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NEWS RELEASES May '08
UW-Marinette Honors Graduates
May 27, 2008
Associate of Arts and Science degrees were conferred on 72 graduates at UW-Marinette’s annual commencement ceremony, Wednesday, May 21 in the Herbert L. Williams Theatre. Degrees were handed out to students for the fall 2007, spring 2008 and summer 2008 semesters. In addition, 31 international students received certificates of completion for academic and English as a Second Language programs.
Dean Paula Langteau welcomed graduates, families, friends, faculty and staff to the evening ceremony acknowledging the importance of the support received by the students in their quest for a college degree. She also recognized scholarship recipients present including most recently Kayla Bauer of Peshtigo who has received a UW-Milwaukee Transfer Scholarship. She will attend the Peck School of the Arts at UW-Milwaukee in the fall. Degree candidate Kathryn Thorson was also thanked for her original musical compositions performed by music professor David Giebler as the processional for the evening ceremony.
The commencement address was given by David Wilson, Chancellor for the UW Colleges and UW Extension who spoke on the importance of a liberal arts degree in today's world.
Assistant Campus Dean for Administrative Services, Scott Ward, who was this year’s Kaplan Fellow, gave the Kaplan Fellow message. Corey Kaempf of Peshtigo presented the class message, and Takanori Sato of Japan, who began learning English when he came to the campus 9 months ago, gave the message from the International Students. Kaempf will attend Evergreen College in Washington State next fall to continue studies in literature and writing. Sato will return to Japan to pursue a career in business management.
Jane Jones, who is retiring at the end of June, was given an ovation for her 21-year career at UW-Marinette as Director of Continuing Education and International Programs.
UW-Marinette students who received Associate of Arts and Science degrees included
Elchin Bayramov, Azerbaijan; Nicholas DeMott, Battle Creek, MI; Samantha Risseeuw, Beloit; Kerri Arnold, Carney, MI; Noah Pelc, Florence; Katherine Pockat, Gillett; Yaroslava Belenko, Kazakhstan; Andrew Adams, Ruth Babcock, Benjamin Benesh, Heath Berman, Colleen Bird, David Breese, Lara Brendemihl, Bradley Golz, Zachary Grun, Sean Hafeman, Nicholas Jenquin, Brian Kasdorf, Sadie Kolaszewski, Meagan Kowalski, Anthony Krische, Derek LaPlant, Ashley Lemieux, Esther Micheals, Joseph Ranthum, Brian Roeder, Robert Sellers, Jeremy Tebo, Nicole Thayer, Micah Thill, Kathryn Thorson, Derek Voss, and Channing Willie of Marinette; Sara Bertagnoli, Teresa Boscarino, Noelle Delfosse, John Dessart, Laura Egilsson, Laurie Eickmeyer, Jamie Fischer, Aaron Hallfrisch, Katie Kohrt, Luke Zastrow, Menominee; Molly Haserodt, Niagara; Eric DeBenedetto, Hollie Viestenz, Oconto; Andrew Angus, Amanda Spink, Oconto Falls; Jack Baldwin, Kayla Bauer, Jake Budish, Kimberly Coble, Kyle Fischer, Sean Gardon, Marjorie Garrigan, Robin Gernier, Ryan Hebert, Corey Kaempf, Pamela Kelly, Joshua Ketchum, Gergory Meunier, Leslie VanVooren, Peshtigo; Robert Bray, Porterfield; Amanda Howarth, Pound; Jin-U Jang, South Korea; Joshua St. Juliana, Stephenson, MI; Bethany Buehrly, Trenary, MI; Tuan Le, Vietnam; Krista Greenwood, Wallace, MI; Sarita Gruszynski, Shannon Ledvina, Stacy Ledvina, Wausaukee;
Students who will receive their diplomas pending the successful completion of summer session classes are Glenn Trybom of Marinette; Linda Arnold Schwarz and George Gocht, Crivitz; Amanda Derusha and Jessy Jozwiak of Menominee.
In addition to receiving the Associate of Arts and Science Degree, Bray was granted a Bachelor's Degree from the UW-Stevens Point. Bray returned to school after a career in the Coast Guard as a ship’s engineer from which he retired in 1998 after 22 years. While a student at UW-Marinette, he received the Chamber of Commerce Student Leadership award in 2006. With a bachelor’s degree, Bray is hoping to be considered for a management position at StarForce National Corporation where he is currently employed. Bray noted another milestone in his life with the birth of his first grandchild, Makayla, on May 8.
Berman and Golz also received Certificates in Business and Haserodt received a Certificate in International Studies in addition to their associate degrees.
International Research and Exchange (IREX) students and Youth for Understanding (YFU) students receiving Certificates of Successful Completion of the one-year-academic program included Rodrigo Barahon-Valenciano, Costa Rica; Marina Khorkina, Moldova, Elnura Kydyeva, Kyrgystan; Mi-Jin Jo, Min-Jee Kim, Sung-Ro Kim, Jae-Ho Song, South Korea; and Heidi Bachman, Switzerland;
YFU students who completed the one-year academic/English as a Second Language (ESL) program were Eric Druais, Louise Marchand-Paris, France; Bo-Young Son, Na-Ri Yi, South Korea; Pascal Bitschin, Switzerland; Kesinee Prajongtat, Thailand.
