News & Events

UW-Whitewater defeats Northwestern University and University of Chicago to compete in Fed Challenge national semifinals

(UW-W College of Business & Economics press release) For the second time in four years, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College Fed Challenge team excelled in regional competition and competed among the nation’s best economics programs.

UW-Whitewater prevailed against some of the strongest teams in the Midwest district — including Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and Marquette University — in order to advance to the national semifinal round. Final rankings were announced on Nov. 20, naming the top three teams as well as three other finalists. While UW-Whitewater was not included among the winners or national finalists, the students’ dedication and performance reflect highly on the university.

The 2020 UW-Whitewater College Fed Challenge Team included presenting members Nicole Carter from Cary, Ill., who is majoring in international studies and economics, Clayton Gallmann from Oshkosh, Wis., who is majoring in economics, Cole Kinson from Elkhorn, Wis., who is majoring in economics and mathematics, Kevin Peralta from Racine, Wis., who is majoring in economics, and Johnny Pulley from Stoughton, Wis., who is majoring in economics. Tyler Grissom from Cedarburg, Wis., who is majoring in international business and German, also contributed to the team’s success as a non-presenting member by providing significant research and analysis support.

In addition, economics faculty members Professor Yamin Ahmad, Associate Professor Eylem Ersal, Assistant Professor Krastina Dzhambova, Assistant Professor Narendra Regmi, and Professor Emeritus Stuart Glosser also devoted many hours as team coaches. They helped the team prepare and refine their presentation, and ran them through Q&A drills.

Co-sponsored by the Federal Reserve and Federal Reserve Banks, the College Fed Challenge is the preeminent economics educational competition that teaches students to think critically about the U.S. economy, financial markets and monetary policy.

“The competition requires a lot of research, and students get a feel for what macroeconomists do,” said Yamin Ahmad, professor of economics. “The team suggested a particular policy decision in the presentation video, and the Federal Reserve ended up taking that action a week later. So the students could see that they were on target with their analysis, and they were really excited.”

In past years, bracketed competitions led to district winners who advanced to the national round. This year, all teams in a district competed directly against each other with video presentations. The top three teams from each district advanced to the national semifinals, which featured a virtual question-and-answer session with judges. Team performances in the Q&A resulted in one finalist for each district, as well as the national first-, second- and third-place rankings.

“The team started preparing in March, at the start of the pandemic,” said Ahmad. “They met remotely every week from March into November, and their dedication and hard work were reflected in their performance. They went up against some very strong economics teams to make it to the national semifinals.”

Beyond economic acumen, analytical skills and presentation abilities, the College Fed Challenge requires strong teamwork skills.

“The students pulled together right away, and they excelled based on their ability to work as a team,” said Ahmad.

“The primary takeaway from my first year of being the team captain is how grateful I am that I was working with dedicated teammates and faculty advisors who cared about how well the team did,” said Cole Kinson. “As the competition grew nearer, it became more and more clear that we could never have advanced as far as we did without the effort put in by every single teammate, nor without the help we received from the faculty advisors. The project was just too large-scale to do without everyone’s combined effort.”

The Warhawks’ journey to the semifinals is particularly noteworthy during a year of unusual disruption. When announcing the winners, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, commended all participants on the talent and drive required of both students and faculty advisers to compete in this event during a time of so much upheaval.

Images provided by Tom Ganser

School board members Tom Ganser and Jim Stewart, and WUSD School Board Secretary Jaclyn Tueting delivered scones on November 19 for the staffs at Lakeview Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, Whitewater Middle School, and Whitewater High School in celebration of American Education Week.  Scones were also given to the Central Office Staff.

Colossal Fossils Paleontology Series

To register for this Zoom program please visit whitewaterlibrary.org.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is excited to be hosting a paleontology series presented by Colossal Fossils! You will have three chances each week to attend. Choose the session that is most convenient for you and/or your family. Topics include Ice Age Giants (Dec 2, 3 & 5), and Women of Science (9, 10 & 12). Presentations are offered Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m., Thursdays at 1:00 p.m., or Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.

(Whitewater High School news release) – Whitewater High School National Honor Society Announces New Members

Whitewater High School established the Minneiska Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) in 1956 to inspire enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, promote worthy leadership, and encourage the development of character in high school students. NHS has become a prestigious organization ranking high among college admission officers, scholarship committees, high school faculty & administrators, students, parents and residents of our community. For many, selection as a member of the National Honor Society is the pinnacle of achievement in school. This honor, recognized throughout the nation, is both the public recognition of outstanding accomplishments and the private commitment to continued excellence on the part of each new member.

