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Nearly 900 students graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at winter commencement, held Dec. 13, 2025, at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.
The following students from our coverage area earned degrees from the UW-Whitewater at winter commencement:
Whitewater, WI 53190: Salaar Akbar graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Biology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Garrett Allamian graduated with the following degree: Business Administration – MBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Samantha Beecroft graduated with the following degree: Sociology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Nicole Butry graduated with the following degree: Art – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Montserrat Cuevas graduated with the following degree: Spanish – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Makenna D’Amico graduated Summa Cum Laude with the following degree: Biology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Jaciel Flores graduated Summa Cum Laude with the following degree: Marketing – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Dawson France graduated with the following degree: Music – BM
Whitewater, WI 53190: Sirena Gomez graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Early Child Care and Education – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Elyse Hansen graduated with the following degree: Elementary Education – BSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Stephanie Hensel graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Accounting – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Aidan Impola graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Criminology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Misynn Jones graduated with the following degree: Art – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Caleb Karlson graduated with the following degree: Physical Education – BSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Andrea Kuhl graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Biology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Aubrie Malette graduated with the following degree: Associate of Arts and Science – AAS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Elvia Meza Klosinski graduated with the following degree: Business Administration – MBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Bradley Morris graduated with the following degree: Music – BM
Whitewater, WI 53190: Aiden Murray graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Physical Education – BSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Jonah Panning graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Finance – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Dante Poe graduated with the following degree: Cybersecurity – MS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Pureless Powell graduated with the following degree: Computer Science – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Jake Satterfield graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: General Business – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Jazmin Soto graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Marketing – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Anna VanWormer graduated with the following degree: Management – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Brianna Zimdars graduated with the following degree: Business Administration – MBA
Students crossed the stage to receive their degrees at the ceremony, held at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.
The 888-member graduating class included nine international students, 69 military veterans and 154 nontraditional students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 77 self-identified students with disabilities received degrees.
A total of 61 students participated in the university’s Hired Before Graduation campaign, which celebrates students who landed a job, earned a job promotion, were accepted to graduate school, or started their own business before commencement.
Editor’s note: It is likely that a number of these graduates did not reside in Whitewater prior to enrollment in the university. UW-W lists graduates as residing in the city that is shown in their registration.
Sixteen members of Ferradermis chose to participate in the team’s 4th annual trip to Madison for Robotics Advocacy Day at the State Capitol on Thursday, February 12.
Over 300 middle school and high school robotics students and their mentors from across the state gathered at Monona Terrace to begin their day with lessons on state government and how to advocate with legislators. As both a parent of robotics team members and a state legislator, Representative Brienne Brown addressed the large group and encouraged students to embrace the opportunity to make a difference.
Wisconsin offers a robotics league participation grant as one way to promote STEM education, and each year, teams descend on the capitol to discuss the importance of continuing and potentially increasing this funding. This year’s ask was for our representatives to consider lowering the age group for the grant to include elementary school teams; currently the grant is only open to teams with students in grades 6-12.
After a morning of speakers and meeting rehearsals, teams moved to the capitol building. Throughout the day, robot demonstrations took place in the rotunda.
Ferradermis members were able to schedule meetings with seven different legislators and/or their staffers over the course of the afternoon. In order to cover the full schedule of meetings, the students split into two and sometimes three groups. Within each group, students divided up their talking points with one student taking on the role of facilitator. At times, Ferradermis joined together with other teams who shared the same legislator.
Ferradermis’ first meeting of the day was with Senator Melissa Ratcliff, a joint meeting with Ferradermis and FTC Team 10100 Phoenix Force from Verona.
Next up was a meeting with Representative Brienne Brown who is very familiar with FIRST already, but the team spent some time talking about the changes coming to FIRST Lego League and the need to extend the Robotics League Participation Grant to the lower grades.
The team then met with staff from Representative Ann Roe’s office in conjunction with FTC 21355 Turtle TEK from Beloit. The Assembly was in session throughout the day, so many of the meetings were with staffers instead of the representatives themselves if the timing did not work out.
Part of the team was then able to meet with staffer Katherine Morgan for Representative Joan Fitzgerald.
Next on the Ferradermis Advocacy Day agenda was a meeting with a staffer for Senator Mark Spreitzer. The Whitewater team was again able to team up with students from Turtle TEK for this meeting.
