Good News

UWSP’s Division of Business and Economics, UW-Whitewater and the U.S. Department of Commerce co-sponsored a Wisconsin Export Trade Conference, "Collecting Your Dollars and Financing Your International Sales," at UWSP in September.

Rhonda Prichett of Plover, a senior biology student, received the John Thomson Research Award from the Botanical Club of Wisconsin for her studies of the algae that live in Portage County soil.

Rob Boyle, director of Hansen Residence Hall, was one of five advisers in the country recognized by an international organization which promotes responsible drinking and lifestyles.

William Simpson, associate professor of health, physical education, recreation and athletics, was granted Fellowship status in the American College of Sports Medicine.

UWSP received a grant for $21,200 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation which allowed Professor of History Jon Roberts to study the growing dominance of science and its impact on the status of religion within the ‘new university’ of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

UWSP is one of five state universities and four technical colleges to join the Wisconsin Overlay Network for Distance Education Resources (WONDER), an audio and video system that stretches across the state.

Karen Engelhard, director of alumni relations, was named chair-elect of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District 5, an association for institutional advance-ment professionals. She will serve as chair-elect throughout the year and then head the 2,500-member, eight-state organization for two years.

Teachers from 11 schools which educate students from 12 counties, received ground water education teaching tools at a workshop on campus. The models were funded by the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board and the Stevens Point-Whiting-Plover Wellhead Protection project.

The state of Wisconsin will save more than $50,000 per year if a suggestion from Jerry Burling, retired director of purchasing is adopted. He suggested to state officials that the wording of legal notices in newspapers be shortened to save costs on printing.

The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) at UWSP and the Energy Center of Wisconsin (ECW) in Madison have teamed up to develop and implement an energy education program for state schools, the K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP).

The Native American Center at UWSP co-sponsored Forum on Sovereignty IV at the Menominee National Casino/Conference Center in Keshena. The forum featured Rick Hill, president of the National Indian Gaming Commission, Washington, D.C., plus other speakers who addressed legal, business, education, and economic issues that effect Native American sovereignty.

Christine Thomas, a professor of resource management and pioneer in the field of women’s outdoor sports (Becoming an Outdoorswoman), was named the Safari Club International Educator of the Year and WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, desig-nated her Whitetail Conservationist of the Year.

The Wisconsin Tribal Environmental Committee (WISTEC), in conjunction with the geography and geology department, has received a $30,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice to explore environmental issues regarding Indian tribes.

For the third consecutive year, UWSP’s recycling program has been selected as a model of a successful environmental program to appear in Renew American’s Environmental Success Index, a national directory.

A local fishing equipment company underwrote the expenses of UWSP’s Open House which carried the theme "UWSP: The Second Century." Traditionally more than 5,000 people visit the campus during the biennial event.

Media Specialist Doug Moore won a second place national award in a photography competition sponsored by the University Photographers’ Association of America for his photos of Bonanza Falls on the Big Iron River, taken while on an Elderhostel field trip he was leading for Treehaven Field Station.

UWSP has added a minor in sports medicine in the School of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics.

The UWSP planetarium has upheld its reputation as the most popular facility of its kind in the state. Its average attendance over the past eight years has been about 14,000 individuals per year--5,000 more annually than its nearest competitor. Last spring, record-breaking crowds attended the "Through the Eyes of Hubble" show each Sunday during February and March.

For the second year in a row, Justin Sipiorski, a senior fisheries biology major from Stevens Point, took first place in the annual Wildlife Society Art Show. He won for his colored pencil renditions of a muskellunge and a chickadee.

Mark Boyce, Vallier Chair of Ecology and Wisconsin Distinguished Professor in the College of Natural Resources, is named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Wildlife Management, the premier scientific journal on wildlife.

Incoming freshman are offered the option of joining a freshman interest group (FIG), a group of about 40 students who live together in the residence halls and co-enroll in three general degree requirement courses each semester.

Rick Wilke, associate dean of the College of Natural Resources and an international leader in the field of environmental education, was designated a Distinguished Professor in the College of Natural Resources. Wilke also received three environmental education grants totaling more than $350,000 and is serving a third three-year term on the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board.

A dance piece choreographed by Jessica Lanius of Prairie du Sac, a senior theatre major and dance minor, was chosen for national performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and she was nominated as the top student choreographer in the nation. Lanius and Cory Krebsbach of Plover performed the duet, "16 Women While You Watched," at the Kennedy Center during the National American College Dance Festival in May.

