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Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior Nicholas Swiatowy is preparing for the new school year by watching a lot of television — specifically, Japanese variety shows.
For this Warhawk, that’s tantamount to studying. He’s soaking up the Japanese language, listening for new words, phrases, idioms and intonation.
The Elkhorn native will spend the 2023-24 academic year at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan, on a merit-based, fully paid Japanese studies scholarship and stipend, a prestigious award presented by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. To earn the award, Swiatowy had to perform well in language tests and face an interview at the Japanese consulate in Chicago.
“I couldn’t be more honored to be doing this. That I would be considered for something like this is wild,” Swiatowy says.
The Japanese government scholarship program began in 1954 and has benefitted more than 100,000 students in more than 160 countries. Winning the scholarship is a particularly remarkable achievement because until Swiatowy transferred to UW-Whitewater in the spring semester of 2022, his grasp of Japanese was completely self-taught. Learning the language’s more than 2,000 characters was his passion.
“I got out of high school and I needed something to do. Japanese is supposed to be the hardest language for native English speakers to learn,” he says. “I’m probably up to about 1,400 characters now.”
Swiatowy’s first contact with the language came from playing Japanese video games during his youth.
“It was fun, and I like the way the language sounds.”
Mentorship matters
Swiatowy, a Japanese studies and political science major, is following in the footsteps of his Japanese instructor and mentor at UW-Whitewater, Melanie Czarnecki — who earned the same scholarship in 1996-97, when she was an undergraduate student at UW-Madison.
“I’m as excited for him as I was for myself,” Czarnecki said.
The program, which involves full immersion in the Japanese language and culture, selects students from around the world.
“Not only is Nicholas going to grow as an individual human being, he is going to be such a confident speaker of the Japanese language and, I hope, on Japanese cultural topics. He’s also going to study with people from all walks of life,” said Czarnecki. “They will live together, study together, go on field trips together. He will learn about other countries’ cultures, too.”
When Swiatowy enrolled at UW-Whitewater, he asked Czarnecki for permission to take a placement test to see which of her Japanese language classes would be an appropriate fit.
“I asked him where he had studied, which textbooks he had used and which classes he had taken,” Czarnecki says.
The answer: none of the above.
“I never expected he would be able to place at the highest level,” Czarnecki says. “I was so impressed that someone as young as he had that kind of commitment.”
In fact, Swiatowy was skilled enough to tutor other students and has helped run Czarnecki’s weekly chat tables, or conversation groups.
“He has helped a lot of students, including one student who is vision-impaired. Nicholas was eager to help him outside of the classroom, and to make sure he was getting the support he needed,” Czarnecki says.
Looking ahead
Swiatowy is eager to speak and read Japanese every day. Improving his conversational skills is his biggest priority, even before he leaves for Japan.
“This has been the big thing for me for the last four years, and this scholarship is the culmination of all of that,” Swiatowy says.
He dreams of serving as a diplomat in the future. “If I can do something with Japanese, I’d absolutely love to.”
Swiatowy credits Czarnecki for accepting him as a student, encouraging him to apply for the scholarship and helping him through the interview process.
“Melanie is, hands down, the best teacher I’ve ever had in my life – 1,000%,” Swiatowy says. “She has made a huge change in the trajectory of my life.”
Swiatowy looks forward to his time at Hokkaido University. Established in 1876, it has 18,000 students – compared to about 11,500 at UW-Whitewater – and 3,900 faculty and staff members. The university focuses on research covering a variety of global issues, including vaccines, artificial intelligence, food innovation and environmental science. The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings — which assess nearly 1,600 universities worldwide on meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals — lists Hokkaido University No. 22 globally and No. 1 in Japan.
The campus is in Sapporo, which is similar to Wisconsin in its climate — and in at least one other aspect according to Swiatowy.
“It’s famous for beer.”
Editor’s Note: The following letter was provided by the City of Whitewater.
Dear Residents of Whitewater,
I hope this letter finds you well. We value your input and involvement in our community, and we want to keep you informed about important matters that affect our city. On October 17, 2023, the City of Whitewater will be considering a Short Term Rental Ordinance.
The Short Term Rental Ordinance is a proposed regulation that aims to address various aspects related to short-term rentals within our city. Short-term rentals typically include vacation rentals, Airbnb-type properties, and similar arrangements. The ordinance is designed to ensure the safe and harmonious coexistence of short-term rentals with our residential neighborhoods while maintaining the character and quality of life in our community.
