NEWS RELEASES September '11

Register for Short Courses at UW-Marinette
September 30, 2011

Don't have time for a full semester of courses but would like to earn college credits? There is still time to register for classes that can be completed in nine weeks or less at UW-Marinette, according to Cindy Bailey, Assistant Campus Dean for Student Services.

"We have a number of courses that are accelerated to fit students' busy schedules," says Bailey. "Several courses meet at 5:00 in the evenings. And financial aid is available.”

CPS 130 “Introduction to Programming- BASIC” (M 5:00-7:45 pm) will meet from October 10 to December 16. Courses meeting from October 10 to November 10 include HES 123 "CPR” (TTH 1:30-2:45 pm) and CPS 107 “Spreadsheet Concepts” (TTH 11:00-12:15 pm). Courses that meet from October 27 to December 16 include ENG 250 “Introduction to Literary Studies” ( TTH 5:00-6:15 pm), “Elementary Statistics” (MW 5:00-6:15 pm), and POL 104 “American Government and Politics” (TTH 8:00-9:15 am ). A second section of HES 123 meets from November 11 to December 16 (TTH 1:30-2:45 pm) as does CPS 108 “Database Concepts” (TTH 11:00-12:15 pm), and MAT 113 “Trigonometry” ( MTWTHF 8:00-8:50 am).

Tuition and fees at UW-Marinette is $187.61 per credit, among the lowest in the UW System. Courses are taught by professors with the same credentials as those at four-year campuses. After fulfilling certain credit and grade point average requirements, students are guaranteed transfer with the same rights and privileges as those who begin their education at the baccalaureate institutions.

For more information about admissions and registration, contact Student Services at 715-735-4301.

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Northwoods Economic Summit October 4
September 23, 2001

Northwoods Economic Summit VII will be held at the UW-Marinette campus Tuesday, October 4. Northeast Wisconsin and Michigan Upper Peninsula business leaders, local government officials, educators, and nonprofit agencies will attend this seventh annual conference. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Registration fee is $35 in advance, $45 the day of the Summit.

“UW-Marinette is proud to host this year’s Northwoods Economic Summit,” says campus CEO and Dean Paula Langteau. “Sharing information with workforce development professionals and educators is vitally important in today’s economy and we are glad to be able to offer our campus as a venue for this exchange of ideas.”

Featured this year are presentations by Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Scott Baumbach and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation CEO Paul Jadin.

The Computer Integrated Manufacturing Mobile Lab, a new project to provide training on state of the art manufacturing equipment to high school students will be on display and available for tours.

A panel of local employers will discuss their companies’ employment opportunities and how workforce development professionals and educators can assist them in finding the workers they need. Participating employers include Tyco International, Badger Paper, Winsert and Karl Schmidt Unisia.

The agenda will include updates from the New North, the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and on the newly created North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance.

Building on several other regional multi-state and multi-county collaborative conferences and workshops, the Northwoods Summit VII is a continuation of the discussion about how to expand and diversify the Northwoods regional economy.

Summit VII is a daylong facilitated gathering of educators, local government leaders, NGOs and business leaders to plan the future economic growth of the Wisconsin’s northern region and the Upper Peninsula.

To register for the Northwoods Economic Summit online, go to http://www.cesa8.k12.wi.us. Click on the Professional Development Link at the bottom of the page, then go to October 4.

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Theatre on the Bay concessions open
September 21, 2011

Opportunities for service groups and clubs that would like to provide concessions at intermission for Theatre on the Bay productions are open for "Almost, Maine," a romantic comedy on Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 pm.

All dates for the spring play, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” are still open. They are March 2-4 and March 9-11 with performances at 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:00 pm on Sundays.

To secure a concession date, e-mail kathy.claycomb@uwc.edu or call 715-735-4346.

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UW-Marinette Milwaukee Trip October 21
September 21, 2011

The UW-Marinette "ART 175-Worlds of Art" class will conduct a field trip on Friday, October 21 to the Milwaukee Public Museum to view the National Geographic Society’s “Search for Cleopatra” exhibit. There will be 13 seats available to the general public at $40 per seat on a first-come, first-served basis. The price includes transportation to the museum and the entry fee for the exhibit which will open to the UW-Marinette group at 1:30 pm. The bus leaves UW-Marinette at 7:00 am and leaves the museum at 3:00 pm. Riders will be able to view the many fascinating exhibits housed in the museum from 10:00 am until the Cleopatra exhibit opens at 1:30 pm.

