By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth recently announced that Associate Vice Chancellor Kenny Yarbrough will be leaving UW-Whitewater in January. Yarbrough has served as the inaugural Associate Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Support Programs (EDIS) for the past four years. This week Lawrence University in Appleton announced that Yarbrough will soon be assuming a similar position there.
Chenoweth also announced that Vanessa Perez will lead the EDIS programs “for the foreseeable future,” while also indicating that Perez has been appointed as the permanent Assistant Vice Chancellor for the division.
Per the chancellor, “This fall the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was once again named a College of Distinction for Equity and Inclusion. This designation was only possible thanks to the genuine commitment of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community. Our work in this space is important and recognized, but we realize we have much more to do.”
Photo submitted previously to The Banner by Kathy Bullis
The following quotes are from an article, “Next Level: After redshirt year, Whitewater High grad Emme Bullis breaks into Cal Poly’s Volleyball Starting lineup,” in The Gazette on December 15 by Tom Miller. Please click here to read the complete article, which is considerably longer. It appears that a subscription may not be required.
Next Level: After redshirt year, Whitewater High grad Emme Bullis breaks into Cal Poly’s volleyball starting lineup
“Emme Bullis’ parents were both teachers and coaches.
That partially explains the Whitewater High graduate’s success as a redshirt freshman [on] the Cal Poly volleyball team this season.
Bullis finished the season as the Mustangs leader in assists (1,105) and digs (26) and third in service aces with 18…..
Her first season in the Big West impressed her head coach Caroline Walters. “She’s a leader,” Walters told The Mustang News, the school’s publication. “She is consistently saying the right things and doing the right things.”
That is nothing new for people who watched Bullis star four years for the Whippets. A three-time Rock Valley Conference first-team selection and a first-team all-state pick her senior year, Bullis had a solid upbringing both in the classroom and on the volleyball court.
Her father, Kevin, was the UW-Whitewater head football coach from 2015 until the end of this past season when he announced his retirement.
Emme’s mother, Kathy, coached her throughout her high school career. Kathy retired after the 2021 season as the Whippets’ head coach.
Kevin and Kathy are in the process of moving to California. Kevin is pursuing a job in education, while Kathy already has been working in California….
They will have more opportunities to watch Emme play in her three remaining seasons.
She beat out a senior who was second in assists in the Big West last season for the starting setter job….
The drive and her competitiveness are illustrated by her success in the classroom, as well. A high honor roll student all four years at Whitewater High, Bullis is majoring in child development and wants to teach at the elementary school level when she graduates.
That is three volleyball seasons—and many more successes—away.”
The Annual UW-Whitewater Ceramics Sale provides visitors with the opportunity to view and purchase handmade, one-of-a-kind ceramic vessels/pottery forms that have been created by a mix of emeritus and current faculty members, student alumni, and current students involved in the UW-Whitewater, Dept. of Art and Design’s Ceramics program.
The nearest parking area to the main entrance of the Center of the Arts’ Crossman Gallery venue is Lot 1 of the UW-Whitewater campus. To avoid being issued a parking ticket/citation, a parking permit must be purchased. The UW-Whitewater Ceramics Organization’s members are not responsible for parking tickets/citations issued to visitors of the Ceramics Sale. A visitor day parking pass may be purchased here for $5. To purchase hourly parking Passport Pay by Space see the information here. There are several spaces with signage for this program in Lot 1 near the Center of the Arts entrance. Cost is $1.65 for an hour or $3.05 for two hours. Further information about parking at UW-W may be found here.
If you’re willing to park at an off-campus, free, public parking spot that is fairly close to the Center of the Arts building, consider such parking areas located along South Prince Street, Florence Street, and/or North Lindsey Court. Note, too, that parking is free in most of UW-Whitewater’s Lot 1 parking stalls during the 5-7 p.m. segment of the Sale’s overall, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16th, open hours, and during the entirety of the Sale’s 9 a.m.-5 p.m. open hours on Saturday, Dec. 17th.
Cash, personal check, debit, and credit cards are acceptable to purchase items at the 44th Annual UW-Whitewater Ceramics Sale. Handmade ceramic vessels/pottery serve as excellent winter holiday gifts for your friends, family members, and/or co-workers – we hope that you will visit the 44th Annual UW-Whitewater Ceramics Sale!
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
Yesterday, December 15, was the busiest day for the U.S. Postal Service during the Christmas season, so what better image to present than Whitewater’s own post office building.
The building, completed in 1936 is a fine example of the streamlined Classical Revival style buildings constructed by the federal government during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Before moving to this new building, Whitewater’s post office was located on Main Street, for the longest time at 137 Main St. (1875-1920s), now part of Gus’s Pizza.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
Thousands of Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes, coaches, volunteers, and fans converged on Carroll University in Waukesha for the 50th Anniversary Celebration Games July 29-31.
