Mina Truesdale from Whitewater, majoring in BS in Chemistry, was named to the spring 2023 Dean’s Honor List at Cedarville University. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 5,082 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information about Cedarville University, visit www.cedarville.edu.
The commencement speaker for both ceremonies on the Whitewater campus was Mike Domitrz. Domitrz, who earned a BBA in business in 1993, is a world-renowned speaker and the founder of Center for Respect, an organization with a mission to prevent sexual assaults and encourage safe dating.
The student speaker for the morning ceremony was Hollyn Peterson. Peterson, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a painting emphasis, is a three-time cancer survivor who has overcome life-threatening obstacles in her formative years and is now flourishing as a young adult with big dreams.
Cum Laude graduatesMagna Cum Laude graduatesChancellor Corey A. KingMorgan Jensen singing the National AnthemStudent Speaker Hollyn PetersonMike DomitrzTurning of the tassels Catherine Yang, WHS graduate Catherine Yang
Officer Ryan Dewing of UW-Whitewater Police Services took this stunning photo of the Starin Park water tower on April 24 at 6:20 a.m. Dewing indicates that he was using the department’s DJI Mini 3 Pro drone, and that the photo is unedited.
The water tower was constructed in 1889 and was decommissioned at the end of 2022 as the new water tower on the southwest side of town was placed into service. An engineering study was recently completed on the tower, with estimates provided for repairing and maintaining the landmark versus demolishing it. A decision has not yet been made on its fate.
Editor’s note: The Banner is grateful to UW-Whitewater Police Services for permission to use this photo.
The City of Whitewater’s Community Development Authority (CDA) provides grants and loans to qualifying businesses to help them grow.
As the economic development organization for the City of Whitewater, the Community Development Authority (CDA) exists to encourage and assist development in the city that creates jobs, increases the tax base, and improves quality of life in the community. The CDA works to recruit and retain businesses by using a variety of strategies, incentives, and assistance.
The CDA offers three loan programs to help business grow: The Action Fund Loan program provides financing to businesses for land acquisition, site preparation and construction, installation of fixed equipment, and working capital. The Capital Catalyst program incentivizes capital formation and investment in startups and emerging growth companies. This program focuses on business development, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The Façade Improvement Program helps businesses primarily located in the central business district with external building improvements.
John Weidl, Whitewater city manager, stated, “The Community Development Authority (CDA) exists to promote development programs and empower its residents to the benefit of the entire city. The CDA has financing available right now to assist with working capital, facade improvements and incentivizing business development and entrepreneurship. These funds add up to well over a million dollars and are specifically available to encourage community building and economic development from the ground up.”
Blue Line Battery, Inc. (Blue Line) is a success story made possible with assistance from the CDA grant and loan programs. As a US based manufacturer headquartered in Wisconsin, Blue Line specializes in the engineering and manufacturing of advanced industrial Lithium-ion battery systems for the material handling industry.
Blue Line produces advanced Lithium-ion power systems that are a more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and safer alternative to lead acid batteries. Blue Line has been a tenant at the Whitewater University Innovation Center since November 2016. Over the years, several University of Wisconsin – Whitewater students have worked for Blue Line. Blue Line first received a Capital Catalyst Grant in March 2017. As their business developed, the CDA provided a series of loans to Blue Line which provided capital to grow their business. Those loans have now been repaid in full, allowing the CDA to reinvest those funds in other new or existing businesses here in Whitewater.
“On behalf of Blue Line, thank you to the CDA and the Whitewater community for all of your support,” said Nick Rinaldi, Blue Line Battery, “We as a company continue to hold the CDA and the Whitewater community in high regard for helping Blue Line grow to this point.”
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater. Anyone interested in further information about CDA programs is encouraged to contact John Weidl, jweidl@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-473-0104.
Editor’s note: The following press release was found in franchising.com.
Toppers Pizza is excited to announce a strategic transition in its leadership team as founder Scott Gittrich passes the CEO reins to longtime Toppers team member, Adam Oldenburg [WHS ’03].
After leading the popular pizza delivery franchise for over 30 years, Gittrich will be assuming a new role as Chairman of the Board, proudly supporting the brand from a different perspective. As the visionary behind Toppers Pizza’s success, Gittrich remains dedicated to maintaining the unique culture that defines the brand and is excited to witness the continued growth and momentum under the new CEO’s leadership.
“After several years of record performance, this leadership transition marks an exciting new chapter for Toppers,” said Gittrich. “Along with guiding the brand for over three decades, I have also had the privilege of preparing Adam to succeed me as CEO. With several years of record performance and an exceptional leadership team in place, the future of Toppers Pizza is incredibly promising.”