We encourage all residents to stay informed about this important issue. You can find more details, including the proposed ordinance text and related documents, by visiting our city website’s Agenda Center. The Agenda Center is a valuable resource for accessing meeting agendas, minutes, and other relevant materials. To access this information, please visit www.whitewater-wi.gov and navigate to the Agenda Center section.
We value your feedback and input on this matter. There will be opportunities for public comment and discussion during the City Council meeting on October 17, 2023 at 6:30pm. Your voice matters, and we encourage you to participate in this important community discussion.
If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts before the meeting, please feel free to contact our office at kanderberg@whitewater-wi.gov. We are here to assist you and provide clarification on any concerns you may have.
We believe that informed and engaged residents are vital to the success of our community. Your participation in this process is essential, and we look forward to hearing your perspectives.
Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in making Whitewater a great place to live.
Sincerely,
Karri Anderberg
City Clerk
A couple calls didn’t go our way that should have, and the Whippets lost a tightly contested volleyball match in 5 sets (23-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 16-18) to Delavan on Tuesday, September 26.
Coach Mary Kilar commented, “This match was ours. I felt we played more consistently, managed our game plan and played well as a team. Unfortunately, a couple critical calls and we found ourselves losing in the final set 16-18. I was truly disappointed for the athletes, as I felt they deserved this match because of the way they battled and played offensively and defensively. We truly need to overcome the mental doubt that creeps in when matches get close and are on the line. We need to have ‘finish’ mentality, because these matches are ours!”
Manny Mbifi had an outstanding match for us. It was so awesome to see Manny fired up about her blocking and play. Manny ended the night with 6 kills and 5 blocks. She was a leader tonight, and the coaching staff has wanted all season to see her confidence blossom, and tonight it did.
Falyn Krahn also had an outstanding night both offensively and defensively. Falyn listens to every bit of coaching and immediately puts it into practice. She is so fun to coach because she works hard, leaves it all on the court, and although undersized for an outside hitter, she always follows the scouting plan and scores for us. She works just as hard on defense as she does on offense and she ended the night with 9 kills, 3 aces, 21 digs, and 3 block assists.
Ava Alvarado passed a 2.5 on the night and was so consistent in defense. She is so solid and consistent! She never quit on a ball, and had some amazing saves.
Ella Spear is a consistent leader for us. She is passing solidly, and owning the libero position. She works so hard, and wants her team to do well. She had 5 aces and led us in digs on the night with 25. Our defense is strong, and tonight was no different. Zoe Kohl finished the night with 16 digs and 3 aces. Sydney Schilt added 6 kills (hitting a .200), 4 digs, and 2 blocks.
Meg Roselle came through with her serve and defense. She added 4 kills, 1 ace, 4 assists, 6 digs, and 3 blocks.
Marina Linos continues to work hard in the setting position dishing out 19 assists, 1 ace, 6 digs, and 1 block.
Calli Grosinske continued to battle and added yet another double-double with 17 kills and 21 digs.
The Whippets overall hit a .056, had 13 aces and 19 errors, 107 digs, and 8 blocks. I have said all season that we are a defensively strong team. You can see in our dig stat that this is true. We have been focusing on serve, serve receive, and blocking at practices, and it is so nice to see our block stat improve. I am hopeful with continued service training we can improve our ace to error ratio as that will finish matches for us.
To see this fight is so great. We have so much to be proud of tonight. We battled and battled hard. I am so proud of the athletes tonight!
Article Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org
E. Greg Kent of Alamo, California, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday morning, September 10, 2023, after a yearlong battle with aggressive prostate cancer. He remained pain free and cared for 24 hours a day by Beverly, his wife of 59 years.
Greg was born July 18, 1943, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin and raised nearby in Whitewater. Greg lived an amazing life; accomplishing much in his 80 years. Greg was a graduate of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and played offensive tackle for their 1964 Liberty Bowl winning football team. After playing in the 1965 East West Shrine game, Greg went on to play for the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions and began accumulating real estate.
In 1970, Greg moved his family to settle in Alamo, California. Soon thereafter, he established California Custom Carpets, Inc. in Dublin, California. He could be found in his office in Dublin, managing the business and adding to his real estate portfolio every day until he became ill a year ago. Today, his considerable real estate holdings scattered across the West Coast, stand as a testament to his work ethic, constant drive and lifetime of incredible success. In the last 25 years, Greg became especially proud of the Buckeye Ranch, an old California ranch, he purchased in 1988. Greg spent a considerable amount of time and effort developing the Buckeye Ranch into a working cattle ranch and an enjoyable get away spot where he and his family spent many weekends.
