uw-l alumnus magazine

Alumnusuniversity of wisconsin-la crosse alumni magazine

minds in motion

Volume 36 Number 2Winter 2010/11

PAge 8.

2 UW-L ALUmnUs mAgAzine Winter 2010/11

ON THE COVERGraduate Student Jordan Becker, in the clinical exercise physiology program, tests a “Streetstrider,” an eliptical exerciser on wheels. With the facemask set up, Becker, Professor John Porcari and other campus research-ers can measure oxygen intake before, during and after exercise. Sixteen different test subjects ride the Streetstrider until they tire. Then Becker measures their oxygen intake again, comparing the results with regular eliptical machine to determine the benefits of the new machine. Full story on page 8.

EdiTORBrad Quarberg, ’85 | Associate directorUniversity Communications

ART diRECTORSanja dojcinovic | Print ManagerUniversity Communications

WRiTERSdave Johnson, ’92Sue (Sullivan) Lee, ’82 & ’87Brad Quarberg, ’85Janie Spencer, ’85 & ’86

PHOTOGRAPHySue (Sullivan) Lee, ’82 & ’87Brad Quarberg ’85

EdiTORiAL ASSiSTANCEFlorence AlieschKeli HighlandGreg ReichertAl TrappJeff Kerkman,’86Kelly Nowicki, ’98 & ’02

The Alumnus is published in summer and winter for UW-L Alumni Association members and donors to the UW-L Foundation. deadline for copy is April 1 and Oct. 1. Submit news items to the editor in the University Communications Office | UW-La Crosse | 115 Graff Main Hall | 1725 State St. | La Crosse, Wi 54601 USA608.785.8572 | [email protected]

View past issues at: http://murphylibrary.uwlax.edu/digital/uwl/Alumnus/index.html

Production of the Alumnus is coordinated by the UW-La Crosse Alumni Association.

Alumnus Winter 2010/11 | Vol. 36, No. 2

UW-LA crosse ALUmNi mAgAziNe

12

16 21

24

8

F E A T U R E S8 MiNdS iN MOTiON: ExERCiSE ANSWER GURUSUW-L researchers are putting new exercise products to the test. Find out what works, and what doesn’t.

12 ANd THE HONORARy dEGREE GOES TO …Grammy Award winner and alum Bill Miller took home another award: an honorary bachelor’s degree from UW-L.

16 A SPECiAL GiFTLongtime professor George Gilkey left a lasting mark on UW-L years ago when he published a thorough history of the campus. When he died last February, he left another mark: a bequest to the Murphy Library Special Collections department.

21 KUdOS AFLOATUW-L swimmer Chelesa Hoff was one of 30 finalists for the 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year.

24 WE ARE LA CROSSETheir commonality is roots in La Crosse. They’re fellow alumni who do extraordinary things in their profession and communities. Meet four alums with great stories to share.

D E P A R T M E N T SCampus news 3Alumni News 11

Foundation News 14Sports News 18Class Notes 33w w w . u w l a x . e d u

UW-L ALUmnUs mAgAzine Winter 2010/11 3

UW-L moved up to the No. 2 best regional

university in the Midwest in U.S.News & World Re-port’s latest rankings. And, the magazine has recognized UW-L for its strong com-mitment to teaching.

The latest rankings once again placed UW-L as the state’s top ranked public — and private — university in the Best Regional Universi-ties Listing in the maga-zine’s “2011 America’s Best Colleges.” Among all public and private institutions, UW-L moved up three spots to No. 14.

Last year, UW-L was No. 3 behind No. 1 Truman State University and the University of Northern Iowa, which fell to No. 3 for 2011. UW-L has ap-peared prominently on the

U.S.News list for more than a decade — and among the top three Midwest institu-tions since 2002.

“Our continued rise in these prestigious rankings is a powerful validation of our ‘Growth, Quality and Ac-cess’ program,” says Chan-cellor Joe Gow. “Because we’ve added approximately 90 new faculty and staff positions over the last two years, we’ve been able to provide an even more per-sonalized learning experi-ence for our students, and

U.S.News is acknowledging our success.”

UW-L also appeared in the magazine’s “Strong Commitment to Teaching” listing, tying as the Mid-west’s No. 6 university. The list includes universities cited by college presidents and administrators as having a faculty with an unusual commitment to undergrad-uate teaching.

“As I always say, we have one of the most talented and dedicated groups of faculty and staff in the nation,” notes Gow. “And I know I speak for everyone in the UW-L administration when I say how proud we are to see their fine work singled out by U.S.News.”

Get complete listings at www.usnews.com/col-leges.

MOViNG ON UP“We have one of

the most

talented and

dedicated

groups of

faculty and staff

in the nation.”

Joe Gow

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been

interested in news. I’ve had the desire to find out about new things — and share that news with others. That’s what I

went to college to study. And, that’s what I’ve been doing since earning my degree.