A rabid pizza fanatic and a seasoned business leader, Oldenburg has been an integral part of the brand for over 17 years, starting as a delivery driver and moving on to roles in management, Corporate Operations Director and most recently as Vice President of Operations. He is also part of an ownership group that owns five Toppers locations and was recently awarded Franchisee of the Year. With his extensive experience and deep understanding of Toppers, he is primed to lead the company into a new era of growth and development.
“I am honored to step into the role of CEO at Toppers Pizza,” said Oldenburg. “As a pizza guy at heart, I am fully committed to preserving the culture that makes our brand special. With Scott’s unwavering support, we’re excited to keep up the momentum for Toppers and drive new heights of success and achievement.”
Pictured left to right: Deb Schumacher (Manager, OB), Abigail Rhodes (Girl Scout Troop 7639), Carla Bilgrien (RN, OB), Taylor Masek (RN, OB and IPS), Mary Gronholz (RN, OB)
Whitewater Girl Scout Troop 7639 donated several boxes of cookies to Fort HealthCare’s Obstetrics Clinic on Wednesday, May 10th, as a thank you for all the work Obstetrics does for our community.
As part of its mission of service, Girl Scout Troop 7639 donates a portion of its funds to providing cookies to local nonprofits. In past years the troop has donated to a single charity, but this year troop leaders recognized that they are old enough to choose their own cause. At the beginning of the season, each Girl Scout chose an organization to be included in their donations. Abigail Rhodes chose Fort HealthCare’s labor and delivery nurses.
Last year, Abbie participated in Frosty Rock with her mother, Stephanie Rhodes, who is a CMA at the Center for Women’s Health, and her clinic. During the race, Christine Chuppa, MD, a long-time obstetrician and gynecologist at the Center, made such an impression on Abbie that she chose Fort HealthCare’s Obstetrics team as her cause. Her mother adds that Abbie said the nurses deserve cookies for all they do.
Abbie was her troop’s top seller during this year’s cookie drive, selling 2,500 boxes of cookies. She spent a total of 32 hours selling cookies at booths set up in retail stores and by selling door to door. Abbie, a 4th grader at Washington Elementary in Whitewater, has been a Girl Scout since she was in kindergarten as a Daisy Girl Scout. She is now a Junior Girl Scout.
The Girl Scouts participate in community service projects and Take Action projects that teach them leadership skills and show them the importance of giving back to the community. As part of their mission of service, Troop 7639 is donating a buddy bench to Lincoln Elementary in Whitewater. A buddy bench is a bench installed at an elementary school, that when a student sits on it, communicates to the other students that they are lonely and looking for a buddy. It signals to the other children they should invite the student to play. Buddy benches promote empathy and inclusivity and remind children to check in on their peers while encouraging children to be outgoing and meet and make new friends.
“We have a great troop of girls,” says Stephanie, who is a troop leader. “They’re really focused on giving back. They take what they learn and use it to empower the community. They’re all so sweet.”
“The OB staff is very grateful to Abigail and her troop for their donation of treats and is impressed with this young lady,” says Deborah Schumacher, who manages Fort HealthCare Obstetrics. “We encouraged her to think about being an OB nurse. She thinks she wants to be a vet, though—which is pretty cool, too.”
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by Fort HealthCare.
Scholarship Night for the Whitewater High School Class of 2023 was held on Wednesday, May 17, at 6 p.m., in the WHS auditorium. Seventy seniors were awarded 220 local and area scholarships worth over $227,580. Whitewater Unified School District administrators, staff, and community members presented the good news. Information was also shared about 24 state, national, and collegiate scholarships earned by this group worth over $706,480. This made the grand total of all scholarships awarded Wednesday evening over $934,000!
“In so many ways, this is a community that steps up for our students, including those who are about to take the next step in their academic careers,” said Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, WUSD Superintendent. “On behalf of the district, I would like to thank the individuals, families, and organizations that sponsor scholarships each year and support our students and the community. We would also like to thank the WHS Counseling Office that dedicates tremendous time to organizing and planning the Scholarship Night. And, a big congratulations goes out to our students whose hard work and dedication have earned them these opportunities.”
Community members interested in establishing a scholarship for the 2024 Whitewater High School local competition are asked to contact Pamela Sonmor-Wintz at 262-472-8113 or psonmorwintz@wwusd.org.
