News

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has recognized students named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester of the 2024-2025 academic year.

Students who achieve at a high level academically are recognized by the dean at the close of each semester. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, students must complete a minimum of 12 graded degree credits in that semester. Each university school or college sets its own GPA requirements for students to be eligible to receive the distinction. 

Jonathan Chan, College of Engineering, Dean’s Honor List
Colin Dugan, Col of Agricultural & Life Sci, Dean’s List
Lizbeth Gallegos, Col of Agricultural & Life Sci, Dean’s List
Reid Gunnink, School of Business, Dean’s List
CC Liang, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
Anna Riemer, School of Pharmacy, High Honor Roll
Kendal Schreiber, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
Jakub Toomey, School of Business, Dean’s List

To view an online listing, visit https://registrar.wisc.edu/deanslist/.

The Walworth County Drug Enforcement Unit, with the assistance of the City of Whitewater Police Department and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Police Department, conducted an investigation into the sale of illegal controlled substances in the City of Whitewater, Walworth County, Wisconsin. The investigation included controlled buys and concluded with the execution of a search warrant.

On June 19, 2025, at approximately 9:16 a.m., the Walworth County Drug Enforcement Unit, assisted by the City of Whitewater Police Department and the University of WisconsinWhitewater Police Department, executed a drug search warrant at the residence of 606 E. North Street in the City of Whitewater, Walworth County, Wisconsin.

A resident, Yovani Ramirez Mendoza (11/28/1996), currently out on bond for the following cases: Walworth County: 2024CF000409, 2024CT000710, 2024CF000526, 2024CT000805, 2025CT000028, and 2025CF000021; Jefferson County: 2024CF000346, was detained.

While searching the residence, Cocaine, suspected Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), THC, Psilocybin Mushrooms, drug paraphernalia, and one firearm were located and seized. A large indoor Psilocybin Mushroom grow operation was also located in the basement of the residence. Ramirez Mendoza was arrested and transported to the Walworth County Jail and confined on the following charges:

• Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place – 961.42(1) Possession With Intent to Deliver Cocaine 2nd & Subsequent – 961.41(1m) (cm)3
• Possession With Intent to Deliver THC 2nd & Subsequent – 961.41(1m) (h)1
• Possession With Intent to Deliver DMT 2nd & Subsequent – 961.41(1m) (hm)4
• Possession With Intent to Deliver Psilocybin 2nd & Subsequent – 961.41(1m(g)2
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia 2nd & Subsequent – 961.573(1)
• Possession of a Firearm by a Felon – 941.29(1m) (a)
• Felony Bail Jumping – 946.49(1)(b)
• Child Neglect – 948.21(2)(g)
• All the above-listed drug charges also include a criminal enhancer of Within 1000 feet of a School – 961.49(1m) (b)6

Another resident, Stephanie Anguiano (05/10/1991), will have charges referred to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office of:

• Possession of a Firearm by a Felon/Party To A Crime – 941.29(1m)/939.05
• Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place/Party To A Crime – 961.42(1)/939.05
• Child Neglect – 948.21(2)(g)

Additional aspects of this investigation are still ongoing.

Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Carol McLernon will talk about her books at the Senior Center 504 W. Starin Rd. at 1p.m. on Thursday, June 26. She will be joined by Elkhorn author, Kay Pleuss Meyer who illustrated “Black Hawk: A Boy and his Vision”.

Meyer has always had a love for drawing and painting, becoming more serious after retiring from a nursing career. Many of her paintings have won awards in Wisconsin and Arizona. She and her husband, Kent, have two children and two grandsons.

McLernon’s newest book, “Journeys to the Land of Gray gold” tells of Native Americans, farmers, politicians, miners, entrepreneurs, and missionaries, Some of her ancestors left Yorkshire and established Methodist parishes in Dubuque, Iowa and other mining towns. She will relate what John Wesley had to say about Parishioners in Yorkshire and how churches began having their sanctuaries on the second stories.

The City of Whitewater Community Development Authority (CDA) is proud to announce the approval of a $140,000 loan to Edgerton Hospital & Health Services, led by President and CEO Marc Augsburger. This critical funding will be used to purchase an X-ray machine to enhance diagnostic services at the Whitewater Urgent Care Center.

As a key condition of the loan, the Urgent Care Center is required to remain operational in Whitewater for at least ten years. This agreement reaffirms the City’s commitment to ensuring continuous and accessible healthcare for its residents.