YFU students who completed the one-year English as a Second Language (ESL) program were Katerine Mosquera, Ecuador; Qisthas Noe'man, Indonesia; Hiromi Itagaki, Yasunori Mitsui; Kaoru Sakuma, Takanori Sato, Yoji Sera, Anna Uchima, Japan; Nadia Alomari, Jordan; Jesus Montane, Venezuela.
Students who completed the one-semester English as a Second Language program were Philippe Mottet, Belgium; Renata Lima, Brazil; Isabelle Lemoine, France; Ga-Hyun Kim, Yeon-Joo Lee, South Korea; Passapong Piromkam, Pimsiri Suwannimitr, Thailand.
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James and the Giant Peach Opens June 7
May 27, 2008
Roald Dahl's beloved classic James and the Giant Peach will come to life on the UW-Marinette Children's Theatre stage June 7-8 and 13 - 15. Curtain time is 7:00 pm Thursday - Saturday and 2:00 pm Sunday in the Herbert L. Williams Theatre on campus.
Sponsored by the M&M Community Foundation and the Chet Krohn Fund administered by the Marinette Lions' Club, the 46-member cast is directed by Jamie Schwaba.
The stage version of James and the Giant Peach is written by Richard George and concerns a curious young orphan who is forced to live with his two cruel aunts. He discovers a magic peach which leads to all kinds of fantastic adventures with a whole crew of wacky insects.
James' story will be narrated by Henry Benson, Tiffany Peterson and Samantha Raygo. James will be played by Micah DeCleene. Angela Chartier is Aunt Spiker and Lilly Scott is Aunt Sponge. Alex Franks portrays James' mother. Andrew Kallgren is his father.
Adam Schacht portrays a captain, while Kate Swanson is the first mate and Joey Hinman, the second mate.
Brandon Baxer plays a centipede, Danae Chaltry a spider, Dylan Kielcheski an earthworm, Alyssa Landenberger a glowworm, Adam Landenberger a grasshopper, Elizabeth Horn a ladybird, and Paige Mackey a silkworm.
Russell Arnold portrays an old man as well as a cloud man. Other cloud men include Rowyn Hagen, Andrew Kallgren, Noah Steffen, and Zack Ziemba.
Cheerleaders are Millie Benson, Brianna Cole, Abigail Duda, Caitlin Kielcheski, and Olivia Smith.
A school of sharks will be played by Stephanie Anderson, Sarah Heider, Sarah Kallgren, Makennah Lowis, Mckenzee Tibbits
Townspeople are Elaina Cole, Jacob Cording, Alexandria Cording, Hailee Frank, Mikenzie Howarth, Taylyn Jacques, Brian Kamps, Lauren Kamps, Brittany Kloida, Nick LaFleur, Mackenzie Lloyd, Beth Paige, Beth Paul, and Jake Ziemba.
Barb Bertagnoli is the assistant director, Susan Vairus is the stage manager. The technical director is Jack Hagen and Vickie Gebhard is the costume designer. Kevin Smith is the lighting designer.
Tickets are $5 and $10 on sale at UW-Marinette by calling 735-4300.
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Da Vinci Diaries Book Signing June 6 and 7
May 25, 2007
Prof. James LaMalfa will be featured at a book signing June 6 at Dewhills Coffee Shop in Marinette from 11 am - 3 pm. He will also be at Aurora Books in Menominee June 7 throughout the day for the Menominee Heritage Days Celebration.
LaMalfa's book "The da Vinci Diaries" was published in 2007. LaMalfa writes in the preface, "The germ of an idea for a novel, which would explore the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci as if they were really built and worked in his lifetime, began to germinate over twenty years ago. I was learning about the vast ocean of air, as Leonardo called the sky, as a student pilot."
LaMalfa has been a member of the art faculty at UW-Marinette since 1969 and draws on his knowledge and experience of art, art history, technology and flight to create scenes that take one on a glider above the battlefields of Milan in 15th century Italy or inside a foundry where a giant horse is being cast in bronze over dangerously hot fires.
Through the use of fictional diaries of da Vinci's secretary and apprentice, Francesco Melzi, (based on da Vinci's extensive notes) the reader gains an appreciation of da Vinci's genius and the culture in which he lived.
LaMalfa is also exhbiting a painting at the Spies Library "Beauty of the Area" summer show. His work is entitled "Menekaunee Slough c. 1977." The exhibit opens June 13.
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UW Soccer Club to Play in Fond du Lac Tournament and Host UW Rock
May 23, 2008
The UW-Marinette Buccaneers Soccer club will participate in a Fox Valley league soccer tournament on September 6th at UW-Fond du Lac and host the UW-Rock County team on September 13th at home. The team will hold its first scrimmage in mid August at the UW-Marinette soccer field, dates to be announced. Club members and other members of the public interested in playing pickup soccer evenings, weekends or early afternoons are free to use the UW field before 5 PM and after 8 PM, not during the hours when the M&M Youth Soccer Association is using the field.
Pickup soccer players may use the Marinette High soccer field on weekends and after 8 pm.
The UW-Marinette Buccaneers is a club and invites soccer players of high school age to join if they are already not committed to league teams. For future information call UW-Marinette soccer coach professor James LaMalfa , 735-4322, or email james.lamalfa@uwc.edu or contact UW-Marinette athletic director George Hayes,735-4325 at the UW field house.
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Pockat Receives UW System Scholarship
May 20, 2008
Katherine JoAnn "Katie Jo" Pockat has been selected as one of three UW System students to receive the Third Annual UW System Liberal Arts Essay Scholarship
Award. These $2,000 scholarship awards are intended to recognize and reward
outstanding students from among all the UW System institutions.