We all have something that makes us “tick.” Some of us know what it is before we begin college. Others discover it on campus. Some find it during their first job. And, others continue the search throughout their life.

But, with our La Crosse education, we’re adequately prepared. Thanks to caring faculty and staff, we have the needed background to pursue whatever makes us tick — or tock.

Starting with this issue, we’ll discover what makes some of our alums tick. Who are they? What do they do? Where do they live? How did their UW-L education impact them?

So, enjoy finding out about classmates and fellow alums. You’ll see even more reasons why you should be a proud UW-La Crosse alum.

Brad Quarberg, ’85

What makes you tick? — or tock?

@

f r o m t h e e d i t o r

Keep up with usUW-L Alumni Association on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/ UW-La-Crosse-Alumni-Association/ 147032127012

follow UW-L on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/UWLaCrosse

follow UW-L on Twitter http://twitter.com/uwlacrossenews

UW-L CONTiNUES TO CLiMB iN ACAdEMiC RANKiNGS

c A m p U s n e W s

THE LA CROSSE LANTERNOf all La Crosse traditions, the one that stands out as the most unique and memorable is the Hanging of the Lantern. In 1931, English Professor O. O. White introduced the tra-dition to welcome alumni back: “We’ll hang the lantern in the old college tower over the south door. You won’t need a key, the door will be open.”

The La Crosse Lantern is a point of pride to which everyone connected to UW-L can relate. The old lantern has aged graceful-ly, much like the university itself. But, its flame shines brightly as ever to rekindle fond memories of years past while lighting the way to the future.

A $1.2 million federal grant will improve

physical education programs for students with disabilities and expand professional de-velopment for future adapted physical education teachers.

The Center on Disability Health and Adapted Physical Activity in the Exercise and Sport Science Department received the grant to contin-ue its nationally recognized work of preparing highly-qualified, adapted physical education teachers

Professor Garth

Tymeson, co-director of the project, says along with improving physical educa-tion programs for students with disabilities, the grant addresses the ever-growing issue of obesity. “It’s impor-tant to help reduce and pre-vent obesity and sedentary lifestyles among this popula-tion,” he says. “Obesity and physical inactivity are even more of a problem among persons with disabilities.” The project will address obe-sity among other students as well.

UW-L has a long his-tory of receiving grants for adapted physical education programs. “We are a national leader in this field,” notes Tymeson. “Many of our master’s level graduates have progressed to complete doctoral studies and are now faculty at universities throughout the U.S.”

Other project co-direc-tors are faculty members Manny Felix and Patrick DiRocco.

FUNdiNG TO iMPROVE PHySiCAL EdUCATiON PROGRAMS FOR STUdENTS WiTH diSABiLiTiES

Feds award grant

G.I. Jobs put UW-L on its 2011 list of Military Friendly Schools. The list honors the top 15 percent of higher edu-cation institutions embracing veterans as students.

“We’re honored to be recognized for working closely with veterans — those who have given so much for our country,” says UW-L Chancel-lor Joe Gow. “Our faculty and

staff recognize the importance of veterans and know that this group of students brings a high degree of maturity,

diversity, leadership, and life experiences to campus.”

The list was compiled through exhaustive research of more than 7,000 U.S. insti-tutions last spring. See more at: http://www.militaryfriend-lyschools.com/2011list.


UW-L iS MiLiTARy FRiENdLy:

LEFT: Professor Garth Tymeson, Exercise and Sport Science, is co-director of a $1.2 mil-lion federal grant to improve physical education programs for students with disabilities.BoTToM LEFT: Student Stepha-nie Mick, left, works with Jack Teegan on core strength and balance.BoTToM: Project co-director Manny Felix shares a light mo-ment with a child in an adapted physical program exercise.

U W-L has been selected to become one of the

first U.S. universities to help bring the athletic training profession to Europe.

The Athletic Train-ing Program has received a $400,000 grant to send UW-L students to Germany and Spain in an effort to internationalize the field. The Department of Educa-tion funded $180,000 of the grant, which was supple-mented by European part-ners from Goethe Univer-sity of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and the University of Granada, Spain. Chapman University in Orange, Calif., is the other U.S. higher ed partner.

Mark Gibson, UW-L Athletic Training Program director, says the Sports Medical Athletic Therapist International Exchange will allow UW-L students to

study in the discipline over-seas for the first time. And, he expects the move to open the door to athletic train-ing in the European Union. “Colleagues in Germany have been positive and en-couraging,” explains Gibson. “They see the athletic train-ing model to be useful as a health care model for people who are physically active.”

Gibson says the new

agreement will allow at least three UW-L students to study in Germany or Spain during each of the next four years.

As part of the grant, UW-L will host students from Germany and Spain. They’ll take athletic training courses and return home to help introduce athletic train-ing. The first German in the program arrived on campus earlier this fall.