The local and area scholarships that were presented are as follows:
Samuel, Afah Annah
Kikkoman Foods, Inc., $1,000
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Brenda, Aguilar Valadez
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Anthony J Weiler Memorial Scholarship, $500
Kikkoman Foods, Inc., $500
Optimist Club – Robers Memorial, $500
Cambell Alexander
Veronica Hookstead-West Memorial, $4,000
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Allison Alvarado
Stimpson Memorial, $500
Anthony J Weiler Memorial Scholarship, $1,500
Kikkoman Foods, Inc., $500
Wyatt Anderson
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Whitewater HS LGBTQ+ Pride, $500
Tyler Arnett
Frawley Oil Company, $1,000
NHS Scholarship, $200
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Benny Liang Memorial Scholarship, $500
Brooke Bazeley
Whitewater Rotary Club, $1,000
Madelynn Buehler
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Burton H Heldt Memorial, $650
Whitewater Rotary Club Business, $1,000
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Keith Cameron
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld, $250
Caelyn Caputo
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Burton H Heldt Memorial, $650
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs, $500
Jamie Sendt Memorial, $750
Dayna Carlson
Sam & Anne Soffa, $13,000
Anders Clarksen
Krueger Memorial, $1,084
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Joshua Demrow
Wisconsin Technical Excellence Award, $6,750
Alejandra Diaz-Gallegos
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
ME Converse Public Speaking Memorial, $1,000
F. L. Moksnes Memorial, $1,000
Kikkoman Foods, Inc., $1,000
Melissa Patrick Memorial, $400
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Isabelle Dieter
Mary Eckstein Memorial , $2,000
Burton H Heldt Memorial, $650
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Molly Fader
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld, $750
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Julia Feit
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $500
Rose Marie Fosdal
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Veronica Hookstead-West Memorial, $4,000
Grace Foucault
FFA Alumni & FFA,
J-Hawks Booster Club Swim , $250
Burton H Heldt Memorial, $650
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Brandon Haas
Freiermuth Working To Success, $1,000
Rick Nelson Memorial Skilled Trades Scholarship, $1,500
Veronica Hookstead-West Memorial, $4,000
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Bernie Partoll Memorial, $500
Whitewater HS Technology & Engineering, $500
Schenck Process LLC, $500
Wisconsin Technical Excellence Award, $6,750
Reece Hammond
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Reagan Hammons
Rosemary Roe Goeglein Memorial, $1,750
Kathryn Mayer Memorial, $1,000
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Casey Heizman
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Kindyl Kilar
Fort HealthCare Robert G. Handeyside, $2,000
Randy Lyon Memorial, $500
TIMSHEL, $300
NHS Scholarship, $200
Whitewater High School Faculty & Staff, $1,000
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Tom Baird Memorial, $1,000
Josh Kirley
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld, $500
Tim Ryan Memorial Scholarship, $500
Cali Kopecky
American Legion Al & Doris Kolmos, $1,000
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Terra Staffing Services, $500
Fort Community Credit Union Scholarship, $2,000
Tom Baird Memorial, $1,000
Kachel Family Maury Greene Business, $2,500
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Lions Club, $500
Optimist Club – General, $500
TIMSHEL, $300
Jake Kuhlow
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
District Leadership Team Scholarship, $500
Sam & Anne Soffa, $13,000
Maricruz Lopez
Kikkoman Foods, Inc., $500
Anthony J Weiler Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Katlyn Maize
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $250
Anthony J Weiler Memorial Scholarship, $1,500
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Alexandra Martin
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Diane Flood Public School Arts Enrichment, $500
Fort Community Credit Union Scholarship, $2,000
Walworth County Arts Council Scholarship, $1,000
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
John Tinchner Memorial, $402
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Whitewater HS Music Parents – Roxa Pritchett Music, $1,000
Ben McCulloch
St John’s Masonic Lodge, $600
Rebecca Mendoza
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Whitewater Education Assoc, $800
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Courtney Meyer
Freiermuth Key to Business, $1,000
NHS Scholarship, $100
FBLA Scholarship, $100
Lions Club, $500
Whitewater Professional Police Association, $1,000
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Youssef Mohamed
F. L. Moksnes Memorial, $1,000
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Evelyn Noonan
American Legion Al & Doris Kolmos, $1,000
Veronica Hookstead-West Memorial, $4,000
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Emily O’Donnell
American Legion Al & Doris Kolmos, $1,000
FFA Alumni & FFA,
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Betzaida Palomec
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Aileen Perez-Aguilar
Engineered Plastics Company, $12,000
Washington PATT, $500
Lions Club, $500
Whitewater Community Foundation Founders’, $500
WHS National Honor Society Outstanding Leadership Award, $500
Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, $1,200
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Halee Peters
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) , $1,000
SSM Health Dean Medical Group, $500
Lakeview PTA Alumni, $500
Jenna Pope
