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Exceeding its goal by more than $2 million, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is celebrating a successful conclusion to its Sesquicentennial Campaign. Launched in honor of the university’s 150th anniversary, the two-year fundraising campaign ended on June 30 with $17,025,959 in actual gifts and planned commitments.

“Congratulations are in order for the entire Warhawk family,” said Interim Chancellor Cheryl Green. “Our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends have worked together to share the story of how UW-Whitewater inspires, engages and transforms lives. This message has deeply resonated with donors who have generously given to the campaign and exceeded our expectations.

“The impact will be far-reaching and allow UW-Whitewater to work toward its vision to be a national and international leader in providing transformational and empowering educational experiences,” Green said. “With these funds, we will continue to eliminate barriers that prevent students from succeeding, and we will continue to offer an outstanding education at an exceptional value.”

More than $4.7 million of the campaign total will fund scholarships, helping UW-Whitewater recruit future Warhawks and reward them for their achievements, thereby reducing the financial burden on students and their families.

Critical programming that keeps students on a path to their degrees will receive more than $3.8 million – including campus tutorial services and the Warhawk Emergency Fund, which helps students stay enrolled despite financial emergencies.

UW-Whitewater’s championship-caliber athletic programs will receive more than $3.8 million to sustain their tradition of excellence. Warhawk intercollegiate sports have won 20 national team titles, and club teams have won 24 national championships.

Funds from the Sesquicentennial Campaign will also support colleges, departments, faculty development, and UW-Whitewater strategic priorities.

“We are grateful to all those who donated to the campaign and we take great pride in being responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us,” Green said. “What began in 1868 as a teacher preparation school is now a vibrant university that reaches across the globe, and the funds from the Sesquicentennial Campaign will set us up for success as we enter our next 150 years.”

A limited number of free sports physicals are available to WHS athletes. Schedule your appointment by calling 920-648-2400. Practices for most fall sports begin in early August.

There will be an old fashioned ice cream social at the historic Heart Prairie Norwegian-American Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday, July 28, 2019, from 2:00 – 4:00pm. The address of the church is N7372 County Rd P, Delavan, Wisconsin. A program of popular music from the 1850’s to the 1880’s and children’s games from the period will be featured. For more information, please visit https://namech.org/. The website contains maps to the location of the church which is near Whitewater on County Road P.

St. Patrick’s Country Fest!  

Sunday, July 28th
12:30-4:00 p.m. – Church Grounds

St. Patrick Church
1225 W. Main Street
Whitewater, WI

Lots of food, games, and activities for the whole family!
Cake Walk – Dunk Tank – Silent Auction – Food & Beverages
Music & Entertainment – 50-50 Raffle
Cash Raffle (win up to $2000) – $500 Amazon Gift Card Raffle

CLASS OF 1959 REUNION – 60 YEARS!
WHEN: SAT., AUGUST 10, 2019
WHERE: The Real MacCoys on Cty N
                    (Former Cold Spring Inn)
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
MENU:  ORDER OFF THE MENU
                (Pay your own bill including tax & tip)
R.S.V.P.  Before August 6, 2019 to:
                Eileen Snyder Brown 920-674-5550
                Patti Charles Brabazon brab@charter.net
INFORMAL GET TOGETHER
                6:00 FRIDAY AUGUST 9, 2019
AT RICK’S EASTSIDE BAR AND GRILL WHITEWATER
Come to either or both celebrations, catch up and share what you have been doing for the last 60 years!

On July 19, a donation check for $1500 was presented to Downtown Whitewater by Store Manager Joey Marx and associates. With more than 30 years in the Whitewater community, Downtown Whitewater would like to thank Walmart for their continued support of this community.

“Walmart supports this community in a variety of ways and we are fortunate to be the recipients of this donation earmarked by our local store through the Walmart Community Foundation. Walmart has a rich history of support for local communities through volunteer service of associates, donations made at a local level, and donations through their foundation. This donation allows us to continue the work of our organization to make the downtown the heartbeat of the community and for that we could not be more grateful.” -Lisa Dawsey Smith, Board President, Downtown Whitewater, Inc.

About the organization:
Downtown Whitewater, Inc. is a volunteer-driven organization spearheading community efforts to re-energize and enhance our historic downtown. We are community advocates and volunteers who share a passion for Whitewater. We bring people from all walks of life together to celebrate Whitewater’s history and traditions, to care for our downtown neighborhood, and to inspire confidence and investments that are flowing toward an economically vibrant, engaging, and exciting place in the heart of Whitewater – a place we love, a place we’re proud to call home, and a place where future generations can grow and take pride in calling their own.

