News
UW-W Spring Commencement Set for May 18 and May 21
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will celebrate the achievements of its graduates on Saturday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 21, as proud families and friends gather for the 2019 spring commencement ceremonies. At the university’s Whitewater campus, a total of 1,643 graduates will cross the stage on May 18 to receive their degrees. The morning ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m., recognizes 759 undergraduate and 88 graduate students from the colleges of Arts and Communication, and Business and Economics. The afternoon ceremony begins at 3 p.m. and recognizes 696 undergraduate and 100 graduate students from the colleges of Education and Professional Studies, and Letters and Sciences. The ceremonies, which last approximately two hours each, will be held in Kachel Fieldhouse.
The commencement speaker for both ceremonies is Damani Short, who earned a BBA in management computer systems in 1994. The Waukesha native has had a wide-ranging career in information technology in organizations as diverse as GE Healthcare, Sharpie, the U.S. Olympic Committee, Johnson Controls and Shutterfly. Short now leads Lexico, a transformation services consultancy, together with his wife and business partner, Cindi.
Thomas Kind, a general management major from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, will be the student speaker for the morning ceremony. As president of Whitewater Student Government, Kind has presided over the student body during an historic time at UW-Whitewater, including the university’s 150th anniversary and the combining of the Whitewater and Rock County campuses. He continues as a UW-Whitewater student, pursuing an MBA.
Zhishu Wang, who is receiving his Bachelor of Science in Education in English, will be the student speaker for the afternoon ceremony. A native of Qingdao, China, Wang always dreamed of attending a university abroad. At UW-Whitewater, he found enthusiastic faculty members ready to engage him in undergraduate research projects in his field of choice, teaching. A student-teacher at Waterford Union High School, in the fall he will begin a master’s degree program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
The graduating class of the Whitewater campus includes 82 students who are veterans, 31 international students and 231 nontraditional undergraduate students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 111 self-identified students with disabilities will receive degrees.
The commencement ceremonies on the Whitewater campus will be broadcast live online by UWW-TV, the university television station.
The graduation ceremony for UW-Whitewater at Rock County will be held on Tuesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Wells Cultural Center. This ceremony marks the college’s first commencement as part of UW-Whitewater. About 85 graduates are expected to receive their Associate of Arts.
The commencement speaker is State Senator Janis Ringhand, who represents Senate District 15. Ringhand, a lifelong resident of Rock County, has worked as a bookkeeper and has helped to run her family’s business, Ringhand Meats and Beverages, in addition to serving on the Evansville City Council, as mayor of Evansville, as a representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly, and most recently as a state senator.
The student speaker is Kaitlyn Dempsey, a native of Edgerton. An English major, Dempsey has served as president of Phi Theta Kappa, the honors society for two-year colleges, and a member of the English honors society Sigma Kappa Delta. After receiving her associate degree, Dempsey will continue her education this fall at UW-La Crosse where she will major in English.
For more information about the UW-Whitewater main campus commencement: https://www.uww.edu/commencement
UW-Whitewater Athletics: Ryan Callahan Named Interim Athletic Director
Ryan Callahan, a member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus community for more than 15 years, has been named Interim Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. The announcement was sent to all university faculty, staff and students by Interim Chancellor Cheryl Green.
Callahan most recently served as Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations, a position he held for the last two years. In that role, Callahan maintained operating budgets for all 20 sport programs and oversaw event management, NCAA/postseason reporting and campus purchasing. He also played a role in capital projects and strategic planning.
“Ryan brings a wealth of experience to this important position for our campus and Warhawk Athletics,” Green said. “For a number of years, he has been a strong and collaborative leader at UW-Whitewater. I believe the breadth of his experiences – from his roles as Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Director of Continuing Education, to his time as a Warhawk student-athlete – will enhance the solid foundation that exists in our athletics department. He is committed to creating an environment of excellence for our student-athletes, inspiring them to excel in the classroom, the community, and their chosen sports.”
