News

Regional champion UW-Whitewater economics team meets with UW Regents

An elite team of economics students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater joined Chancellor Beverly Kopper at the UW System Board of Regents meeting in Madison on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, following their national finish in the College Fed Challenge.

The students are members of the team that competed against some of the world’s most prestigious universities at the 14th Annual College Federal Reserve Challenge in Washington, D.C., in December. UW-Whitewater is the first-ever Wisconsin university to advance to this national event after defeating Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and Marquette University at the competition held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in order to become regional champions.

Advancing to the national event, the UW-Whitewater team competed in finals held at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C. This event served as the capstone to five district competitions held around the country, and UW-Whitewater competed against regional winners Harvard University, Pace University, Princeton University and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Pace University took first place in the national competition, which encourages students to learn about the U.S. economy, monetary policymaking, and the role of the Federal Reserve System. Harvard University took second place, and UW-Whitewater joined Princeton University and Virginia Commonwealth University in receiving honorable mentions.

The team is comprised of the following students; Alejandro Esquirel (left), Alexandre Vieira, Mark Ellis, Ronald Tittle, Taylor Griffith (center). (UW-Whitewater photo/Heather Browning)

Managed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the College Fed Challenge is an academic competition designed to bring real-world economics into the classroom. Teams analyze economic and financial conditions and make a recommendation for monetary policy. They are scored based on a 15-minute presentation and a 15-minute question-and-answer session with judges.

 

The UW-Whitewater Fed Challenge team met with the Research, Economic Development, and Innovation Committee on the UW-Madison campus as part of the Board of Regents February meeting. Attending were Fed Challenge team members Mark Ellis of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Alejandro Esquivel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Taylor Griffith of Lake Elsinore, California, Ronald Tittle of Crystal Lake, Illinois, and Alexandre Vieira of Brookfield, Wisconsin, along with non-presenting team members Casey Russell of Belleville, Wisconsin, Alujjage Pasan Samaranayake of Gonapola Junction, Sri Lanka, Sean Spangard of Crystal Lake, Illinois, and faculty members Yamin Ahmad, Stuart Glosser (emeritus), Nick Guo, and Eylem Ersal, who serve as team coaches.

Middle School Art Room Ready for Students

Last week, middle school art students moved into their new art room. The project is part of the capital referendum passed in November 2016. The next middle school classroom to be renovated will be the future band room. Other current construction projects occurring this school year are the Lincoln Elementary gym and 3rd-grade classroom wing and the high school weight room and flex space.

 

Whitewater High School Students Participate in Model United Nations

Story by Greg Stewart, Social Studies Teacher at Whitewater High School; Pictures by Alyssa Nelson.

Whitewater High School students, along with thousands of students from nearly 100 schools across the country and the world gathered at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago to debate issues ranging from the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons to rethinking aid in Sub-Saharan Africa. Now in its 30th year, the Model United Nations of the University of Chicago, staffed entirely by students and alumni from the University of Chicago, is one of the largest high school conferences in the country and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious.

Ms. Kilby addressing Model United Nations students at the conference

From Thursday, February 1 through Sunday, February 4, more than 2,700 high school students, representing the member states of the United Nations, discussed the merits and complications of nuclear non-proliferation and passed resolutions concerning the economic development of indigenous communities. MUNUC XXX, as the conference is known, holds simulations involving delegations of students who work with one another in their respective committees to produce mock resolutions on global issues.

The MUNUC XXX keynote address was given by Ms. Melissa Kilby, the executive director of Girl Up. As the United Nations Foundation’s adolescent girl campaign, Girl Up engages girls to take action. Led by a community of nearly half a million passionate advocates raising awareness and funds, our efforts help the hardest to reach girls living in places where it is hardest to be a girl.

 

MUNUC students were treated to a final meal at Gino’s East in Chicago. Pictured from (L-R) are senior students who participated in their last MUNUC conference: Ipek Goktepe, Clarice Bergman, Maribel Alvarez, Alex Vidales, Thais Padeia.

No One Hurt in Three-Alarm Fire in Whitewater.

