News

The League of Women Voters, Whitewater Area presented the 2019 Making Democracy Work Award to Kristine Zaballos, resident of Whitewater and Seattle. Through her work as a founding board member of the Downtown Whitewater, Inc., she was instrumental in identifying “a little spark” in the development of the Tuesday evening Whitewater City Market, which will be celebrating its fifth anniversary next season. Along with her interest in creating The Community Space for area residents to find clothing, household supplies and food, she has been involved in the Grocery Coop development. The overarching goal of these efforts is to achieve a community vital and welcoming to current and future residents.

In Kristine’s acceptance speech, she mentioned four guiding principles that have helped her since she began to work on community projects: show up, tell the truth, look at where there is heart and meaning in addition to positive energy and finally, let go. These are deceptively simple, yet nuanced by further explanation in her acceptance speech. For example, she said her grandfather’s decision to defer plans for a new location of his church reflected the need at times to let go. Others may have better ideas.

League member Susan Crone gave an overview of Kristine’s many accomplishments as a master consensus builder who listens to what is said and also for what hasn’t been mentioned. Kristine uses the guiding principles of a democracy by holding faith in the majority and respecting the opinions of everyone.

View the entire award presentation recording here.

Crime alert issued by UW-W on 12/18/19

UW-Whitewater Police and area agencies are investigating a number of thefts of catalytic converters from parked vehicles, including from the Whitewater campus parking lots. Toyota vehicles, particularly the Prius models, are the main targets; however, all vehicle owners are advised to remain alert.

If you have information on these thefts please contact University Police at 262-472-4660, you may remain anonymous.

If you see suspicious activity immediately contact University Police by calling 911.

University Police have increased patrols in parking lots and are working diligently to locate the individual(s) responsible for these thefts. Owners wishing to further protect their vehicles can implement theft deterrent devices such as the “Catstrap”. A link for this type of product can be found here: https://www.catstrap.net/

If you believe your vehicle’s catalytic converter has been tampered with while parked on campus, please contact the UW-Whitewater Police immediately and DON’T move the vehicle. 

The catalytic converter is a target for theft as it contains precious metals, including platinum and rhodium.

Criminals can steal the converter in a few quick steps and often go unchallenged by members of the public.

If your catalytic converter is stolen, you’ll know about it because your vehicle will sound different when the ignition is started.

They are often positioned on the underside and towards the front of the vehicle and can be removed by criminals in as little as five minutes with battery-operated tools.

Please feel free to contact University Police at 262-472-4660 or police@uww.edu, with any questions or information you may need.

Sincerely,
Chief Matt Kiederlen

Whitewater Middle School hosted a school-wide National Geographic Geography Bee on Wednesday, December 18.    Special congratulations to Emerson Ellenwood, son of Christian Ellenwood and Elisabeth Duessen, Whitewater, for maintaining his 1st place finish for the second year in a row. Henry Gehrenbeck, son of Robert and Sarah Gehrenbeck, Whitewater, earned 2nd place.  3^rd place went to Lucien Pomazak, son of Mark and Anita Pomazak, Whitewater.  4th place went to Quinton O’Toole, son of Tim and Mindy O’Toole, Whitewater,  Quinton was also the top-scoring 6th grader.

Champion Emerson will now complete a qualifying test to go on and compete at the state level National Geographic Bee where he has a chance to win a $50,000 college scholarship. Congratulations to all of these students!  Good Luck to Emerson as he advances to the next level of competition.

Janesville Craig Invitational

On Saturday December 14th the Whitewater Whippet gymnastics team traveled to Janesville Craig High School to compete in an eight-team invitational. The gymnasts had a successful meet scoring a team score of 111.225. The highlights of the meet include Junior Jenna Caldwell scoring a record high on Vault with an 8.2. Freshman Halee Peters made significant improvement on the Vault and Balance Beam scoring an 8.2 on the Vault and an 8.27 on the Balance Beam. Lastly, Freshman Maddy Donnelly scored a 7.8 on the Vault along Caleigh Yang scoring a 7.4 making these their highest scores of the season thus far. These Whitewater Whippet athletes will be back in action on Tuesday January 7th in a home dual against Jefferson. Come on out and support your Whitewater Whippet gymnasts!! Goooo Whippets!!