Callahan began working at UW-W in 2007, serving in multiple campus roles before being named Director of Continuing Education. He began working in intercollegiate athletics after serving as Director of Continuing Education from 2012-17. In that role, he assisted with the campus-wide effort in identifying, planning and providing non-credit programming that addresses needs and opportunities among regional constituencies and their communities. His role included oversight of all UW-Whitewater Camps and Clinics, where he worked closely with the UW-W athletic department.
Callahan was a member of the Warhawk baseball team from 2000-01 and 2003-04, helping the team reach the NCAA Division III World Series in 2003 and claim Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. A three-time all-conference and two-time all-region honoree as a pitcher and outfielder, Callahan is among the top 10 in the program record book in career shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts and walks allowed per nine innings. After graduation, Callahan played several years within the San Francisco Giants organization as a pitcher. He served as an assistant baseball coach at UW-Whitewater upon arriving back on campus.
Alice’s Ordinary People: Screening & Discussion at Library
The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library will be having a screening and discussion of Alice’s Ordinary People. The Director of the film will be in attendance to lead the discussion on Thursday, May 16, 6:00 p.m.
Alice’s Ordinary People is a documentary about Alice Tregay, an unsung heroine of the Civil Rights Movement. Her remarkable story spans the historic period from the marches of Dr. King to the election of Barack Obama, and her great contribution in the field of politics is the thread which connects the two. The introduction and discussion will be led by the filmmaker, Craig Dudnick. This presentation is free and open to everyone. Refreshments will be served.
WUSD All-District 5th Grade Choir Concert Tuesday, May 14
Over 100 5th grade singers from across the district will perform their Spring concert at the High School Auditorium Tuesday, May 14 at 7:00 PM.
Musical selections will bring joy to all with “Pick Yourself Up” from the musical “Swing Time”; the jazz chart “Blue Skies”; Gospel song “Rock-a My Soul”; “Feed the Birds” from “Mary Poppins”; the energetic song “Bonse Aba” from Zambia, Africa; and “De Colores” from Mexico. The concert is directed by music teachers Christine Hayes, Justin Kamp and Val Troxel, and accompanied by Barb Taylor.
The concert is free of charge and we invite people to bring a food pantry item.
First United Methodist Church to perform on May 15
The First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir will present a concert for all at 7:00 PM Wednesday, May 15, at Fairhaven Retirement Community.
The program will include uplifting choral selections from the Christian year ranging from spiritual and gospel styles to reflective ballads and inspirational anthems. The choir is under the direction of Christine Hayes and accompanied by Jim Athas.
This performance is open to the community and free of charge.
Tubby’s Too Bar and Grill donates to Whitewater Food Pantry
Tubby’s Too Bar and Grill, W8497 Cty A in Richmond, provided Easter Dinner for people who had no place to go, free of charge. In return, the business only asked that a donation be made to the food pantry.
The response was incredible as people just donated for the cause, and Tubby’s Too raised $300 for the food pantry.
Terri Lynn Kilpin, Neal “Tubby” and Laurie Brewer wish to express many thanks to all that donated!
Upcoming City & Community Meetings: Week of May 13 – May 19
Plan and Architectural Review Commission Meeting – Monday, May 13, 2019, at 6:00 pm at the City Municipal Building – Community Room
More information, including agenda
Whitewater School Board Special Meeting – Monday, May 13, 2019, at 6:30 pm at the WUSD Central Office
Public Works Committee – Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at 6:00 pm at the City Municipal Building – Cravath Lakefront Room
Local Moms’ Demand Action Group Hosts June 8 “Wear Orange Family Bike/Hike” to Raise Awareness about Gun Violence
Local non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization Moms Demand Action-Whitewater will be hosting a free, family-friendly event in Fort Atkinson on Saturday, June 8 at 10:00 a.m. The Wear Orange Family Bike/Hike is an opportunity to bring together families and raise awareness about America’s gun violence epidemic. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8 at the Rotary Depot shelter along the Glacial River trail in Fort Atkinson, directly across from Family Video (303 S 3rd St W, Fort Atkinson). Trail maps and activity guides will be provided when individuals/families check in. People can bike or hike at their own pace with their families and enjoy the beauty of Fort Atkinson’s lovely Glacial River trail.
