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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/

(Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club submission – Nov. 6) Whitewater Middle School Builders Club students were out and about raking on Friday at the school, Lima Cemetery, Calvary Cemetery, several residents’ yards, Whitewater Congregational Church, Culver’s, Whitewater Islamic Center, and a farm. Thirty-eight young people (with nine from the high school) were working hard in our community! The Builders Club is a part of the family of Kiwanis Clubs in Whitewater.

The following message was sent to WHS parents on November 6:

Dear WHS Families, 

The District adopted a plan requiring a school to shift to virtual instruction for three days after three positive COVID-19 cases are confirmed within a seven-day period.  Unfortunately, we have confirmed three or more cases at Whitewater High School, and the building will be closed for in-person attendance Monday.  The building will be left vacant on Saturday and Sunday and deep cleaned on Monday.  In-person instruction will resume on Tuesday.

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. 

Online Meals:

The deadline to order online meals for Monday remains at 10:00 a.m. Sunday.  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 WHS Monday will be available for pick up outside of WHS.

Online Instructional Schedule:

On Monday, November 9th, students should log into their Google Classroom.  Assignments will be posted and class meetings will begin at 8:00 a.m.- 2:15 p.m. Please see schedule below:

Monday, November 9

8:00-8:30, Period 1

8:45-9:15, Period 2

9:30-10:00, Period 3

10:15-10:45, Period 5

11:00-11:30, Period 6

11:30-12:00, Lunch

12:15-12:45, Period 7

1:00-1:30, Period 8

1:45-2:15, Period 9

2:15-3:15, Office Hours and Asynchronous Work

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 Mr. Lovenberg at (262) 472-8100.

Best, 

Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty

District Administrator

—

Estimadas familias de WHS, 

El Distrito adoptó un plan que requiere que una escuela cambie a la instrucción virtual durante tres días después de que se confirmen tres casos positivos de COVID-19 en un período de siete días.  Desafortunadamente, hemos confirmado tres o más casos en la Escuela Preparatoria de Whitewater, y el edificio se cerrará a la asistencia en persona el lunes.  El edificio quedará vacío el sábado y el domingo y se limpiará a fondo el lunes.  La instrucción en persona se reanudará el martes.

Rastreo de contactos: Al recibir la notificación y confirmación, la escuela realizó el rastreo de contactos iniciales 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. 

Comidas ordenadas en línea: La fecha límite para ordenar comidas en línea para el lunes sigue siendo a las 10:00 am del domingo.  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 WHS el lunes estarán disponibles para ser recogidas afuera de WHS.

Horario de instrucción en línea: El lunes 9 de noviembre los estudiantes deben conectarse a su plataforma de clases de Google.  Las asignaciones serán publicadas y las reuniones de clase comenzarán a las 8:00 am y continuarán hasta las 2:15 pm. Por favor, vea el horario a continuación:

Lunes, 9 de noviembre

8:00-8:30, Periodo 1

8:45-9:15, Periodo 2

9:30-10:00, Periodo 3

10:15-10:45, Periodo 5

11:00-11:30, Periodo 6

11:30-12:00, Almuerzo

12:15-12:45, Periodo 7

1:00-1:30, Periodo 8

1:45-2:15, Periodo 9

2:15-3:15, horas de oficina y trabajo asincrónico

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 al Sr. Lovenberg al (262) 472-8100.

Lo mejor, 

Dra. Caroline Pate-Hefty

Administradora de Distrito

(UW-W Press Release, Nov. 4) — Beginning Monday, Nov. 9, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will serve as a COVID-19 testing site for the greater community. Anyone 5 years and older can get a test.

“We have a longstanding mission to serve the region, and during this public health crisis, UW-Whitewater stands ready to offer its expertise, its resources, its venues and the talents of its caring employees to assist in the fight against COVID-19,” said Chancellor Dwight C. Watson. “With the virus surging across Wisconsin, testing is a critical component to stopping the spread. We want people to know that the Warhawk family is here to help, and in the spirit of our great university, we always pull together in the most challenging times.”

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, Wednesday only (Nov. 23-25), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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. 

Community testing at UW-Whitewater is possible due to a new University of Wisconsin System “surge testing” initiative, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

This 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.

Caitlin Jung wins Outstanding Adult Student award at UW-Whitewater

(UW-W Press Release -11/03/2020) — Caitlin Jung from Whitewater, who is studying economics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has won a 2020 Outstanding Adult Student award.

Faculty and staff nominate candidates for the award, which recognizes students’ dedication to academics and the positive influence they make in the college classroom.

“The returning adult students selected for this award are hardworking, dedicated, resourceful, and actively engaged both in and out of the classroom. They are goal-oriented, take their learning seriously, and are highly committed to their academic programs, said Lynn Smith, student services coordinator for adult/nontraditional students. “They do it all – balance work, raise children, care for parents or other family members, volunteer, serve our country, and still exceed the expectations of their professors.”

(Downtown Whitewater press release – November 2, 2020) — During this unprecedented time, there
have been many unknowns for businesses, individuals, organizations, and events. Following
continued concerns about the COVID-19 virus, the Downtown Whitewater, Inc. board of
directors has decided to cancel the 2020 Parade Of Lights. Even though this saddens us to
announce we believe this is the right decision to make. Our number one priority as an
organization is to keep the Whitewater community safe and healthy and help stop the spread of
the COVID-19 virus in our community.

