Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from an article that was published on the UW-Whitewater website. This Banner article highlights the recognition of Glenn C. Hayes. Another Banner article will feature Katie Kuznacic’s recognition.
Glenn “Doc” Hayes, a champion of music and cornerstone of the university’s College of Arts and Communication, and Katie Kuznacic, a campus leader and productive fundraiser, were recognized by the publication as leaders in higher education in Southeastern Wisconsin.
“Doc and Katie are great representatives of our university. They are passionate and caring leaders, and I congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition,” Chancellor Corey King said. “They embody what we describe as Warhawk Bold in their spaces, and have each demonstrated their positive impact well beyond campus.”
Hayes “one of the best on campus”
Professor Glenn Hayes, director of the Warhawk Marching Band, celebrates on the sidelines with Warhawks defensive back Tyson Harvey (5) as the Warhawks win their Homecoming game against UW-Platteville on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
Hayes, director of bands and professor of music, is in his 38th year as a member of the Warhawk family. He has conducted performances at some of the world’s most famous venues while evolving UW-Whitewater into one of Wisconsin’s leaders in music education.
Under his direction the Symphonic Wind Ensemble became the first university band from the state to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2013 and, one year later, at the Symphony Center for the 2014 Chicago International Music Festival. The group performed again at Carnegie Hall in 2020 and will return to the world-famous venue for a performance this spring.
The Warhawk Marching Band, also directed by Hayes, has performed 12 times at Lambeau Field — most recently in 2023 [a 13-minute video of that performance day may be viewed at the link] — and three times during the Milwaukee Brewers’ Opening Day ceremonies.
“I am so honored to receive the BizTimes Notable Leaders in Higher Education honor,” Hayes said. “There are so many phenomenal people on our campus! I cannot adequately express my gratitude in representing the university in this way. I’m so blessed to receive truly extraordinary support from our administration, my colleagues and the phenomenal students that I have the joy of assisting on their journey. UW-Whitewater is a remarkable family! I am eternally thankful that my path led me here.”
Hayes’ impact reaches well beyond campus. He has been involved with nearly a dozen state and national organizations, presenting at more than 20 national and international conferences and guest conducting on four continents. He has earned numerous university, state and national awards, including induction into the Wisconsin School Music Association Marching Band Hall of Fame and the Signature Sinfonian National Award from Phi Mu Alpha for character, leadership, scholarship, and a career of achievement in advancing music. He is a recipient of the university’s Dr. Elmer G. Redford ’59 Faculty Service Award (2012) and the Outstanding LGBTQ+ Ally Award (2022).
Glenn Hayes directs the UW-Whitewater Symphonic Wind Ensemble in a comical rendition of the “Twelve Days of Christmas” at the Gala Holiday Concert in Young Auditorium on Dec. 3, 2022. (UW-Whitewater photo/Finn Hartnett)
Hayes has mentored hundreds of Warhawks during his time on campus, including students, faculty and staff who’ve launched and/or enhanced careers in music education and other industries.
“’Doc’ is more than worthy of this recognition — quite simply, he’s one of the best on campus,” said Michael Dugan, dean of the College of Arts and Communication. “He is a leader on our campus and a respected global figure in the musical community. It is a joy to work with him each day as we move the Department of Music and the College forward.”
Emy Islas has been chosen by the faculty at Whitewater High School to attend the Wisconsin Leadership Seminar at Carroll University in Waukesha June 13-15, 2025!
Emy Islas
Emy will participate in team-building activities, hear motivational speakers, and participate in small group discussions designed to develop additional leadership skills in sophomores across the state of Wisconsin. Congratulations, Emy!
Article Submitted by Pam Sonmor-Wintz Whitewater High School Counselor psonmorwintz@wwusd.org
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire extends congratulations to the students named to the fall 2024 dean’s list. Their academic performance has been outstanding, and we recognize these students with pride.
Congratulations, Blugolds!
Dean’s list eligibility requirements:
At the end of each semester, each of UW-Eau Claires four colleges recognizes excellence in scholastic achievement by publishing the dean’s list.
To be eligible, a student must:
– Be in good academic standing.
– Have a minimum semester GPA of 3.70.
– Have completed at least 12 credits during the semester, with no incompletes, no courses below the 100 level, no repeats and no Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory registrations (except in degree credit-bearing courses that are offered only on the S/U grading system in which a grade of S has been earned).
Students from your area who were named to the Dean’s List are:
Whitewater, WI
Quincy Boudreau, College of Arts and Sciences Alex Meyer, College of Business
The Greater Whitewater Committee (GWC) will be hosting its annual meeting where the GWC elects its Board of Directors and adopts the new budget. After the GWC annual meeting, the GWC will be hosting this year’s civic event, where the public is welcome to attend, featuring the Superintendent of the School District, Dr. Caroline-Pate-Hefty, City Manager John Weidl and Police Chief Dan Meyer presenting their agency’s respective referendums for the April Ballot.