Participants are invited to wear orange clothing, snack on orange snacks and decorate their bikes with orange trimmings to honor of gun violence victims, including Hadiya Pendleton of Chicago, IL. After Hadiya was shot and killed in Chicago in 2013, just days after performing in President Obama’s second inaugural parade, her friends started the first National Gun Violence Awareness Day in June 2015. Hadiya’s favorite color was orange, so the event title became, simply, WEAR ORANGE. To learn more about this nationwide event, now in its 5th year, visit WearOrange.org, or join Moms Demand Action on June 8 for the Wear Orange Family Bike/Hike!
Around the country, Moms Demand Action volunteers are hosting Wear Orange events on the weekend of June 7-9 in order to raise awareness about gun violence and gun violence prevention efforts. Moms Demand Action is a non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization that works for gun violence prevention locally and nationally. The group supports common-sense legislation including requiring criminal background checks on all gun sales, red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of those who are a danger to themselves or others and legislation such as the Violence against Women Act, which includes important gun safety provisions that will protect women from gun violence and save lives. Moms is committed to promoting responsible gun ownership, and committed to supporting, connecting, and amplifying survivors of gun violence through the Everytown Survivor’s Network.
Many local partners are joining in the effort to bring this Wear Orange event to the community, including Whitewater Unites Lives, League of Women Voters-Whitewater, and others.
Jenny Rule, Chair of the local Moms Group, said, “Together we can end gun violence. We hope everyone in our communities will join us!”
Former Whitewater resident, David Meske, named Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
Webb School of Knoxville longtime accomplished head football coach and athletic director, David Meske, will be among the nine inductees to be honored at the 38th Annual Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony, July 25. Webb School is a private coeducational day school serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Since taking over Webb School’s varsity football program in 1985, Coach David Meske has amassed a career coaching record of 267-130. He has led the Spartans to seven of its eight all-time football state championships; his first coming in 1996 and second 10 years later. He won back-to-back state titles in 2009 and 2010 and a historical three-peat from 2012 to 2014. Meske’s Spartan teams have finished state runners-up three times, reached post-season play 26 times, played in 15 state semifinals, and made a total of 10 state championship appearances.
In Webb School’s 60-plus-year football history, the Spartans have posted close to 400 wins. Coach Meske has been the head coach for more than half of those victories. Under Meske’s tutelage, ten Spartans have been named Mr. Football finalists and/or winners and numerous players have gone on to play at the collegiate level and beyond.
David Meske is a retired major in the United States Army reserves and also served in Operation Desert Storm. He has won multiple coach of the year and athletic director awards at the local and state levels, including: PrepXtra and KIL Coach of the Year honors, the Amateur Football Award presented by the East Tennessee National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, and an AF Bridges Athletic Director Award. In addition, he was a finalist for the NFL High School Coach of the Year.
Meske earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a master’s from the University of Tennessee. He came to Webb School in 1984 and in addition to coaching football, his career at Webb has included head wrestling coach (earning KIL Wrestling Coach of the Year honors in 1998), assistant baseball coach, and head boys’ and girls’ track coach. He has also been athletic director at Webb since 1995. In 2015, Webb School named its athletics stadium in honor of David Meske for the service he has given to Webb over the years and to recognize the tremendous impact he has had on the lives of Webb students, coaches, parents, colleagues, and other members of the Webb community.
The annual Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony, hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, is among the most prestigious sports recognition ceremonies in the nation and is one of the most highly attended sports hall of fame banquets in the country.