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Editor’s note: Per below, Rebecca Mueller, Associate Research Administration Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, UW-Whitewater, has been named to serve on the Presidential Search Committee for the Universities of Wisconsin. As was reported on The Banner, former president Jay Rothman was terminated from his role in early April. The president, together with the Board of Regents, oversees the 13 Universities of Wisconsin campuses, including UW-Whitewater.

Presidential Search Committee named to lead Universities of Wisconsin presidential search

UW-Superior chancellor Renée Wachter to serve as interim president

Amy B. Bogost, President of the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents, has appointed a 25-member Presidential Search Committee to help identify the next Universities of Wisconsin president.  

Bogost also announced today that she appointed Renée Wachter, chancellor of UW-Superior, as the Interim President of the Universities of Wisconsin effective May 18.

The Presidential Search Committee will be led by Regent Ashok Rai, chair. 

“Without the Universities of Wisconsin, Wisconsin would be a very different state. It would be less competitive, less innovative, and less prepared for the future,” Bogost said. “Our 13 public universities educate the next generation, power our workforce, sustain communities, support thousands of jobs, attract research and investment, and produce discoveries that improve lives here in Wisconsin and far beyond. The next president must bring the courage, discipline, and forward-looking leadership needed to guide the Universities of Wisconsin through one of the most consequential periods in higher education.”

In appointing Wachter, Bogost said she conferred with Regent colleagues and chancellors and found strong support for Wachter – the senior-most chancellor in the Universities of Wisconsin – as the Board begins its search for a permanent president.

“Renée brings the experience, judgment, and institutional understanding this moment requires,” Bogost said. “As our longest-serving chancellor, she knows our universities, our communities, and the challenges and opportunities facing public higher education in Wisconsin. She has earned the trust and respect of colleagues across the system through steady leadership and a collaborative approach. At a time when continuity, focus, and forward momentum are essential, the Board is confident she understands what must be done to support our universities during this transition.”

The Universities of Wisconsin serve more than 164,600 students and, as the state’s talent pipeline, award more than 37,000 degrees annually. With 13 universities all across Wisconsin, including two major research universities, 10 comprehensive universities, and one polytechnic university, the UWs offer value and impact to students, communities, and the public.

In addition to Rai, the members of the search committee include:

• Ian Abston, President, Forward 48 and Hoan Group, UW-Oshkosh alumnus
• Angela Adams, Regent
• Lynn Akey, Chancellor, UW-Parkside
• Tracie Banning, Academic Department Associate, Educational Studies, UW-La Crosse
• Johannes Britz, Senior Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs, Universities of Wisconsin Administration
• Kate Burns, Provost, UW-Green Bay
• Raffay Chaudhry, Speaker of the Senate, Student Government Association, UW-Green Bay
• Katherine Frank, Chancellor, UW-Stout
• Noah Fritz, Student Regent
• Thomas Gibson, Chancellor, UW-Milwaukee
• Michael Gilmer, Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs and Strategic Enrollment and Dean of Students, UW-River Falls
• Julie Gordon, Vice President, Finance and Administration, Universities of Wisconsin Administration
• Marquell Johnson, Professor and Department Chair, Kinesiology, UW-Eau Claire
• Jim Kreuser, Regent
• Edwin Martini, incoming Chancellor, UW-Eau Claire
• Rebecca Mueller, Associate Research Administration Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, UW-Whitewater
• Tom Palzewicz, Regent
• Joan Prince, Regent
• Matt Richards, Member, Board of Directors, UW-Platteville Foundation and Alumni Association
• Sara Rogers, Regent
• Kristi Roth, Professor, School of Education, UW-Stevens Point
• Nicholle Schuelke, Professor of Teacher Education, Chair of Department of Education, UW-Superior
• Bill Westrate, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, American Family Insurance
• John Zumbrunnen, Provost, UW-Madison

The Presidential Search Committee is expected to convene in the coming weeks to receive its formal charge and review search procedures. A team of staff from Universities of Wisconsin Human Resources, the Office of the Board of Regents, and the executive search firm AGB Search will support the committee throughout the process. 

More details regarding the selection process will be released in the coming weeks. The successful candidate will require the approval of the full Board of Regents and is anticipated to be selected later this year. 

