News

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will celebrate the achievements of its graduates on Saturday, May 11, and Tuesday, May 14, as proud families and friends gather for the 2024 spring commencement ceremonies on the Whitewater and Rock County campuses.

On the university’s Whitewater campus, a total of 1,437 May and August graduates will cross the stage on May 11 to receive their degrees. The morning ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m., recognizes 613 undergraduate and 151 graduate students from the College of Arts and Communication, the College of Business and Economics and the School of Graduate Studies.

The afternoon ceremony begins at 3 p.m. and recognizes 516 undergraduate students and 152 graduate students from the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Integrated Studies, the College of Letters and Sciences, and the School of Graduate Studies. An additional five degrees are not specific to any college. The ceremonies, which last approximately two hours each, will be held in the Kachel Fieldhouse at the Williams Center.

Included in the graduates crossing the stage on May 11 will be 102 students who are veterans, 9 international students and 200 nontraditional undergraduate students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 187 self-identified students with disabilities will receive degrees.

Five graduates of the university’s LIFE Program, which provides a complete college experience for young adults between the ages of 18-25 who have an intellectual disability, will cross the stage during the afternoon program — including one who is earning an advanced certificate.

The commencement speaker for the morning ceremony on the Whitewater campus is Scott Wrobbel, who earned a BBA in accounting in 1980 and enjoyed a long career at Arthur Andersen and Deloitte before serving on the board of directors of American Family Insurance, Johnson Financial Group and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management and holding board and leadership roles at the Children’s Wisconsin Foundation, the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, and the Andalusia Education Foundation.

The commencement speaker for the afternoon ceremony on the Whitewater campus is Crystal McClain, who earned a B.A. in social work in 2003 before earning a master’s degree in social work, serving as a state-certified advanced practicing social worker, and in 2010 establishing Revive Youth & Family Services, which specializes in serving at-risk youth through four group homes and one foster home, where she remains the owner and chief executive officer. In 2018, the Milwaukee Business Journal named McClain to its 40 Under 40 list.

The student speaker for the morning ceremony is Dylan Riley. Riley, who is graduating in just three years with a BBA in finance and a minor in political science, studied abroad for a semester through the American University of Rome, Italy. He will be returning to campus in the fall to pursue an MBA.

The student speaker for the afternoon ceremony is Ty Jahnke. Jahnke, who first earned his B.S. in human performance in 2023, and is graduating with a Master of Science in Applied Kinesiology, aspires to a career in collegiate coaching, but will first answer a call of duty in the military.

The commencement ceremonies on the Whitewater campus will be broadcast live online by UWW-TV, the university television station.

The graduation ceremony for more than 88 College of Integrated Studies students at UW-Whitewater at Rock County will be held on Tuesday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Wells Cultural Center.

The commencement speaker is Nick Dimassis, director of the Beloit Public Library.

The student speaker is Cassandra Breyman, from Janesville, who is earning her AAS and is enrolled in the online B.S. in social work on the Whitewater campus.

During the ceremony, the Outstanding Alumni Award will be presented to Lori Stottler, the clerk-treasurer of the City of Janesville. She earned associate degrees in arts and sciences and political science from the Rock County campus in 2016.

The Excellence in Teaching Awards and the faculty and staff who are retiring will also be announced at the Rock County campus ceremony.

Visit uww.edu/commencement for more information about UW-Whitewater’s commencement ceremonies.

Congratulations to the WHS Music students who performed at the WSMA [Wisconsin School Music Association] State Solo/Ensemble Festival on the UW-Whitewater Campus last Saturday! Nineteen events received a 1st rating and eight events received a 2nd rating. Results can be found here  Congratulations to all students who made it to State! 

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by Karen Tordera.

Whitewater resident Caryl Yasko is featured in a documentary entitled, “Pioneering Women Muralists of Hyde Park,” which was recently screened in the 14th Annual New Hope Film Festival in Pennsylvania. The film features the history of public art in Chicago’s Hyde Park and those it describes as the city’s five most prominent women muralists in Chicago Public Art Group’s history, including Caryl.

Caryl states that the documentary, “… features me in 1972 painting my first public mural in Chicago, ‘Under City Stone.’ The filmmakers came to Whitewater to film me in an interview for this documentary. Whitewater’s mural, “Prairie Tillers,” appears briefly in the film.”