Four students from an advertising copywriting class, taught by Professor Richard Dubiel, were among the regional winners in a newspaper advertising competition sponsored by the American Academy of Advertising and the Newspaper Association of America.

The Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES) received the Outstanding Service Award from the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE). The station was cited for "significant contributions to the field of environmental education having statewide, regional or national impact." Joe Passineau, director of CWES and associate professor in the College of Natural Resources, and Dan Sivek, also an associate professor, received the Aldo Leopold Award for outstanding achievements in environmental education from WAEE.

Dr. William Hettler, director of Health Services and co-founder of the National Wellness Institute, was chosen president of the National Fitness Leaders Association. The not-for-profit organization is dedicated to developing leadership in the fields of fitness, health promotion and disease prevention.

Area residents were offered the opportunity to view the Comet Hyakutake from UWSP’s observatory.

"Let’s Go Down to the Beach" by William T. Lawlor, professor of English, was published by Poetry Harbor, a literary arts organization in Duluth, Minn. Lawlor, who teaches classes in creative writing, composition and literature, is the organizer of the Mission Coffee House Literary Arts Series in Stevens Point.

Area residents were offered the opportunity to examine the lives and courtship behaviors of the prairie chicken during the annual "Boom with a View" at the Buena Vista Marsh in April.

Plans for a Regional Degree Program involving UWSP and the UW Center System campuses at Marshfield and Wausau are in the works and surveys are being circulated to assess the need for such a program.

The UWSP Foundation Inc. presented a check for $100,000 to the university as its annual meeting in April. The money will be used to support scholarships, university operations and unrestricted needs.

Students interested in travel and foreign affairs may become interns for a semester at a public relations agency in Southern Poland or at the U.S. Consulate in Krakow, courtesy of John Matel, a 1977 graduate of UWSP who is a foreign service officer with the U.S. Information Service in Krakow.

Robert Kilcoyne, longtime building coordinator for the College of Natural Resources, was honored by his colleagues with the Carolyn Rolfson Sargis Award, a citation which recognizes classified staff members who epitomize the standards of outstanding and dedicated service and special contributions to the university.

Former seventh district congressman and Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird was named an honorary Distinguished Alumnus by the UWSP Alumni Association. Since the mid-1960s, Laird has hosted the Laird Youth Leadership Day at UWSP and sponsored a statewide scholarship program. The fund bearing his name is well on its way to becoming the fist $1 million endowed fund in UWSP’s history.

Pepsi Cola Inc. donated $500 to the Student Security Patrol Program for the purchase of new equipment. Altogether, Pepsi has provided more than $2,000 to UWSP Protective Services, including money for the purchase of two mountain bikes for patrol members.

The women’s cross country team received the NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Academic Award for team academic achievement for the third straight year.

Robert E. Mosier, acting director of housing, was elected president of the Association of College and University Housing Officers International, a 5,000 member professional organization.

Greg Diekroeger, assistant director of campus activities, received the Wisconsin Region’s National Association for Campus Activities Robert W. Busch Award, the region’s highest honor given only when an individual demonstrates exemplary service to the association and to its members.

Adriane Fang, a UWSP alumna, has been chosen from among hundreds of aspiring artists to join the Doug Varone and Dancers, a prestigious dance company in New York City.

William Wresch, chair of mathematics and computing, received an Award for Excellence in Teaching from UW Extension. He was recognized for developing and teaching "A Teacher’s Guide to the Information Highway" on Wisconsin Public Television. PBS acquired distribution rights and the program received the University Continuing Education Association Region IV Award for Excellence.

The staff of the Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center and the Environmental Task Force Lab received a State Team Award from the Wisconsin Association of Extension Professionals. They were cited for their efforts in the Water Wise program in which they gathered and tested well water samples from homeowners and farmers in Waupaca County.

Dr. Thomas F. George, provost and academic vice president at Washington State University, was appointed as UWSP’s 12th Chancellor. He marked the opening of the 103rd academic year by proposing a fall technology summit on campus.

LaDonna Sonntag, a junior interior architecture student from Waupaca, won first place, and junior Matt Drews of Larsen, received honorable mention in the International Interior design Association/Steelcase Furniture Midwest Regional Design Competition in April. They both created interior plans for a fictitious computer software company.