"The Liberal Arts Essay Scholarship Competition is one of many activities
that builds and celebrates the UW System's Liberal Education initiative,
designed to spark personal and public debate about the kinds of knowledge,
skills, habits of mind and values needed to prepare students for their future
roles as citizens," wrote UW System President Kevin Reilly in Pockat's
notification letter.
Pockat is a graduate of Gillett High School who will receive her associate
degree from UW-Marinette on May 21 at the campus commencement ceremony. She
has been involved in many co-curricular activities while at UW-Marinette, as
Student Senate treasurer for two years and a member of both the women's
volleyball and basketball teams. Last year she presented her work on
landfills at the Undergraduate Research and Performance Conference. She plans to continue her education in the field of waste management and recycling as a Natural Resources major at UW-Stevens Point next fall.
Her winning essay "To My Dear Little Brother: Everything You Must Know About
Your Liberal Education" focuses on the advice an older sister can give to her brother who is a senior in high school. She reminds him that college is not like high school and stresses personal responsibility. "The beauty of a
liberal education is that everything finds ways to connect. The more you
learn, the more you find ways to make these connections yourself," writes
Pockat. And she adds later in the essay, "Part of what makes a liberal
education so valuable is that you become responsible for your own success."
The entire essay can be read on on the UW-Marinette: www.marinette.uwc.edu.
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Great Books Travel Preview at UW-Marinette May 28
May 19, 2008
Whet your appetite in a delightful exchange of great trips and conversation when Great Books Excursions for Arts and Leisure previews their 2008-2009-travel schedule on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 in UW-Marinette’s Fine Arts Building, Room T-153 beginning at 6:30. Trips include Monterey, Milwaukee, London, France and New York City. Questions can be directed to 715-732-0378 or 715-735-5210 or to the Continuing Education Office, 715-735-4343.
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UW-Marinette Students Inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
May 13, 2008
Twenty students were initiated into the Alpha Epsilon Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) at the annual spring banquet Sunday, April 27 at Schusslers restaurant in Peshtigo. Dr. Tirza Shulman, UW-Marinette assistant professor of psychology and PTK advisor, welcomed the group.
Phi Theta Kappa, which stands for wisdom, aspiration, and purity is a national honor society for men and women who have obtained a grade point average of at least 3.5 with a minimum of 12 credits. Membership in Phi Theta Kappa is the highest honor that a student can receive at a two-year campus or junior college.
Alpha Epsilon Theta Chapter, which is funded by the Student Senate and has been in existence at UW-Marinette since 1979, offers to its members recognition for academic achievement, opportunity for the development of leadership, involvement in college and community services, and stimulation for continuing academic excellence.
PTK also sponsors the New Student Academic Excellence Scholarship and the Pollard Memorial Scholarship for UW-Marinette students.
UW-Marinette Dean Paula T. Langteau presented Ten-Year Service awards to Dr. Dan Kallgren, associate professor history and former PTK advisor, and to Cindy Bailey, assistant campus dean for student services. Micah Thill, Marinette, and Amanda Spink, Oconto Falls, received awards for their nomination to the USA Today All-Academic Team.
Langteau also gave the induction speech for the new Phi Theta Kappa initiates, which included Rodrigo Barahona-Valenciano, Costa Rica; Katie Barahona-Valenciano, Colleen Johnston, Anthony Krische, Stephanie Miller, Jay Nelson, Marinette; Karen Bickel, Thalia Radey, Stephanie Thompson, Menominee; Terry Eager, Jr., Florence; Brandee Peterson, Wallace.
Students who were informally inducted into the society in January, 2008, included Jack Baldwin, Sean Gardon, Peshtigo; Yaroslava Belenko, Kazakhstan; Aaron Hallfrisch, Jessy Jozwiak, Menominee; Andrew Klimek, Coleman; Tricia Sholtz, Kathryn Thorson, Marinette; and Lana Jean VanHulle, Lena.
Current members are Marjorie Garrigan, Peshtigo; Shannon Ledvina, Wausaukee; AmiJo Micoley, Oconto; Joshua St. Juliana, Stephenson, MI; Thill and Spink.
PTK officers are Thill, President, Amanda Howarth, Vice President/Secretary, Pound; and Stacy Ledvina Treasurer, Wausaukee.
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Wilson to Give Commencement Address at UW-Marinette May 21
May 13, 2008
Commencement Exercises at UW-Marinette will be held at the campus on Wednesday, May 21 at 7:00 pm. The public is invited to attend the ceremony in the Herbert L. Williams Theatre. 89 graduates will receive associate degrees, marking successful completion of the freshman/sophomore liberal arts curriculum at UW-Marinette. The Associate of Arts and Science degree satisfies the general education requirements at all UW institutions. In addition, Robert Bray of Stephenson, WI, will receive his bachelor's degree from UW-Stevens Point and 32 Youth for Understanding (YFU) and International Research and Exchange (IREX) students will receive certificates: 8 for completion of the one-year academic program; 10 for completion of the one-year English as a Second Language (ESL) program; 7 for completion of the one-year ESL/academic program; and 7 for completion of the one-semester ESL program.
UW Colleges/UW Extension Chancellor David Wilson will give the commencement address. David Wilson became the first chancellor to lead two UW System institutions simultaneously in May, 2006. As chancellor, he is responsible for a wide array of educational networks, campuses and programs that offer unparalleled access to higher education.