Thank you to staffer Cameron O’Connell from Representative Tyler August’s office for taking the time to learn about FIRST Robotics.
The final Ferradermis meeting on Advocacy Day was with staff from Senator Steve Nass’ office.
Article and Photos Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor
lmasbruch@wwusd.org
The Whitewater Unified School District will present its annual State of the District update on Thursday, February 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Whitewater Public Library.
Superintendent Samuel Karns will provide an overview of district priorities, student achievement, financial stewardship, and ongoing efforts to support student learning and wellbeing. The presentation is part of the State of Our City and Schools event hosted by the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area.
“This event is an important opportunity to share the progress we are making across our schools and to highlight the accomplishments of our students and staff,” Karns said. “We are committed to continuous improvement and working in partnership with our families and community members to ensure every student has the support they need to succeed.”
In addition to the district’s update, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chancellor Dr. Corey A. King and Whitewater City Manager John Weidl will present a comprehensive look at the state of education, local government, and higher education in the Whitewater community.
The event is open to the public, and community members do not need to be members of the League of Women Voters to attend.
For more information about the State of Our City and Schools event, community members may contact Mary Beth Byrne of the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area at wisconsinwoods@gmail.com.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.
Apologies that we’re tardy in posting John’s 2026 schedules for the city and all of the nearby towns. It’s the first item under the “Helpful Links” section of The Whitewater Banner.
Our thanks to former Banner volunteer Lisa Dawsey Smith for taking care of this from her new home in North Carolina, and also to two readers who prompted us to get this done.
The Whitewater Boys’ Basketball team enjoyed a successful “road trip” last week, winning three games in four days. Casey Lyon averaged 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Whippets to these three wins, as we improved our overall record to 9-12 overall.
https://www.boundwisconsin.com/p/week-12-bound-wisconsin-basketball-player-of-the-week-nominees until Wednesday at 1:00 pm.
On Monday, February 9, Whitewater traveled to Clinton and defeated the Cougars 66-60. The two teams exchanged the lead throughout the game until Matt Carollo made two free throws to put the Whippets ahead for good, 48-47, with 8 1/2 minutes left. From there, Whitewater made enough key plays to finish off the Cougars. Casey Lyon led the way with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Matt Carollo and Aaron Garcia chipped in 13 and 11 points respectively.
Whitewater traveled to Waterloo for a non-conference game on Tuesday, February 10. The Whippets took control of the game in the second half to beat the home team 61-47. Whitewater pulled away, using a harassing defense to wear the Pirates down, and held them scoreless for the last seven minutes. Casey Lyon, again, led the Whippets with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Matt Carollo contributed 12 points to the win.
Whitewater completed its week on the road by winning at Jefferson on Thursday night, February 12. Casey Lyon scored 22 of his game high 40 points to stake the Whippets to a 28-25 halftime advantage. Aaron Garcia scored all 14 of his points in the second half to help Whitewater build and maintain a double-digit lead throughout the second half and defeat the Eagles, 73-63. Matt Carollo added 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Casey Lyon was certainly the dominant player of the week. But it took the whole team, making plays on offense and, especially, on defense for the Whippets to get these three wins. Whitewater will go for four in a row on Friday, February 20th, when we take on Delavan-Darien, at home, in a conference matchup.
Article Submitted by Dwayne Lange
Whitewater High School Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach
The Whitewater Unified School District has launched a strategic planning process to gather community input and establish priorities that will guide the district over the next three to five years.
The process began with a community survey that invited feedback from students, families, staff, and community members. Building on that initial outreach, the district will host a series of in-person focus groups later this month to further engage the community and gather more detailed input.
Community members are invited to attend one of the following engagement sessions:
Tuesday, February 24
● 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. – Community Engagement Session, Whitewater Public Library
● 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Parent Engagement Session, Whitewater High School LMC
Wednesday, February 25
● 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. – Parent Engagement Session, Cravath Lakefront Community Center
● 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. – Community Engagement Session, Whitewater High School Auditorium
Feedback gathered through the survey and engagement sessions will be used to identify key priorities and help guide district decision-making in the years ahead.
“This strategic planning process is about listening to our community and learning from the experiences of those we serve,” said Superintendent Samuel Karns. “The input we receive will help shape a shared vision for the future and ensure our priorities reflect what matters most to our school community.”