We would like to thank the entire Whitewater community along with our sponsors and
participating organizations for your continued support of the parade year after year. We’ll
continue to meet virtually and plan for a fantastic 2021 Parade Of Lights. We are working with
the City of Whitewater to put together a program with highlights from previous events for the
community to view.

(Support Wisconsin Dairy/Katzman submission) In the spirit of Halloween, Elizabeth Katzman – who raised $10,000 this spring through her Support Wisconsin Dairy yard sign campaign – donated 200 half gallons of Prairie Farms chocolate milk to The Community Space and the Whitewater Community Food Pantry. Chocolate milk is the Official Drink of Halloween! Founded in 1938, Prairie Farms is a farmer-owned cooperative made up of more than 900 farm families – many from southern Wisconsin. Prairie Farms produces high-quality dairy products – including milk, butter, cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese and ice cream – for families throughout the Midwest.

What to do when your mask opinions differ from others

The recommendation to wear masks in public during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to countless conversations between families, friends and strangers. The use of masks is effective and protects you, and the people around you, from the spread of COVID-19. The CDC recommends that you wear masks in public settings around people who don’t live in your household and when you can’t stay 6 feet away from others.

However, debates around the topic of mask-wearing take place in person, online, and everywhere in between. Their tone ranges from civil to verbally or physically violent. SSM Health wants to minimize the divisiveness about COVID-19, and specifically, one of the greatest tools to stop its spread.

“First and foremost, masks do work,” says SSM Health psychologist Dr. Julia Shah. “However, there is skepticism on the topic that is compounded by the fact that in the beginning of the pandemic, we did not have a full understanding of the virus and how it was spread. We didn’t yet know how effective masks actually were.”

“It’s ok to be angry, or whatever feeling you may have,” says Dr. Shah. “Keep in mind that people wear masks (or do not wear masks) for a plethora of reasons. The story you are telling yourself about their choice may not be the actual reason.”

Dr. Shah admits confronting someone about their behavior can feel awkward, but there are things you can do to alleviate the situation. If you’re with someone or plan on seeing someone you know, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Model the precautions you are taking and set the tone for the interaction. Others will choose if they want to follow along. Say things like, “Our family will be wearing masks to the playground,” or “Can’t wait to give you a hug from six feet apart!” Validating that this is an inconvenience, or a frustration, can be helpful.
• Asking others to wear a mask for your own comfort level is OK. With this, be prepared to have a plan if they do not honor the request.
• It is also OK to let someone know you’re not comfortable with in-person interactions unless everyone’s on the same page with precautions. For example, don’t feel guilty for leaving the park or offering Zoom instead of an in-person get-together. Having a firm but loving boundary is something we all will need to get comfortable with in order to continue to stay safe within the pandemic.

If you’re interacting with a stranger or someone you do not know, things can be much different. Here’s Dr. Shah’s advice for those situations:

• It is not acceptable to publicly admonish or shame people. If you’ve been on social media the past few months, you probably know that doing so rarely ends well.
• In public places, be prepared to play defense. Feel free to ask someone to please stay six feet apart if they get close to you. If conflict arises, ask to speak to a store manager. Try to stay calm and treat workers at these businesses with respect, because they can only do so much to help with enforcement of mask mandates.
• Do what you can to avoid confrontations. For example, shop at times that are less busy. If you’re not comfortable with how a business is handling social distancing measures, consider going somewhere else.

In situations like these, some people can’t help but try to change the other person’s mind. But be mindful that it might be fruitless.

“First impressions are powerful, especially negative ones,” says Dr. Shah. “Those who thought negatively about wearing masks likely still do.”

At the end of the day, try to remember we are all in this together, and be kind.

“You can only control yourself,” concludes Dr. Shah. “Say your peace and draw your (loving and respectful) line in the sand.”

(Studio 84 press release) Studio 84 has reinvented 2nd Saturdays. Sign up to receive your free kit and a link to the instructional video for the project that month. 

Director, Deborah Blackwell states, “After being closed for several months due to mandated closures, we are back on our feet and organized with our new life. We could finally focus again on how to use the remaining funds from the Whitewater Community Foundation for 2nd Saturdays.”

“With our regular programing,” Blackwell says, “we were able to reopen but only with about 25-30% of our artists to keep people count and distancing safest. However, 2nd Saturdays we couldn’t reopen as a come when you can open studio due to space and numbers that may come in to keep distancing safest.  We never know how many people would attend during the day or hour, so it would be hard to keep things safest for all.”

“So 2nd Saturdays has been reinvented”, Blackwell comments. She states, “Everything has been recreated to accommodate for these safety measures. So we put everything online. People can sign up for the 2nd Saturday project and reserve the free kit and create art at home.  Once registered they will receive the link to the online video on how to do the art project of the month. Kits would be picked up at Studio 84 curbside.”

Blackwell notes, “For November and December only we will be offering this opportunity and then our funds will have been depleted. So take advantage of this while it lasts! And remember it’s all FREE!” Fill out the form to reserve your kit today. https://forms.gle/Q7doLvhdJ12z5dJe9Visit our website for more details: www.studio84inc.org