	571	204	35.7%
9/29	663	180	27.1%	236	48	20.3%
10/17	175	42	24.0%	80	20	25.0%
10/25	310	61	19.7%	140	45	32.1%
11/1	266	75	28.2%	126	30	23.8%
11/8	297	88	29.6%	171	58	33.4%

TEST POSITIVITY RESULTS – WALWORTH COUNTY

End Date	# Tests Reported – 14 days	#Positive	Positivity %	# Tests Reported – 7 days	# Positive	Positivity %	% of Those with Positive Results Who Reported being Asymptomatic	Total Deaths
8/22	2386	277	11.6%	1071	112	10.5%	11.4%	25
8/29	1972	210	10.6%	901	98	10.9%	11.1%	27
9/7	1953	228	11.7%	986	129	13.1%	10.9%	32
9/22	2689	648	24.1%	1249	245	19.6%	9.7%	34
9/29	2504	379	15.1%	1255	134	10.7%	9.75%	35
10/5	2189	302	13.8%	864	176	25.6%	9.49%	35
10/16	1803	308	14.6%	1142	176	15.4%	9.47%	36
10/25	3304	427	12.9%	1097	265	24.2%	9.36%	38
11/1	2289	533	23.3%	1192	268	22.5%	9.10%	39
11/8	2748	795	28.9%	1556	527	33.9%	8.8%

WUSD is providing the following “COVID Tracking Data” on its website at this link.

COVID TRACKING DATA

On September 23, 2020 the WUSD School Board voted to suspend the utilization of a community level metric.

Below is the cumulative and current number of close contact, symptomatic, COVID positive staff and students.

District COVID Tracking Data Sept 1 – November 2 (updated Nov. 3)
		Cumulative	Nov. 2
STAFF
	Close Contact Positive Person	32	5
	Showing Symptoms	37	1
	Tested COVID-Positive	5	2
	Total Quarantined Staff	74
STUDENTS	Close Contact Positive Person	160	66
	Showing Symptoms	258	15
	Tested COVID-Positive	16	0
	Total Quarantined Students	434
	Totals	Number of Positive COVID Cases	21
	Number of Days of School	43

UWW has established the following dashboard which provides useful information. It is found at this link.

COVID-19 Dashboard

The COVID-19 pandemic is an ever-changing situation and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater actively monitors and reviews a series of health, safety, and resource metrics to guide decision-making with regard to university operations. These metrics are considered in combination and consultation with recommendations and orders from the state and county health departments before any changes in operations are made.

Last Updated 11/6/2020 at 10:00 AM

COVID-19 cases reported to UW-Whitewater

	New reports – Week of Nov. 1-7	Previous week	Cumulative reports since March 2020
Students	70	24	516
Employees	6	7	29
Other	0	0	4
Unknown	0	0	0

Dashboard is updated on business days with available data. Numbers include cases reported through university-coordinated testing, as well as those reported through the COVID-19 Hotline, which may include testing that occurred off-campus through other health clinics/providers. Student employees are counted in the student numbers. The “Other” category is defined as any positive cases reported to UW-Whitewater who are neither students nor employees and may include visitors to the university, contractors or vendors, or others who have been to the university in person.  These numbers represent individuals who have had direct contact with the campuses.  Individuals who are working or attending solely in a remote manner and not living in University Housing are not included.

Regional Metrics

	University Health and Counseling Services (10/15-10/29)	Walworth County (10/18-10/31)	Rock County (10/21-11/3)	Jefferson County	Wisconsin (7-day average)
Percent Positive	39% (92/236*)	16.57%	24.6%	35.6%	32%
Time to complete contact tracing	100% of contacts are initiated within 48 hours**	82% of contacts are initiated within 48 hours	70% of contacts are initiated within 48 hours	Not Available	N/A
Healthcare system capacity level	No crisis management of care	No crisis management of care	No crisis management of care	Not Available	12% Available (Based on Immediate Bed Availability)
Total cases per 100,000	n/a	545.7 (39 per day)	1051.4 (75.1 per day)	1051.1 (75.1/day)	1060.6 (75.8/day)

*UHCS percentage positive is based on PCR testing performed at the University Clinic site of students only.  Case totals are represented by (Total Positives/Total PCR Tests)

**To avoid duplication, UHCS actively partners with Walworth, Rock, and Jefferson Health Departments.  County Health Departments do tracing of positive cases and UHCS employees do tracing of contact cases. 