Gibson says the exchange will enable students to gain insight into the healthcare and sports medicine cultures of a different continent. And it will allow faculty feedback on teaching styles, as well as opportunities for new re-search and scholarly activity across the Atlantic.

See more about the UW-L athletic training pro-gram at: www.uwlax.edu/athletictraining.

UW-L ATHLETiC TRAiNiNG PROGRAM iS TAKiNG THE PROFESSiON TO EUROPE


A EURO MOdEL

ToP RiGhT: Frieder Krause from the Uni-versity of Frankfurt, Germany, spent the fall semester at UW-L as part of an exchange program with the University of Frankfurt made possible by the Atlantis grant.

ABovE LEFT: UW-L senior and wrestler Mitch Artist tore his labrum and bicep ten-don two years ago and goes to the athletic training room in Mitchell hall for therapy. Krause performed a resistance exercise with Artist to improve Artist’s overall stability and neuromuscular control.

ABovE: Krause supervises Artist as he exercises with a Bodyblade. The procedure’s goal is to make the shoulder more stable and is more effective if exercises are varied.

“Colleagues

in Germany

have been

positive and

encouraging.”

Mark Gibson


W hen UW-L theatre Associate Professor

Mary Leonard approached Jim Jorstad, ’78, to create a documentary about theatre performance major Peter Talen, Jorstad had no idea the impact the project would have. Talen was killed in a Madison apart-ment fire in November 2007 when visiting his brother. Later it was discovered none of the smoke detectors was working.

Leonard and Jorstad trav-eled to Madison to interview Talen’s brother, Andy, and several students involved in the fire.“I remember how gripping

the initial interviews were,” recalls Jorstad.

The stories of how the fire started and how it impacted lives motivated Jorstad to drive to UW-Stevens Point one weekend to check on his

daughter’s college apartment for working smoke detectors. Although Jorstad’s daughter, Jena, reacted to Jorstad as being a typical overly protective par-ent, none of her detectors were working. One of her room-mates had recently removed the battery after burning a pizza. “It was then that I knew I had to get this project com-pleted,” Jorstad explains.

Leonard and Jorstad obtained funding from the UW-L Foundation and the Theatre Department. Profes-sor Emeritus Ron Rada and Dan Sweetman, in UW-L’s

PETER TALEN’S dEATH iN A FiRE BROUGHT LiGHT TO THE iMPORTANT iSSUE OF STUdENTS ANd FiRE SAFETy

Peter’s story“it will leave a

lasting

impression.”

Jim Jorstad


Environmental Health and Safety Department, obtained additional funding from UW System and the project was off and running.

“Involvement in its pro-duction shows we can make a difference,” says Jorstad, director of UW-L’s Academic Technology Department. With today’s tech-nology, the video is being seen worldwide. “The impact of the video is dramatic and it affects positive change,” notes Jorstad. “It will leave a lasting impres-sion,” he says.

“Peter’s Story” talks about who Talen was and his impact on those around him. The story

is told by people who knew him best — family, friends, teachers and students. And it illustrates what can happen when we forget about something as simple as a smoke detector.

Kelly Shattuck, a friend of Talen who survived the fire, uses

the video in elementary educa-tion classes she teaches. She says kids are “simply stunned” when they see the story and quickly learn the importance of smoke detectors.

Jorstad has received e-mails from across the country telling him how emotional and powerful “Peter’s Story” is. He encourages faculty, staff, students and parents to watch it. “It will leave a lasting impression,” he says. View the video at www.uwlax.edu/ats/peters_story.

UW-L student Peter Talen, below, from Plymouth, died Nov. 18, 2007, in a fire

while visiting his brother in Madison. The death might have been prevented

with working smoke detectors.

in his name Because of Talen’s death, a smoke detector ordinance in his name was passed in Madison in March 2009. UW-L’s Theatre Arts Depart-ment and the Talen family have created a memorial scholarship in Peter’s name. The Peter J. Talen Scholar-ship — http://www.uwlax.edu/theatre/peter-talen-scholarship.html — will help fund a first-year theatre major at UW-L.

UW-L “ExERCiSE ANSWER GURUS” PUT POPULAR PROdUCTS TO THE TEST. LEARN WHAT BURNS CALORiES ANd WHAT WiLL ONLy BURN A HOLE iN yOUR POCKET.MiNdS

iN MOTiON


W e hear claims frequently that a new exercise product can help

your athletic performance or tone your body. Are they true?

UW-L researchers — faculty and students — are finding out for you.

Professor John Porcari, Exercise and Sport Science, received a master’s degree at UW-L in 1982 and has worked on campus since 1989. Porcari, colleague Professor Carl Foster and other UW-L researchers have seen their work pub-lished in Prevention, Men’s Health and Sports Illustrated magazines as well as in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

They’ve tested an array of products, oftentimes for the American Council on Exercise (ACE). The organization promotes the benefits of physical activ-ity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective health and fitness products, programs and trends. Since 1995, ACE has enlisted top researchers at major U.S. universities to conduct studies on fitness products and trends.

