UWSP student group wins statewide excellence award

The University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point student chapter of the Wisconsin Education Association (WEA) received the Student Local Excellence Award and a number of the chapter’s members were recognized at the organization's statewide representative assembly in Madison.

The UWSP chapter received outstanding state chapter award for a group of more than 75 members. The chapter, which has a membership of more than 300 students, participated in a variety of activities to merit the recognition. It has also been nominated for the National Education Association Local Excellence Award.

The chapter has a high level of active membership, according to Jill Hassenfelt, Germantown, chapter president. "We had a phenomenal executive board and fantastic success working as a team," Hassenfelt said. "We have three great advisors who we speak to almost every day and who help us out tremendously."

Dayle Upham, associate professor of education and WEA Stevens Point chapter advisor, received state Advisor of The Year award. Other advisors for the organization are Maggie Beeber, School of Education advising coordinator, and Henry St. Maurice, associate professor of education.

Hassenfelt was elected to the state organization’s office of president-elect and received state Outstanding Student Leader of the Year award. Sarah Hulstedt, Rockford, Ill., was elected state public relations coordinator. Hulstedt coordinates the after school Latchkey Program at Jefferson Elementary School in Stevens Point. The UWSP group has applied for a grant to support the program, now in its ninth year.

The chapter participates in a large number of activities and provides leadership opportunities and experience for its members. One service of the group is to provide peer advising in the School of Education.

Chapter activities that have helped recruit members include an ice cream social to spur student interest at the beginning of the year and presentations at freshman orientation and residence hall meetings.

Members provided child care at Parent-Teacher Conferences at Jackson Elementary school in Stevens Point and provided tutors at Jefferson Elementary School. The group has been active in Destination Imagination (formerly Odyssey of the Mind) and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Portage County. Working with the Stevens Point Area Education Association, they raised more than $500 for the "Books from the Heart" program that gives books to first graders.

Hassenfelt, the daughter of Marty and Nancy Hassenfelt, W164 N11136 Kings Way, Germantown, is a senior majoring in elementary education with minors in learning disabilities, broadfield social science and political science. She is a 1997 graduate of Germantown High School.

She has received two University Leadership Awards, is listed in "Who’s Who Among American College Students" and has been on the dean’s list during all her semesters at UWSP. She received the Latchkey Scholarship last year and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi academic honor societies and Kappa Delta Pi education honor society.

She is a member of UWSP College Democrats and has served as a Brownie troop leader. She has served as a tutor for the Association for Community Tasks and as a peer advisor in the Education Department. She is employed by Destination Imagination. Hassenfelt’s articles, "What do you get for $27?" and "Books from the Heart" appeared in a state WEA newsletter.

Hulstedt, the daughter of James and Diana Hulstedt, 5363 Misty Morning Drive, Rockford, Ill., is a senior majoring in elementary education with a minor in art. She is a1996 graduate of Jefferson High School.

She was listed in "Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities" and has received the University Leadership Award. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi education honor society and Omicron Kappa leadership honor society.

She serves as Web master for faculty members in the School of Education and is a teacher’s aide at the University Child Learning and Care Center. She also works as an assistant to Professor Larry Riggs of the College of Professional Studies

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