Before joining UW Colleges and UW-Extension, Dr. Wilson served as Vice President for University Outreach at Auburn University. He was the first African-American to assume a Vice Presidency at Auburn.
Dr. Wilson earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Master's of Education at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University). He earned another Master's in Educational Planning and Administration and a Doctorate in Administration, Planning and Social Policy at Harvard University. In 1998, he was named by the American Association of Higher Education as one of the top 100 leaders in higher education in the United States.
The Kaplan Fellow message will be delivered by Scott Ward, assistant campus dean for administrative services. Corey Kaempf, Peshtigo, a candidate for the associate of arts and science degree, has been chosen by his classmates to give the class message. Takanori Sato of Japan has been chosen by his peers to present the International Student message.
Degrees will be presented by Dean Paula Langteau, with assistance from Assistant Dean for Student Services Cindy Bailey and Steering Chair, Mike Bartlett. Jane Jones, Director of Continuing Education and International Programs, will present certificates to the international students. Jerry Rous from UW-Stevens Point will present the bachelor’s degree. UW-Marinette Foundation President Carolyn McGuire will welcome graduates into the UW-Marinette alumni family.
A reception in the student union will follow the ceremony.
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Athletes Honored at UW-Marinette Awards Banquet
May 13, 20087
UW-Marinette student athletes were honored at the annual spring awards banquet May 2 in the Herbert L. Williams Theatre. Athletic Director and head men’s basketball coach George Hayes congratulated all three intercollegiate teams, women’s volleyball, women’s basketball and men’s basketball and the coed soccer club for their outstanding athletes. He noted that this year UW-Marinette had 5 players named to the WJCAA Academic All State Team, which is the highest number of players of any school in Wisconsin except Madison Area Technical College, which has a student population of 44,000. UW-Marinette’s enrollment is 462. Hayes also congratulated the men’s and women’s basketball teams for achieving Region II Championships for the 2007-08 season.
The women’s volleyball team, coached by Dan Porath and assisted by Mike Hubert, boasted six players: Becky Adams and Katie Barahona-Valenciano, Marinette; Katie Jo Pockat, Gillett; Kim Coble and Kiley Wortner, Peshtigo; and Krystal Shutte, Wabeno. Shutte received the Most Valuable Player award; Coble was named Most Improved Player; Adams earned Most Improved Year to Year; Pockat and Wortner received Defensive and Offensive Player of the year, respectively; and Valenciano received the Team Spirit award. Coble, Pockat and Adams received the Two-Year Award. Shutte and Wortner were named to the All Conference 2nd Team and Wortner earned WJCAA All State.
Scott Haulotte coached the women’s basketball team assisted by Ashley Litts. The team included Bethany Buehrly, Trenary, MI; Samantha Kleiman, Wilson, MI; Ashley Christensen, Oconto Falls; Ashley Owens, Menominee; Marina Khorkina, Moldova; Monica Smalls, Marinette; Katilin Lee, Goodman; Coble and Shutte. Litts, Marinette, joined as a player for the spring semester.
Shutte received The Most Valuable Player award. Christensen was named the Most Improved Player and Top Defensive Player. Lee earned the Selfless Teammate Award and Buehrly was named Hard Charger. Owens received the Leadership Award. Owens, Buehrly and Litts received the Two-Year Awards.
Shutte earned All Conference 1st Team and WJCAA All State. Litts was named to the WJCAA All Tournament Team. Coble, Pockat and Buehrly were named to WJCAA Academic All State.
Men’s Basketball was coached by George Hayes and assisted by Jeff Sunstrom. Team members included Devon DeHart, Crandon; Eric Druais, France; Josh Enders, Florence; Brad Golz and Ryan Neubert, Marinette, Kyle Fischer and Chris Meunier, Peshtigo; Mirali Mirzayev, Azerbaijan; Zak Shutte, Wabeno; Josh St. Juliana, Stephenson, MI; Jordan Young, Escanaba, MI.
The Most Valuable Player award went to Young and Enders. Meunier and Neubert were named the Most Improved players. St. Juliana received the Selfless Teammate award. Shutte was named Top Defensive Player and Hard Charger. Golz received the Leadership award. Kyle Fischer received the Coach’s Award. Two-year Awards were given to Golz and St. Juliana.
Young earned All-Conference 1st Team. Enders earned All Conference 2nd Team and Meunier earned All Conference Honorable Mention.
Young and Enders were named to WJCAA All State. Meunier earned WJCAA All Tournament Team.
St. Juliana and Golz were named to the All-State Academic Team. St. Juliana also earned the WCC All Conference Student Athlete Award
Recognition was also given to the Soccer Club by its coach, prof. James LaMalfa. Members included Rodrigo Barahona, Costa Rica; Pascal Bitchin, Switzerland; Eric Druais, France; Sung-Ro Kim, South Korea; Sam Larsh, Ben Matters, Peshtigo; Noah Pelc, Florence; Jesus Montane, Venezuela; Walter Michaels, Matt Walzak, Marinette; Fischer, Hebert, and Mirzayev. Hebert received the “Best Goal Stopper” award; Barahona-Valenciano, the “Best Captain” award; and Mirzayev the “Best Striker” award.
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Buckets on the Bay 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament
May 13, 2008
It’s not too early to start assembling a team for this summer’s UW-Marinette Buckets on the Bay 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament, to be held Saturday and Sunday, August 2 – 3, 2008 at the Max E. Peterson Field House.