“This investment marks a major step forward in our mission to bring healthcare infrastructure to the Whitewater community,” said Marc Augsburger.

The addition of this advanced diagnostic tool will provide multiple benefits to the community, including:
• Reduced wait times for patients through quicker on-site diagnostics.
• Decreased reliance on out-of-town emergency departments, easing the burden on patients and their families.
• Expanded local access to essential medical services, especially during evenings, weekends, and holidays when other facilities may not be available.
• Support for Whitewater’s strategic healthcare goals, aligning with the City’s broader vision of enhancing public health and quality of life.

By enhancing the capacity of the Urgent Care Center with this investment, the City and Edgerton Hospital are working hand-in-hand to meet the growing demand for healthcare services in Whitewater and surrounding areas.

According to additional information provided to the Banner by Betsy Swenson, the Urgent Care is scheduled to open in September, 2025 and will be in the same building as the current clinic.

The loan has no interest and includes annual forgiveness, subject to specific terms. Beginning on the first anniversary of the loan disbursement date and continuing annually thereafter for ten years, the CDA will forgive 10% of the original principal balance ($14,000 annually), provided the borrower has complied fully with the agreement. Any balance remaining after ten years, assuming full compliance, would be forgivable.

For more information, please contact:
Betsy Swenson
City of Whitewater CDA
Email: bswenson@whitewater-wi.gov

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has been awarded funds for the development of three microcredentials designed to meet regional workforce needs. 

The grants provided by the Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA) are part of the organization’s Microcredential Project, which targets individuals seeking employment or upskilling in high-demand fields.

“For decades, the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education has offered professional development programs in areas like teacher education and counseling, and with these microcredentials, we will now be able to meet growing workforce needs by fast-tracking people into high-demand careers,” says Matt Vick, dean.

Construction Safety Microcredential

Designed for current high school students and those looking to retool to enter the construction industry, the Construction Safety Microcredential is comprised of three courses that could be taught through dual enrollment within local high schools. The courses offered are designed by the Office of Online & Professional Learning Resources (OPLR), ensuring high-quality learning experience, in a consistent and user-friendly format.  The unique course offerings provide experiential learning to individuals that may not otherwise consider a four-year institution and supports the need for entry-level safety training beyond the required OSHA certifications. Successful completion of at least two courses opens doors within the construction industry and transferability to Wisconsin two- and four-year partners, and will result in a microcredential. UWW looks forward to partnering with local high schools, and regional employers to implement this microcredential. Courses will be available to student learners beginning spring 2026.

Supply Chain Microcredential

Healthcare professionals seeking to transition into managerial roles are the target audience for this program, which is designed to address critical gaps in the healthcare sector by equipping professionals — especially nurses — with essential supply chain skills. The online modules focus on healthcare-specific challenges in planning, sourcing, production, and logistics, offering practical solutions to operational inefficiencies like stockouts, overstocking, and high costs. This promotes career advancement by enabling learners to transition into managerial roles, enhancing their ability to optimize operations and improve patient care. Successful completion of the microcredential is equivalent to a three-credit college course and learners who demonstrate competencies are eligible to pursue credit for prior learning, ensuing applicability towards degrees in healthcare administration and supply chain management. Partnerships with local healthcare systems are underway, with a cohort starting as soon as fall. 

Microcredential on Cybersecurity Assessment of Payment Systems

Business are required by law to comply with payment standards, and the Microcredential on Cybersecurity Assessment of Payment Systems is designed for non-traditional learners and high school students to gain critical knowledge on an important aspect of cybersecurity assessment.

This microcredential will help learners prepare for individual certification (PCI Professional), pursue a degree program, and build a pathway to secure entry-level positions in the high-demand cybersecurity workforce. The program will be offered in a fully-online, asynchronous format, making it highly accessible to students. Successful completion of the microcredential will result in six-college credits, which will count towards the Information Technology major, and Cybersecurity and Networking emphasis. UWW looks forward to continuing our partnership with the Wisconsin Cyber Response Team to enhance the success of this program.

Courses in microcredential programs focus the educational expertise of academic institutions into shorter, stackable, skills-based non-degree credentials, and can typically be completed in 2-4 months.

Recruitment for the microcredential programs is slated to begin in summer 2025.

UW-Whitewater’s involvement in the Microcredential Project is another example of the university’s recent work to address needs in the workforce. In 2022, the university added a Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education Policy to help combat a nationwide childcare crisis. UW-Whitewater at Rock County’s Nursing Collaborative with Edgewood College, launched in 2023, takes on the critical need for nurses in the region.