Computerworld magazine selected UWSP as number 14 of the 100 best places to work for computer professionals.

Kim Beloin, assistant professor of education, co-led the Stevens Point regional team of the Wisconsin School Inclusion Project, which gives students with special needs better access to general education courses.

Jianwei Wang of political science served as a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, D.C.

Justus F. Paul, dean of the College of Letters and Science and professor of history, received the Paul Kersenbrock Humanitarian Award from Doane College, Crete, Neb. The award is presented annually to an alumnus who exemplifies extraordinary, unselfish dedication and service to others in his work.

Gregg Orlowski, a broadcast specialist with University Telecommunications, became the most cited member of the Greater Wisconsin Chapter of the International Television Association, with a total of nine awards.

Brian Zoromski, a senior computer information systems from Wittenberg, wrote a research paper for a history class from sources found exclusively on the Internet and World Wide Web, then published his paper on the Web.

Thomas Overholt, chair of the philosophy department, had his book, Cultural Anthropology and the Old Testament, published by Fortress Press.

James Stokes, professor of English, was elected to serve on the Wisconsin Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The newly refurbished $4 million paper machine was unveiled in September by the Paper Science Department.

The UWSP biology department was recognized for teaching excellence and given a $5,000 stipend by the UW System Board of Regents.

On Labor Day, more than 200 incoming freshmen and student leaders were involved in "Labor of Love," a volunteer cleanup program in the community.

Three foresters from China visited UWSP to study forest and nature reserve management and to discuss cooperative research with local faculty.

Jay Price, professor of education and John Davenport, director of instruction for the Wisconsin Rapids School District, led a seminar that shows teachers how to study themselves and improve the results they get with their students. The program, part of a federal initiative called "Goals 2000," is funded by a $34,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) received the Environmental Excellence Award from the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.

Aaron Haase of Stevens Point, a May graduate with double majors in physics and mathematics, was among four students chosen to represent the United States at an international conference of physics students in Hungary.

During the past academic year, 1,124 students contributed 12,371 hours of community service through the Association for Community Tasks (ACT).

Three members of UWSP’s chemistry department received a grant for more than $190,000 from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) of the U. S. Department of Education. They developed a pilot program to change the way introductory chemistry courses are taught.

Charles Rochester Young, composer and saxophonist, received an award from American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) "based upon the unique prestige value of the writer’s catalog of original compositions as well as recent performances."

John Droske, professor of chemistry, received the Joint Distinguished Service Award from the American Chemical Society (ACS). The award was given for outstanding advances and accomplishments in polymer education through his leadership of POLYED, the national polymer education committee of the ACS.

John Anderson, the longtime news director at UWSP, was memorialized when a room named for him was dedicated in October. He was remembered by colleagues, friends and family when the former Communication Room in the University Center was dedicated in his name.

Robert W. Miller, professor and coordinator of urban forestry, was named editor of the Journal of Arboriculture and had the second edition of his textbook published. The book, Urban Forestry: Planning and Managing Urban Greenspace, was published by Prentice Hall.

N. Earl Spangenberg, professor of forestry and water science, was named president-elect of the American Water Resources Association, an organization of professionals involved in the science, management, policy and economics of water resources.

Michael Hansen, a new assistant professor of fisheries, was named associate editor of the North American Journal of Fisheries Management, a professional journal published by the American Fisheries Society.

Brad Roost, Fort Atkinson, a senior water resources-limnology major, and Angie Berth, Racine, a junior resource management and environmental education major, were awarded Morris K. Udall Scholarships given to top students pursuing careers in environmental public policy, health care, or tribal public policy.

The health promotion/wellness program was recognized by the Association for Worksite Health Promotion (AWHP) as the best undergraduate curriculum in the country. This is the third time in seven years the program has been cited by AWHP which recognizes excellence in health promotion programs in academic settings, business and industry.

A "Political Party" to acquaint area children with the political process was sponsored by the School of Education at the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, totaling more than $160,000, funded a collaborative "virtual classroom" project between UWSP, UW-River Falls, UW-Platteville and UW-Madison. The four universities use interactive video technology to teach classes in agriculture and natural resources management.

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Copyright � 1997 UWSP News Services. All rights reserved.
Revised: March 30, 2001.