Probably ever since they came to town, TDS has been charging subscribers a small fee for providing Whitewater Community TV. At long last, WCTV may be found at channel 990. Sam Jurgilanis, media producer, told The Banner that “the station now signs off at roughly 11 p.m. each night. After that, informational slides with music play until 6 a.m., when original programming resumes.” Schedules for this weekend are shown below. In the near future it’s anticipated that schedules will be regularly posted on the city website.

The following announcement was posted to the city website recently:

Whitewater Community Television is back online! 🎉
We’re ready to keep you informed, connected, and up to date with all things happening in our community.

💬Reminder: WWTV990 is now available on TDS! We’re still available on Spectrum cable, but we’ve only expanded, and with more to come soon on streaming: Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV, plus mobile apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Thank you for your patience while we got everything restored. We’re excited to be back on air!

Tune in to WWTV Channel 990 for city updates, community programming, and more. 📺✨

#communitytv #stayconnected #localnews #whitewaterwi #cityofwhitewater

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Sunday is Mother’s Day and we wish every mother a wonderful day! This lovely photograph of a mother and child is only identified as Stuart Henry Allen and appears to be from the c.1900 era. Research in the Whitewater Register and City Directories could not find a Stuart Henry Allen, but city directories show that a couple of families with the name Allen lived in Whitewater in the early 20th century. One family under the name William Allen was the depot agent for the railroad during this time. The photo could have been sent to one of the Allens in Whitewater from an out-of-town relative and it eventually ended up in our collections.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(3519STU, Whitewater Historical Society)

Whitewater Parks & Recreation invites community members of all ages to celebrate Wisconsin’s Free Fishing Weekend at the Reel Fun Fishing Day on Sunday, June 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Cravath Lakefront Park, 341 S. Fremont Street.

This family-friendly event offers a great opportunity for beginners and experienced anglers alike to enjoy a day outdoors while learning the basics of fishing. Participants can cast a line and try their luck of hooking that BIG ONE! 

No fishing experience is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own gear, but equipment will also be available on-site for those who need it.

As part of Wisconsin’s Free Fishing Weekend, Wisconsin residents can fish without a license, making it the perfect time to introduce friends and family to the sport.

In addition to fishing, guests can enjoy complimentary hot dogs while supplies last, adding to the festive, community-focused atmosphere.

Reel Fun Fishing Day is free and open to the public.

The City of Whitewater has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its biennial budget beginning January 1, 2026.

This prestigious award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and reflects the City’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and sound financial planning. According to GFOA, the award recognizes entities that meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting and demonstrate excellence in budget preparation and presentation.

To receive the award, the City’s budget document was evaluated on its effectiveness:
policy document
financial plan
operations guide
communications tool

The City of Whitewater’s Finance Department played a key role in achieving this distinction, ensuring the budget met nationally recognized guidelines and rigorous evaluation standards. The award is valid for two years and reflects a significant achievement in public financial management.

The GFOA serves more than 25,000 members across North America and promotes excellence in government finance through best practices, professional development, and research.

For more information about the City of Whitewater’s budget, visit www.whitewater-wi.gov

Written by Kristine Zaballos | Photo by Craig Schreiner

Six individuals who have achieved exceptional professional success or have made significant contributions to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater were honored as the university proudly celebrated its 158th anniversary in April. 

The 2026 class of award honorees include a recent graduate who is both a senior leader in education and an acclaimed DJ, an avid supporter who was meaningfully involved in the recent release of the campus literary journal “Either/Or,” and an alum whose service to Whitewater — from board membership on the foundation to significant donations to support of student success to showing up to events big and small to help in any way needed — is being celebrated. 

This year’s outstanding recent alum is Kyree Brooks, who earned a BSE in physical education in 2017. After earning a master’s degree in rehabilitation psychology and special education at UW-Madison in 2019, he has worked at the Madison Metropolitan and Sun Prairie school districts and now serves as assistant principal of the Milwaukee Academy of Science. He is also a music producer and owner of DJ Ree Maniac Entertainment Services LLC. Both professions benefit from his undeniable creativity and positivity.  

