News

Ferradermis Hosts Girl Scout Robotics Badge Workshop

On Saturday, November 25, twenty-six Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts from Whitewater and surrounding cities descended on Whitewater High School with one goal – to earn their robotics badges. Members of Ferradermis, Whitewater High School’s FIRST Robotics Competition Team, hosted the event, running workshops throughout the day so the girls at each level could meet the requirements for earning their badges for Designing Robots, Programming Robots, and Showcasing Robots.

Ferradermis members planning and operating the event for the scouts included Rae Breisath, Ace Hudec, Margaret Brown, Gwynne Sahyun (alum), Laura Masbruch (advisor), Andrew Zimmermann, Maddi LaHaie, and Emerson Dunham. Not pictured are Meg Roselle and Mark Zimmermann (mentor).

The girls started their day as a large group with an opening introduction to FIRST Robotics presented by Ferradermis Outreach Subteam Lead Maddison LaHaie. This was followed by a visit from a virtual guest speaker, Carissa Petzinger, an industrial engineer at Rondo Energy in California. Petzinger had served as head coach for Ferradermis for several years when she was employed as an engineer at Generac in Whitewater and shared information with the girls about the robots she has designed in her various workplaces. LaHaie and Meg Roselle followed the girls to their various sessions throughout the day, capturing photographs and constructing a slideshow that the girls could use to present their projects at the end of the day.

Throughout the day, groups of girls rotated through five other sessions. Programming Team Member Margaret Brown led the girls through an activity involving writing and debugging algorithms and then shared information about how robots are currently used and how they might be used in the future before having the girls draw a design for a robot that could solve a future problem.

Programming Team Subteam Lead Ace Hudec demonstrated two of the Ferradermis robots for the scouts and gave them each an opportunity to drive one of the robots. The girls were also able to get an up-close look at the electronics on the “big” robots. Hudec also spent some extra time with the Cadettes discussing the actual code for a Ferradermis robot and writing some pseudocode with them.

Emerson Dunham, Game Strategy Subteam Lead, walked the scouts through previous games for which the team has built a robot and allowed them to examine previous game pieces that the robots have needed to handle. Each girl or pair of girls then selected one of the old game pieces and sketched a design for a robot mechanism that could pick up the game piece. At that point, the girls headed into the shop under the supervision of Mark and Andrew Zimmermann to build a prototype for their mechanism. They also had the opportunity to learn about some of the equipment in the shop that the team uses to build their robots.

The scouts spent a large chunk of time in the computer lab learning about coding and circuits under the guidance of Programming Team Member Rae Breisath, team alum and MSOE Senior Gwynne Sahyun, and Team Advisor Laura Masbruch. Hudec and Brown were also able to support the girls in this endeavor in between their other sessions. The trio walked the girls through the basics of building and coding Arduino circuits using TinkerCAD Circuits. The girls were then challenged to modify starter code to turn on an LED when a button was pressed and to turn on an LED when a motion sensor detected movement. Next, the scouts tackled the challenge of coding Arduino shield bots to drive forward, and some were able to attach a motion sensor which would cause the bot to stop when it sensed movement in front of it. The Cadettes dove a little deeper and implemented their pseudocode for driving in certain patterns.

At the end of the day, all of the girls gathered together in a large group to celebrate their accomplishments by sharing what they learned. They were then awarded their badges, and the day ended with a door prize drawing for three small robot kits and an Arduino starter kit.

Ferradermis members had connected with Geometry Teacher Laurel Ruud who works with the local Girl Scout Service Unit when deciding to offer this opportunity. The team is grateful to Mrs. Ruud for her guidance throughout the planning process. The team would also like to thank Tori Breisath and Jane Masbruch for their support throughout the day as well as Rich Grosse for his beautiful photography.