Included in the admission price to the exhibit are audio headsets that inform visitors of what they are viewing plus artifacts made by Egyptian artists that depict the queen. New artifacts have been found associated with Cleopatra’s reign in the harbor waters of Alexandria, Egypt by scuba diving archeologists. A description of the exhibit is available on the Milwaukee Public Museum’s web site. Persons interested in this trip need to prepay prior to Wednesday, October 19th at the cashier’s window located in the Student Services Office in the Main Building at UW-Marinette.

For further information contact Professor James LaMalfa by email at james.lamalfa@uwc.edu or phone at 715 -735-4322.

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UW-Marinette English Department Faculty Recognized
September 19, 2011

UW-Marinette English Department faculty Dr. Allen Learst and Dr. Amy Reddinger have been recognized for their work.

Learst, who teaches courses in composition and creative writing at UW-Marinette was honored as the first place winner of the Leapfrog Press Fiction contest for his linked story collection "Places Part Dream."

Learst has published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in War, Literature and the Arts, Alaska Quarterly Review, Chattahoochee Review, Hawaii Review, Passages North, Ascent, The Literary Review, Pisgah, and Water~Stone. His essay, “The Blood of Children,” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and received a “Special Mention” in the 2008 Pushcart Prize XXXII Best of the Small Presses, and a “Notable” in the 2007 The Best American Nonrequired Reading.

"My stories reveal the aftermath of war through the voices of Vietnam veterans and their families. These stories take place in Detroit, a bleak environment that backgrounds the edgy, violent, and often dysfunctional motivations of my characters, who manage throughout their wanderings to exhibit moments of tenderness and compassion. My intention is to show my audience parallels between all wars, the suffering those who return from combat must confront and the suffering of those who survive war’s consequences: threats of violence, suicide, anxiety, alienation, and depression. These stories are about loss and redemption; they are about survival," says Learst.

Reddinger, who teaches courses in composition, literature and women’s studies, published an article based on pedagogical research in the July issue of The International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (IJ-SoTL), Vol. 5, No. 2 with colleagues Holly Hassel (UW-Marathon) and Jessica Van Slooten (UW-Manitowoc).

The article “Surfacing the Structures of Patriarchy: Teaching and Learning Threshold Concepts in Women’s Studies” is based on their lesson study project on the threshold concept of “patriarchy” and is one of the very few SoTL articles in Women’s Studies.

"Understanding patriarchy as a social structure and not simply the specific actions of one man or a group of men is not only central to the women's studies classroom, but also deeply transformative to students' learning experiences," says Reddinger. "Our analysis is both quantitative and qualitative, keeping with the ideals of feminist pedagogy, and suggests a new model of SoTL research for the women’s studies field," says Reddinger.

Reddinger has been teaching at UW-Marinette since 2007. Learst joined the campus in 2009.

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UW-Marinette Fall Convocation September 26
September 19, 2011

Fall Convocation, sponsored by The Stephenson National Bank and Trust, will be be held at UW-Marinette on Monday, September 26 in the Herbert L. Williams Theatre on campus from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm . This annual event is a gathering of faculty, staff and students to mark the beginning of the academic year and is open to the public. The theme of this year's convocation is "Exploring the Human Spirit through Art, Music and Technology,” with Patrick Dunning, creator of “The Signature Project.”

Special guests include Stephenson National Bank and Trust Executive Vice President Dan Peterson and former SNBT president Mary Staudenmaier.

The Signature Project is a multi-faceted work. Its core is a huge 76 ft x 36 ft mural layered with hidden secrets. A live performance brings the mural to life, with Dublin-born artist Patrick Dunning ingeniously weaving stories and images in the great tradition of Irish artists. A unique, exhilarating tapestry blending art and technology, the live performance of The Signature Project also offers the opportunity for the audience to join over 300,000 people whose signatures already comprise the fabric of this monumental art work.