Previous 7 days of PCR Tests Administered

PCR* Test Date	# of PCR Tests Administered
10/28/20	9
10/29/20	20
10/30/20	9
11/2/20	36
11/3/20	26
11/4/20	50
11/5/20	30

*PCR testing is conducted on symptomatic individuals and individuals with positive Antigen testing results.

Total All PCR Tests	# of PCR Negative	# of PCR Positive	Percentage Positive
1219	881	355	28.7%

Antigen* Test Date	# of Antigen Tests Administered	# of Antigen Negative Results	# of Antigen Positive Results	Percentage Positive
10/28/20	200	191	9	4.7%
10/29/20	104	101	3	3.0%
10/30/20	67	62	5	8.1%
11/2/20	157	143	14	9.8%
11/3/20	89	79	10	12.7%
11/4/20	146	125	21	16.8%
11/5/20	242	222	20	8.3%
Weekly total	1005	923	82	8.15%
Total All Antigen Tests	4188	4014	173	4.3%

*Antigen testing is conducted on asymptomatic and random volunteers.

Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Tues. @ 10:00 a.m.
For agenda click on “meetings” in upper right hand corner.
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86331390058?pwd=dnNOUTk5TkFqc2k3NGR0R29lKzJ1UT09
Passcode: 344914
Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
Webinar ID: 863 3139 0058
Passcode: 344914

City of Whitewater Public Works Committee – Tues. @ 6:00 p.m.
Includes Discussion and Possible Action regarding Department of Public Works Facility – Space Needs Assessment & Master Planning Study; Click here for agenda
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/385818285
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (312) 757-3121
Access Code: 385-818-285

City of Whitewater Plan & Architectural Review Commission
Sign Ordinance Amendment Review Subcommittee – Friday @ 9:00 a.m.
Click here for agenda.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/752595701
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (669) 224-3412
Access Code: 752-595-701

UW System, Alliant Energy recognize outstanding students, teachers for 2020

(UW System news release – Nov. 6) MADISON, Wis.—Two University of Wisconsin System students and four teachers are being recognized today by the UW System and Alliant Energy Foundation for their outstanding achievements. The Alliant Energy/Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Achievement Award recognizes the outstanding academic and community-service efforts of students from traditionally underrepresented minority groups who are pursuing a degree in business or engineering at UW-Madison or UW-Platteville. The Alliant Energy James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes outstanding commitment to student success. The awards are presented to students and teachers from UW System campuses located within Alliant Energy’s service area.

“We thank the Alliant Energy Foundation for continuing to generously support these awards,” said UW System President Tommy Thompson. “With pride, we recognize these remarkable students and instructors whose impressive academic and volunteer achievements are helping even more students succeed.”

“We are honored to continue the legacy of these awards to recognize the hard work of students and faculty,” said Julie Bauer, Executive Director of the Alliant Energy Foundation. “These annual awards reflect Alliant Energy’s long-standing investment in both education and our shared future.”

The recipients of the 14^th annual Alliant Energy/Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Achievement Award are:

• Dalila Ricci, UW-Madison. Ricci served as a construction intern for the Gilbane Building Company in New York City this past summer. A Chancellor Merit Scholar and Leaders in Engineering Excellence and Diversity (LEED) Scholar, she tutors calculus for the Undergraduate Learning Center and has held various office positions for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. She is the Global Connections associate director at the Wisconsin Union and the UW-Madison Senior Class Office events director. Ricci plans to graduate in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
  
• Rkia Talbi, UW-Platteville. Talbi, a Chancellor Scholar, interned at Boeing this past summer. She is past president of the Society of Women Engineers and involved in Pi Tau Sigma, an international honor society for mechanical engineers. As part of the Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program at UW-Platteville, she mentors young women studying STEM fields. Talbi plans to graduate in December 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in French.