More than 1,800 Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes and coaches will gather at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to compete in the 2023 State Summer Games. The event is scheduled to take place June 8-10 and will include competitions in powerlifting, gymnastics, track and field, tennis, soccer and cornhole.
“We are honored to serve as the host site for Special Olympics Wisconsin, and we extend a warm Warhawk welcome to all of the athletes and their friends and family members who will be cheering them on,” said interim Chancellor John Chenoweth. “Hosting the games takes on a deeper meaning for UW-Whitewater, as we are a university with a core mission to help students of diverse abilities find success both academically and athletically. We look forward to supporting the competitions and witnessing the determination and sportsmanship of the athletes.”
“We are excited to bring our revamped Summer Games to Whitewater this summer,” Special Olympics Wisconsin President & CEO Chad Hershner said. “The university facilities will provide an awesome experience for our athletes as we continue to grow our organization for the next 50 years. We look forward to working with UW-Whitewater to create an incredible Games and long-lasting memories for all those involved.”
The 2023 State Summer Games will begin with an opening ceremony on Thursday, June 8. Competition will kick-off on Friday, June 9 and run through June 10. An evening dance will take place on Friday. UW-Whitewater’s Camps and Conferences will help provide a collegiate experience for the athletes with residence hall stays and meals on campus.
Additional information about other events and programs taking place during the games is forthcoming. Volunteers for the 2023 State Summer Games are needed and opportunities will come available on SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org. Or, contact volunteer@specialolympicswisconsin.org if you are interested.
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. Camps and Conferences is committed to offering summer camps, day clinics, competitions and virtual events that allow participants to work closely with our award-winning coaches, directors and staff.
If you have a disability and require accommodations, please advise us as soon as possible. Requests are confidential. UW- Whitewater provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA. Please contact Morgan Anderson at andersml@uww.edu or 262-472-1095 for further information.
Edgerton Hospital and Health Services is pleased to expand access to mental health services with the addition of a new psychiatric nurse practitioner. Beginning on Monday, January 9, 2023, Rebecca Beese, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC will see patients at the hospital’s Milton Clinic location, 831 Arthur Drive, Milton. The appointment line is now open, 608-868-3526. No referral is needed.
Dr. Beese provides excellent patient-centered care using a wide variety of integrated healing methods including medications, supplements, supportive therapy, psychoeducation, environmental modifications, mindfulness, yoga, and Reiki. She primarily works with patients who are experiencing the following conditions:
ADHD
Adjustment Disorders
Anxiety
Autism
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Trauma
With the ever-increasing need for mental health services, Dr. Beese says that she’s happy to offer her care locally. “When I’m caring for my patients, it’s always my priority to ensure that each individual feels seen, heard, and valued. I spend time not only treating chemical imbalances, but also closely evaluating my patients’ lifestyles, relationships, and environments, using a holistic mind-body-spirit approach. Together, we create a plan to help them live their best lives,” said Dr. Beese.
Edgerton Hospital CEO, Marc Augsburger, MBA, BSN, says that Dr. Beese will be answering a need that the community so desperately has. “The hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment tells us that mental health is a growing concern locally. It’s been our goal to directly address this need, and we are delighted to be adding Rebecca Beese as our new psychiatric nurse practitioner. Her expertise in mental health will surely benefit many,” said Augsburger.
Rebecca Beese, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She holds her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Minnesota, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin, and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Beese has 16 years of direct nursing experience at organizations including St. Mary’s Hospital and University of Colorado Hospital. She held the role of Clinical Instructor at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University Mankato, where she specifically focused on psych/mental health. For the past five years, Dr. Beese has been an Integrative Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at PrairieCare in Chaska, MN. In addition to her clinical experience, Dr. Beese is also a certified Yoga instructor and a Reiki Master. Her trained therapy dog, Finnigan, joins her at almost all patient appointments.
Individuals interested in scheduling an appointment with Rebecca Beese, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC should call 608-868-3526. For more information, please visit www.edgertonhospital.com.
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Serena Wong from Pixabay.
Members and friends of the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center were invited to a “Jolly Holiday Party” on December 9. They were promised a special visit from Santa, together with food, games and open swim for all to enjoy. Admission was free with a nonperishable food item donation. All collected food items were donated to the Community Space. Photos are courtesy of Tom Ganser.
Robin Fox, center left, and Kim Simes, center right, with their daughters at the White House on December 13 [Provided to MJS]
The below quotes are from an article by Lawrence Andrea and Kelly Meyerhofer in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [MJS] on December 13. The complete article is considerably longer and may be accessed without a subscription here.
“A Whitewater couple and their two children stood at the front of a crowd of thousands on the White House South Lawn on Tuesday afternoon as President Joe Biden signed into federal law landmark legislation codifying same-sex and interracial marriage protections.