Dunning says The Signature Project was conceived in 1992. “My goal was to create a new art form, a digital tapestry that could be completed only by collaborating with over one million people. The finished painting will be a collection of layered images, one of which is composed entirely of individual signatures, while other layers are revealed by using x-rays, magnetic fields or ultraviolet lights.”

“As Artist in Residence at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) 1997-99 I developed a more creative approach to gathering signatures, and slowly the project evolved into a performance. Assisted by my brother, Brian Dunning, music became a powerful element in communicating the emotional and visual essence of the work. While the images evoke strongly my own Irish heritage, the mural also tells stories about many of those who sign it, its multiple stories expressing the richness of world cultures. The painting is constantly changing and evolving as people contribute their own signature to the larger art work, adding perspectives and ideas which make the world so special and wonderful, beyond imagination," says Dunning.

Lunch at noon will be provided through a grant from The Stephenson National Bank and Trust. Following the lunch, artist Jan Ross Deetjen will be in the art gallery to meet students and visitors and discuss her retrospective exhibit. Phi Theta Kappa members will also hold a bake sale in the Main Building lobby to raise money for UW-Marinette scholarships. The Fall Convocation is also supported by funds from the Cooke Endowment administered through the UW-Marinette Foundation.

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Blood Drive at UW-Marinette
September 19, 2011

UW-Marinette’s fall blood drive, sponsored by the Student Ambassadors, will be held on Tuesday, September 27 from 9 am to 2 pm in the Student Union of the Main Building.

Ninety-five percent of Americans will need a blood product in their lifetime, yet only three percent of the people who are eligible to give blood actually do. To the millions of patients who need blood every year, these blood donors are uncommon heroes. They join the ranks of firemen, police, emergency medical workers and others who give of themselves every day to help save the lives of complete strangers. They are needed now more than ever.
Please call 735-4303 to make an appointment to give blood. Walk-ins are also welcome. Visit www.redcrossblood.com <http://www.redcrossblood.com> for more information about giving blood.

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Cast chosen for Flat Stanley Jr.
September 14

Everyone's favorite two-dimensional traveler is coming to the Nancy Gehrke Stage at UW-Marinette for the Children's Theatre fall production of "The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr." October 15-16 and 21-23, 7:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 pm on Sundays.

Stanley Lambchop (Adam Landenberger) is a 10-year old boy who wants to do amazing things no one has ever done before. A curious accident occurs at a slumber party with his friend Arthur (Emma Hofer) and other guests (Emily Halfmann, Zaida Patz, Chloe Villas, Livia Benson and Jonah Zuehls) when a bulletin board (Rachel Fredriksen) falls on him. His parents (Jordan Bretl and Nick Tellez) take him to Doctor Dan (Cassidy McArthur) who assures him that being flat is not a problem. In fact, Mrs. Cartero (Alyssa Landenberger), the letter carrier, thinks being flat is a great way to travel through the mail. Stanley's first visit is to Los Angeles where he sees his friend Samantha (Arikah Bellisle). A Hollywood Agent (Ben Everson) encourages Stanley to travel to Paris where he has a great time catching a sneak thief (Lexus Bretl) with the help of Mona Lisa (Carly Beyer) and Napoleon (Abby Comar).

Other members of the cast who help Stanley on his adventures to places far and wide include Lauryn Albaugh, Lindsey Albaugh, Charlie Bailey, Alyssa Carviou, Maya Carviou, Tara Cook, Abigail Duda, Kayley Durocher, Ashlee Erickson, Cerina Grawey, Cienna Grawey, Cassie Hurley, Clara Junemann, Lyla Lesperance, Sam MacArthur, Paige Mackey, Cassidy Martin, Alexis Nast, Emma Nowack, Hallie Olsen, Isabel Rowell, Honore Schmidt, and Olivia Smith.

Tickets are $5 and $10 and will go on sale at Angelis and at the Continuing Education Office open Monday-Thursday mornings at UW-Marinette in the Main Building, M-153. They will also be for sale at the box office in the the Herbert L. Williams Theatre at UW-Marinette one hour before curtain.