Article Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor
lmasbruch@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Rich Grosse and Tori Breisath

This Week’s City & School Board Meetings

City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 4:30 p.m.
Cravath Lakefront room, 2nd floor, 312 West Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190
Agenda includes Discussion to add a fourth Purple Martin house, Future of Territorial Oak felled timber and possible projects relating to it, Milkweed protection discussion, protection of oaks from library expansion.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/638015093
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 638-015-093
United States: 1 (646) 749-3122
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Whitewater High School Library, 534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
Agenda (click on “meetings” in upper right corner)

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 7:00 p.m.
Whitewater High School Library, 534 S. Elizabeth Street
Agenda (click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes WUSD Strategic Planning & Scorecard Review, Whitewater Middle School (Informational); Update on the Whitewater Middle School Literacy Intervention – FTE Addition (Possible Action Item).
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89890457078?pwd=ak5waHBjRTN3ckFmQUQ1Umw1SkhNUT09
– Passcode: 737386
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 898 9045 7078
– Passcode: 737386

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes salary resolution proposal and employee bonuses.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190
*In Person and Virtual
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/973175085
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 973-175-085
United States: +1 (224) 501-3412
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

Walworth Co. Workshop for Potential County Board Supr. Candidates

Walworth County to Hold Informational Workshop for Interested Residents and Potential County Board Supervisor Candidates

(ELKHORN, WI): County Administrator Mark Luberda will hold an informational meeting for
interested residents and potential County Board Supervisor candidates who would like to learn more
about the duties and responsibilities of County Board Supervisors. The meeting will take place:

  • Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 6 p.m.
    County Board Room 114, Walworth County Government Center
    100 W. Walworth Street, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
    The workshop will provide an overview of Walworth County government and the responsibilities and
    time commitment generally required of County Board Supervisors. The 90-minute class will provide an
    overview of what an individual could expect to experience while serving on the Board. This will include
    outlining the wide range of services provided by County government, summarizing the County’s budget,
    highlighting some of the legal rules under which Supervisors must operate, addressing the relationship
    between the County Board and other elected and appointed officials, and reviewing the committee
    structure. If anyone is interested in taking out papers to run for County Board Supervisor, County Clerk
    Susi Pike will be in attendance with packets and can help you complete them.
    For more information or to register, please contact County Administration at (262) 741-4357 or email
    countyadministration@co.walworth.wi.us.

Help UW-W Students Prepare for Life After College with Gently Used Business Attire

UW Whitewater Career Services is hosting a thoughtful initiative to support professional development and foster a sense of community through a business clothing drive from November 27th to 30th. The university is inviting you to contribute to this philanthropic effort by donating gently used business attire, including suits, dress shirts, ties, dresses, shoes and more. The goal is to collect a diverse array of professional clothing to assist Warhawks in their pursuit of career success. This clothing drive not only aims to provide individuals with the attire needed for job interviews, internships, and professional events but also cultivates a culture of support and collaboration within the UW Whitewater community! By participating in this drive, the larger community has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of students and contribute to a positive and inclusive campus environment. We are providing a conveniently located drop box for your use. Thank you for taking a look at your closets and considering a donation. Go Warhawks! 

  • Location
    • The location for the community will be in lot 12 on campus, accessed from Prairie Street. 
    • Between the James R. Connor University Center & McGraw Hall
  • Times
    • Nov 27- Nov 30 
    • Monday – Thursday (9 a.m.-8 p.m.) 

**This box may not be out if it is snowing/raining or there are conditions that could affect the clothes. Alternatively there will also be donation boxes in both the front and back entrances in Hyland Hall on Starin Road (Timothy J. Hyland on the map). If you have a question about the location please call (262)-745-2207.**

If you have any questions about the Success Closet, please contact Career@uww.edu

Hello Baby Home-Visitation Program Supports New Parents & Caregivers

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Walworth County.

In partnership with Aurora Lakeland Medical Center, Walworth County Public Health has launched the Hello Baby program to support families in our communities. This program, designed in coordination with Racine County Public Health and UW-Milwaukee’s Institute of Child and Family Well-Being, offers a Public Health nurse home visit to all caregivers of newborn babies in Walworth County.