Learn what works and what doesn’t from some of the recent products Por-cari and his colleagues have tested.

Graduate student Jordan Becker tests a “Streetstrid-er,” an eliptical exerciser on wheels. it’s just one of the many new-to-the-market exercise products UW-L researchers test to find out if advertised claims are true.

THE POWER BALANCE WRiSTBANd They’re everywhere. Professional and amateur athletes don the wrist-band to run faster, be stronger and more agile. The wristbands, made of silicon, zinc and silver, are touted as improving athletic performance.

dO THE BRACELETS WORK?

NO!“We have poof, on videotape, that it is snake oil,” Porcari says. Students wearing a simple wristband from Walmart performed as well as those wearing the Power Balance wrist-band. “When test subjects are asked to perform a test twice within a matter of minutes, they consistently perform better on the second test, no matter if they’re wearing the Power Balance wristband or a cheap alterna-tive,” Porcari explains. “Because the first test readies test subjects for the repeat test, subjects perform better on the second test. They’re better able to balance or resist a force.”

SLENdERTONE’S BOTTOM TONER EMS MACHiNE“Sometimes being a mover and a shaker is not necessarily a good thing. If you’ve got a little bit too much moving and shaking going on, it’s time to get your muscles moving with Slendertone.” Advertisements for Slendertone’s Elctronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) machine promise to tone muscles — without exercise.

CAN yOU iMPROVE MUSCLE TONE SiMPLy By USiNG A SLENdER-TONE’S MUSCLE STiMULATOR?

yES! Because of the high stimulation of the machine, it does increase muscle tone. “This is one of the better high-quality stimulators I’ve seen,” Porcari says, “and it works. Using the EMS device 30 minutes a day, five times a week will produce some benefits.”

Exercise works too, he says. You’ll get the same benefit exercis-ing five minutes a day, five times a week. Read more at http://www.acefitness.org/getfit/studies/bottom-toner052010.pdf

OxyGEN-ENRiCHEd WATER Porcari led a study of 12 college-aged men and women randomly assigned to drink either 16 ounces of super oxygenated water or regular tap water while exercising.

dOES OxyGEN-ENRiCHEd WATER CREATE MORE ENERGy, AS AdVERTiSEd?

NO! Researchers found that drinking super oxygenated water had no measurable effect on the subjects’ resting heart rate, blood pressure or blood lactate values. “There are only two possible ways to carry oxygen in the blood, either bound to hemo-globin or dissolved in the plasma,” explains Porcari. “In normal healthy exercisers, hemoglobin is already 97 to 98 percent saturated with oxygen. Obviously, there is very little room to improve on this factor.” (From the February 2007 article “Benefits of Long-Term Ingestion of Oxygen-Enriched Water” at http://www.get-thepitcher.com/ingestion.html.)


Exercise and Sport Science Profes-sor John Porcari leads much of the research on exercise products. Porcari received the Award of Excellence from the American Association of Cardio-vascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACvPR) in 2010. “it’s the highest award in the world for what we do,” says Porcari, who was on the associa-tion’s board of directors for nine years and is its past president.


BELoW: From left, human Perfor-mance Laboratory Manager Chris Dodge, Graduate Student Jordan Becker, and Professor John Porcari. With the face-mask set up and the oxycon mobil spirometry system, they measure the oxygen intake before, during and after exercise. Sixteen dif-ferent test subjects ride the Street-strider until they tire. Then Becker re-measures their oxygen intake. Becker also tests the subjects using a regular eliptical to compare results.

LEFT: Professor John Porcari, right, works with graduate student Jordan Becker during research of a “Streetstrider.”

TONiNG SHOES Advertisements for toning shoes prom-ise you’ll burn more calories, tone muscles, improve posture and reduce joint stress.

WiLL TONiNG SHOES REALLy GiVE yOU A BETTER BOdy?

NO!“The rocker sole creates instability,” Porcari explains. “The theory is that because it’s unstable you will use more muscles, tone more and burn more calories. We saw nothing to substantiate that — no increase in calories burned or in muscle strength.”

ExERSTRidERSMaybe you’ve seen them: people walking around with walking poles who look as if they’ve lost their skis. Exerstriders ads boast the poles to be the “the world’s No. 1 fitness walking poles.”

dOES WALKiNG WiTH THE POLES iNCREASE OxyGEN UPTAKE, HEART RATE ANd ENERGy ExPENdiTURE MORE THAN WALKiNG WiTHOUT THEM?

yES! “I don’t know why someone would walk without them,” Porcari says, “except they solicit strong comments. When hecklers ask you where your skis are, just tell them that you’re increas-ing your oxygen uptake, heart rate and energy expenditure by approximately 20 percent more because of the poles.” Who needs skis, anyway? For more on Exerstriders, see http://www.walking-poles.com/content/view/141/51 June 1997.


