News & Events

 Milwaukee School of Engineering congratulates the following students:

Grace Alderman of Whitewater was named to the Spring Semester 2024 Dean’s List . Alderman is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Daniel Portwine of Whitewater was named to the Spring Semester 2024 Dean’s List . Portwine is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

MSOE encourages excellence in academic achievement and, as a result, publishes the Dean’s List and Honors List each fall and spring semester. Students taking undergraduate courses who have earned at least 12 credits in residence at MSOE, are in good academic standing, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher are on the Dean’s List.

Milwaukee School of Engineering (www.msoe.edu) is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. The independent, non-profit university has about 2,800 students and was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, business and nursing. Faculty are student-focused experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom. This approach to learning makes students ready now as well as prepared for the future. Longstanding partnerships with business and industry leaders enable students to learn alongside professional mentors, and challenge them to go beyond what’s possible. MSOE graduates are leaders of character, responsible professionals, passionate learners and value creators.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Rep. Ellen Schutt (R-Clinton), who has represented the Walworth County portion of the City of Whitewater in the Wisconsin State Assembly since 2022, announced on May 31 that she will not seek re-election. As the Banner indicated in an article posted on February 20 regarding the recent redistricting of the State Assembly and Senate, Schutt does not live in the new Assembly district #43, which will include the entire city. The filing deadline was June 1, and, assuming that they have submitted valid nomination papers, the candidates are expected to be Brienne Brown (D), Scott Johnson (R) and Dylan Kurtz (R). Johnson and Kurtz will face off in a primary on August 13. The general election will be held on November 5.

By the way, Sen. Steve Nass (R), who currently represents the city, does not live in our new district, but will continue to represent Whitewater until his term expires in 2026.

Rep. Schutt released the following statement:

“I have been honored and humbled by all of the support that I have received to run for reelection. And, although I know our campaign would have been successful, I have made the decision not to seek reelection this fall.

This was not an easy decision to make but one that was made with thoughtful consideration and conversations with my family, friends, and neighbors.

I want my constituents to know that I will continue to advocate for them and their needs. I know that I can, and will, still make a difference for our community in other ways. It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve my hometown and our community, and I will be forever grateful to everyone that put their faith in me.” 

Editor’s Note:  The following interview was done by Marjorie Stoneman on behalf of Whitewater Unites Lives.

Born in Darmstadt, Germany, Susanne Maroske and her husband Dirk were originally going to stay in Whitewater for three years and have now made Whitewater their home for 24 years. 

“Coming to a small city was a big change,” she said. Darmstadt was a city of 160,000 people. But over the years, Susanne has grown to love Whitewater.

“I really like the neighborhood and the people who live here and the friends we have met. It has a lot to offer. I like living in a university town,” she said.

In 2000, Dirk was transferred from Germany to Whitewater to work for Schenck Process, and Susanne, who did not have a work visa, was busy raising their two children, ages 2 years and 9 months. She enjoyed meeting people through playgroups and was able to send the children for a few hours to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Children’s Center, where the kids were able to learn English without an accent. She said that has really helped them as they pursue their education and work. The family continued to speak German at home, so they are all bi-lingual.

She recommends that all newcomers get involved in activities in the community so that they can meet people. She was very involved as a soccer mom and tennis mom with her children at school.

She says she “shops locally and thinks globally.”  She supports local businesses as much as possible.

Becoming a United States citizen was a lengthy process, but Susanne is grateful and proud to be an American. “I am glad I have citizenship now. You have more rights and feel like a full member of society,” she said.

At the same time, she says she is privileged to have dual citizenship with Germany.

Tears in her eyes, she said, “The day we became United States citizens was very moving.”  She said that people do not have to give up who they are to become a citizen. She said the judge was very welcoming.

She said one of the scariest moments in her life was when she received her citizenship certificate in the mail and then had to put it back in the mail to get a passport. She was really worried because she had to send the original and was not able to make copies.

Susanne earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre and her Bachelor of Science in Education in German from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and her Master of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion online from the Academy of Art in San Francisco in California. She worked for more than 17 years in the fashion industry and as a costumer, including work at the Fireside Theatre in Fort Atkinson and the Skylight Music Theatre in Milwaukee (see below for photographs of some of her work). 

She taught at Mount Mary University and Albion College in Michigan before teaching German, Creative Sewing, and Housing and Interior Design at Fort Atkinson High School. 

In addition to German and English, she speaks French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. She says she wishes that children could learn multiple languages at a younger age, when it would be easier for them to become more fluent.

Below are examples of some of her work:

Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.

Wisconsin author, Michael T. Sullivan, will be at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Tuesday, June 4 at 5:30 p.m. He will speak about his book, “The Congdon Brothers and Significant Others: Their Civil War Times” — a story about three brothers from Palmyra who enlisted in the Union Army and became combat soldiers in the Civil War.

Sullivan will be available for questions after his presentation and copies of his book will be available for purchase and signing. The presentation will be held in the library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. The public is invited to attend this free event and no registration is required. For additional information, visit the library’s website at www.whitewaterlibrary.org or call 262-473-0530.

Editor’s note: The following was provided by the author:

I’ve written the above titled book which is about three brothers from Palmyra who enlisted the Union army. The brothers’ bravery in defense of the Union is obvious. Just as importantly, it’s about the people who helped them after the war. I’ve written about two women in the family and their experiences on the home front. Finally, it’s about the beauty of this place, Southeastern WI, which is in stark contrast to the landscapes of the Shiloh battlefield. The 48-page book is supported by 167 footnotes. There’s a number of color pictures. The book advances a life affirming perspective from the horror of war.

The presentation includes enlarged health care, court and pension documents that are in the public domain. I also have pictures, (copies) of family members along with part of a handwritten letter, also enlarged, by one of the soldiers.

The book is now on sale at the iconic Jim and Judy’s grocery store in Palmyra, at the DNR gift shop operated by the Kettle Moraine Association in Eagle, at the Dust Bunny bookstore in Lake Geneva and at Espresso Love Coffee in Mukwonago. For individuals the book can be purchased for $10.00. If mailed the price is $12.67. For organizations the price is $12.00 without mailing.

There is no cost, except for your time, to attend the seminar and there is absolutely no need to buy the book at the presentation. The main purpose for the presentation is for interactive discussion.

Michael T. Sullivan
mts2jms@att.net