For updates on the strategic planning process, please visit www.wwusd.org.
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.
| The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs (WFWC) is thrilled to present its third annual Bassett House Spring Concert Series, which promises is to be as lovely an experience as ever. The first concert of this season’s series will be a highly anticipated performance by the Rock River Woodwind Quintet on Sunday, March 15, 2026. This special children’s program will include the beloved “Peter and the Wolf” by Sergei Prokofiev and a piece based on Winnie the Pooh. So please bring your little ones to this recital, which is sure to delight audiences of all ages. The second concert will feature the talented students of Rachel Wood’s Voice Studio on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Come hear classic repertoire and Broadway favorites! For our third concert, we are pleased to offer our first all-piano recital, so piano lovers, take note! This concert will feature the exceptional students of Diana Shapiro’s Piano Studio on Sunday, May 13, 2026. All concerts will be held at 1:00 PM at the Bassett House, 708 W. Main Street, Whitewater. Adult ticket prices are $30 per concert or $75 for the series. Student tickets (over 13 years old) are $15 per concert, and child tickets (13 and under) are $10 per concert. Please make checks out to the WFWC and mail them to Linda Robinson at 957 W. Highland Street/Whitewater, WI 53190. Alternatively, you may pay via Paypal to the Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs. In either case, please make sure we have your name and address, and please indicate the number of tickets you want and for which concerts, and the number of adults, students, and/or children attending. Space is limited, so buy your tickets soon. All proceeds will go to the Bassett House Preservation Fund, which the WFWC will use to ensure the preservation of the Bassett House, one of Whitewater’s oldest historic homes. For more information, visit our website at bassetthousewww.org or contact Linda Robinson at linrob73@gmail.com |
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs.
SECTIONAL RECAP — WHAT A DAY TO BE A WHIPPET!
The Whippets finished 4th overall at the Whitefish Bay WIAA Sectional, and there was SO much incredible swimming from start to finish. This team showed heart, grit, and major speed all day long!
Medley Relay — 8th (1:59.33)
Esch / Enns / Nickelsburg / Kluck
David Enns threw down an awesome 50 Breast split of 33.78!
️ 200 Free
Cruz Aranda — 1:49.36 STATE QUALIFIER (now #2 all-time Top 10)
7th Sam Nickelsburg — 2:15.77 HUGE PR — dropped 4 seconds!
9th Wyatt Esch — 2:23.48
200 IM
6th Langdon Coburn — 2:06.04 STATE QUALIFIER Massive 7-second drop and now sits #4 all-time!
50 Free
5th Mateo Bazeley — 22.55 STATE QUALIFIER (#3 all-time!)
11th Caleb Kluck — 25.01 PR!
ChaCha Binagi — 28.77
️ 100 Fly Langdon Coburn — 52.61 STATE QUALIFIER (dropped 2 seconds!)
️ 100 Free
Cruz Aranda — 49.18 STATE QUALIFIER (#4 all-time!)
8th Mateo Bazeley — 52.17
14th Wyatt Esch — 57.15 PR!
David Enns — 1:00.97 (-3 seconds!)
ChaCha Binagi — 1:05.31 PR!
200 Free Relay — 3rd (1:31.39)
Aranda / Kluck / Coburn / Bazeley — STATE QUALIFIERS
100 Breast
14th Caleb Kluck — 1:17.28
15th David Enns — 1:17.76 (dropped nearly 5 seconds!)
400 Free Relay — 4th (3:27.65)
Coburn / Bazeley / Esch / Aranda — STATE QUALIFIERS Langdon Coburn led off in a 49.64, now #5 all-time!
This meet was full of PRs, Whippet Top-10 record moves, clutch relays, and incredible team energy. So proud of the way these swimmers stepped up and raced for each other!
NEXT STOP: STATE!
Waukesha South Natatorium
Friday, February 20
Swimming begins at 5:30 PM
Let’s go Whippets!!! 