A gift to last

forever

Marion (Vanderwal) Johnson‘s love for UW-L will last —

forever.Johnson, ’36, and her husband,

Ernest, named the UW-La Crosse Alumni Associa-tion as one of 10 beneficiaries of their Revocable Living Trust. It’s the first estate gift received by the association.

A native of Chicago, Johnson transferred to La Crosse State Teacher’s College from Northland College in 1933. She majored in physical education and was active in the Physical Educa-tion Club, Outing Club, Band, Glee Club, Science Club and Anniversary

pageant, and the Women’s Recre-ational Association.

“It’s evident that ‘The La Crosse Experience’ had a profound effect

on Marion’s life,” says Janie Spencer, executive director. “We are grateful that she and Ernest remembered her alma mater in their trust. Thanks to their wonderful generosity, the Alumni Associa-tion will be able to grow and offer

programs and services to alumni and current students.”

For more information about becoming a member or making a gift, contact the Alumni Association at 877.895.2586.

it matters Thanks to Marion and Ernest Johnson’s wonderful gener-osity, the Alumni Association will be able to grow and offer programs and services to alumni and current students.

UW-L ALUMNi A S S O C i A T i O N 2011 CALENdARA L L E V E N T S O N C A M P U S U N L E S S N O T E d

FebruAry4: Membership Committee Meeting9: �Political�Science�&�Public�Administration�

Alumni�Event,�Best�Western�Inn�on�the��Park,�Madison

11: Executive Committee Meeting19:��Alumni Association Board Meeting23: Etiquette Dinner

MArch4: Membership Committee Meeting11-12: NCAA�Division�III�National�Wrestling�

Tournament,�La�Crosse�Center14: Furlough Day (offices closed)21: Countdown to Commencement21:��Teacher Employment Seminar24: College of Business Administration alumni

event, Chicago

April1: Membership Committee Meeting14: Finance Committee Meeting15: Executive Committee Meeting25: Foundation Honors Reception27:��Accounting Banquet

MAy6: Membership Committee Meeting7: Alumni Association Board Meeting/Family

Picnic13: Alumni�Awards�reception�and�ceremony14: Commencement/Flower Sale16: Furlough Day (offices closed)

dETAiLS ANd MORE EVENTS AT WWW.UWLALUMNi.ORG

A L U m n i n e W s


And the honorary degree goes to …

Three-time Grammy award winner Bill Miller received an

honorary bachelor’s degree at the Annual Mid-Winter Commence-ment Dec. 19.

“Bill is a musician, composer, world-class accomplished flute player, social activist, artist, public speaker and workshop facilita-tor,” says Communication Studies Professor Scott Dickmeyer. “He ex-emplifies what most of us at UW-L advocate. I, like so many faculty and staff members, hope our students use their talents to promote posi-tive social change. Bill has shared his unique message of hope and reconciliation to audiences around the world.”

Faculty and alumni review candidates each year. The 2010 committee included: Amy DuPont, Tim Gongaware, Lise Graham, Bruce May, Brian Udermann, Lore Vang and Marcie Wycoff-Horn.

Miller is the second person to receive an honorary degree from UW-L. Sandra Lee, host of the Food Network’s “Semi-homemade with Sandra Lee,” received the university’s first honorary degree in May 2009.

honorary degrees

… GRAMMy AWARd WiNNER BiLL MiLLER

SEE MORE AT WWW.UWLALUMNi.ORG

In spring 2008, the Faculty Senate approved guidelines for honorary, extraordinary and posthumous degrees. The hon-orary degree is available to only a select group of highly deserv-ing individuals who merit special recognition for exceptional achievement and distinction in a field or activity supporting

the mission of the university. It may be awarded to a person who satisfies one or more of the following:• Eminence, in the course of a

career, in some field of scholar-ship, public service, or an artistic, literary, governmental, religious, financial, or other endeavor.

• Support for the univer-sity through the individual’s achievements and the mission or life of the university.

• Reflection of the diversity of interests, backgrounds and concerns forwarded by the university community and the society and world served by the university.

UW-L ON


www.facebook.com/UWLaCrosse

MOUNTAiN HiGH MEETiNG

Denver-area alums got together for UW-L Alumni Association get-together at Rock Bottom Brewery in November. The great turnout showed how much UW-L continues to mean to alums even far away from La Crosse. Attending, from left, were: Row 1: Mandy

Nogle, ’08 & ’11, Hui Xie, ’11, Paula Ramminger, ’11, Maggie Gomez, ’08; Row 2: Bethany Kies, ’03 & ’11, Dana Jones Hornecker, ’85, Mary Jo Gerczak Jones, ’84, Lynn Slaga, ’86, Debbie Stratton Davis, ’83, Abby Schmidt Holtman, ’04; Row 3: Gracjan Szulc, ’11, Jerry

Spence, ’71, Cheryl Nitz, ’84, Cindy Meincke Molina, ’91, Ryan Kockler, ’06, Leah Herlache, ’06, Lauren Ben-nett, ’07, Kayla Henslin, ’09; Row 4: Robert Jecklin, ’73, Nicholas Madsen, ’03, Brian Olsen, ’00, Craig Jeske, ’02, Derek Kockler, ‘10 , Trent Joseph, ’07.