As shown in the image above, Yasko returned to Chicago in 2015 to restore the mural. This story describes that project.

The Prairie Tillers mural (shown above) was originally created by Yasko in 1980 on the east exterior wall at 119 Center Street in Whitewater. She restored the mural in 2004.

Editor’s note: Article by Lynn Binnie, Whitewater Banner volunteer staff, whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Congratulations to NCWIT Wisconsin Award Winners Rae Breisath and Ace Hudec and NCWIT Wisconsin Rising Star Erison Dreksler! The trio was honored during a ceremony at Milwaukee School of Engineering on Sunday, April 28. All three are members of the Whitewater High School FIRST Robotics Competition Team Ferradermis where Hudec is the Programming Subteam Lead, Dreksler is the Electro-Mechanical Subteam Lead, and Breisath is a member of the Programming Subteam.

The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing award recognizes high school students for their computing-related interests and achievements and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education.

NCWIT [National Center for Women & Information Technology] is a nationwide, non-profit community of more than 1,600 universities, companies, non-profits, and government organizations that draws on social science research at all levels of the tech ecosystem to identify and promote interventions to correct underrepresentation in computing education and the tech workforce. NCWIT strives to ensure the broadest spectrum of people can contribute to the innovations that shape all of our lives. 

Article Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Computer Science Teacher and Robotics Advisor
lmasbruch@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Tori Breisath

The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs wishes to thank the UW-Whitewater students who came to the Bassett House on April 26^th to assist club members with our yard work.  The students were part of the university’s “Make A Difference Day” and they absolutely made a difference.  We are so thankful for their assistance in maintaining the lovely gardens of this historic Local Landmark.  They did an absolutely fantastic job.  Our Heroes!

Editor’s note: This press release was submitted by Pat Blackmer, Bassett House Preservation Chair.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) invites photographers of all levels to submit their photography for consideration in the 15th Annual Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition.

The gallery exhibit will be held during the month of July, 2024 at the WAA’s Cultural Arts Center Gallery. The photographs in the exhibit will be displayed on the walls of the gallery and, concurrently, in an online virtual exhibit that will appear at the WAA website.

New this year: a free commemorative PDF catalog containing all of the photographs chosen for the exhibit will be produced and made available for download.

All are welcome to enter. Submissions must be received no later than Wednesday, May 29 and must include 1) a completed online entry form, 2) entry fee of $35 ($30 for current WAA members), and 3) emailed digital copies of entered photos. The entry includes submission of up to four photographs. Complete information, along with the online entry form, key dates, and rules is located at www.whitewaterarts.org/fran-achen-2024

Contacts

• Jeff McDonald, Exhibit Chair – waa.franachen@gmail.com
• Kim Adams, WAA Gallery Director – wwartsalliance@gmail.com

Awards

• First Place Award: ($150)
• Second Place Award: ($125)
• Third Place Award: ($100)
• Viewer Choice Award: ($75)
• Honorable Mention Certificates

Key Dates

• Entries, fees, and image files due: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
• Notice of acceptance: Wednesday, June 5, 2024
• Gallery exhibit dates: July 5 – 28, 2024
• Reception and awards presentation: Sunday, July 7, 2024 (1 pm – 4 pm), awards at 2 pm
• Viewers’ Choice Award Announcement: Sunday, July 28

Entry Fees

• $30 for current WAA members, $35 for non-members
• Fee includes up to 4 photographs
• An entrant may optionally enter 2 additional photographs (making a total of 6) for an additional fee of $20
• Photographs must receive an acceptance to be included in the exhibit.

Entry Process

• Described in detail at  www.whitewaterarts.org/fran-achen-2024

An opening reception featuring the presentation of awards will be held Sunday, July 7 at 1:00 P.M. at the Cultural Arts Center where light refreshments will be served. Voting for Viewers’ Choice will continue throughout the run of the exhibit and its winner will be announced Sunday, July 28.

Jeff McDonald, the exhibit’s 10-year chair and a longtime WAA board member, said, “The Fran Achen exhibition is an annual highlight. Fran Achen was a revered member of the community and an exceptional photographer. His collection of images continues to inspire. This exhibit, named in his honor, is an excellent opportunity to showcase the outstanding work created by both established and aspiring area photographers. The participation and support of many skilled artists from all over southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois is greatly appreciated and is the reason for this program’s continued success. Each year brings a new crop of inspired work.”

