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Whippets Earn 3^rd Place at MSOE Computer Programming Contest

On Friday, November 16, 14 current and former WHS computer programming students competed at the Milwaukee School of Engineering Opportunity Conference Computer Programming Competition with 67 teams representing 19 southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois high schools. Other participating schools included Brookfield Central, Cary-Grove, Cedarburg, Janesville Craig, Crystal Lake Central, Eisenhower, Fort Atkinson, Homestead, Marquette University HS, Menomonee Falls, Milton, New Berlin West, Janesville Parker, Prairie Ridge, Rufus King, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, and a homeschool team. A team from Homestead High School won the competition with a team from Brookfield Central placing second. Whitewater Team A, consisting of Zach Brantmeier, Colin Chenoweth, Cassi Hoxie, and Nick Kuzoff, placed 3rd, earning 161 out of 210 possible points and solving 8 of the 9 problems correctly. Team B included Nikole Pelot, Gwynne Sahyun, and Nicole Sedmak. Team C was made up of Broderick Frye, Cody Rupke, and Jon Zheng, while Team D included Jakob Klawitter, Bennett Miles, Luke Rule, and Andy Vo. Teams were given nine problems of varying difficulty that could be solved using Java with a time limit of 2.5 hours using two laptops. Teams could select to spend their time on 10 point problems, 20 point problems, and/or 40 point problems. Each incorrect submission resulted in a minus three points.

Students Compete in Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge

In early November, 48 Whitewater High School computer science students participated in the online Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge. The challenge gave students 45 minutes to solve 15 problems of varying difficulties meant to challenge students’ logic and computational thinking skills. Each problem was worth either 6, 9, or 12 points depending on difficulty, with a total of 200 points available. Freshmen and sophomores competed in the junior division while juniors and seniors competed in the senior division. Freshman Andrew Rollette finished with 156 points, achieving the high score in the junior division. Also scoring high in the junior division were Crystal Chan, Anthony Cano, and Kevin Dieter. Junior Colin Chenoweth scored 192 points in the senior division, achieving the high score for the school and matching the high score in the state of Wisconsin. Also scoring high in the senior division were Zach Brantmeier, Nick Kuzoff, and Brian Apgar.

Ferradermis earns NASA Grant

Ferradermis is pleased to announce that they are the recipient of a $5000 Program Growth Grant from NASA that will help cover the cost of registration for regional competitions this year. Ferradermis was one of 192 teams (out of over 7500 existing FIRST Robotics teams worldwide) that was selected for a NASA grant; only three other Wisconsin teams will receive a grant from NASA. For more information on the NASA Grant program, visit https://robotics.nasa.gov/news_feature.php?id=631.

Ferradermis Takes Part in FIRST Robotics Training Day

Members of Ferradermis traveled to Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee on Saturday, November 17, to participate in a FIRST Robotics Training Day. Students attended sessions on leadership, fundraising, robot wiring, pneumatics, drive trains, safety, planning, and inspections among other things. They will be able to share their newfound knowledge with other members as we prepare for our six-week build season starting in January.

Ferradermis Visits Generac

On Thursday, November 29, members of Ferradermis traveled to Generac’s Whitewater Facility for a tour of the plant and a question and answer period. Carissa Petzinger, an engineer for Generac, serves as Co-Lead Coach for the team. Generac has been a strong financial sponsor for the team since it began in the fall of 2016.

Ferradermis to Hold Toppers DoughNation Night Fundraiser

On Tuesday, December 4, Ferradermis will receive 20% of the sales for all orders between 2:00 and 8:00 at the Whitewater Toppers. You do not need to turn in a flier or do anything special to credit the team; all you need to do is order from Toppers during that time frame. Please help spread the word!

The Board of Directors of the Whitewater Community Foundation invites community members and businesses to invest in Whitewater by joining in their 2018 Annual Campaign. Our current Board members are Danielle Frawley (President), Mark Dorn (Vice President), Kevin Brunner (Past President), David Yochum (Secretary), Geoff Hale (Treasurer), Julie Caldwell, Thayer Coburn, Mark Elworthy, Ron Jongetjes, Therese Kennedy, Sonia Soto, Hector Villarreal and Kristine Zaballos.  

Earlier this year, the Whitewater Unified School District, under the stewardship of the Foundation, was honored to receive a  $100,000 Endowment from the Kikkoman Foods Foundation, Inc. that will fund additional scholarships for the benefit of our graduating seniors.  To thank Kikkoman for their generous gift, the Board of Directors has set a goal this year to raise matching funds, and we need your help. Our success depends on the generosity of people like you!

Although providing scholarships is an important part of the Foundation’s mission, Community Action Grants are awarded by the Foundation twice annually to local civic partners who do good works in our community.  During our most recent Fall Cycle of grants, a total of nine grants were awarded totaling $10,530. A $1,500 grant was awarded to New Beginnings, an organization new to Whitewater that offers counseling and other support to individuals and families who find themselves in need. A $2,500 grant was awarded to Whitewater Youth Soccer Club to purchase soccer goal frames for Halverson Field. Other grants were awarded to the Irvin L. Young Auditorium/Washington Elementary School, Wisconsin Makers, Whitewater Landmarks Commission, Geneva Lakes Conservancy-First Annual Birding Festival, Lakeview Elementary Music Program, United Way of Jefferson/Walworth Counties “Ride United” Program, and Irvin L. Young Library.

To donate, go to www.whitewatercommunityfoundation.org and click on the “Donate” button, or mail a check made payable to Whitewater Community Foundation at P.O. Box 428, Whitewater, WI 53190.

 If you have any questions, please contact our Program Coordinator, Bonnie Miller, at info@whitewatercommunityfoundation.org or visit the Foundation’s office in the Discover Whitewater/Chamber Office at 150 W. Main Street.  Office hours are 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The WHS Music Masters Ensemble will present their 23rd Annual Madrigal Dinner on December 8 at the American Legion in Whitewater. The doors open at 6:00 pm and the dinner begins at 7:00 pm with the concert to follow. The dinner features a wassail toast and a buffet of turkey or beef, mashed potatoes, buttered carrots, green beans, soup, and dessert. Music will be provided by the Music Masters Ensemble and other WHS students.

Tickets for the event are $25 each and are available from all Music Masters Ensemble members and from the HS office. Call 472-8174 or email the WHS Choir Director, Karen Tordera, for more information.

The Whitewater Unified School District Winter Orchestra Concert will be this Friday, Nov. 30, at 6:30 PM in the High School Auditorium. The concert, under the direction of Patricia Nielsen, will feature the Beginning, Intermediate and Middle School Orchestras and the High School Ensemble. The concert is free to all. Pictured is the Beginning Orchestra in rehearsal.