But what really set Greg apart from the crowd throughout the years, was a benevolent larger-than-life personality and a willingness to quietly help those in need. Quick to tell an interesting story or funny joke, he was blessed with a character and presence that drew people to him, and a kindness that created many deep long-term friendships. He will be missed by his friends at the Alamo Coffee Shop, the “Once a Month” sporting clay shoots, Ducks Unlimited, Big Piney elk hunts, on the streams and lakes across the West, and at the Buckeye Ranch. Most profoundly, he is loved and will be missed by his wife, Beverly, son Brad, daughter Stephanie, son-in-law Brad, and two grandsons, Clayton and Chase.
May God hold him close, give him a great seat at the poker table, and put him in the best duck blind heaven has to offer! E. Greg Kent, a BIG MAN, with a BIG HEART; he lived a BIG LIFE and left a BIG LEGACY!!!
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Public Library.
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Public Library.
WHITEWATER, WI—Community members are invited to a free guided journaling workshop led by local writer Katy Daixon Wimer. Enjoy reflective journaling prompts and inspiring, lively conversation. Feel free to bring your own journal or a small journal will be provided.
The workshop will be held at the Irvin L Young Memorial Library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater on Wednesday, October 4 at 6:00-7:30 p.m.
This program is for adults and there is no cost to attend. Teens are welcome with a participating adult. Registration is requested. Visit whitewaterlibrary.org and click on “Events – Registration Forms” to register in advance. You may also email sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call 262-458-2782 to register or with any questions.
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The UW-Whitewater IT Services Technology Surplus Sale will be held at the Community Engagement Center (CEC) on October 3 and 4. Take advantage of great pricing on used equipment like Macs and PCs, monitors, projectors, cameras, hard drives, and more for your home or personal use. For details, please go to our Technology Surplus information page.
Sale Location:
Community Engagement Center (CEC)
Room 108/109
1260 W. Main Street (next to Walmart)
Whitewater, WI 53190
Hours:
October 3
- 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Early Access*
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. General public
October 4
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. General public
Shop early because IT Services cannot reserve items, and everything is sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment forms accepted: credit, debit, Purple Points, cash, or check. Receipts will be provided for all purchases.
These devices are for personal use only and will not be supported by UW-Whitewater. All devices are sold as-is and may not be returned or used at UW-Whitewater for any reason. Individuals with tax-exempt status should bring in a physical copy of their signed tax exemption form to process tax-exempt purchases.
*Early Access passes distributed to current UW-W students and employees are valid from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3. The pass admits one individual to the sale during the early access window. All sale rules apply to early access purchases.
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Nancy Brunner.
Where did your family come from? Why did you settle in Whitewater? Where are our fellow citizens from? What are our own Human Journey in Faith stories?
Please join us on Sunday October 1, 2023 as the Human Concerns Committee from St. Patrick’s Parish is sponsoring a presentation called “The Human Journey in Faith” from 10:15-11:15 (between the masses) in Berry Hall at St. Patrick’s Parish Whitewater. Light refreshments provided.
The hour long presentation will have 3 parts:
*Rob Shelledy, our moderator, was the Director of Social Justice ministry at the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for many years. He will give an overview of Human Dignity and Social Justice with a “See, Judge, Act,” perspective.
*Witness talks from parishioners and/or Whitewater community members regarding their own or ancestors’ journey
*Questions/Answers/Discussion.
¿De dónde vino tu familia? ¿Por qué te estableciste en Whitewater? ¿De dónde son nuestros compañeros feligreses? ¿Cuáles son nuestras propias historias
Acompáñenos el domingo 1 de octubre de 2023 ya que el Comité de Asuntos Humanos de la Parroquia de San Patricio patrocina una presentación llamada “El Camino Humano en la Fe” de 10:15 a 11:15 (entre las misas) en Berry Hall. Se proporcionan refrigerios.
La presentación de una hora de duración tendrá 3 partes:
*Rob Shelledy, nuestro moderador, fue Director del Ministerio de Justicia Social en la Arquidiócesis de Milwaukee durante muchos años. Dará una visión general de la Dignidad Humana y la Justicia Social con una perspectiva de “Ver, Juzgar, Actuar”.
*Charlas de testigos feligreses y/o miembros de la comunidad de Whitewater sobre su propio viaje o el de sus antepasados.
*Preguntas/Respuestas/Discusión.