Robin Fox, Kim Simes and their daughters were among the president and First Lady Jill Biden’s special guests for an elaborate ceremony in which the president signed the Respect for Marriage Act — a bill the two women say gives their family security.
“I think I wasn’t really emotionally prepared for what it would be like,” Fox told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after the bill was signed, noting the new law protects both their marriage and the rights of their adopted children to marry who they want in the future.
“It’s like a mix of just sheer and complete joy and a whole lot of anger that we even had to get to this point.” ……
Fox and Simes, a couple for 25 years, were invited to the ceremony because of Simes’ role as chief of staff for Family Equality, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ families. Fox, meanwhile, has spent 32 years working a variety of positions at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Last spring, Fox was tapped to be interim provost, an administrative position that is second only to the chancellor…….
The new law requires states to recognize marriages that are considered valid in the state where they were performed….It also grants protections for interracial couples, an important safeguard that Fox said shouldn’t be overlooked.
The couple’s adopted daughters, Brennan, 18, and Sanibel, 14, are of a different race than Fox and her wife.
Both Fox and Simes are UW-Whitewater alumni. They met on campus when Simes was a graduate student and Fox was director of the university’s children’s center. Their oldest daughter is now studying political science there.
This is just as hands-on as it gets,” Brennan said after the bill was signed into law.
Though the family’s trip to Washington was last minute — the White House invitation for Tuesday’s event came Sunday — they were quick to accept.
“I’m thrilled to be here,” Fox said. “We were very quick to say yes and drop everything we have going on. It’s important for us to be here and for our children to be here to watch this happen.”
According to a press release, the following individuals from our area are among the 1,890 prospective candidates for degree attending University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee commencement exercises Sunday, December 18, 2022 in Milwaukee.
UWM is the second largest university in the State of Wisconsin, with over 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Marijose Cuellar Meza, College of Nursing, Bachelor of Science Madison Garland, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, Master of Science Hassime Traore, School of Nursing, Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding
The 66th Annual National Honor Society Induction Ceremony took place at Whitewater High School on Wednesday evening, November 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Thirteen juniors and seniors were inducted as members to honor and recognize their outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship, and service to the school and community. After opening remarks by Associate Principal Nathan O’Shaughnessey, the Whitewater High School Music Masters performed a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem and a piece by Lodovico Grossi da Viadana entitled, “Exultate Justi in Domino.” Whitewater High School Principal Brent Mansky thanked the faculty for providing an excellent educational experience for students and honored parents for the support and encouragement they have provided their children over the years. NHS Advisor Pamela Sonmor-Wintz shared remarks about the projects NHS participated in during the past year and presented medallions to the officers for their leadership within the organization. NHS President Aileen Perez, Vice President Josephine Treder, Secretary Kindyl Kilar, and Treasurer Tyler Arnett presented inspirational speeches about leadership, character, scholarship, and service, and then new members were introduced and received National Honor Society pins and certificates.
Photo Courtesy of Kevin Alvarado
The National Honor Society was established at Whitewater High School in 1956 to inspire enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, promote worthy leadership, and encourage the development of character in high school students. NHS has become a prestigious organization ranking high among college admission officers, scholarship committees, high school faculty and administrators, students, parents, and residents of our community. For many, selection as a member of the National Honor Society is the pinnacle of achievement in school. This honor, recognized throughout the nation, is both the public recognition of outstanding accomplishments and the private commitment to continued excellence on the part of each new member.
2 WHS Associate Principal Nathan O'Shaughnessy
3 WHS Principal Brent Mansky
4 Pamela Sonmor-Wintz, NHS Advisor
5 WHS Music Masters Performance
6 President Aileen Perez
7 President Aileen Perez Lighting Candle
8 Vice President Josie Treder
8 Vice President Josie Treder Lighting Candle
9 Secretary Kindyl Kilar
10 Kindyl Kilar Lighting Candle
11 Treasurer Tyler Arnett
12 Treasurer Tyler Arnett Lighting Candle
13 New Member Brenda Aguilar
14 New Member Allison Alvarado
15 New Member Dayna Carlson
16 New Member Anders Clarksen
17 New Member Evelyn Troxel
18 New Member Andrea Alcala
19 New Member Aidyn Amundson
20 New Member Danielle DePorter
21 New Member Emerson Ellenwood
22 New Member Marina Linos
23 New Member Kayla Mikos
24 New Member Mayte Navejas
25 New Member Davin Parboteeah
26 NHS Officers 22-23
The following 2022-2023 National Honor Society Photo Story was shown at the beginning of the ceremony to celebrate all members and their accomplishments during the past year: https://youtu.be/FzeJ75_Dr8M