As a new parent, caregiver, or family, caring for a newborn can be overwhelming. Hello Baby nurses are equipped to help caregivers tackle their most common challenges, connect them with local resources, and provide support. Nurses provide assessments focused on infant and mother well-being and home safety. The goal of the program is to help caregivers manage the stressors of newborn care while helping them build confidence in asking for support.

“We are incredibly excited to begin offering this program in Walworth County,” says Public Health Nurse Supervisor Holli Wilke. “Welcoming home a new baby is a stressful time. Our nurses are excited to have the opportunity to support families and help them build the healthiest starts for their children.”

Participation is voluntary, free of charge, and open to all Walworth County families who have recently welcomed a newborn. The program is available for both English- and Spanish-speaking participants. Families that deliver at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center will receive program information at the hospital while those who deliver at other healthcare facilities can sign up using the referral form provided at www.co.walworth.wi.us/1145/Home-Visiting-Services

Editor’s note: The image on the homepage is in the public domain, per Pixabay.

Wisconsin Goes to the Big Fair 130th Anniversary of Columbian Exposition in Chicago

Fisheries Building, World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893 [Chicago History Museum]

At 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6, Carol McLernon will talk at the Senior Center at 504 W. Starin Road. She is celebrating the 130th anniversary of the World’s Fair in Chicago. Her presentation is entitled, “Wisconsin goes to the Big Fair.” Carol’s interest in the fair began when a relative gave her a doll that came from the Exposition.

Attendees will learn about Wisconsin’s building at the fair, new foods that were introduced and famous people who attended. Those from Wisconsin included Harry Houdini and Frank Lloyd Wright. Before the 6th, attendees may want to see the hundreds of pictures which are available on the Internet. The Field Museum Library has an extensive collection here.

Seniors in the Park Presents In the Heart of the Sea

“In the Heart of the Sea”
Tuesday, November 28, 1 p.m.
(Biography/History/Drama/Adventure)
Rated PG-13; 2 hours, 2 minutes (2015).

A dramatization of the true events that inspired Herman Melville’s classic American novel “Moby Dick.” In 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted and destroyed by a mammoth great white whale. This film recreates the telling of that tale by a survivor, to an incredulous young Herman Melville. Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Holland. Directed by Ron Howard. Incredible visual effects! 

Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. There is no charge to attend.

UW-W Football Defeats Wheaton to Advance to NCAA Quarterfinal

Tommy Coates runs away from a Wheaton defender for a touchdown while teammates celebrate on the sideline (Larry Radloff, d3photo)

By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team defeated Wheaton College 49-42 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs Saturday at Perkins Stadium. The Warhawks advance to face Wartburg in the quarterfinals Saturday, December 2 – location of the game has yet to be announced by the NCAA. 

Box Score

UW-Whitewater will compete in the quarterfinals for the 14th time since 2005 — the Warhawks are 13-1 in quarterfinal games in that span. Wartburg advanced with a 42-20 win over Whitworth Saturday. The other three quarterfinal matchups feature North Central and UW-La Crosse, Alma and Cortland and Johns Hopkins and Randolph-Macon. 

Wheaton won the shirtless “contest.” For much of the last quarter, 12 of their men cheered on their team while braving the chilly temperature. [Lynn Binnie photos]



Editor’s note: Virtually all of the crowd stayed through the entire cold game. At kickoff the temperature was 28 degrees with a cloudy sky and southwest winds at 6 mph.

Saturday’s game at Perkins Stadium was a back-and-forth affair that ended with a number of career highs for Warhawks in all facets of the game. Offensively, Tommy Coates had a phenomenal outing with a career-best 169 yards bolstered by a career long 56-yard reception. Quarterback Alec Ogden registered four passing touchdowns, matching his career high, for the second straight week. Tamir Thomas posted career highs in rushing attempts (28), rushing yards (224) and receiving touchdowns (2). 