Alumni and friends from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan,

Florida, California, Colorado, Texas, Vir-ginia and Canada purchased tickets for this fall’s Oktoberfest raffle sponsored by the Alumni Association.

“We created a lot of awareness and were able to welcome thousands of alumni back to La Crosse,” says Janie Spencer, executive director.

The raffle package, valued at over $850, included items for next year’s Fest:

• Overnight stay at the Candlewood Suites

• 4”x8” bar tile to be permanently housed on the Oktoberfest grounds

• Four T-shirts• Five Oktoberfest buttons• A coveted pickle crock

Andy Temte, ’88, Onalaska, won the package. Congratulations to Andy and thanks to all who participated!

A festive raffle

Alums from six social

fraternities and sororities gathered in July 2010, to celebrate Greek Life and remi-niscence about college.

The alums enjoyed a week-end of activities on and off cam-pus. Highlights included a pub crawl, a hike up Grandad’s Bluff, the Greek Feast and a moonlight cruise on the La Crosse Queen. See photos at www.uwlalumni.org/photo_album.php?album_id=561.

“The alums had such a great time, the committee

has set this year’s reunion dates for July 22-24, 2011,” says Janie Spencer, executive director of the UW-L Alumni Association.

Greek groups targeted in-clude: Alpha Kappa Lambda,

Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Beta Sigma Chi, Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Zeta, Phi Sigma Epsi-lon, Sigma Tau Gamma and Tau Kappa Epsilon.

This year’s event will feature Friday night pub crawl (back by popular demand), Greek Feast and a Mississippi River cruise on the La Crosse Queen. To

volunteer, contact the Alumni Association at [email protected]. Watch for more details at www.uwlalumni.org.

BACK TO SCHOOLALL GREEK ALUMNi WEEKENd SET FOR JULy 22-24, 2011

Alumni Greeks had fun at last year’s reunion, which included an encounter with Elvis.


MORE BANG FOR yOUR BOOKPROJECT BEGiNS WiTH GRANT; PROCEEdS WiLL FiNANCE SCHOLARSHiP

Authors of a book about a young girl growing a garden

in Laos hope the story not only educates, but also raises money for a UW-L scholarship.

Funding for “Ka’s Garden: A Bilingual Children’s Book” began with a $1,000 UW-L Small Foundation Grant in spring 2009. UW-L masters’ student Maggie Lee McHugh, who works in the UW-L Student Support Services Office, received a Research, Ser-vice and Educational Leadership grant.

McHugh drew from the research of UW-L students Pa Houa Vang and Ya Cha Thao who had received an under-graduate research grant to study Hmong culture, gardening prac-

tices and language. Originally, they planned

to self publish and continue developing the book using grant money. In the grant application, the authors promised to give a portion of the proceeds raised from the book to a scholarship for a UW-L Hmong student.

In December 2009, McHugh

met with publishers at Universal Human Publishing to negotiate. The publishers were enthusiastic about publishing a book to help fund the scholarship, McHugh says.

Along with using book sales, the group hopes to finance the scholarship with a raffle for tradi-tional Hmong story/flower cloths known as “paj ntaub.”

McHugh and Bee Lo, ‘92, who teaches in the UW-L Modern Languages Department, wrote the book. UW-L master’s student Vong Lao penned il-lustrations.

“Ka’s Garden tells the story of a young girl’s first garden in Laos,” explains McHugh. “Through the experience, Ka

learns the value of growing a garden. She also learns respect for nature and the interconnected-ness of the earth, animals and humans.”

On a larger scale, “Ka’s Gar-den” celebrates the Hmong way of living in harmony with nature. “The story teaches patience, gratitude and the importance of sharing,” continues McHugh. “Ka’s garden is a place where the earth, plants, animals, and people live together in balance and harmony.”

Find out more about the book at http://uhpublishing.com/ka01.html.

From left, Maggie Mchugh, UW-L Student Support Services office; Bee Lo, ‘92, Modern Languages instructor; and UW-L stu-dent vong Lao. The three worked together to publish “Ka’s Garden: A Bilingual Children’s Book.” An initial grant from the UW-L Foundation got the project off the ground. Proceeds from the book will fund a scholarship for a UW-L hmong student.

“Ka’s garden is

a place where the

earth, plants,

animals and

people live

together in balance

and harmony.”