For more information on the Microcredential Project at UW-Whitewater contact Continuing Education at contined@uww.edu.

About UW-Whitewater

At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater we inspire, engage and transform lives. Our higher education mission began more than 150 years ago — and we now serve more than 11,000 students at our Whitewater and Rock County campuses, 90% of whom stay in the region after earning their degree.  The Warhawk family — led by caring faculty and staff — is devoted to student success within a broad range of academic programs. One of only four Public Colleges of Distinction in the state, the University boasts small class sizes (20:1 ratio), is ranked one of the top 10 public colleges by the U.S. New & World Report, and is the top-ranked college in the state for serving students with disabilities. Continuing Education is committed to meeting the lifelong learning needs of the residents of our region in offering a variety of classes, workshops and trainings that respond to the changing personal and professional interests of adult learners by connecting the University and community. 

About HERA

The Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA) is a collaborative of 16 Southeastern Wisconsin public and private, two- and four-year colleges and universities and a network of partner organizations. HERA is dedicated to closing achievement gaps and educating students today to become an innovative and nimble workforce that meets the needs of the region’s industries tomorrow.

The Southeast Wisconsin Pitch Perfect competition will bring the region’s brightest entrepreneurial talent center stage on November 12, 2025, at the newly opened Kenosha Innovation Center (KIC). This premier pitch event represents a collaborative effort by the economic development organizations of Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties to identify, elevate, and invest in promising startups fueling the future of Wisconsin’s innovation economy.

Applications are open now through September 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM, for earlystage companies ready to showcase their groundbreaking ideas. Selected finalists will be notified by October 1, followed by a multi-day workshop series October 1317 to refine business models, sharpen pitches, and connect with experienced mentors and investors. Finalists will return to KIC for a Pitch Practice Session on November 12, 2025, from 1–3 PM, just hours before taking the stage. Participants must be a resident or work within Kenosha, Racine, or Walworth County; be 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen.

The event is designed to be more than a competition—it’s a launchpad.

QUOTES FROM PARTNERS:

Kelly Armstrong, Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN), said:

“Pitch Perfect is about spotlighting the next wave of visionary founders who are building the future right here in our backyard. The Kenosha Innovation Center is the ideal launchpad for bold ideas—and we’re thrilled to host this regional platform that turns vision into velocity.”

Laura Million, Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC):

“We’re not just cheering on entrepreneurs—we’re supporting and connecting them with resources, guidance, and real capital. Pitch Perfect is a powerful signal that Southeast Wisconsin is all-in on innovation.”

Derek D’Auria, Executive Director of the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA), added:

“Startups need more than a stage—they need a community that sees their potential and helps them scale. That’s what Pitch Perfect is creating. We’re excited to lift up the gamechanging talent across our three counties.”

Startups across all sectors are encouraged to apply—especially those building solutions in advanced manufacturing, biohealth, clean energy, and technology.

The Pitch Perfect competition is part of a broader regional strategy to grow a connected and collaborative innovation ecosystem throughout Southeast Wisconsin.

For full details and to apply, visit: https://www.kin-kenosha.org/entrepreneurship

This event is brought to you by Chase, Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA), Racine County Economic Development (RCEDC), Walworth County Economic Development Alliance, Inc., Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, Tech-Prize, Gener8tor, UW Parkside, Gateway Technical College, and Carthage College.

Derek D’Auria
Executive Director
Walworth County Economic Development Alliance
262-564-3211– Office
derek@walworthbusiness.com | www.walworthbusiness.com

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh officials have released the names of students who qualified for the Dean’s List and University Honor Roll in spring 2025.

Martin Gonzalez, Honor Roll
Joshua Kirley, Honor Roll

The term grade-point average (GPA) requirement for University Honor Roll is 3.3; the term GPA requirement for Dean’s List is 3.75 out of a possible 4.0. 

To qualify, a student must have been enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits. (P/F courses do not count toward a 12-credit minimum.) There can be no individual grades below a “C” and no incomplete or non-reported grades at the time the process is run.

The First English Lutheran Church is holding a spiritual concert on Sunday, June 29th, at 11:00am featuring Dr. ValLimar Jansen.

Dr. ValLimar Jansen’s bio information can be found at https://www.vallimar.com/meetvallimar

Tammy Hedrick
Office Manager
First English Lutheran Church
262-473-5076
secretaryfelcww@gmail.com