Chancellor Telfer talks with Justin Nothem, this year’s student speaker at UW-Whitewater’s spring undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 12.

Alumni and friends were honored for their professional and philanthropic achievements this month as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater observes its 144^th anniversary at Founders Day. The annual Founders Day event was held Saturday, April 21, at 11 a.m. in the James R. Connor University Center. Four current students also will be recognized as they complete their junior year on campus with outstanding grades and deep involvement in campus life.

This year’s S.A. White Award goes to H. Gaylon and Hannah M. Greenhill for their many contributions to UW-Whitewater.  Gaylon Greenhill served as chancellor from 1991-1999, transforming the campus through the Excellence for the 21^st Century campaign.  Their generosity established the Greenhill Endowment, which funds arts scholarships and an education scholarship, and they are supporters of athletics and the Young Auditorium.

The award is named for Samuel A. White, a judge who was instrumental in the founding of the Whitewater Normal School, which later became UW-Whitewater, in April 1868.

Other honorees and their awards are:

• Andrew Burish, Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement.  A 1982 MBA graduate, Burish is a managing director at UBS Financial Services and leads The Burish Group, which has offices in Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago. His team manages more than $1.8 billion in client assets and Burish is frequently recognized as a top financial adviser nationally and in Wisconsin.
• James Lindenberg, Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement. Lindenberg is a 1981 graduate who built and sold a successful business, World Class Wire and Cable, and continues as an entrepreneur with Lindy Enterprises, a business consulting firm, and JML Holdings, a real estate investment business in Waukesha County.  He also owns the Milwaukee Wave, the city’s indoor soccer team, and is president of its charitable arm for children.
• Michael Spellman, Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to UW-Whitewater.  A 1969 graduate, Spellman later served as assistant chancellor for development and public relations and as executive director of the UW-Whitewater Foundation.  Nearly $60 million was raised for the university during Spellman’s tenure as his vision of the future campus inspired benefactors who made it a reality.
• Melvin Juette, Distinguished Alumni Award for Community/Regional Service.  Juette, a 1992 graduate, was a leader in wheelchair basketball at UW-Whitewater and became the first Warhawk chosen for the national team.  He created a foundation to support recreation for people with disabilities and will be an assistant basketball coach this summer for the USA National Paralympics team in London.
• Michelle Maurer Nimmo, Outstanding Recent Alumna Award.  After graduating in 2000 with a marketing degree, Nimmo used a business plan written in class and purchased Anasazi Spa and Salon in Janesville.  After its success, she sold the spa and salon business to move into the medical spa industry, and Anasazi Medical Spa is poised for expansion.

This year’s Outstanding Juniors at UW-Whitewater will receive $1,000 scholarships from the UW-Whitewater Alumni Association.  They are:

• Jocelyn Sveum, Edgerton, who is majoring in early childhood education in the College of Education and Professional Studies and has dreamed of being a teacher for as long as she can remember.
• Valerie Jach, Brookfield, an accounting and finance major in the College of Business and Economics and a Warhawk soccer player who would love to work for the Green Bay Packers.
• Megan Kell, Burlington, who is majoring in choral and general music education with a minor in secondary math education in the College of Arts and Communication. She plans to earn a master’s degree, teach music and serve as a mentor to young musicians.
• Samantha Pratt, Muskego, a history and Spanish major in the College of Letters and Sciences who looks forward to being a role model for her students and encouraging constructive debate in her classroom.

Chancellor Telfer talks with David Travis, associate dean of the College of Letters and Sciences, about changing the name of Carlson Hall to Laurentide Hall.
Travis also provides an update on the progress of the renovation and its estimated completion date.

Newman Civic Fellows are recommended by college and university presidents to acknowledge motivation and ability in public leadership. Newman Civic Fellows awards are made in memory of Frank  Newman, who dedicated his life to creating systemic change through education reform. Frank Newman’s leadership was selfless, optimistic, and determined, spanning an incredible career of more than five decades. At the core of Dr. Newman’s leadership was a belief in the power of individuals to make a difference and in the power of connection with others. Newman Civic Fellows form a unique network of leaders who will inspire and keep hope alive for one another during college and afterward, as the network expands exponentially each year. Frank Newman had a tremendous impact on American education and its role in the development of citizens who want to make a difference. The Newman Civic Fellows are reflections and affirmations of his life’s work.

The Newman Civic Fellows Award honors inspiring college student leaders who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. Through service, research, and advocacy, Newman Civic Fellows are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change. These students represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. They serve as national examples of the role that higher education can—and does—play in building a better world.

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(L-R: Clarksen, Nelson, Chancellor Richard Telfer, Rios)

UW-Whitewater celebrated Undergraduate Research Day on Tuesday, April 10, 2012. I thought you might enjoy the photographs from those events.

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Chancellor Telfer talks with Daniel Baker, iCIT, about the UW-Whitewater website that goes mobile on April 12th. Baker explains how you will be able to use a smart phone, iPad or other mobile device to browse the Web and easily access university website content.

Chancellor Richard Telfer talks with students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s American Marketing Association (AMA) and Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE) about sweeping top chapter awards at recent national conventions.

Chancellor Telfer talks about the UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team winning the 2012 National Championship.