Girls and boys teams will be taken from the following age brackets: 9-11, 12-14, 15-17, 18 and older. Each team will be guaranteed at least two games, although the actual bracket format may vary in each age and gender division depending on the number of teams that register.
The entry fee is $50 per four-player team. Contact George Hayes (715-735-4325) or Scott Haulotte (715-938-1650) for information regarding the tournament.
Formal registration begins May 15th, and registration fees must be paid by July 19, 2008. See http://www.marinette.uwc.edu for registration information and tournament rules.
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Student Organizations Honored at UW-Marinette Awards Banquet
May 12, 2008
UW-Marinette's annual spring awards banquet held in the Herbert L. Williams Theatre May 2, recognized the achievements and members of several student organizations for the 2007-2008 academic year including the Student Senate, the Campus Activities Board, the Student Ambassadors, the Crew Club, the Art Club, the Writers’ Club and the Gay/Straight Alliance.
Student Senate officers include president Amanda Spink, Oconto Falls; vice president Trisha France, Marinette; secretary Micah Thill, Marinette; and treasurers Katie Jo Pockat, Gillett, and Robert Nichols, Wallace; Judicial Affairs Officer Michelle Wittock, Oconto; Legislative Affairs Office Michael Paquet, Lena; and Public Relations Officer Jordan Thill, Marinette.
Other members of the Student Senate include Elchin Bayramov, Azerbaijan; Yaroslava Belenko, Kazakhstan; Brian Bieschke, Wausaukee; Elnura Kydyeva, Kyrgystan; Jim Harris, Marinette; and Marina Khorkina, Moldova.
The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is in charge of all social planning for the campus. CAB members include France and Nichols, president and vice president; treasurer Amanda Mateki, Marinette; scribe Amanda Howarth, Pound; Na-ri Yi and Bo-Young Son, South Korea.
Student Ambassadors were recognized for their contributions to the campus as organizers of two annual blood drives, guides for campus tours and hosts for campus preview days and other special campus events. Their members include Jake Budish, Peshtigo; Molly Haserodt, Niagara; Laura Egilsson, Menominee; AmiJo Micoley, Oconto; and Andrew Klimek, Coleman as well as Howarth, Spink, Jordan and Micah Thill, Nichols, France and Wittock.
Jennifer Hass is the advisor for the Student Senate and the Campus Activities Board.
The Crew Club is noted for its many community service projects. Officers include president Tarrah Kirby, Gillett; vice president Nichols and secretary Klimek. Other members include Debbie Collins, ;Louise Marchand-Paris, France; Stacy Ledvina, Wausaukee; Jay Nelson, Marinette; Jordan and Micah Thill, Bieschke, Spink, Kriby, Nichols, and Khorkina, Mary LaCasse and Scott Ward are co-advisors.
Dr. Amy Reddinger is the advisor to the Writers’ Club. Their members include president Jim Harris, Marinette; vice president Ashley Wehrli, Menominee; secretary/treasurer Darwin Adams, Menominee; Mike Paquet, Lena; Corey Kaempf, Peshtigo; Philip Goes, Marinette; Jordan Thill and Nichols.
The Gay/Straight Alliance members include Kayla Berendt, Jim Harris, Marinette; Sheryl Dreese, Peshtigo; Dianne Hallam and Debbie Collins, Menominee; Klimek, and Nichols. Dr. Jane Oitzinger is the advisor.
Prof. James LaMalfa introduced members of the Art Club, which includes Kayla Bauer, Peshtigo; Kira Brown, Marinette; Frank Oczus, Jr., Stephenson, MI; Glenn Trybom, Marinette; and Laura Egilsson, Menominee.
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Nationwide Math Competition Results Announced
May 8, 2008
Results of the American Mathematics Association of Two Year Colleges (AMATYC) Mathematics League Competition were announced at the UW-Marinette Awards Ceremony held May 2 at the campus. The team, advised by Mike Bartlett, associate professor of mathematics, participated in two rounds of competition held during the fall and spring semesters.
The Student Mathematics League was founded in 1970 by Nassau Community College in New York. In 1981 the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges assumed sponsorship of the competition. This year there were a total of 242 colleges nation-wide that competed. This included colleges ranging in student numbers from over 20,000 to campuses the size of UW Marinette with a student body of less than 500.
In the first round, the UW-Marinette team ranked 31st out of 242 Colleges nation-wide. "This translates to being in the top 15% in the nation. Quite an accomplishment for a college our size. In the Midwest region the UW-Marinette team ranked 4th out of 33 colleges. This translates to being in the top 12% in the Midwest," said Bartlett.
In the second round held in the spring semester, the UW-Marinette team ranked 92nd out of 242 Colleges nation-wide. "This translates to being in the top 40%. Again, quite an accomplishment for a college our size. In the Midwest region the UW-Marinette team ranked 14th out of 33 colleges. This translates to being in the top 40%," said Bartlett.
Bartlett noted that, "The most important result is the combined results of both rounds. UW-Marinette ranked 64th (up from 81st position last year) out of 242 Colleges nation-wide. This puts UW-Marinette in the top 26% of colleges. In the Midwest region the UW-Marinette team ranked 9th (up from 12th position last year) out of 33 colleges. This puts us in the top 27%."
The UW-Marinette team this year consisted of the top 5 scorers who participated, out of over 30 students who entered the competition. Those students were Jonathan Qiao, Steve Luplow, Brian Boye, Austin Fernstrum, Menominee; and Joshua St. Juliana, Stephenson, MI.