Twelve juniors and seniors will become members of the National Honor Society at Whitewater High School this year during a virtual Induction Ceremony presented in late December. These students have demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship and service to their school and community and have worked extremely hard to achieve at the highest level in school.

Congratulations to the new members of the Whitewater High School National Honor Society!

Alayna Alvarado
Olive Coburn
Arno Crowley
Carter Friend
Brock Grosinske
Cooper Hammond
Nikita Hartzheim
Savannah Hill
Avery Hintz
Denver Isbell
Audrey Mayer
Sophia Walton

Senior members inducted in December 2019

Reilly Aschenbrener
Grace Black
Lydia Bols
Jenna Caldwell- Secretary
Kacie Carollo – Treasurer
David Cushman
Carson Ellenwood – President
Elizabeth Katzman
Kiyla Kopecky
Leiha Kuhnke
Cora Linos
Hannah O’Brien
Jazmine Peterson
Catherine Skindingsrude – Vice President
Ella Smith
Amanda Tovar
Diego Tovar
Carter Waelchli
Abigail Weeden
Abigail Wildenberg
Trenton Zahn
Molly Zimmerman

For more information about the Whitewater High School National Honor Society, please see the following website https://www.whs.wwusd.org/page/2541

On Nov. 18, the WI Department of Health Services added Walworth County to the “Critically High” COVID-19 Activity Level that was just introduced last week. Every county in the state except Green is now shown at that extraordinarily high level, reflecting a very dangerous risk of transmission. Even Green County is at the “Very High” level.

Walworth County has issued the following guidance for the holidays.

(Movie buff Mark Dorn news release)

“Give Me Liberty”(Comedy/Drama) -Tuesday, November 24, 1 p.m. only
Rated PG – 1 hour, 50 minutes (2019)

An Independent film to be thankful for! Vic, a young Russian American, drives a handicapped van in Milwaukee, where he shares an apartment with his grandfather. Already running late on a day when street protests break out, Vic reluctantly agrees to ferry his grandfather and a dozen elderly Russians to a funeral, but they’re upset when he stops first in a Black Milwaukee neighborhood to pick up Tracy, a Black woman with ALS. On the verge of being fired, Vic’s hectic day goes from bad to worse. Filmed entirely in Milwaukee, this film was the winner of the prestigious 2020 John Cassavetes Award/Independent Spirit Award, presented to a creative team of a film budgeted at less than $500,000.

You will need to wear a mask and sanitize hands. Bring your own beverage and snacks, no sharing. Please call, email, or sign up online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk We no longer are allowing walk-ins so you must register if you will be attending. This allows us to implement physical distancing. Thanks so much!

(UW-W Press Release – Nov. 16)

More than 3,400 COVID-19 tests conducted at UW-Whitewater last week

Free, rapid testing at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater continues apace as 3,414 COVID-19 tests were conducted last week.

A total of 2,377 of those tests occurred at the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in the Williams Center, where testing began Nov. 9 and is offered 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Anyone 5 years or older can get a test.

“People are responding to our call for a culture of responsibility to flatten the curve,” said Chancellor Dwight C. Watson. “Getting tested is a critical action step people can take to stop community spread by identifying those who are contagious but not showing symptoms. At UW-Whitewater, we have a friendly, safe and convenient testing site where folks can get their results in 15 minutes.”

Separate from the surge testing effort, University Health and Counseling Services — the primary tester of UW-Whitewater students — conducted 1,037 tests since Monday, including 633 on Wednesday alone.

“To help bolster our student testing numbers, local business DLK Enterprises provided financial incentives for our Warhawks who volunteered to get tested. I’m grateful for the Kachel family’s continued support of our university as we work to protect the health of our campus and greater community,” Watson said.

“In addition, our employees at UW-Whitewater continue to go above and beyond to ensure a robust testing environment here. This is a true collaborative effort to navigate the pandemic and protect one another. And, it’s our proud role as a public university to carry out the Wisconsin Idea to use our knowledge and expertise in the service of this great state, and to solve critical issues facing our society.”

For more information on getting tested for COVID-19 at UW-Whitewater, visit: https://www.uww.edu/warhawks-return/testing

Free parking is available in lots 7 and 9 on Warhawk Drive.

Student testing is made possible due to a partnership with UW System and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Faculty, staff and community testing is possible due to a University of Wisconsin System “surge testing” initiative, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.