News & Events

By Jeff Angileri
Executive Director, University Marketing and Communications

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will celebrate the achievements of its graduates at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, as proud families and friends gather for the 2023 December commencement ceremony.

Approximately 620 students will cross the stage to receive their degrees. The ceremony, about two hours long and presided over by Chancellor Corey A. King, will be held at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center. 

This year’s commencement speaker is Barbara Kreisman. Since earning a Bachelor of Science in journalism and a minor in English in 1972, she has served in professional roles at Dell Computer, where she worked for 12 years in strategic human resources, organizational development and staffing, and in faculty and leadership roles at the University of Denver, where she spent more than 17 years as associate dean of the Executive MBA Program for the Daniels College of Business. Kriesman calls herself a retirement journeys Sherpa — someone who helps individuals transition to retirement at a time they may fear losing their identity, network of colleagues, importance, power and influence.

The student speaker is Patrice Achu, who is earning his Doctorate of Business Administration. A native of Cameroon, Achu will be receiving his third degree from UW-Whitewater, completing an educational path that includes a BBA in accounting in 2010 and an MBA in project management in 2020. He joins May 2023 graduate Eric Barber as one of two Warhawks in the school’s history to earn a DBA and two other degrees from UW-Whitewater. He is currently North American comptroller for Kerry Group, a public food company headquartered in Ireland.

The ceremony will recognize 45 undergraduates from the College of Arts and Communication, 145 from the College of Business and Economics, 136 from the College of Education and Professional Studies, four from the College of Integrated Studies, 144 from the College of Letters and Sciences, and six degrees that are not college-specific, for a total of 480 undergraduate degrees. The School of Graduate Studies will award 140 degrees, including 130 master’s degrees and 10 doctorates.

The graduating class includes 3 international students, 64 military veterans and 141 nontraditional students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 74 self-identified students with disabilities will receive degrees.

Commencement will be broadcast live online by UWWTV, the university television station. Access to the livestream will be posted at uww.edu/commencement.

According to a press release from the Whitewater Fire and EMS Department, at approximately 7:44 p.m. on December 7 the department responded to a possible structure fire at 840 Executive Drive in the business park. Firefighters arrived on the scene at HyPro, Inc. within approximately five minutes, reporting heavy smoke and fire from the rooftop. Mutual aid was requested due to the size of the structure and the potential for the incident to grow. The fire was brought under control by 8:25 p.m. Damage was contained to one HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) unit. Whitewater Fire and EMS was assisted by Jefferson Fire Dept, Lauderdale LaGrange Fire Dept, Lakeside Fire Rescue, and the Whitewater Police Dept.

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

According to a press release from Whitewater Fire and Rescue, the home at 9707 N. McCord Road in the Town of Lima, Rock County, was totally destroyed by a fire on the morning of December 7 that originated from a pellet stove. Per the Rock County Tax Database Search, unless there was a relatively recent transfer, the property is owned by Rafael Rodriguez and Ana M. Rodriguez.

The release, prepared by Assistant Chief Ryan Dion, includes the following:

At approximately 853 AM on Thursday December 7th, Whitewater Fire and EMS responded to a structure fire in Lima Township, Rock County. The owner of the home had a pellet stove for heating that was in operation on the first floor. The owner reported leaving the residence for approximately 40 minutes and returned to find smoke and flames issuing from the home. The fire department arrived at the property situated approximately 5 miles south west of the City of Whitewater fire station in just under eight minutes from the time of dispatch. A high volume of smoke was issuing from the home, and flames could be seen coming from the exhaust port of the pellet stove, extending the structural elements of the roof assembly. An aggressive interior attack was initiated. Crews were able to extinguish the origin fire in the stove rapidly, however the fire had extended into the attic/roof area prior to arrival. MABAS alarm 12-6 was requested to the 2nd alarm, and eventually reached the 5th alarm for water tenders. The absence of hydrants in the rural area, and the over 500-foot setback of the dwelling from the road hindered firefighting efforts.

Once confirmation was made that the structure was unoccupied, crews began a defensive attack. The fire was declared under control at 1130 AM, and crews continued to extinguish hot spots until approximately 1236 PM. The home and contents are a total loss.