Obituaries
Lawrence “Larry” C. Hartung, a proud Marine Veteran of the Vietnam War, and longtime resident of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away peacefully at his home on May 1, 2026. Larry was born June 7th, 1949, to Levon and Charles Hartung in Chicago, IL. Larry enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1968 and served 3 consecutive tours in the Vietnam War. During this time, he became pen pals with his future wife, Candy, via a connection through his father. In 1970, he came home on leave to marry Candy. They celebrated 55 years of marriage on October 31st, 2025. During … Read more
Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at his home. Leo was born on April 15, 1961 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Cyril and Shirley (McNeil) Wurzer. He grew up between Pleasant Prairie and Antigo, spending his childhood summers on his uncle’s farm where he discovered his love for all things tractors. Although he never had a farm of his own, he was able to partially fulfill his dream by working as a driver for Robin’s Trucking in Whitewater, WI in his last days and collecting miniature Tonka toys. He began his career … Read more
Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac, WI (formerly of Janesville, WI, Fort Atkinson, WI, Fountain Hills, AZ, and Green Valley, AZ) passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026 at the Meadows Senior Residence in Fond du Lac surrounded by family. Lois was born on February 17, 1927 in Fort Atkinson to Edward and Clarice (Roseth) Stevens. The middle child of 9 children, she attended Fort Atkinson schools and graduated in 1944. On September 11, 1948 Lois married Grant Cummings at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Delavan, WI. Together they had 3 children, Gary, Colleen (Tom) Sabel, and Patty (Paul) … Read more
Come celebrate William Kincaid’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 30th at 1 pm at Trippe Lake Park Pavillion in Whitewater. He truly enjoyed gatherings where his favorite foods and music could be enjoyed with some of his closest friends and family. We will honor him by carrying on one of his favorite traditions. Please bring your own beverages and chairs. There is limited seating. See you all there!
Gladys Jean (Riley) Hildebrandt, age 89, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 23, 2026. Gladys was born on December 26, 1936, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Theresa Egnoski Riley. She was married to Walter Sobolik Sr., and later married James A. Hildebrandt in 1976. Gladys was a hardworking woman who spent her life caring for others. She worked in school kitchens, restaurants, factories, and cleaning services. She concluded her working career as a full-time nanny. In that role, she lovingly cared for Andrew, Daniel, and Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, who became part of her chosen family. Gladys is survived by her sons, Wally … Read more
WHITEWATER – Nan Rowley died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on September 4, 1935, in a little house on the prairie in the Town of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Wayne L. Wilbur and Florence (McQuillen) Wilbur. Nan attended primary schools in the towns of Johnstown and Richmond and in the City of Whitewater. Nan graduated with honors from Whitewater City High School. On June 19, 1954, Nancy and Ken Rowley were united in marriage in Whitewater and went to live on the Rowley family farm in Richmond. Over the years, Nan served … Read more
Marion H. Gorniak (nee Pfeiffer), 74, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026. She was born on October 24, 1951, to the late Harvey and Loraine (nee Drifke) Pfeiffer in Fort Atkinson, WI. On June 2, 1969, she was united in marriage to Alan Gorniak. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and cooking, especially her rhubarb pies. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her. Those Marion leaves behind to cherish her memory include her husband, Alan Gorniak; stepson, Alan Bauer; sister, Sue Ann Schultz, other relatives and friends. … Read more
Ruth Irene (Phelps) Justis, 88, of Appleton City, Missouri, passed away Friday morning, April 10, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, MO, with her family by her side. Ruth was born June 3, 1937 in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Charles and Ada Mae (Maly) Phelps. She joined the Marine Corps in 1956. During her time there, she met and married her husband, Forest Wayne “Wayne” Justis in 1957. They shared 62 years of marriage and to this union, 2 children, Charles and Dorene, were born. Ruth grew up in Whitewater, WI., the oldest of three children. Ruth graduated from … Read more
Dorothy C. Kau, age 101, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Dorothy was born on March 18, 1925 in Eagle on the family farm, the daughter of John and Katherine (Faestel) VonRueden. Dorothy was a 1942 graduate of Palmyra High School. On May 21, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Alvin E. Kau at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle and the Lord blessed their union with 8 children. Alvin and Dorothy enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until Alvin’s death in the year 2000. Dorothy enjoyed being a farm … Read more
Dorothy E. McCracken, 95, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida. Born on April 14, 1930, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Carl and Joyce Meyer, Dorothy grew up in Whitewater and graduated from Whitewater High School. She then worked for a photographer and hand painted his first colored portraits, until she got married. She and her first husband, Bernard Wafle, owned and operated a 179-acre dairy farm in Helenville, Wisconsin, for 25 years before relocating to Ocala, Florida, in 1979. Dorothy later married Earl McCracken, in Ocala, Fl. She also shared a special companionship later in life with … Read more
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