Defensively, Ethan Gallagher improved his career high for tackles in a game to nine. In special teams play, Kamrin Hutt added a career-long 57-yard punt in the contest. 

It all started on the Warhawks’ first drive of the game. Similar to last week, UWW got on the board early. This time, Thomas capitalized on the good field position after a short Wheaton punt with a 56-yard run on the second play of the game for the Warhawk offense. Jeff Isotalo-McGuire split the uprights and the scoreboard read 7-0 in favor of UWW less than three minutes into the game. 

The Thunder responded with a 13-play, 73-yard touchdown drive as Wheaton punched it in from a yard out to knot the game 7-7. 

UW-Whitewater marched down the field on the next drive as Thomas had a pair of big plays to open the possession. He registered an 11-yard scamper on the first play and hauled in a 29-yard catch to set up UWW at the Wheaton 29. A couple of 13-yard gains on a Coates reception and Alijah Maher-Parr run had the Warhawks enjoying first and goal from the two. Ogden crossed the line with a big push from the offensive line for a 14-7 UWW lead. 

Wheaton continued the scoring flurry with a 55-yard touchdown pass to tie the game once again before the end of the quarter. The Thunder owned the second quarter adding two more scores while the Wheaton defense held the Warhawks off the board. WC scored on a 44-yard and 18-yard receptions to take a 28-14 lead at the intermission. 

UW-Whitewater came out of the locker room determined. The Warhawks needed just four plays to narrow the gap with Ogden hitting Coates for a 50-yard score on the first drive. 

The UWW defense held, and Mason Stepanski burst around the end of the line to block the punt on fourth-and-nine. The kick caromed out of bounds just four yards from the line of scrimmage after Stepanski got a piece of it to bring the Warhawk offense back out at the UWW 43. The Thunder defense held forcing a three-and-out, but the Warhawk coaching staff had a nifty play call on fourth. The punt team initially lined up but sprinted off the field as the offense came on forcing the Thunder to call a timeout early in the half. Hutt came on to punt after the brief break in play and his 29-yard punt hit the back of a Thunder special teams player. Karsten Libby jumped on the live ball and out came the Warhawk offense with fantastic field possession at the Wheaton 23. 

This time, UW-Whitewater capitalized as Ogden hit Tyler Vasey for 14 yards. Thomas took the handoff up the middle for five yards before hauling in a dart from Ogden from the four-yard line to tie the game 28-28. 

A pair of punts wrapped up the third quarter, but the Warhawks added on the first play of the fourth. Ogden dropped back and went deep down the middle hitting Coates in stride as two defenders upended each other leaving Coates with a wide-open view of the endzone. The 56-yard touchdown gave UWW a 35-28 lead. 

The Thunder responded with a huge 48-yard run off the right side of the line to open their next drive. A few plays later, Wheaton receiver Ben Bonga made a great diving catch in the endzone from 14-yards out to even the game, 35-35, with 12:27 to go. 

UWW went 65-yards in 10 plays to reclaim the lead as Thomas tallied his second receiving touchdown of the game, this one from six yards out. Egon Hein brought the offense right back onto the field with an interception on Wheaton’s next play. His 20-yard return set up UWW at the Wheaton 20. The handoff went to Thomas and he burst through the line and up the middle for a 20-yard score on the very next play to give UW-Whitewater a two-touchdown lead, 49-35. 

Wheaton did not fold – marching 67-yards on 10 plays to pull within seven with less than four minutes left. 

The Warhawks top hands crew went out for the probably onside kick. The call was right and Vasey reined in the bouncing kick at the Wheaton 47-yard line. A few plays later, facing third-and-four, a facemask penalty on Wheaton extended the Warhawk drive. UWW ended up turning the ball over on downs despite a personal foul call on the fourth down play giving Wheaton 21 seconds to drive 96 yards. 

On the first play, a short completion was followed by a series of laterals for a 41-yard gain leaving enough time for one last play. Gallagher broke up the deep ball to seal the win. 