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Wisconsin Education Fair at UW-Marinette Sept. 26
September 14, 2011

A Wisconsin Education Fair will be held at the UW-Marinette Max E. Peterson Field House on Monday, September 26 from 9:00 - 11:00 am.

This program will provide an opportunity to obtain information from over 70 different post-secondary institutions. Representatives from Wisconsin and out-of-state colleges and universities, UW Colleges, vocational schools, trade schools, and the military will be present to talk about the many educational opportunities available. No formal sessions will be held; rather, students and parents will be free to move about the area, spending as much time as they wish with the individual representatives. In addition, financial aid counselors from some of the participating institutions will be available to talk about financial assistance available to students as they seek education and training beyond high school. This will be the best single opportunity for students and parents to pick up literature and information from the many participants and resources at one centralized location.

Modeled after the successful national college fairs which are held annually in many metropolitan areas, this program replaces many of the college nights which were formerly held at local high schools.

Students are urged to contact the local coordinator, Jennifer Hass, Student Services Coordinator at UW-Marinette, for more information at 715-735-4303. Local high school guidance counselors will also have specific details regarding this event. There is no admission charge.

Students are encouraged to pre-register online before the fair at www.wefs.org/registration to ensure that all representatives have current/correct information from students.

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Auditions for Theatre on the Bay Sept. 20 and 21
September 13, 2011

Theatre on the Bay’s new Artistic Director Rebecca Stone Thornberry has announced auditions for the fall production, “Almost, Maine” by John Cariani September 20 and 21 from 5 – 7 pm in M-110 of the Main Building at UW-Marinette.

“Almost, Maine” is a romantic comedy about the citizens, their relationships, love interests and friendships, in an unincorporated town in Maine called Almost. The play will be on reserve at the UW-Marinette library on or after Friday, September 16.

Auditioners are asked to present a monologue of their choice (preferably comedic, 1-2 minutes long) or readings will be available at the audition. Please arrive a few minutes early to fill out paperwork regarding class and work schedules and any rehearsal conflicts.

“All auditioners are welcome,” says Stone Thornberry. “This play can accommodate a wide variety of ages and physical types, so if you are interested in acting or just want to give it a try, please come—I’d love to meet you! Prior theater experience is welcome but not necessary.”

“Almost, Maine” will be presented November 11 –13 and 18-20 at 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 pm on Sundays. Rehearsals will take place between September 25 and November 10. Exact rehearsal times will be determined after the show is cast.

Auditioners are asked to contact rebecca.stonethornberry@uwc.edu or call 715-735-4314 for more information or to sign up for an audition time slot (approximately 15 minutes) or as a stage or tech crew member. If you can’t make one of the audition dates, a different time/date may be arranged.

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Promotions and New Hires at UW-Marinette
September 12, 2011

The UW Board of Regents announced promotions for UW-Marinette faculty this fall. Dr. Mahmoud Almanassra, Mathematics, received promotion to Associate Professor with tenure.

Almanassra joined the faculty at UW-Marinette in January, 2006. He earned his masters and doctorate degrees at Southern Illinois University and his bachelor’s degree at Hebron University in Palestine. Before coming to Marinette, he taught at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa where he took leadership for directing the statistics program. At Southern Illinois University, he received the John M. H. Olmsted outstanding Ph.D. Teaching Assistant Award in 2002-03. At UW-Marinette he has taught courses in college algebra, statistics, calculus and analytic geometry. His research has focused on statistical estimators and infinite linear differential equations among others. His most recent work on “Estimation of Survival and Cumulative-Hazard Functions of the Restricted Quality Adjusted Lifetime” was presented at the Michigan section of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and Michigan Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges (MichMATYC) Conference, in May 2010 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

New faculty and staff at UW-Marinette this fall include Dr. Rebecca Stone Thornberry, tenure-track assistant professor in Communications and Theatre Arts; Donna Kalafut, Tonya Meisner, and Amanda Spink, associate lecturers in Mathematics.