The 30^th annual Alliant Energy James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award recipients are:

• Ken Brosky, Associate Professor, College of Integrated Studies, UW-Whitewater at Rock County. Prof. Brosky uses pedagogical research to hone his teaching skills, adjusting his courses to help students develop research and information literacy skills to become better writers. He encourages first-semester students to enter what he calls “teacher mode” – thinking about audience and purpose in a more critical way. His students have gone on to appear on the Dean’s List for their accomplishments and to win awards and essay contests. Brosky recently helped write a grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities to infuse the humanities into water-related science courses at UW-Whitewater campuses, emphasizing freshwater issues affecting southern Wisconsin. He was named the Beloit Rotary Teacher of the Month in the 2018-19 academic year and received the Gil Sedor Campus Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2016.
  
• Kristina Fields, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UW-Platteville.

Dr. Fields teaches civil and environmental engineering courses with an emphasis in transportation. She created a study abroad civil engineering course, focusing on cycling infrastructure, with a university in the Netherlands. She teaches undergraduates how to use the roadway design software of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which has helped students attain jobs there after graduation. She is passionate about pre-college engineering outreach and was the curriculum manager for UW-Platteville’s Sky’s the Limit outreach program for young women. She is the faculty advisor for the Institute of Transportation Engineers UW-Platteville chapter and has chaired the City of Platteville Community Safe Routes Committee. Fields is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and the Center for Infrastructure Transformation and Education. She has earned campus awards in teaching, service learning, and advising, including the Excellence in International Advising Award in 2019.

• Sharon Thoma, Faculty Associate, Department of Integrative Biology, UW-Madison. Dr. Thoma’s primary focus is teaching Biology 101, a large introductory biology course with 700 to 900 students per semester. To engage these biology majors and non-majors, Thoma transformed the class, shifting from only lecture and high-stakes exams to including additional assessment that builds on students’ knowledge, using a variety of pedagogical tools. She works to make the classroom feel small by getting to know students, walking around the lecture hall to facilitate student interactions, and bringing natural items, such as plants and insects, for students to pass around during class. She encourages critical thinking and relates science to matters outside the classroom. Some students have decided to major in the biological sciences because of her enthusiasm for the field, personalized approach, and caring mentorship. She earned the Chancellor’s Hilldale Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2016, among other awards and honors.

• Kristi Wilkum, Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies, UW Oshkosh, Fond du Lac Campus. Dr. Wilkum’s teaching philosophy is to build on the strengths of each individual to enrich the community. She uses high-impact practices, including writing-intensive assignments, collaborative learning and new technologies, undergraduate research and community-based learning, and supervising internships. For the past five years, she has led an interdisciplinary research team developing a taxonomy of high-impact practices, work she has shared at national and regional peer-reviewed conferences. A first-generation college student herself, Wilkum mentored a student through the yearlong McNair Scholars program, which prepares low-income and underrepresented students for PhD work. In response to the global pandemic, Wilkum adjusted her public speaking course to encourage students to give virtual presentations on a variety of platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Collaborate Ultra, and Flipgrid. She mentors Phi Theta Kappa honor society chapter members. In the community, she coaches TEDx Fond du Lac speakers and conducts leadership workshops.

About the Awards

The Alliant Energy Foundation established an endowment in 2006 to honor Erroll B. Davis, Jr.’s distinguished record of public service. Davis, the first African-American leader of a “Business Week 1000” company, is a former chief executive of Alliant Energy and a former member of the UW System’s Board of Regents. He was interim Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools from 2012 to 2014.

The James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Awards are given as a tribute to the energy company’s long-time senior executive, James R. Underkofler (1923–2015), who was a staunch proponent of excellence in undergraduate teaching. He spent his entire career with the Wisconsin Power and Light Co. (now Alliant Energy), ending with his retirement in 1990 as chairman and CEO.

Both award programs are administered by the UW System’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs. For more information about each of this year’s recipients, see the awards program online.

For more information about the awards, visit:

• wisconsin.edu/grants-awards/erroll-b-davis-awards/
• wisconsin.edu/grants-awards/james-r-underkofler-awards/