This event will take place on Thursday, February 13th at 5:00 p.m. at the banquet hall at 841 Brewhouse: 841 E Milwaukee St., Whitewater, WI 53190.
Historically, after the annual GWC meeting, the GWC invites the community to attend a civic event. Each year the GWC has a speaker from either the state or federal government. This year the GWC members asked the school district and the city to discuss their referendums for the April ballot. The GWC members thought it would be beneficial to share both the city and the school district plans with the community. The agenda will start with a social hour beginning at 5:00 p.m.; there will be hors d’oeuvres and sodas for everyone to enjoy. School District Superintendent Dr. Caroline-Pate-Hefty and a School Board member will present from approximately 5:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., and following the presentation there will be questions from the public until about 7:15 p.m. The second presentation will be by City Manager John Weidl and Police Chief Dan Meyer, beginning at 7:15 p.m., or earlier if we are ahead of schedule with questions starting at approximately 8:00 p.m. We ask the public to write their questions on a question card. The questions from the community will be presented by a moderator provided by the Greater Whitewater Committee.
Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty has been the WUSD Superintendent since July 2020. Previously, Caroline served as executive director of student services in Maywood, Melrose Park, and Broadview Public Schools in Cook County, IL for more than eight years. Pate-Hefty brings experience in supporting campus security, special education, discipline, climate/culture, and district-wide social and emotional learning models. Caroline holds a Doctor of Education degree from National Louis University, a Master of Arts degree from Concordia University, and a Bachelor of Education degree from UW-Whitewater.
City Manager John Weidl is a public-sector leader, economic development expert, and military combat veteran with 14+ years of experience developing teams of 150+ throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. He is also a decorated United States Air Force (USAF) Combat Veteran with tours of duty in Europe and the Middle East, including joint combat service with the United States Army. John’s role on the team typically involves balancing long-term and short-term expectations, developing and implementing growth strategy, managing the competing interests of stakeholders, delegating authority wisely, forging a culture of empowerment, and developing future leaders from within the organization. As the city manager John successfully converted a part-time, paid-on-call fire and EMS service into a full-time paramedic-certified department, in addition to implementing programs and projects that bring affordable housing and economic development to the community, over the last 18 months.
Police Chief Dan Meyer graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with an undergraduate degree in criminal justice. He completed the police academy class at MATC in 2010, at which time he landed his first law enforcement job as a Whitewater patrol officer. Meyer rose through the ranks as a detective, detective sergeant, detective lieutenant, captain, and deputy chief. Meyer earned an M.S. in Public Administration, with a criminology and criminal justice specialization from University of Nebraska – Omaha in 2019. He assumed the position of interim police chief in December 2021 and was hired as police chief in August 2022.
“We are happy the city and school district were available to present their cases of their respective referendums for the April ballot,” said GWC President Jeffery Knight.
The GWC is an action-oriented group committed to collaborating with citizens, elected officials, and policy makers to identify, craft, and implement a pro-business agenda. The agenda advances the economic, education, and social policies needed to energize and secure the Whitewater area’s economic future, as well as protect Whitewater’s quality of life.
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Loras College has announced the names of students who achieved Dean’s List status for the 2024 fall semester. A student must earn a 3.5 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours to be recognized.
Dollar Tree employees are preparing for a February 2 opening
Products are still arriving [Binnie photos]
While some Dollar Tree fans had hoped that the new Whitewater store at 1139 W. Main Street [just west of Indian Mound Parkway] would be open in time for Christmas decorations, it turns out that the store will open on Sunday, February 2. A manager from the Delavan store who was helping stock the shelves confirmed the opening date to the Banner, together with the regular store hours: Sunday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Local residents who are customers of other Dollar Tree stores have commented that some of their product lines are considerably different from those of Dollar General, which operates a store on Whitewater’s east side. Some have indicated that they purchase items such as greeting cards, holiday, seasonal and celebration decorations, and teacher-oriented items such as bulletin board borders.
Dollar Tree kept its prices at $1 for thirty years but raised their minimum price to $1.25 in 2021 and to $1.50 in 2024. Some items may be priced as high as $7. In a December earnings call executives warned that if new tariffs are imposed on imported goods, they may have to raise prices, seek distributors from alternative nations, and/or stop selling some product lines entirely.
WUSD Invites Families to January 28 ‘Middle School Matters’ Event
The Whitewater Unified School District invites all middle school families to the next Middle School Matters engagement session, which will take place Tuesday, January 28, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
As part of an ongoing family engagement initiative, the event will provide parents and caregivers with valuable information, tools, and resources to help navigate the middle school years. Topics in the upcoming session include an overview of course options for seventh and eighth graders in the 2025-26 school year, a review of Whitewater Middle School procedures, and strategies to help students stay motivated during the winter months.