Stone Thornberry earned her doctorate in Theatre at the University of Colorado in Boulder, an MFA in Acting at Ohio State University in Columbus and a BFA in Acting at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. Previously, She taught Acting, Intro to Theatre, Public Speaking, and Theatre History at Front Range Community College in Longmont, Colorado. She has also taught at the University of Colorado and as a visiting instructor at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She has directed numerous shows in Colorado, Texas and New York, as well as published reviews and presented at the Association of Theatre in Higher Education National Conference. Her research interests include areas such as American and world theatre history, classic and contemporary performance, dramaturgy, acting, directing, and voice for the actor among others. This semester she will teach courses in public speaking and Introduction to Theatre in addition to directing “Almost, Maine” by John Cariani, to be presented November 11-13 and 18-20, In the spring she will teach public speaking and “Popular Culture in the Media” as well as direct “The Diary of Anne Frank” which will be presented March 2-4 and 9-11.

Kalafut earned her masters in education from St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin and her bachelor of science degree from UW-Green Bay. She teaches at Peshtigo High School and has taught concurrent enrollment classes for UW-Marinette at Peshtigo High School in psychology and mathematics since 2008. She has also taught psychology classes for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. She will teach MAT 132 (Geometry for Elementary Teachers) in the spring of 2012.

Meisner, a UW-Marinette alumna, earned her master’s degree at Walden University and her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University West in Glendale, Arizona. Her teaching experience includes instructing for Ashford University online. She has taught for Ellison High School in Killeen, Texas, Oconto Falls High School in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, Washington Middle School in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin and subbed in the Peshtigo School District. She is teaching MAT 091 (Elementary Algebra) and MAT 108 (Quantitative Reasoning) for the fall semester.

Spink, also an alumna of UW-Marinette, received her bachelor of science degree in mathematics from UW-Green Bay. As an undergrad at UW-Marinette she served as Vice President of the Student Senate and President the following year. She was also an active member of The Crew community service club and Phi Theta Kappa. She is teaching MAT 090 (Basic Mathematics), MAT 091 (Elementary Algebra) and MAT 105 (Introduction to College Algebra) for the fall semester.

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Mission Improvable at UW-Marinette September 16
September 9, 2011

Think "Whose Line is it Anyway" meets 'Mission Impossible,' add dynamite, and you get MISSION IMPROVable, the high octane comedy troupe who will be appearing at UW-Marinette, Friday, September 16 at 7:00 pm in the Herbert L. Williams Theatre.

All the performers play secret agents whose mission is to perform and spread improv comedy around the world. The audience members are the co-agents and participate in the hilarious theatre games or "missions" by yelling out suggestions. The on-the-spot randomness provided by the audience makes each mission truly unique and very often hysterical.

Mission IMPROVable began on the campus of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, over 13 years ago. From there, six members moved to Chicago to study improvisation at the world famous Second City, Improv Olympic (now IO), and Annoyance theater. While in Chicago the six original members proved to be quite a powerhouse when it came to improv comedy. After being given their own house team at IO, and various runs all over town, the group decided to create a show that could be taken on the road. This show became such a hit that they signed with the Bass-Schuler agency and soon became the #1 touring improv comedy act in the country. Since it’s inception, Mission IMPROVable has performed in every state in the US. They have brought customized comedy shows to college campuses, corporations, and charity events. They have been nominated Campus Activities Magazine “Comedy Act of the Year” for 6 years in a row.

Admission is by ticket only. Tickets are free to UW-Marinette students with ID, $3 for students from other schools with ID, and $5 for the general public. Tickets will be available the week of September 12 over the noon hour in the UW-Marinette Main Building lobby. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the theatre box office beginning at 6:30 pm the night of the performance.

This event is sponsored by the UW-Marinette Campus Activities Board.

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West Shore Chorale Begins Rehearsals September 6
September 1, 2011

David Giebler, associate professor of music and West Shore Chorale director has announced the start of rehearsals for this season's fall concert. Members and potential members should meet in T-117, the music room of the Fine Arts Building on the UW-Marinette campus, at 6:30 pm Tuesday, September 6.

Selections from Handel’s “Messiah” will be featured for the fall concert scheduled for Sunday, December 11 at 7:30 pm.

New members with previous choral or vocal experience are welcome. Rehearsals are held Tuesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 pm during the fall semester. For more information, contact Giebler at 715-735-4316.

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