Article and Photos Courtesy of Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu
Obituaries
Sally A. Schutte, age 73, of Whitewater, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2026, while at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Sally was born on November 6, 1952, to Roy and Elsie (Rohloff) Haas. Sally married William Schutte in the spring of 2003. Sally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Hebron and graduated from Jefferson High School. She dedicated nearly her entire career to Fort HealthCare, where her hard work and versatility shone through various roles. Over the years, she served in housekeeping and medical records, Center for Dermatology. Sally … Read more
Zachariah “Zach” Schoenke, 41, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He was born April 4, 1985, to Keith W. Schoenke and Kathleen Schoenke in Fort Atkinson, WI. He grew up and graduated from Whitewater High School in 2003. Zach worked various jobs over the years but was currently working at Cracker Barrel in Janesville. He was a big Packers Fan and liked to play fantasy football. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching horror shows. Zach fiercely loved his son, Lincoln, his sisters, Cami and Cary, his mom and stepdad, and his aunt Robin. He will be dearly … Read more
Carla Winn, 82, died September 5, 2026. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218, followed by a burial at 2:00 PM at White Chapel Memorial Garden 1806 N Oliver Ave. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Dwight and Wilma Lois Krehbiel; and sister, Jennifer Krehbiel. She is survived by husband, Stephen; daughter, Ashley (Clint) Gagel, of Overland Park; siblings, Paul (Kay) Krehbiel, of Socorro, NM, Lynn (Bill) Oetting, of Wichita, Ellen (John) Querner, of Wichita, Teresa Woodson, of Lawrence, KS, … Read more
Susan Miller Celebration of Life There will be a gathering of friends and acquaintances at Susan’s Farm Store to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. at N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, Wisconsin
Our loving mother, JoAnn E Harrop, age 95, passed away on September 11, 2026. Our sorrow is deep, but we are filled with gratitude for the many years we had with her. Even as her mind was failing, she remained strong and appreciative of all who cared for her. JoAnn was born on January 13, 1931, daughter to Fred Braun and Evelyn Braun {Storck). She was raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin by her grandparents, Otto and Edith Storck. She attended Whitewater High School and helped at the Storck tavern where she met her husband Earl C. Harrop. They married on November … Read more
Russell O. Johnson “Russ,” 88, passed away on September 4, 2026 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Russell was born on July 12, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin. Russ grew up in Janesville, and after high school he joined the Air Force on May 1, 1958, serving as an aircraft mechanic until June 12, 1962. He then worked at Parker Pen in Janesville for a time, where he met his future wife, Avis. After marrying Avis Mason in April 1964, Russ worked for Gillman Manufacturing for a time, then began a career at Dana until its closing in 1980. In 1981, Russ started working … Read more
Marcia Zingg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 75. Marcia will be remembered for her unwavering love, remarkable strength, generous spirit, and lifelong devotion to her family. She shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Jeffrey Zingg, who considered her not only his wife but also his best friend, business partner, and the love of his life. Together, Marcia and Jeffrey built a successful life rooted in perseverance, hard work, laughter, and love. As entrepreneurs in Whitewater, Wisconsin, they owned and managed new car franchises and … Read more
Amanda Jean Hunter was born to Ralph and Malinda (Thomas) Hunter of Whitewater, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1976. She passed away on August 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she lived with her family. Amanda passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Amanda was a kind-hearted free spirit with an unmistakable hippie warmth. Generosity, spontaneity, a quick wit, a macabre sense of humor, and an open heart were traits that she embraced. She was a tireless champion of those in need, an innate characteristic that became among the best of her qualities. She proved to be a … Read more
Ellen Eichmiller, 82, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Ellen was born on September 10, 1943, in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Chester “Guy” and Irene (née Holmen) Steig. She married the love of her life, Paul Eichmiller, on December 7, 1963, and together they made their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ellen spent much of her working life as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she formed many lasting friendships and memories. Ellen cherished her family and friends and treasured the time she spent with those closest to her. She was known for her love of … Read more
Janet Quinn, age 71, of Jefferson passed away on Thursday, August 20th. Janet was born on December 22nd, 1954 in St. Joseph, MI to Robert Mounsey and Edith Christison Mounsey. She was a granddaughter to Herbert Bragg Mounsey, Charlotte Mounsey, and Ester Christison West. She married Michael Durden in 1979 and later married Eury Quinn Jr. (J.R.) in 1988. Janet grew up in Benton Harbor, MI, and subsequently lived in New York and Arkansas before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. She was a dedicated caregiver to her disabled Mother, and worked as a custodian for various employers over the years. … Read more
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