Maggie Lee Mchugh

f o U n d A t i o n n e W s


iNTERNATiONAL iMPACT

UW-L’s International stu-dents in 2009-10 contributed just over $8.4 million to the local economy according to NAFSA: The Association of International Educators. That’s the largest impact of any college in western Wisconsin’s Third Congres-sional District.

UW-L’s 383 international students contributed an esti-mated $8,454,900 in tuition, fees and living expenses.

Director of International Education Jay Lokken says their economic impact continues to grow because of the school’s success in re-cruiting. While the economic impact is impressive, Lokken says the students’ effect on campus is valued even more.

“I believe that the global perspective and diversity international students bring to UW-L, the community and Wisconsin are priceless,”

says Lokken. “The positive impact that UW-L’s interna-tional students are having on their classes, faculty, friends, the campus, area schools and community as a whole is invaluable.”

UW-L maintains its fourth place rank among all colleges in Wisconsin having the most international students, behind only UWs Madison and Milwaukee, and Marquette.

Children and grandchildren of Dar-lene Joan Zielinski Parker, ’75 &

’90, built and installed this bench along the La Crosse River Marsh trails adja-cent to campus this summer. Darlene, wife of Professor Emeritus Jim Parker, died June 18, 2010 after a 25-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Those by the bench include, from left, grandson Samuel Kratt, a St. Cloud (Minn.) State freshman; Sarah Kratt; Laura Abellera, currently a UW-L sophomore; and Jill (Parker) Colbert, ’87, mother to Samuel and Sarah.

Jim has established the Darlene Joan Zielinski Parker Scholarship for Social Justice Fund through the UW-L Foundation. The scholarship will be awarded to an elementary education major dedicated to and involved in social justice. Applicants must submit an essay describing ways to implement a curriculum addressing racism, sexism and homophobia. Annual awards will be between $400-$500.

A fund for social justice

Professor Linda Host was respected for her teach-

ing and research during her 22 years in the Mathematics Department. Her legacy will continue with the Linda Host Memorial Scholarship Fund for Mathematics.

Her husband, Dave Bange, established the en-dowment following her death June 2, 2010. Recipients will be incoming freshmen con-sidering majors in mathemat-ics, statistics or mathematics education. They must have

demonstrated talent and inter-est in math by having at least a 31 math ACT score, along with participation in math or science groups or events. An-nual awards will be $1,500.

Adding up for math majors

Darlene Joan Zielinski Parker

January 22, 1943 - June 18, 2010

And you, my mother, there on sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas(Regenedered)

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies,

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;…

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.

George Gordon Byron

– May God cherish her


a special giftPROFESSOR EMERiTUS GEORGE GiLKEy LEAVES BEQUEST TO MURPHy LiBRARy

Along-time professor who shared his love of his-

tory has assured others will experience local history for generations to come.

The Special Collections Department at Murphy Li-brary has received a $22,000 life insurance policy bequest from George Gilkey who died Feb. 9, 2010.

“This is the largest one-time donation by an individual to Special Collec-tions,” says Special Collec-tions Librarian Paul Beck. “Our deepest appreciation goes out to Dr. Gilkey for his generosity and thoughtful-ness.”

Gilkey, who taught his-tory on campus from 1954-83, was pivotal in establishing the Area Research Center (ARC) in Murphy Library in 1965. He helped negotiate the agreement between the university and the State His-

torical Society to establish the ARC as an official depository.

Gilkey researched and published “The First Sev-enty Years: A History of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1909-1979,” the university’s first compre-hensive history book. His research brought many archival manuscripts to the center, along with his own research papers, including notes and drafts of ”The First Seventy Years,” says Beck. He encouraged graduate history students to research local and regional history using materi-als in Special Collections.

“During his lifetime Dr. Gilkey made tremendous contributions to Murphy Library and Special Collec-tions,” notes Beck. “He was a friend to many who worked in Murphy Library over the years.”

online history lesson Who was UW-L’s first president? Who was Whitney and why did they name a building after him? For years, those seeking campus history have turned to former Professor George Gilkey’s book, “The First Seventy Years: A History of the University of Wiscon-sin-La Crosse, 1909-1979.” Now it’s online at: http://murphylibrary.uwlax.edu/digital/uwl/Gilkey/. Study up on UW-L history before heading back to campus.

HOW TO GiVE TO

Send�memorials�to�the�

UW-L�Foundation�615�East�Ave.�N.�

La�Crosse,�WI�54601�

or�go�to�www.foundation.uwlax.edu.

F O U N D A T I O N

A TASTE OF NEW yORK

The Food Network’s Sandra Lee will get more of a taste of NY politics. The honorary UW-L graduate who attended here in the ’80s and known for her “Semi-Homemade Cooking” has been the longtime girlfriend of Andrew Como, elected governor of New York in November.