Ogden was 15-25 for 239 yards and four passing touchdowns. He added 73 rushing yards and another touchdown. Coates led the receiving corps with 169 yards on eight catches including a pair of scores. Thomas averaged eight-yards a carry with 224 on 28 attempts. 

Joey Antonietti led the defense with 11 tackles. Cole Yocum had UWW’s lone sack of the day. Gallagher ended up with three passes broken up and a quarterback hurry to go along with nine tackles. 

Whitewater’s brave, shirtless men only numbered about eight

Five Warhawks representing Team USA at Parapan Games; Update: Women & Men Take Gold

Update 11/25 @ 6:45 p.m.: The men took the gold medal vs. Columbia, 81-45.

Editor’s note: The following press release was issued on Wednesday, November 22. The following is the status of the competition since that date:
Men’s: On Wednesday the team defeated Chile by a score of 88 to 14 in the quarterfinal. On Friday they defeated Argentina in the semifinal, 88 to 54. The team will compete versus Columbia at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the gold medal match.
Women’s: On Thursday in the semifinal the team defeated Brazil by a score of 60 to 30. In the gold medal match versus Canada on Friday, USA took home the gold by a score of 62 to 56.
By the way, the image on the homepage is from a competition in 2021.

By Chris Lindeke
University Marketing and Communications

Five members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater family continue competition on a world stage this week as they represent Team USA wheelchair basketball at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

AJ Fitzpatrick and Talen Jourdan, current members of the Warhawk men’s wheelchair basketball team, and Jake Williams, a former Warhawk and current head coach of the men’s team, are members of the men’s team.

The Team USA men are 3-0 after group stage games and will play in a quarterfinal against Chile today [November 22] at 2:30 p.m. Central Time.

Williams, who earned a BSE in physical education in 2015, was a member of the gold medal winning Team USA at the 2022 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) World Championships and claimed gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and 2016 Rio Paralympics. He was a member of the 2019 team that won gold at the Parapan Games in Lima, Peru.

Jourdan is a senior studying general business, while Fitzpatrick is a sophomore majoring in human performance. Like Williams, Jourdan was a member of the 2022 IWBF World Championships gold medal team. Fitzpatrick is competing internationally for the first time after earning a spot on the Intercollegiate Division All-Rookie Team as a freshman at UW-Whitewater in 2022-23.

Josie DeHart and Rebecca Murray, who attended UW-Whitewater and competed for the Warhawk women’s wheelchair basketball team, will play for the women’s team. The U.S. women are also 3-0 after group play and will play in a semifinal against Brazil on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Central Time.

DeHart, who is originally from Fruita, Colorado, attended the university from 2018 to 2022 and earned a BSE in physical education.

Murray graduated in 2014 with a BSE in special education and has enjoyed a successful career in wheelchair basketball, having previously won Parapan medals in 2007 and 2011. In 2021, the Germantown native earned an ESPY Award for Best Athlete with a Disability in Women’s Sports.

All five athletes were selected to their teams by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee following selection camps over the summer in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

View the entire competition schedule here.

Fans can follow the games live by visiting the Parapan American Games webpage.

UW-Whitewater is recognized consistently for exceptional programming and outcomes for students with disabilities. The Warhawk men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams are club sports that compete nationally. 

The Warhawk men’s team has won 13 national championships since 1982, while the women have claimed three national titles. Several of each program’s alums are Paralympic medalists.

Flags to Half-Staff in Memory of First Lady Rosalynn Carter


   Throughout her life as First Lady of Georgia and First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn Carter exemplified hope, warmth, and a steadfast commitment to doing all she could to address many of our society’s greatest needs. She was a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; an advocate for mental health and wellness for all; and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones, and people with disabilities. Above all, the deep love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership, and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism.   

   As a mark of respect for the memory of Rosalynn Carter, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions from November 25, 2023, until sunset, on the day of interment. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

                            JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.