Winter commencement set for Dec. 21

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will celebrate the achievements of its graduates at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, as proud families and friends gather for the 2019 winter commencement ceremony.

More than 757 students will cross the stage to receive their degrees. The ceremony, which is approximately two hours long, will be held at Kachel Fieldhouse.

This year’s commencement speaker is Rex Hanger, a professor in the Department of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science. Hanger is adamant about immersing his students in out-of-the-classroom experiences, with the guiding principle of “The best geologists are the ones who have seen the most rocks.” In 2018, UW-Whitewater awarded Hanger its highest academic accolade: the W.P. Roseman Excellence in Teaching Award. And in 2019 the UW System Board of Regents named him as one of two 2019 Regents Teaching Excellence individual award recipients.

The student speaker is Mikayla Frick. A native of Stoughton, Wisconsin, Frick has sought to deepen her understanding of diversity in human resource management by engaging in undergraduate research and completing internships at the Wisconsin Department of Justice and at American Family Mutual Insurance in Madison. At the latter, her efforts to create programs and initiatives to support diversity — from company values to hiring practices to employee culture — resulted in the company creating a full-time position for her. Frick will be graduating with a BBA in human resource management.

The ceremony will recognize 82 undergraduates from the College of Arts and Communication, 226 from the College of Business and Economics, 149 from the College of Education and Professional Studies and 198 from the College of Letters and Sciences. Of the 647 undergraduate degrees awarded, 13 were completed online. The School of Graduate Studies will award 110 degrees, including 100 master’s degrees and 10 doctorates.

The graduating class includes 13 international students, 51 military veterans and 147 nontraditional students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 57 self-identified students with disabilities will receive degrees.

A total of 87 graduating students, including Frick, participated in the university’s Hired Before Graduation campaign, which celebrates students who landed a job, were accepted to graduate school or started their own business before commencement.

Commencement will be broadcast live online by UWW-TV, the university television station.  

For more information: https://www.uww.edu/commencement

Contact:

Bonnie Miller

whitewatercommunityfoundation.org  

262-458-4088

The Whitewater Community Foundation has published their 2018 – 2019 Annual Report. In this report, they highlight all of their accomplishments throughout the community within the year! 

Some of the highlights include:

Community Action Grants: Twice a year, the Whitewater Community Foundation offers Community Action Grants for projects that our community and board of directors believe worthwhile and beneficial to various segments of the population. 14 different grants were given out with a total amount of $14,630. 

Community Outreach: In April 2019, the foundation held their 3rd Annual Civic Summit at The Community Space. More than 30 people joined from multiple organizations throughout the community. 

Scholarships: Each year the foundation awards two post-secondary scholarships to seniors graduating from Whitewater High School, the Whitewater Community Foundation Scholarship and the Whitewater Community Foundation Founder’s Scholarship. They also administer 20 individual restricted funds to graduating seniors from Whitewater High School each year.

Financials: The foundation’s income, how they spend their resources, unrestricted funds and restricted funds are all broken down throughout the year.

You can view the full 2018 – 2019 Annual Report online at the link below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1waFJQOkjSqp0YFALcZ55hWRi7HjZ1Nj3/view?usp=sharing 

About WCF: The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “Enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures” through scholarships and community action grants. To donate and support the continuation of the Whitewater Banner, or a variety of other community projects, simply send a check made out to Whitewater Community Foundation to P.O. Box 428, Whitewater, WI, 53190, or donate online at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org by hitting the “Donate” button on top of the contact page. For tax purposes, the Whitewater Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Corporation. 

MADISON, WI – While the League of Women Voters explores legal strategies concerning Friday’s court order to immediately purge 234,000 voters from the rolls, it is important for voters to know they can check their voter registration in advance of when they go to vote on Election Day to ensure this action does not impact their registration and plan to vote. 