Families are encouraged to bring their own mobile devices to access the digital resources reviewed during the session. Middle School staff will be available to answer questions and discuss topics relevant to the middle school experience.
Families with questions about the Middle School Matters program are asked to contact Stacey Joseph, a music teacher at sJoseph@wwusd.org. WUSD is proud and honored by her efforts in coordinating the program and family engagement initiative.
Editor’s note: This press release was received from the school district on January 27.
Whitewater senior Molly Donner and junior Kevin Gonzalez, culinary students of Ms. Lynn Weilbrenner, had the awesome opportunity to compete Sunday, January 26, in the 1st Annual Walworth County Culinary Showdown. They worked with Chef Noah and Chef Aaron from The Abbey to create two wonderful and creative dishes.
Molly Donner and Kevin Gonzalez with Chef Aaron Schmude
We didn’t come home with the top prize, but the skills Molly and Kevin learned were invaluable. Way to represent WHS! We are proud of you!
Article and Photos Submitted by Lynn Weilbrenner Whitewater High School FACE [Family & Consumer Education] Teacher lweilbrenner@wwusd.org
Each year, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Teams are given the opportunity to nominate up to two sophomore or junior students for the FIRST Dean’s List. Dean’s List recognizes the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding secondary school students and is presented by the Kamen Family in honor of FIRST’s founder, Dean Kamen. Team nominees are considered Dean’s List Semi-Finalists and will interview with a panel of judges at a regional event for the opportunity to become one of two Dean’s List Finalists from that event. Finalists then go on to compete at the FIRST Championships in Houston, Texas.
This year, the Ferradermis coaches were presented with a plethora of deserving candidates from the sophomore and junior class. After much deliberation, two candidates rose to the top based on their technical expertise and their heavy involvement in STEM outreach in the community and across the state. Juniors Erison Dreksler and Chacha Binagi will represent Whitewater as semi-finalists at the Phantom Lakes Regional to be held in Mukwonago over Spring Break. This event will feature 38 total teams from across Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri, and internationally from Mexico, Turkey, and India.
Coaches must submit a series of six short 800-character essays for each student based on specific prompts. Below are the submissions for each.
Chacha Binagi
Chacha spent time with us in middle-school for boot camp and an off-season event where within an hour, this little seventh grader was confidently headed off to other pits to talk match strategy. His passion for FIRST hasn’t slowed down since. Chacha is all about the team, making sure everyone is included, and their ideas are heard. His Project Preserve initiative to recycle 3D printed waste from other teams is positively impacting our environment. Elementary students flock to Chacha when he referees their unofficial tournaments because they have so much fun engaging with him. Emceeing for the first time at our FLL Regional, Chacha’s personality (and matching hat and bow tie) simply shined. Chacha encourages team bonding and knowledge-sharing, creating a more cohesive, well-prepared team.
Chacha Binagi
Chacha is the face of many presentations within our local community, the FIRST community, and the statewide educational community. As a spokesperson for the team at local events, a workshop presenter at kickoff, and a recruiter convincing other school districts to start FIRST teams, Chacha is always promoting FIRST and its values. Chacha has been engaged in a start-up meeting with one Wisconsin rookie team this year and did a presentation for potential coaches for another. He has been helping with FLL locally for the last two years, but this year he got a taste of the volunteer bug at regionals and sectionals, volunteering as a referee, emcee, and field resetter. Volunteering at events, as well as mentoring, are ways Chacha sees himself continuing to engage with FIRST in the future.
Chacha’s individual contributions foster collaboration, growth, and innovation. Chacha not only uses his CAD and 3D printing skills for the robot but also to complete projects for our schools and to retrofit virtual reality equipment for a quadriplegic’s prosthetics. He provides valuable guidance to new members, ensuring they feel supported and engaged, creating fun Kahoots! to help them learn. Chacha’s leadership in organizing workshops and volunteering at events like the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast has strengthened the team’s community presence. At competitions, you will most likely find him doing both qualitative and quantitative scouting to help prepare our pick lists. This year, he will be part of the Impact presentation team, having served as an understudy in the past.
A computer is Chacha’s go to multi-purpose tool. Some days, CAD and 3D printing are on the menu, designing both practical and fun items. Other days it’s analysis of data in a scouting spreadsheet that takes center stage. A talent for programming can’t be overlooked either. When not in front of the computer, Chacha can be found in the shop, stepping up to operate the lathe or the milling machine when the team needs an extra pair of hands. Last summer, Chacha spent a week at MSOE learning about all of the engineering careers available to him; with such diverse interests and skills, narrowing down his choices will be his only issue. His passions for design, figuring out how things work, and helping people will all come together through his chosen career in engineering.