"For the individuals on our team in Round 1 we had two individuals just 7 points away from being in the top 20 in the nation. This was Jonathon and Austin. However, we had three individuals in the top 20 in the Midwest (Jonathon - 13th, Austin - 13th, and Steve - 18th," said Bartlett.
For the combined results for individuals on the team, Qiao was just 10 points away from being the top 20 nationwide. As the top scorer over both rounds Qiao was awarded the Farmers & Merchants cash prize of $100 by president Tom Maxwell. "Qiao was ranked 10th in the Midwest region. Again a great accomplishment," said Bartlett.
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Jones Announces Retirement from UW-Marinette
May 8, 2008
Jane Jones, Director of Continuing Education and International Programs at UW-Marinette has announced her retirement effective June 30 of this year.
A Marinette native and UW alumna, Jones began her college career at UW-Marinette and earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Communication Arts from UW-Stevens Point in 1968. For the last forty years, she has dedicated her life to education wearing and juggling many, many hats in some most creative and unique ways. Since 1987, she has handled three jobs at once including those as Continuing Education Director and International Program Director at UW-Marinette and as Resident Manager at Edgewood Manor group home for the Developmentally Disabled from which she retired last year. She is also known for her work as a volunteer on many projects around the community through the years.
Jones has always seen her position as Director of Continuing Education and International Programs as a way to enhance and enrich the community, whether by offering classes and programs that have been requested by community members, or by seeing a need or problem and coming up with a creative solution. She began Special Olympics for Marinette County and was involved in it for many years. She is vice president of the congregation for her church, Our Savior’s Lutheran in Marinette. She has volunteered for River Cities Community Concerts, the Red Hats, helped start Theater on the Bay in 1967, and now volunteers for Wisconsin Public Radio.
Some of the Continuing Education programs that Jane has organized include foreign language and art classes featuring nationally known artists, College for Kids, summer children's camps in science, art, music, sports, for the Gifted and Talented, Elderhostel, Women’s Conferences with Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Peace Day (Now Earth Day) for Children, Career day for Marinette schools, Retirement and Financial Planning classes, Great Books dinner discussions and excursions, Lean Manufacturing, and the latest – shipbuilding design, which is the first online course of its kind in the U.S.
Her Children’s Theatre, begun in 1993 has produced 30 shows giving opportunities to hundreds of children to experience what it means to be in a live theatrical production, where they can learn such valuable life lessons as team-work, reliability and responsibility. She has organized many national and international travel opportunities for community members, always with an emphasis on arts and culture.
In 21 years, Continuing Education has offered an average of 115 classes to approximately 1500 residents per year. That totals over 2400 classes and 31,500 students.
Her International Student Program has brought the world to Marinette. In 1988, she began working as the housing and activities coordinator for the Central American student program, helping to bring scholarship students from that area of the world to Marinette. In 1994, she began working with Youth for Understanding and the International Research and Exchange Program to bring students from Europe, South America and Asia to study at UW-Marinette. Since 1994, the program has grown to around 40 students each semester giving UW-Marinette the distinction of having the largest percentage of international students at any of the two or four-year UW schools. Many of the students who come to study at UW-Marinette in the YFU or IREX programs return as independent students because they like the campus and the community so much.
In retirement, Jones plans to travel, write, paint and spend time with her family.
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2008-2009 UW-Marinette Scholarship Recipients
May 8, 2008
The 2008-2009 scholarship recipients were announced at the annual spring awards banquet for UW-Marinette held in the Herbert L. Williams Theatre Friday, May 2.
Dean Paula Langteau presented Andrew Klimek, Coleman, with the Lee Grugel Memorial Scholarship. This award which covers half of the annual cost of tuition is given to only one student among the over 13,000 students on the 13 campuses of the UW Colleges. Klimek is the second UW-Marinette student to receive this award in the last two years. Last year, Amanda Spink of Oconto Falls was the recipient.
In presenting the award, Langteau cited Klimek’s academic and extracurricular achievements. “Carrying a 3.7 GPA, he [Klimek] is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and a two-time presenter at the Undergraduate Research and Performance Conference. In addition to academics, he is active in campus and community service, serving as a Student Ambassador, a member of the Crew Club, and —what many of you may not know—a disability consultant to our CESA 8 school districts,” said Langteau.
Klimek is planning to pursue an interdisciplinary degree in disability studies to the Ph.D. level. “I think the educational system could be made better in regard to how students with disabilities are treated and how they best learn. I enjoy helping people and letting parents know that their children can succeed in life. One thing that has always been important to me is having smaller interaction groups like I have at UW-Marinette. Smaller classroom dynamics allow you to get to the nitty-gritty of the course material and I love that,” said Klimek.
Klimek accepted the Lee Grugel Memorial Scholarship at the awards ceremony to a standing ovation. Dr. Dail Murray, associate professor of anthropology who has had Klimek in many of her courses said, “Andrew is a worthy student and I am delighted he received this honor.”
Cindy Bailey, Assistant Campus Dean for Student Services presented the campus scholarships which are administered by the UW-Marinette Foundation. She noted that, through the efforts of a Foundation fundraising campaign in the fall, the amount of scholarship money available to new and continuing students had increased from $30,000 last year to $35,000 this year.
“We are especially grateful to the community for these scholarships,” said Langteau. “They are so important because they make it possible for more of our students to obtain their college educations.”