Admission to the exhibit and its reception are free of charge, open to the public, and all are invited. The gallery is open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12:00 P.M. (Noon) to 4:00 P.M. and the website is open 24/7. The exhibit runs from Friday, July 5 through Sunday, July 28.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance believes art plays a significant role in transforming the cultural fabric. It brings people together, fosters dialogue and reflection, and creates a sense of pride and ownership.

Large items will be picked up in the City of Whitewater on Thursday:

~ May 2, May 9, May 16, and May 23, 2024~

• These additional pick ups are for garbage or recycling items that are too large to fit in the toters. This does not include yard waste, construction materials, hazardous materials or electronics (including TVs).
• An Electronic Recycling Event is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 9 am – 1 pm, in Lot B (Cravath Lakefront).
• Place all large items including furniture, carpeting, large metal, large cardboard boxes (emptied and flattened) and appliances 6 ft. away from, and not in front of or next to, the toters.
• Items such as automotive batteries, tires (2 per home per month), drain oil (in sealed 1-5-gallon container) should also be 6 ft. away from the toters.
• Solid waste containers, recycling containers and bulk items should not be placed at the collection point sooner than 4:00 pm on the day before the collection day.
• No items should remain at the curb line after 9:00 am on the day after the scheduled collection time.
  
  For additional pick-up information or removal of TVs, please contact John’s Disposal at 473-4700 for current disposal rates.
  
  More information can be found on the City’s website under Chapter 8.28 – Refuse and Recyclables:
  https://library.municode.com/wi/whitewater/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8HESA_CH8.28RERECO

More information regarding John’s Disposal can be found at: https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/231/Johns-
Disposal-Service.

Whitewater School Board/Whitewater Education Association Bargaining Session – Wednesday @ 3:45 p.m.
Agenda: Exchange 2024-25 proposals
Whitewater Unified School District Central Office
419 South Elizabeth Street

City of Whitewater Lakes Advisory Committee – Wednesday @ 4:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approval of Proposed Scope of Work to be
performed by SEWRPC for phase one of the Comprehensive Lake Management Plan for Cravath and Trippe Lakes.
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater St
*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 click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89512410529?pwd=S0xrUzJBUzlrNjF6d1ZvbFlTQWc2Zz09
Meeting ID: 895 1241 0529
Passcode: 519198
Dial 1 312 626 6799

City of Whitewater Special Common Council Meeting – Wednesday, @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Discussion and Possible Action regarding Interviewing and Appointing of Interim Municipal Judge.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St.
*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 click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87127076222?pwd=wxPtUDQztDcWQ_ntZqbYyE73IWWujw.RvK1-Rz-fAlmtbk_
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799
Webinar ID: 871 2707 6222 Passcode: 095330

The $21,169 grant will support the production of critical incident mapping data for first responders

The Whitewater Unified School District has been awarded a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) to fund the mapping of all district buildings, ensuring compliance with state mandates and bolstering the district’s security and emergency responsiveness.

Under the provisions of the 2017 Wisconsin Act 143 and 2021 Wisconsin Act 109, schools are eligible to apply for grant funding to cover the expenses associated with obtaining digital maps of buildings required by the Office of School Safety (OSS), a division of the DOJ. These maps must include site-specific data, such as building numbers, floor identifiers, room numbers, and other features, to serve as resources for first responders in case of critical incidents.

The district will receive the $21,169 grant to fund the production of the required critical incident mapping data for the OSS.

“We appreciate the Whitewater Police Department’s role in advocating for the critical incident map grant. Additionally, we want to thank John Houwers, Director of Technology, who contributed tremendously to the completion of this process,” said Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, Superintendent, “Access to digital maps will significantly improve our district’s security measures and aid first responders in emergencies. We are appreciative of this grant opportunity and the benefits it will offer to WUSD’s existing safety plan.”

Public, private, and tribal schools may apply for up to $5,000 in WI Act 109 grant funding per building, with a district limit of $200,000. These funds must be used for site-specific critical incident mapping data to improve security and increase situational awareness for first responders.

To learn more about Act 143, Act 109, and the DOJ School Safety Grants, visit www.doj.state.wi.us/office-school-safety/school-safety-grants.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.