UW-Whitewater is also honoring two distinguished alumni for their professional achievement. Maysee Yang Herr, who earned a B.A. in psychology in 1998, has had a decades-long career involving education, consulting and leadership roles as well as the co-creation of a Hmong language and culture program for youth called Camp Phoojywg-Friend in Central Wisconsin. In addition to earning a master’s degree in educational psychology and a doctorate in education and curriculum studies and teaching at UW-Stevens Point, she was the CEO of the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce from 2019-2026. 

Also receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement is Anthony Prater. Prater, who earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science in 1980, co-founded Verity Medical, Inc., which grew rapidly and achieved a $10 million revenue run rate within a decade of its founding. That company was ultimately sold to Examworks, Inc. and continues to operate today. Prater’s professional achievements also include co-founding and serving as a past president of the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Forum, which is an education-focused organization that supports industry professionals. On campus, he funds the Prater Family Scholarship, which is available to students majoring in the College of Letters and Sciences, and is a frequent class speaker for the management department in the College of Business and Economics.

Receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award for Community/Regional Service is Kurt D. Rose. Rose, who earned a bachelor’s degree in speech with an emphasis in organizational communications in 2009 and a Masters of Science in occupational and environmental safety and health in 2019, has held myriad HR roles and currently serves as a deputy human resources director with the City of Madison. Channeling a strong sense of service instilled by his family, who are all public servants, and fueled by his time on campus, he has been deeply involved with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, incorporated, serving in many leadership roles, and returns to campus frequently to speak, guest lecture and work with students. 

Denny Waldera is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to UW-Whitewater. After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1970 and a combined MBA and J.D. from Northwestern, Waldera carved out a distinguished career in strategic marketing, at Procter & Gamble and then in consulting companies he helped found and lead, before retiring in 2001. Since then, he has forged new ties on campus, serving in various roles on the UW-Whitewater Foundation Board of Directors, being a major donor to the Warhawks Give Fund and other student success-focused efforts, and actively supporting students in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity as a brother. 

The recipient of the S.A. White Award for Contributions to UW-Whitewater is Mary C. Rowin. Rowin and her husband Roger L. Rowin, who earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1967 with minors in economics, English literature and political science, have made significant contributions to UW-Whitewater through endowments and supporting new initiatives. Since his passing in 2021, Rowin has been working to continue her husband’s legacy through the David W. Adamany Scholarship Endowment, the Roger L. and Mary C. Rowin Faculty Endowment, and providing substantial support to give the new literary journal “Either/Or” a proper launch and a solid foundation as it grows on the campus.

“This year’s award recipients exemplify the very best of Warhawk Bold — distinguished in their professions and deeply committed to their communities,” said Chancellor Corey A. King. “UW‑Whitewater continues to cultivate graduates who lead, inspire, and make a meaningful impact. It is a tremendous honor to recognize and celebrate these outstanding Warhawks.”

“We could not be more proud of this exceptional group of honorees, whose dedication to their communities, to UW‑Whitewater, and to student success shines so brightly,” said Amy Oeding ’90, executive director of alumni relations and annual giving. “Their remarkable accomplishments and unwavering commitment to service truly embody the spirit and strength of the Warhawk family.”

Also being honored are the 2026-2027 Lori & Eric Lorenz Outstanding Student Scholars, one from each of the university’s five undergraduate colleges. Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship in addition to their award.

• College of Arts and Communication — Anna Quartucci
• College of Business and Economics — Emma Henningfeld
• College of Education and Professional Studies — Sophie Stutzman
• College of Integrated Studies — Lex Cardoso-Reyes
• College of Letters and Sciences — Simon Michel

View more information on UW-Whitewater’s Distinguished Alumni awards »

For any questions, contact Amy Oeding, executive director of alumni relations and annual giving, at oedinga@uww.edu or 262-472-7033.

Jefferson County is proud to announce a free service for groups based in the County or serving County residents: Civic, school, non-profit, environmental, community, or other organizations can now reserve a speaker to present on a variety of topics of interest to area residents.

Sixteen of Jefferson County’s departments have made presentations in their areas of expertise available to the public, totaling more than 80 diverse topics. The Health Department, Human Services, and Sheriff’s Office offer nearly 50 presentations on public health, safety, awareness, and education. Those interested in Jefferson County’s natural and agricultural resources can choose from 15 presentations by experts in Land and Water Conservation, Parks, Jefferson County Fair, and UW Extension. All presentation topics are available on the Jefferson County website at the address included below.

