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The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will celebrate the achievements of its graduates at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 13, as proud families and friends gather for the 2025 December commencement ceremony.

Approximately 888 students will be earning their degrees, including undergraduates from the College of Arts and Communication, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Integrated Studies, and the College of Letters and Sciences, and students earning a master’s degree or doctorate from the School of Graduate Studies.

The ceremony, about two hours long and presided over by Chancellor Corey A. King, will be held at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.

This year’s commencement speaker is Mark Perry, a San Francisco business leader whose father, Harold Perry, graduated from UW-Whitewater in 1933 and returned in 1958 to serve as commencement speaker. When Harold Perry retired in 1974, the family established the Harold M. Perry and Margaret A. Perry Scholarship Fund at UW-Whitewater. Recently, the family established the Harold M. Perry ’33 and Margaret A. Perry Endowed Faculty Chair, a $2 million gift in 2024 that provides resources to a selected UW-Whitewater faculty member or members to address complex issues, develop long-term solutions and positively impact Wisconsin’s economy.

The student speaker is Samuel Bardales, from Gurnee, Illinois, who is earning a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, secondary education licensure, and a minor in business law. On campus, he joined myriad student organizations and served in multiple leadership roles. Early on, he joined the Leadership Involvement Team for Wells Residence Hall and became deeply involved with Whitewater Student Government. He also was involved in Whitewater Cru and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Bardales hopes to work as a math teacher after graduation and later further his education.

82 percent of the graduating students come from Wisconsin, and 25 states and seven countries other than the United States are represented in the graduating class.

The graduating class includes nine international students, 69 military veterans and 154 nontraditional students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 77 self-identified students with disabilities will receive degrees.

A total of 56 graduating students participated in the university’s Hired Before Graduation campaign, which celebrates students who landed a job, earned acceptance to graduate school or started their own business before commencement. That represents an increase of 27% over the December 2024 class.

Commencement will be broadcast live online by UWW-TV, the university television station. Access to the livestream will be posted on our commencement webpage.

Stop by Studio 84 this Saturday, December 13th from 10 am-2 pm for Second Saturdays at Studio 84 located in downtown Whitewater at 121 W. Center Street. This month’s activity is Christmas card making! All materials and supplies are provided free of charge!

Studio 84 is a non-profit art studio, gallery and store. Our mission is to provide fully accessible opportunities in the arts to enrich people’s lives. Our regular weekday programming provides individual guidance and instruction to people of all ages and abilities for a cost. We are privileged to be able to provide this free opportunity to create art together as a community thanks to the generosity of the Geneva Lake Women’s Association.
 
An adult must accompany kids under the age of twelve at Second Saturdays. Anyone with special needs may also be required to have a guardian or caregiver present depending on their needs.

You can learn more about Studio 84 at our webstite www.studio84inc.org , Facebook @
Studio84, Inc. or Instagram @ studio84inc

Whitewater Unified School District has a 2-hour delay. Per our policy, the morning Early Childhood and 4K classes are cancelled. The full-day 4K and afternoon 4K classes will continue to be held. We apologize for the late notice, but for our students’ safety, there was one last-minute drive around the area, and it has gotten worse within the hour. Some of the townships have encouraged the bus company to hold off due to the roads.

Whitewater High School Schedule:

The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area is honored to announce that Whitewater resident Tom Ganser has been selected to receive the League’s 2025 Making Democracy Work award for documenting democracy in action as a photographer. Through photography, Tom tells a diverse, multigenerational story of civic pride and action. Tom provides his services to the community at no charge, documenting crucial community events such as town hall meetings, local elections, Unity Walks, and League of Women Voters-sponsored events. The League’s Making Democracy Work Award recognizes citizens who strive to make their community a safer and fairer place in which to live. 

A public reception celebrating Tom’s commitment to diversity and civic action will be held Sunday, December 14, 2 PM – 4 PM, at the Prairie Village Community Center, located at Prairie Village on Burr Oak Trail just south of County U in Whitewater.  Refreshments will be served. 

Please join us on December 14th in honoring Tom. Tom taught English for 10 years at Custer High School in Milwaukee and served for 20 years as Associate Director and Director of the Office of Field Experiences in the College of Education and Professional Studies at UW-Whitewater and as Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. He directed the Beginning Teacher Assistance Program and served on the Whitewater Unified School District for four years. Tom serves on the Finance Committee for First United Methodist Church. He has contributed to the Whitewater Register, the Whitewater Banner, the Daily Jefferson County Union, and Fort Atkinson Online. 

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!

Wednesday, December 10th is Whitewater High School’s annual Winter Gala concert and fundraiser. We would love to see a big crowd out to support our talented musicians. There will be a raffle basket auction to help raise funds for the music booster club. Support of the community in the raffle is greatly appreciated.

If you are unable to attend in person but want to join us virtually, here is the link (please scroll down.)