Voters can be proactive by checking their voter information on Wisconsin’s online voter registration website, myvote.wi.gov, or by contacting their municipal clerk. Any voter who received the Wisconsin Elections Commission letter that they may have moved will have a notice on their record on the My Voter Info page asking them to confirm their address. If voters have moved since registering to vote, they will need to re-register at their current address. The League is available to help anyone who may need assistance navigating the registration process. Contact the League online lwvwi.org, by email or phone, lwvwisconsin@lwvwi.org or 608-256-0827. 

Additionally, the recent litigation highlights how important it is that Wisconsin has Election Day Registration where voters can register and vote on Election Day. Yet, even with Election Day Registration, the League advises voters to double-check their registration status and make any necessary updates in advance of the 2020 elections. Wisconsin residents can register to vote online at myvote.wi.gov. 

The League will continue to assist voters so they are informed and confident to go to the polls in 2020. 

Link to example “mover” letter 

Link to info about the mailing from the WEC 

Screenshot of myvote instructions if your account received a “mover” letter 

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The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan political organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 20 local Leagues in Wisconsin. More information at lwvwi.org. 

The following local students are among the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater scholarship recipients receiving financial awards for the 2019-20 academic year.

Whitewater, WI — Kendra Ames, who is studying communication sciences and disorders, won the following scholarships: College Excellence – Education and Professional Studies; Chancellor Scholars

Whitewater, WI — Alexander Babiasz, who is studying marketing, won the following scholarship: Jon M. Pyzyk Memorial Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Abigail Callahan, who is studying social work, won the following scholarship: Chancellor Scholars

Whitewater, WI — Emily Crown, who is studying journalism, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Montserrat Cuevas, who is studying international business, won the following scholarships: DLK Scholarship; John Tincher Scholarship; College of Business and Economics Scholarship; Chancellor Scholars; King Chavez Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Hannah Delaney, who is studying business, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Austin Draper, who is studying biology, won the following scholarship: Cummings Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Grace Ejnik, who is studying mathematics, won the following scholarships: DLK Scholarship; Chancellor Scholars

Whitewater, WI — Elizabeth Farrey, who is studying history, won the following scholarships: General Scholarship; Donald Graham; Donald Graham History Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Arturo Franco, who is studying accounting, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Jacob Frey, who is studying accounting, won the following scholarship: Sikich, LLP

Whitewater, WI — Jessica Gardner, who is studying history, won the following scholarships: Donald Graham History; Joseph Pease

Whitewater, WI — Demeka Goldsmith, who is studying information technology, won the following scholarship: Chancellor Scholars

Whitewater, WI — Bayly Grosskopf, who is studying school psychology, won the following scholarship: Barbara Ann Hersko Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Kaitlyn Guzman, who is studying communication, won the following scholarship: Disney Ambassadors Education Payment

Whitewater, WI — Elizabeth Hall, who is studying accounting, won the following scholarships: Edann; Zoe E. Connor Memorial Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Taylor Hammerstad, who is studying elementary education, won the following scholarship: Alice and Floyd Quinney

Whitewater, WI — Kaden Hausinger, who is studying information technology, won the following scholarship: Alliant Energy Scholars

Whitewater, WI — Douglas Henderson, who is studying with an undeclared major, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Kelsey Herold, who is studying general management, won the following scholarships: Donald and Rose Petersen Scholarship; James R. and Zoe E. Connor; Chancellor Scholars

Whitewater, WI — Noah Hill, who is studying accounting, won the following scholarship: Transfer Excellence Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Jacob Hollenbeck, who is studying accounting, won the following scholarship: Accounting – Wipfli

Whitewater, WI — Lorynn Hollingshead, who is studying elementary education, won the following scholarship: Zoe E. Connor Memorial Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Alec Holt, who is studying information technology, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Abigail Hummel, who is studying music, won the following scholarships: McMonagle Studio Scholarship; McMonagle Studio Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Dakota Isbell, who is studying with an undeclared major, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Cally Julson, who is studying history, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Ali Ketterhagen, who is studying with an undeclared major, won the following scholarships: Chancellor Scholars