Officials with the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office said a home in Whitewater appears to be a total loss after a three-alarm fire Wednesday, Jan. 31. It happened around 9 am at a two-story home on Grand View Dr. near Kettle Moraine Dr.

No one was in the home at the time. No one was hurt.

For complete story from Fox6now.com, 

Regional Southern Lakes Anthology Winners Announced

(L-R) Zuri Goldsmith, Caleigh Yang, Blake Wegner, Silas Baker, Andrew Rollette, Anna Ejnik, and Reese Brantmeier

The Regional Judging for Southern Lakes Anthology was completed on January 24th in Elkhorn.  Again this year, Whitewater Middle School was very well represented at this event having seven of our submitted middle school entries chosen for publication.

The following Middle School students had their entries selected and were identified as Regional Winners: Zuri Goldsmith, Caleigh Yang, Blake Wegner, Silas Baker, Andrew Rollette, Anna Ejnik, and Reese Brantmeier.

These students will have their entries published in the 2018 edition of the Southern Lakes Anthology and will be publicly recognized at a special reception that will be held on May 23rd  at the Young Auditorium here in Whitewater.

Great job and congratulations to all of the students whose work was selected.  You make us very proud!

 

Honorary Escort for the Return of Marine PFC Ethan Barclay-Weberpal

On the evening of Friday, January 26, Deputies and Officers will be escorting the family of PFC Barclay-Weberpal to receive PFC Barclay-Weberpal at General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, WI. The public is invited to line the escort route, to pay respects to PFC Barclay-Weberpal.

From PFC Barclay-Weberpal’s dad, Scott Weberpal:

Thank you so much for the time you put in to honor our son. For everyone who can, please line the streets for his return to Janesville from the airport.

At approximately 5:30 PM (updated from the previous estimate of 6:15 PM), the escort will begin from General Mitchell Airport to Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home in Janesville. The escort route is as follows :

– I-94 from General Mitchell Airport, to S I-43

– S I-43 to W STH 12

– W STH 12 through the City of Whitewater (Elkhorn Rd. to E Milwaukee St. to  Main St to Whitewater St to Janesville St. to Walworth St)

– Walworth St to E CTH N in Rock County

– E CTH N to Milton Rd

– Milton Rd to E STH 59 (E Madison Ave) through the City of Milton

– E STH 59 to E CTH M

– E CTH M to N USH 51

– N USH 51 to W Memorial Dr

– Memorial Dr to N Oakhill Ave

– N Oakhill Ave to W Court St

– W Court St to Austin Rd, Arrival at Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home

View route on Google Maps (Map updated with new route through Whitewater)

During the escort, updates will be available on delays/location of the escort, on the Rock County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. 

For PFC Barclay-Weberpal’s obituary, 

Three WHS Band members performed in the All-State Senior Band at the 34th annual convention of the National Band Association’s Wisconsin Chapter in Eau Claire last Saturday.

Pictured [L-R] are Lydia Wiley Deal (flute), Caroline Crowley (clarinet), Composer Brian Balmages, and Jacob Zuehlke (trumpet).
These talented young musicians were nominated by their director, Abi Kading, to perform with the group under this year’s guest conductor, the internationally known composer, Brian Balmages.

Eight Lincoln 5th Grade Choir students performed in the All-State Children’s Choir on January 6 in Wausau, WI.

(L-R) With Margaret Jenks, guest conductor, are Lincoln participants: Adalyn Frye, Sami Van Daele, Alex Sullivan, Zoe Olson, Carley Boudreau, Dante Baker, Mrs. Hayes, Henry Gehrenbeck and Caleb Clapper.

The 85 students of 5th and 6th grade singers were selected from across the state by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association and the 8 Lincoln students were honored to be included. Guest conductor was Margaret Jenks, Director of the Madison Children’s Choir. The LINCS students practiced the challenging music with their music teacher Mrs. Christine Hayes. The students loved learning new techniques, being challenged and meeting new friends from across the state who share their love of singing. The Whitewater Music Parents provided scholarships for each student to help with registration fees.