In addition to the Grugel Scholarship, Klimek also received the Joseph J. “Ping Pong Joe” Gerend Memorial Scholarship, the Lyle Espenscheid Mathematics Scholarship and the PTK Nathan & Jennifer Pollard Memorial Academic Exellence Scholarship.
Laura Johnson (Menominee) received a Molander Family UW System Guaranteed Transfer Scholarship. Katie Barahona-Valenciano (Marinette) received the Don & Paul Neverman PED Health & Wellness Scholarship. Brandee Peterson (Wallace), was awarded the Louis W. Staudenmaier Academic Performance Scholarship. The Allen Bedrosian Memorial Science Scholarship and the Herta F. Gerend Memorial Scholarship were presented to Philip Goes (Marinette).
Jennifer Bahde (Marinette) received the Morrison “Jump Start” Scholarship and Mathew Demeuse (Marinette) was awarded the Stephenson National Bank & Trust Non-traditional Student Scholarship. The Merritt Bauman Memorial Engineering Scholarship was given to Pete Gayon (Menominee). Trisha France (Marinette) won the Farmers and Merchants Education Scholarship. Two WPS Resources Foundation, Inc. Academic Promise Scholarships went to Sonia Alonzo (Menominee) and Robert Nichols (Wallace).
Karen Bickel (Menominee) and Jay Nelson (Marinette) received the Hugh and Mary Higley Student Scholarships. Stephanie Thompson (Menominee) received the Karl Schmidt Unisia Family Scholarship and the Sara Murray Lambrecht Scholarship. The UWGB Foundation Transfer Scholarship went to Bradley Golz (Marinette) and Amanda Howarth (Pound) received the Mary and Hugh Higley UW-Green Bay Transfer Scholarship. Kimberly Coble (Peshtigo) was the recipient of the UW-Oshkosh Chancellor’s Transfer Scholarship. The Hugh and Mary Higley Student Scholarship and the Sara Murray Lambrecht Scholarship are funded through the M&M Area Community Foundation.
Other scholarships will be announced later including the AAUW High Achieving Women’s Scholarship; the Ira Darwin Johnson Scholarship; the UW-Marinette Foundation Board Community Leadership Scholarship; the Merritt Bauman Memorial Engineering Scholarship; the Kayla Marie Carlson "Find the Star" Scholarship; the William and Marilyn Swanson Menominee County Scholarship; the Ansul/Tyco Scholarship; the Stephenson National Bank & Trust Traditional Student Scholarship; the Menominee Lions Club Community Service Scholarship; the Aurora Family Scholarship; the Morris & Grace Mundt Family First Scholarship; the Dale N. Olson Scholarship; the Marinette Women’s Club Scholarship; the BAMC Employee Scholarship; the Barb Neverman Memorial Community Service Scholarship; the C.W. Richards Memorial Natural Science Scholarship; the Dominos Employee Scholarship; the Hugh and Mary Higley Student Scholarship; the Molander Family UWS Guaranteed Transfer Scholarship; the William Reines Environmental Scholarship; and the WPS Resources Foundation, Inc. Academic Promise Scholarship.
Funding administered by the UW-Marinette Foundation provides not only scholarships for deserving students but also funding for programming, faculty development and other campus enhancements. Contributions to the UW-Marinette Foundation may be made by calling 715-735-4339. ###
TOB Announces Summer Auditions for “Grease” and Neil Simon’s “Fools” May 15-19
May 8, 2008
“Age-Neutral” Casting for “Grease”
Theatre on the Bay announces combined auditions for the upcoming 42nd Summer Season for the Neil Simon comedy, “Fools,” and the classic musical, “Grease,” on May 15-16 and 19. Auditions will be held on Thursday, Friday and Monday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 at the Herbert L. Williams Theatre of the University of Wisconsin-Marinette. Auditioners only need to drop in one of the three nights. No appointments are necessary.
“’Grease,’ the ever-popular Broadway smash hit made into a mega-hit movie about the 1950’s – complete with poodle skirts, ducktails, malt shops, souped-up cars, drive-in movies and memorable summer songs, has been the most-requested musical since I arrived here at Theatre on the Bay,” said Dr. Doug Larche, Artistic Director. “I hope these auditions bring in kids and alumni from all the area high school musical theatre programs, college students here and returning home for the summer, all the members of the original cast here at TOB, lots of Baby-Boomers, anyone who ever sang along with the music in the movie or on the radio, and everyone who ever wore a leather jacket or wished they would have worn one.”
“We’re going to try something really special with ‘Grease,’” Larche continued. “There has been a big push in American theatre to do “color-blind” and “gender-neutral” casting for several decades. But we’re going to make a special effort to do something I’ve never heard of before. We’re going to try to a kind of “age-neutral” casting, that integrates generations, where a high school student and her grandmother could both don the poodle skirts of the Pink Ladies – where a dad and his son could both slick their hair back and sing “Greased Lightning.” We’re also going to try to put together an on-stage 50’s rock band.” Jay Jensen will provide musical direction for the company and the pit band, Jason Larche will assemble and rehearse the on-stage rock band, and Doug Larche will direct.
Actors should wear loose-fitting clothing and appropriate shoes, and come prepared to sing a song from “Grease,” either the play or the movie; to read from provided script materials; and to “cut a rug” (dance to a little 50’s music). Those who play lead or rhythm electric guitar, bass, keyboard or drums are encouraged to bring instruments and play and/or sing (a limited trap-set will be provided). Audition excerpts from “Grease” will be available beginning Monday, May 12, at noon.