Whitewater, WI — Sam Kiernan, who is studying elementary education, won the following scholarships: DLK Scholarship; Irene Krueger

Whitewater, WI — Anthony Klahn, who is studying accounting, won the following scholarship: General Merit

Whitewater, WI — Natalie LaBreche, who is studying English, won the following scholarships: DLK Scholarship; College of Letters and Sciences Power Endowed; Chancellor Scholars; James R. and Zoe E. Connor

Whitewater, WI — Benjamin Lamberty, who is studying English, won the following scholarship: George and Pauli Nikolay Family Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Kayla Lara, who is studying music, won the following scholarship: Gala Concert Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — William Lawton, who is studying business, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Jonathan Lotti, who is studying theatre, won the following scholarship: Jim Butchart Memorial Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Tyler Marinkovic, who is studying computer science, won the following scholarship: Chancellor Scholars

Whitewater, WI — Brendan McCluskey, who is studying accounting, won the following scholarships: DLK Scholarship; Maury Greene Business

Whitewater, WI — Dylan McCool, who is studying English, won the following scholarships: Chancellor Scholars; Corinne E. Forster Endowment

Whitewater, WI — Elizabeth Miller, who is studying music, won the following scholarships: Gala Concert Scholarship; R.L. Jennings Scholarship in Voice

Whitewater, WI — Albert Ngabo, who is studying liberal arts, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Alexander Ostermann, who is studying marketing, won the following scholarship: Chancellor Warhawk Ambassador

Whitewater, WI — Jessica Pluemer, who is studying marketing, won the following scholarship: General Merit

Whitewater, WI — Daniela Porras, who is studying art education, won the following scholarships: College of Arts and Communication; Laura Ferris; Mark Palmer Gray Jr.; Dahle Family Quasi Endowment – College of Arts and Communication

Whitewater, WI — Jesse Radaj, who is studying with an undeclared major, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Alyssa Riley, who is studying psychology, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Noel Schmitz, who is studying biology, won the following scholarship: Joseph and Madeline Chopp

Whitewater, WI — Lukas Schreiber, who is studying finance, won the following scholarships: Warhawk Exceptional Academics; Chancellor Scholars

Whitewater, WI — Emma Sellnow, who is studying liberal arts, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Casey Skindingsrude, who is studying integrated science – business, won the following scholarships: Integrated Science and Business Scholarship; Chancellor Scholars; James R. and Zoe E. Connor

Whitewater, WI — Olimpia Soto, who is studying accounting, won the following scholarship: Fred Duncombe Accounting Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Lindsi Starrett, who is studying music, won the following scholarships: Annie Vander Linden Scholarship; Gala Concert Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Autumn Tracy, who is studying English, won the following scholarship: General Merit

Whitewater, WI — Whitney Treder, who is studying general management, won the following scholarship: Albert Barty

Whitewater, WI — Grace Wood, who is studying with an undeclared major, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Catherine Yang, who is studying with an undeclared major, won the following scholarship: DLK Scholarship

Whitewater, WI — Komi Yenkey, who is studying computer science, won the following scholarships: W.F. Johnston Computer Sciences Scholarship; Outstanding Junior Award – College of Letters and Sciences

Whitewater, WI — Jonathan Zheng, who is studying biology, won the following scholarships: DLK Scholarship; Kachel Family Science; Zoe E. Connor Memorial Scholarship

“Our scholarship winners represent the very best in academic, co-curricular and service excellence across all of our colleges and departments,” said Greg Rutzen, interim president of the UW-Whitewater Foundation. “We’re grateful to the many people and organizations – past and present – who have generously donated funds to make these awards a reality. Some of these scholarships were endowed more than 80 years ago, leaving a lasting legacy that has contributed to the success of generations of Warhawks.”