“Our employees are dedicated to excellence in their chosen fields, and they appreciate opportunities to educate and inform their neighbors on topics that matter to County residents,” said Michael Luckey, Jefferson County Administrator. “I encourage everyone to review our presentations list and let us know if your group would like to learn more about a specific topic.”

If you need a speaker for a topic that is not listed or would like a customized presentation, please reach out to the applicable contact. Our experts will work with you to fulfill your request whenever possible.

To view the complete list of presentation topics and access contacts for scheduling a presentation:

https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/speakers_presentations_for_county_topics.php

For more about Jefferson County:

jeffersoncountywi.gov

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Jefferson County. The city of Whitewater is split between Jefferson and Walworth counties.

Check out the great schedule of events for Saturday’s STEAM Faire at Whitewater High School! New this year, the Faire will have a live science demonstration stage at 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30. Also, the FFA will have their plant sale open with an opportunity to meet the small animals in the ag department.

The Faire will be open from 10:00 am until 2:30 pm.

Admission is $3 or free if you bring a donation for Lakeland Animal Shelter.

Carter Waelchli, a Communication – BA major from Whitewater, at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is one of 16 Warhawks to claim a Wisconsin Community Media Best of the Midwest award for their work on UWW-TV during the 2025-26 academic year in Onalaska, WI, from April 30 – May 1, 2026.

Waelchli earned the following award for their work: 3rd place, Creative Student Media.

Award winners were recognized at the Midwest Media Fest Conference and Banquet on Thursday, April 30. Attendees had the opportunity to network and celebrate during the exhibitors’ reception and banquet.

The 2026 Midwest Media Fest Conference and Banquet celebrates local Public, Education, and Government (PEG) Access programming and Low-Power Community Radio programming. The event recognizes local programming produced by both professionals and amateurs and provides producers with feedback on their work from a slate of four judges.

The nine-state Alliance for Community Media Midwest Region includes Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

UWW-TV provides students with hands-on experience in producing high-quality content both behind the scenes and on camera.

To learn more about UWW-TV, visit uwwtv.org.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.

Brahms Birthday Celebration
Celebrate the birthday of Johannes Brahms with a special concert on May 7 featuring violinist Leanne Kelso and friends performing his lush and expressive Sextet No. 2 in G major. This beloved chamber work, full of warmth and lyrical beauty, is the perfect tribute to one of the great Romantic composers. Join us for an evening of exquisite music in honor of Brahms’ legacy.

Thursday, May 07, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
Light Recital Hall
950 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190
Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for those age 65+ or under age 18
Tickets may be purchased online, at the ticket office – 950 W. Main St. – Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., or at the door.
See parking information below.

Whitewater Symphony Orchestra
The Young Performing Arts Center
930 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190  
Friday, May 8, 2026 @ 7:30 p.m.
Immerse yourself in the powerful sound of the Whitewater Symphony Orchestra, UW-Whitewater’s premier orchestral ensemble. Featuring talented student musicians, the orchestra presents compelling performances of classical masterworks. Join us for an evening of artistry, passion, and musical excellence that will inspire audiences of all ages.
Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for those age 65+ or under age 18
Tickets may be purchased online, at the ticket office – 950 W. Main St. – Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., or at the door.
There is no charge for parking on the weekend.

Parking information

Parking: A permit is required to park in University lots and on Prince Street north of Main Street during events that take place Monday – Thursday. The closest lots are Lots 1 and 2. Permits may be purchased at the kiosk at the Visitors’ Center on Starin Road. To purchase a permit online, visit uww.aimsparking.com and follow these steps:

1. Select: Purchase UW-W Special Event Permits

2. Agree to Terms of Service

3. Select Event Type: CENTER OF THE ARTS

4. Select the event you are attending

5. Select Permit Type: EVENT GUEST

6. Dates will automatically fill in

7. Click Add Vehicle

8.  Enter license plate, make, model and color vehicle; Click ADD

9. Follow the remaining prompts to complete registration process

NOTE: Your license plate is your permit; be sure to enter plate correctly to avoid tickets. Plates not entered correctly are subject to $5 tickets. Do not park in stalls with any type of sign. If you need to change your plate, call 262-472-1011 during business hours Mon-Fri 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.