Orders must be placed by Wednesday, December 10. Unsold baskets will be available for onsite purchase, while supplies last, at First Citizens State Bank’s downtown lobby beginning the afternoon of Wednesday, December 17. 

Over the weekend, Whitewater High School’s Model UN team participated in the Model UN Conference at Arrowhead High School. Students spent the day debating global issues and collaborating with delegates from other schools. Their strong preparation, professionalism, and teamwork were evident in every committee.

We are incredibly proud of our Model UN students for their dedication and outstanding performance. Congratulations to all members on a successful event!

Article and Photos Submitted by Liberty Cunningham and Greg Stewart
WHS Model UN Advisors
cunli01@wwusd.org

Updated 12/9/25 @ 9:15 p.m. with the link to the video.

A Whitewater program will be featured on Monday, December 8 on the WDJT Channel 58 News at 10 p.m. One of the regular diners from the community had reached out to the Milwaukee station to suggest that the University/Community Lunch that is offered at First United Methodist Church would be an interesting feature for Natalie Shepherd’s “Everyday Heroes.” Shepherd, the evening anchor, recently visited the lunch to see it for herself.

Lunch Coordinator Terrie Parenteau indicates that about 250 meals a week are currently being provided. Four to six volunteers assist Parenteau with preparing and serving the meals, not to mention additional church members who contribute food from home. The program is in its 25th year, having pivoted to take-out meals five days a week during the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost 20,000 meals were provided during that time.

Students and community members are welcome at the free lunch, which is served throughout the school year on Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The last lunch for the semester will be served on December 9, with the first lunch in 2026 being served on January 27.

Written by Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer is known for keeping people safe and building community.  And he recently unveiled another talent – dancing!  He spent an afternoon at Studio 84 getting to know the dancers of all abilities who are students there, and he joined the troupe in dancing for joy.

Margaret Wheeler, the artist in residence who teaches dance at the studio, invited Chief Meyer to attend and learn more about the program. 

Co-choreographer Katherine M. Sainsbury and Margaret agree that the Chief was very interested in the students and enjoyed the dances. 

Margaret said, “The Chief was so kind; he listened to the students talk about their artwork and asked questions. He danced with us—he was a great sport and fine with wearing a Santa hat!”

Dancer Stuart Nagy said, “I have met three other really nice police officers. The Chief was awesome!”

Dancer Mila Holcombe agreed, “He’s such a nice Officer.”

Chief Meyer said, “Some of the artists I spoke with have been working at Studio 84 for over a decade and it was very apparent how important this opportunity is for them.”

Dancer Steven Paprocki said, “He really liked my artwork.”

Meyer said, “This was my first time being inside Studio 84, and I had no idea what it was all about beforehand. I was blown away by the positive atmosphere and how much pride the artists have in their work.”

An incredibly talented dancer herself, Margaret Wheeler donates her time each week to bring joy, laughter and dance to Whitewater’s Studio 84 at 121 West Center Street.  

People with all abilities are invited on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to join the dance class.  Each dancer pays $15 per hour to participate, and all proceeds are donated by Margaret to Studio 84.  More information and sign-up information can be found at:  www.studio84inc.org.

Her dance company has performed at the Multicultural Event through the Whitewater School District, Fairhaven, other local places, and is available for other venues.   Anyone interested in having a performance at their location or event should contact Studio 84 at info@studio84inc.org.

Dance is just one of the arts featured at Studio 84.  Stuart can often be found at the Whitewater City Market selling his pottery to help raise funds for Studio 84.  He has been involved in Studio 84 for about seven years and said, “I just love doing the arts.” And of dance he said, “It’s fun.  And it gets me energized.”

Meyer said, “The Co-Directors (Lynnette Gmur and Benjamin Kelly), Artistic Mentor (Karina Pittro), and volunteers really do amazing work and embody what community looks like. It’s a fantastic place.”

Their website says, “Studio 84 is a nonprofit art studio, gallery and store.  We specialize in the creative and vocational development of people with disabilities including those with Autism, Down Syndrome physical disabilities, cognition delays and mental illness.  We believe in creating an environment of inclusion. Open to all ages and all abilities.”

Editor’s Note:  This article was written by volunteer Marjorie Stoneman with photographs by volunteer Tom Ganser.

American Legion Post 173 of Whitewater recently elected new Post leadership for the upcoming year. The membership selected Jessica Kienbaum as Post Commander, Jim Kosharek as First Vice Commander, and Steve Swader as Second Vice Commander.

The new officers were recognized during the Post’s holiday meal, held this year at 841 Brewhouse. A photo from the event also includes long-serving Finance Officer Rodney Lohff and Post Adjutant Steve Smith, whose continued dedication and many years of service to the Post are gratefully acknowledged.

American Legion Post 173 looks forward to the year ahead and remains committed to supporting veterans, families, and the Whitewater community. The Post meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room at 292 S. Wisconsin St., and local veterans are always welcome to attend.

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by Jessica Kienbaum.

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