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Clara Bray Reddy Memorial, $500
Lions Club, $500
Aaron Porras
Dream Big Scholarship, $1,000
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $1,500
District Leadership Team Scholarship, $500
Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, $1,200
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Ashlynn Prah
The Coburn Family, $10,000
James & Zoe Connor, $8,000
Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, $1,200
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Wisconsin Academic Excellence Award, $9,000
Mel Prince
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Loussaint & Tiara Minett Family Scholarship, $1,000
Malcolm C. Davison Music, $250
Maia Pruitt
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $250
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Adrian Rios
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Rose Robertson
WHS Pride Scholarship, $500
Eli Rodriguez
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $500
Optimist Club – ELL, $500
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Halee Rogers
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Carter Schepp
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Kachel Family Science, $2,500
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Cole Schlicher
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $500
Heidi Sherman
FFA Alumni & FFA,
John & Joyce Duffin Memorial , $500
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Lakeview PTA Alumni, $500
Caroline Skindingsrude
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $1,500
Alix Snow
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $250
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Skylar Staebler
Michael Hoffman Memorial Music, $500
Anne & Lane Kuske Drama, $2,000
David F. Veith Memorial, $2,500
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Andrew Swartz
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $2,000
Calvin Tomomitsu
American Legion Al & Doris Kolmos, $1,000
Lakeview PTA Alumni, $500
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
D.L.K. Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Claire Tourdot
Whitewater Rotary Club, $1,000
Josephine Treder
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld, $750
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Evelyn Troxel
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Lions Club, $500
Elizabeth Parenteau Spirit of Service Award, $1,000
Dirk Seibold Cross Country & Track, $1,000
Whitewater Community Foundation, $3,000
Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, $1,200
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Dejaney Valles
St. John’s Masonic Lodge, $600
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Karime Velazquez
Lincoln Elementary School, $500
Raymond O. Storck Family, $3,000
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld, $2,000
FBLA Scholarship, $100
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Tania Verduzco
D.L.K. Enterprises Whippet to Warhawk, $750
Grace Villarreal
Alvin Wutti H.O.P.E. Memorial, $300
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld, $500
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Anderson Waelchli
Arnold & Clara Dierfeld , $250
Emma Weigel
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Jean Broman Olson Art, $1,600
Burton H Heldt Memorial, $650
Wisconsin Academic Excellence Award, $9,000
Tyler Wright
FBLA Scholarship, $100
Ashly Xochipa
Kikkoman Foods, Inc., $500
Anthony J Weiler Memorial Scholarship, $500
Lincoln Elementary School, $500
Caleigh Yang
Treyton Kilar Memorial, $500
Kindness Matters Scholarship, $250
Uglow Family, $1,000
Class of 1965 & Wink Jung Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
NHS Scholarship, $100
District Leadership Team Scholarship, $500
Jim Stewart Memorial, $1,000
Whitewater HS Alumni Association, $500
Matthew Zingsheim
Whitewater HS National Honor Society (American Red Cross), $250
City of Whitewater Board of Review – Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Municipal Building 2nd floor Cravath Lakefront Meeting Room Further information is posted at this link. The agenda may be viewed here.
This alert was canceled on Monday morning, as Ms. Fischer has been found.
The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office issued a Missing Endangered Person Alert on May 21 at 11:28 p.m. for Katelyn Ann Fischer. Fischer, a 30-year-old white female who has developmental disabilities, was last seen leaving, upset, on foot from a group home at 4233 N. Scharine Road, Town of Richmond, Rock County. She is 5’6″ tall, weighs 230 pounds, has brown eyes, and long black hair with blonde highlights. She was last seen wearing black leggings with teal trim, blue tank top, flip flops, and carrying a burgundy purse. She has a tattoo of angel wings on her back or shoulder, nose piercing, tongue ring, and forearm scarring. Fischer has no vehicle. Her cell phone appears to be powered off and she has none of her medications with her.
If you have any possible information relating to this alert please contact the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, 262-741-4400.
William Graham Post 173 of the American Legion in Whitewater is sponsoring the Memorial Day activities in the city.
On Thursday, May 25th at 5:30 p.m., Post 173 will gather in the center of Hillside Cemetery to decorate the veterans’ graves at the cemetery. All community members are invited to participate, and should gather on the hill inside the second gate. Post 173 will provide the flags.
Plans for the parade and ceremonies at the Downtown Armory are well underway.
The parade will form in the First Citizens State Bank parking lot at 10:00 a.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29th. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and other interested groups are encouraged to participate in the parade.