As Outreach Subteam Lead, Chacha demonstrates leadership through his active mentorship and dedication to fostering a collaborative environment. He leads by example, whether through his work on the robot, volunteering, or organizing outreach events such as a summer workshop for migrant students, motivating others to step up as well. His leadership style is inclusive and supportive; he ensures every team member feels valued and equipped to succeed. Chacha encourages others by offering guidance, drive coaching the drive team, and by taking initiative, as seen in his leadership roles at Advocacy Day and representing FIRST Wisconsin at SLATE. His ability to connect with people, whether new members or the community, inspires those around him to contribute and take on leadership roles themselves.
Chacha carries a 3.75 GPA with a wide variety of course choices ranging from honors English and AP social sciences coursework to exploratory tech classes and engineering design coursework. Music is a huge part of his life as a performer in both high-powered vocal and instrumental ensembles (as well as national anthem choirs at FRC regionals). Chacha’s leading role as the Phil Davis character in White Christmas this past fall truly let his dynamic personality shine through.
Erison Dreksler
Erison is a kind soul who supports everyone, guiding each student to discover their passion. They are the first to welcome new members and get them hands-on with the robot, no matter their skill level. They often gather the team at the end of a meeting for a wrap-up so that each member has an opportunity to celebrate their individual contributions to the team. Erison fully embraces opportunities for fun team bonding, attending every activity. They presented specifically to our school’s multilingual learners to help them feel welcome and see team membership as a possibility. By offering presentations for other teams at FRC Training Day and kickoff and connecting our team members to fill in open spots on other teams’ all-girls drive teams at TWIST, they are making an impact on other teams.
Erison Dreksler
Erison plans to study electrical engineering and will make an incredible mentor for any FIRST level, already mentoring FLL and FTC. This fall, after doing field reset for one FLL regional, they volunteered as an FLL referee for 1 regional and 2 sectionals, something they see themselves continuing long into the future. When a presentation or workshop is to be done for a sponsor or community group, Erison is the first to step up. Erison represented FIRST Wisconsin at the SLATE and WTEA conferences the last two years, making connections with other school districts and encouraging them to start FIRST teams. They have also represented our team eloquently on Behind the Bumpers, did a site visit with the Sun Prairie rookie team, and participated in robotics Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.
Erison joined robotics to work solely on business. When the electrical subteam lead unexpectedly moved before the 2023 season, Erison, a freshman, stepped up without hesitation. They quickly learned the skills necessary to ensure the robot’s electrical systems were ready for competition, demonstrating resilience, determination, and strong problem-solving abilities. Erison also took initiative in expanding the team’s community outreach by securing a booth at the City Market, creating a fundraising opportunity that contributes to the team’s sustainability. This allowed the team to build local connections, raise awareness, and engage with the community. Their efforts in outreach, fundraising, and team operations have been vital to the team’s growth, success, and long-term viability.
As a result of their freshman experience on the team, Erison enrolled in the Project Lead the Way Introduction to Engineering course as a sophomore and attended a week-long program at Milwaukee School of Engineering last summer to learn about the school’s various areas of study. Erison stepped into the role of Electro-Mechanical Subteam Lead as a sophomore, stretching out of their comfort zone to learn to operate the CNC milling machine and other shop equipment. Erison stepped up to learn to both drive and operate the 2023 and 2024 robots in the offseason so that they could do community demonstrations and operate the robot during competitions. Now, they are excelling in their study of Digital Electronics. They’ve also learned to use AutoCAD to document the electrical system on the robot.
Erison is a dedicated and reliable leader, always present, engaged, and determined. They take on any task, big or small, setting a high standard for fellow team members. Whether it’s designing and wiring the robot, replacing carpet, or representing the team in presentations, Erison is always in the middle of it. As Electrical Subteam Lead, they provide guidance and help foster skill development no matter the task. Erison oversees packing for every event, ensuring everything is ready and mentors don’t have to worry. They offer unwavering support to teammates without judgment and quietly arrange help when needed. Erison also includes younger members in presentations, helping them grow their speaking skills and empowering them to take on leadership roles.
Erison’s role in the school’s Diversity Alliance shows their commitment to making all feel welcome. Their 3.9 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, while carrying a heavy load of honors, AP, and dual credit courses, shows their dedication to academics. Erison was inducted into the National Honor Society and has been honored by the National Center for Women and Information Technology as well. Youngsters in the community have come to know and love Erison and are excited to engage with them at events.
Essays and Photos Submitted by Mark Zimmermann and Laura Masbruch Whitewater High School Robotics Advisors lmasbruch@wwusd.org