For more information contact:
Sarah Liedtke
Downtown Whitewater, Inc. Associate Director
director@downtownwhitewater.com | (262) 473-2200
www.downtownwhitewater.com

Whitewater High School’s FIRST Robotics Team Ferradermis will be hosting their second annual Robotics Boot Camp for new members from Saturday, August 3, through Saturday, August 10, 2019. Students will learn from veteran members and adult mentors about the FIRST Robotics program, the team, and all of the skills that are used in building a robot. Participants will experience a taste of CAD, electrical work, mechanical work, programming, and prototyping along with building teamwork and communication skills. Boot Camp is a great way for students to get their feet wet and decide what parts of the team they would be interested in learning more about.

All current and incoming Whitewater High School students are invited to experience this free opportunity. Please reserve your spot by emailing Laura Masbruch at lmasbruch@wwusd.org by the end of July.

All meetings will take place at Whitewater High School in rooms 305 and 306. The full schedule of Boot Camp sessions is below. We ask that participants be able to attend a majority of the sessions; students not attending Boot Camp will still have an opportunity to join the team in the fall.

Saturday, August 3, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Monday, August 5, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Tuesday, August 6, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Thursday, August 8, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Friday, August 9, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Saturday, August 10, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Follow Ferradermis on Facebook or at www.ferradermis.org.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has received its largest bequest to date – a $5 million estate gift from alumnus Byron R. “Chris” Chrisman.

Chrisman, who received a B.S. in business in 1959, previously donated $1.5 million in 2015 to help construct the Mary Poppe Chrisman Success Center. This brings his total actual and pledged contributions to more than $6.5 million – the most of any individual donor to the campus.

Since its founding more than 150 years ago, UW-Whitewater has enrolled and championed students from diverse backgrounds. This mission of access meant that Chrisman – who left school in the 9th grade to join the U.S. Army during the Korean War – could later pursue a college degree. He went on to have successful careers in accounting, law, and real estate.

“UW-Whitewater blessed me by admitting me, on probation, because I did not have a high school education, and provided me with the college education that made it possible to go on to law school and achieve success. UW-Whitewater sort of ‘kick-started’ the engine, so to speak, and made it possible for me to go above and beyond.”

The $5 million gift will be targeted to four endowment funds: Student Success, Warhawk Emergency Fund, Rugby, and Wheelchair Athletics.

Chrisman, who lives in Colorado, is the founding donor of the Student Success Fund, which supports the university’s robust tutorial services. Each year, thousands of students use the Mary Poppe Chrisman Success Center at UW-Whitewater, named after Chris’s late wife, herself a Warhawk alumna. The additional funds will be used to hire more tutors, purchase new technology, improve accessibility, and enhance programming.

Recent graduate Mackenzie Kroplidowski worked as a tutor and office manager at the center and said the experience “positively changed my life forever.”

“Not only did I receive support academically but I gained professional skills through working there such as communication skills, leadership skills, problem-solving skills, and advocacy skills,” she said. “I am proud of campus tutorial services and am grateful to anyone who believes in what (the Chrisman Success Center) does and the positive impact it has on students at UW-Whitewater.”

The Warhawk Emergency Fund helps low-income students stay enrolled despite financial emergencies. Since the fund’s establishment in 2017, 300 students have been awarded almost $250,000 to pay for housing, auto repairs and transportation, medical/dental bills, utilities, childcare, and a wide range of other emergency needs.

Every student who received a grant – 100 percent – was retained from the fall to the spring semester. The impact on student success and wellbeing is profound, said Professor Lauren Smith, who manages the program.

“My colleagues and I have worked with so many students who had no reliable place to stay, drove unsafe cars, had trouble affording required field placements, were sometimes choosing between gas to get an internship and food,” she said. “Student financial crises distract students from their academic work, and the quick infusion of money that the emergency fund provides allows them to get back on track before academic issues snowball. To be able to support these students is a relief and a joy for me.”

Two other areas that will receive money are the Rugby Fund and Wheelchair Athletics Fund. Both are club sports with a history of winning national championships. Because they are not intercollegiate sports, the programs are more heavily reliant on private contributions. Funds from the Chrisman gift will be used to recruit and retain student-athletes, pay for travel, and develop spaces for practices and competitions.

“We have become rugby fans because of the Warhawk team and know that they can use the support so that the players and their families have to give less. We love attending games when we can,” Chrisman said. “We also had the opportunity to watch some of the wheelchair basketball members play, and we were amazed and fascinated at what they do.”

Chrisman is so committed to fostering success at his alma mater, he hopes to be able to contribute even more.

“My estate is still growing and it is my hope that I will be able to give more because I know that more is needed.”