Whitewater Fire and EMS would like to thank the over 23 fire departments that assisted from Walworth, Jefferson, Waukesha, Rock, and Dane Counties. We also extend a thank you the Racine Fire Bells for rehab assistance, and the Rock County Sheriff’s Office for scene control.

Editor’s note: The website for the Racine Fire Bells describes them as “fire buffs,” and includes the following description of the “rehab assistance” that they provide:

“Another aspect of fire buffing is providing a mobile Rehabilitation (Canteen) service for area fire departments.  Over sixty groups throughout the United States and Canada respond with local fire departments on all working fires, Haz Mat incidents, and other emergencies for the purpose of providing food, water, and temporary shelter from the environment for fire fighters and fire victims alike.  At times when a major fire keeps fire fighters busy battling the flame for an extended period of time, buffs and their Rehab Units supply a hot or cold meal, a cooling drink or a hot cup of coffee, air-conditioned or heated shelter from the elements, and a moment’s diversion from the dangerous job they face.  On occasion Rehab Units have been used as Command Posts in unusual and unique situations since they often times have the necessary radios and cellular telephone equipment to allow an incident commander to coordinate the ongoing activity.

What is a fire buff?  A unique individual with a special interest in the fire service and the fire fighters who protect us 24 hours a day.”

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Public Library.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is offering free yoga sessions for adults. Release holiday stress with a 60-minute gentle yoga flow that is nourishing to the body, led by Amanda Matzke. The practice will include poses to encourage strength and flexibility with a focus on breathing, listening to the body, letting go, and staying in the present moment.   

Participants must bring their own yoga mat. Blocks and a bolster are suggested but not required. A firm blanket folded can be used in place of a bolster. Adults are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions, which will be held in the library’s Community Room at 5:00 p.m. on the following dates: 12/11, 12/14, 12/20, 12/21, 12/26, 12/27, 12/28 and 1/3.  

The library is located at 431 W. Center St. in Whitewater. Visit the library’s website at whitewaterlibrary.org for more information or contact Sarah French with questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-568-2782. 

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week we feature a Christmas display in the Main Street Shoppes building in downtown Whitewater. The photo was taken by George Scharfenberg in December 1998. The Main Street Shoppes was once the Schultz Brothers “dime” store that was renovated into offices and shops in the 1990s.

Join us next week for more holiday images from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(George Scharfenberg Collection, Whitewater Historical Society)

Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by Representative Ellen Schutt’s office.

On Wednesday, Representative Ellen Schutt’s (R-Clinton) Safe Haven Law reform bill (the baby box bill) was signed into law as 2023 Wisconsin Act 79.

“I am glad Wisconsin will now be able to provide parents in distress an option to complete anonymity when making the difficult choice to surrender their newborn,” Representative Schutt said.

Wisconsin’s Safe Haven law has long served as a critical safety net for infants believed to be under 72 hours old, allowing parents to anonymously relinquish their child to designated authorities. However, a crucial aspect has been missing: a method of relinquishment without the face-to-face interaction.

Act 79 allows a municipality to install a newborn infant safety device at a hospital, fire station, or law enforcement agency building so a parent can relinquish their newborn with complete anonymity. The building where the baby box is located must be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Once a baby is placed in the designated box, an alarm is automatically triggered inside the building to alert them.

“Wisconsin’s 2001 Safe Haven Law carried a stigma, especially in small communities, because parents were afraid others will find out they gave up their children. Sadly, this came to a head earlier this year after a newborn was found dead in a field in Whitewater. Members of the community came to me expressing an interest in making sure this did not happen again, and I am glad we were able to find a solution and get this law enacted.

“With their potential to provide a safe and anonymous option, baby boxes will save lives,” said Representative Schutt.

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The 31st Assembly District includes the City of Elkhorn, portions of the Cities of Beloit, and Whitewater, the Villages of Clinton and Darien, the Towns of Bradford, Clinton, Johnstown, La Prairie, Turtle, Darien, Lafayette, La Grange, Richmond, Spring Prairie, Sugar Creek, and Whitewater, and portions of the Town of Beloit.