“Fools” will audition simultaneously. When TOB Artistic Director, Dr. Doug Larche and his wife Susan were in Ukraine for Larche’s Senior Fulbright Scholarship in 2003-2004, they saw a hilarious and endearing play based on a Ukrainian folk tale at the historic Kropivnitsky Theatre in Kirovohrad. Neil Simon’s “Fools,” last seen on the TOB stage in 1986, is based on that same rural folk story. Done in the same period and the same style as “Fiddler on the Roof,” it is a laugh-out-loud comedy about a young teacher’s search for learning and love in the village of Kulyenchikov, where the residents all suffer under a curse that makes them ignorant- which was put on them two hundred years earlier because beautiful young Sophia Zubritsky would not marry the Dracula-like Count Yousekevitch.
There are three roles for men, three for women, and four roles that can be played by either gender. They include the young teacher, his yearned-for love, her mother and father, the Count, and an assortment of lovable but lunatic townspeople including the Postman, the Sheep Loser, the Butcher, the Vendor and the Magistrate; and may be played by actors from 16 on up.
Audition excerpts from “Fools” will be available at the UW Marinette front desk beginning Monday, May 12, at noon. Actors should come prepared to tell a story joke, to read from the play, to try a Ukrainian accent and to engage in funny improvisations. ###
Students, Faculty and Staff Honored at UW-Marinette Spring Awards Ceremony
May 6, 2008
Top students, faculty and staff were recognized Friday, May 2 at UW-Marinette’s annual spring awards “Shoot for the Stars” banquet held at the campus. The event was sponsored by the Student Senate to honor outstanding achievements in leadership, academic excellence and other special efforts during the 2007-2008 school year. Serving as master of ceremonies for the evening was Jennifer Flatt, Associate Professor of English.
Paula Langteau, Campus Dean and CEO and member of the Marinette Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the Chamber of Commerce awards for Academic Excellence to Joshua St. Juliana of Stephenson, MI. Langteau said St. Juliana “has been a valued member of the UW-Marinette men’s basketball team and has served as a math tutor in the Academic Success Lab. Currently holding a 3.968 GPA after completing 52 credits, he plans to transfer to UW-Eau Clair in the fall as an actuarial science major. Robert Nichols of Wallace, MI, received the Chamber Student Leadership award. Langteau noted that Nichols is “actively involved in Student Senate, Student Ambassadors, the Campus Activities Board, The Crew, and the Gay/Straight Alliance, all while keeping a GPA of over 3.0.” Nichols will return to UW-Marinette next year to continue his studies as a business major.
Jennifer Flatt, associate professor of English, was honored with the "Professor of the Year" award. Dr. Flatt began teaching English and Spanish at UW-Marinette in the fall of 2000. Her academic interests include Victorian literature, religious studies, and language study. She is in charge of the World Languages Lab on campus which supports students studying languages. She also received the Professor of the Year award in 2004 and 2006.
The “Instructional Academic Staff of the Year” award was presented to Sue Poquette, lecturer in mathematics at UW-Marinette since 1987. Much of her work has focused on the development of basic math classes for those students who lack a solid high school math background, or who are returning to school after a long hiatus from academics, or who experience math anxiety. She has also been instrumental in setting up the math lab and tutorial programs at UW-Marinette.
The “Academic Staff of the Year” award was given to Mary LaCasse who joined the staff in 2001 as Coordinator of Services for Adult Students. She works with students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in collaboration with UW four-year schools and is also the co-advisor for Crew Club.
The “Support Staff of the Year” award was given to Jeanne Limberg, program assistant for Continuing Education since 2005. These special awards are voted on by the students and honor the faculty and staff from whom they have learned the most, both in and out of the classroom.
Twelve students were honored for their outstanding academic achievements including Corey Kaempf of Peshtigo for English; Joshua Plansky and Bradley Golz, both of Marinette, for Accounting; Frank Oczus, Jr. of Stephenson, MI, for Digital Art; Glen Trybom of Marinette for Art; Kayla Bauer of Peshtigo for Photo Art; Teresa Boscarino of Menominee for Biological Sciences; Jeremy Tebo of Marinette for Economics; Kim Coble of Peshtigo and Katherine Jo Pockat of Gillett for Geography; Jin-U Jang of South Korea for Mathematics; and Melissa Coble of Peshtigo for Psychology.
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Shulman Publishes Article
May 5, 2005
Dr. Tirza Shulman, assistant professor of psychology at UW-Marinette, has co-authored the results of a study on emotional repair ability which will be published in the August edition of the journal Emotion. The title of the study is “Individual Differences in Repair Ability: Individual Differences in the Ability to Repair Negative Affect.” Her colleagues in the study included Scott H. Hemenover, Western Illinois University; Adam A Augustine, Washington University, St. Louis; Tuan Q. Tran, Idaho State University; and Christopher P. Barlett, Iowa State University.
“The study results revealed wide individual differences in affect (emotional) repair ability,” said Shulman. “Specifically, it showed that individuals that expected repair success and those that attended to and understood their emotion experienced the largest decreases in negative emotional feeling and largest increases in positive emotional feeling following their repair tasks. These findings advance understanding of individual differences in affect regulation and have implications for future research.”
Shulman presented a poster of the work at the Midwestern Psychological Association conference in Chicago on May 2. She has been a member of the UW-Marinette psychology department since the fall of 2006 following the successful completion of her PhD program at Kansas State University. Her research interests include individual differences in affect regulation, self-regulation and health outcomes, and emotional intelligence.
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