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Despite an early snowy December with cold temperatures, construction of Centennial Hall, the new academic building, and the new residence hall are on schedule. Both should open for the fall 2011 semester, says Matt Lewis, UW-L’s executive director of Facilities Planning and Management.

“Good, concentrated efforts with all of the contractors are keeping us on schedule,” he explains. “Everyone understands our deadlines and are moving things along.”

In November 2010, the campus com-munity voted “Eagle Hall” as the tem-porary name for the new residence hall. Both halls could be renamed with substantial donations to the UW-L Foundation, with the approval of the UW Board of Regents.

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Centennial hall is the first new academic building built on campus since Wimberly hall (formerly North hall) was built in 1974. The building featuring 44 classrooms and lecture halls will open in fall 2011.

Eagle hall is the name selected by the campus community for the new residence hall being built on the former Coate Field. The building is scheduled to open in fall 2011.

See�Centennial�Hall�progress�live�at:�http://www.uwlax.edu/edtech/centennial-hall/

See�Eagle�Hall�progress�live�at:http://www.uwlax.edu/residencehall/


BRETT ALTERGOTT, ’99

Altergott ran four years in cross country and track and field dur-

ing the late ’90s, helping the university earn its first NCAA III Triple Crown — national championships in cross country, and indoor and outdoor track and field in 1996-97. He lettered in all three sports all four years. Altergott says his biggest athletic accomplish-ment was earning the 1997 individual national title in cross country, along with the team’s national title — the first for the UW-L harriers — a year earlier. Altergott earned a bachelor’s in recreation management in 1999, and a master’s in recreation administra-tion from George Williams College of Aurora University in 2008. He is the park and recreation director in the Village of Germantown. He and his wife, Heidi, live in Oak Creek with their three children, Chase and Logan (both 4), and Hannah (1).

Johnson excelled in gymnastics. He was the NAIA national champion in

1969, following two consecutive years as the NAIA’s runner up. Johnson was named NAIA First Team All-Amer-ican three times, from ’67-’69. In conference championships, he placed first in ’68 and ’70, second in ’69 and third in ’67. A geography major with minors in history and photography, Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in 1971 and a master’s in 1982. He lives in Chicago where he is a scien-tific photographer at the University of Illinois.

Basketball, field hockey and vol-leyball kept Krieger busy from

1971-75. She helped the women’s club teams earn state titles in volley-ball (1971), and basketball (1971-74). In field hockey, she was selected to the Midwest All-College First Team for two years. Krieger cites international competition against the Chinese Na-tional Basketball Team and the Welsh Touring Field Hockey Team among her biggest athletic accomplishments. Krieger earned a bachelor’s in physical education in 1975; she later earned a master’s of sport psychology from the University of Oregon. In fall 2009, she retired from West Bend Public Schools after 30 years of teaching and coaching.

ERiC JOHNSON, ’71 & ’82 BARBARA KRiEGER, ’75

Six AddEd TO WALL OF FAMEThe Wall of Fame pays tribute to former athletes and coaches for their exceptional ability and enhancement of school tradition. Those inducted during Family, Friends and Alumni Weekend Oct. 17, 2010 are:

s p o r t s n e W s


AMy MEiTz, ’96

Meitz leapt to success on the un-even bars and floor exercise on

the women’s gymnastics team in the mid-’90s. Meitz was an All-American all four years in the National Col-legiate Gymnastics Association finals, 1991-95. She placed third on the un-even bars in ’92 and ’94, third on the floor exercise in ’93 and fourth on the floor in ’95. She captured the WIAC title in the uneven bars in ’93 and ’95. Meitz earned a bachelor’s in social work in 1996 and a master’s in social work from Aurora University in 2001. She is a school social worker in Apple Valley, Minn., where she has served as head coach for the high school girls’ gymnastics team since 2002. Meitz lives in Minneapolis.

Saeger played two sports during college — football from 1972-74

and basketball during 1973-74, earn-ing letters in both each year. He holds two career campus gridiron records: third for most touchdowns receiving (20) and fifth for most receiving yards (1,786.) Saeger signed as a free agent with the New York Giants. He calls a game-winning touchdown against Ab-erdeen in 1973 and playing in a NAIA playoff game against Elon College as his greatest athletic accomplishments. Saeger, who majored in physical education, is a general foreman at Huen Electric. He and his wife, Janet, live in Des Plaines, Ill. They have two grown children.

Wilson ran from Rock Island High School to a spot on the

1994 Illinois State Track Champion-ship Team. He continued that success at UW-L in cross country, and indoor and outdoor track and field teams from 1994-98. Wilson says his biggest athletic accomplishment was helping to earn the university’s first NCAA III Triple Crown — national champion-ships in cross country, and indoor and outdoor track and field in 1996-97. He lettered in all three sports all four years. Wilson, who graduated in rec-reation management in ’98, is director of recreation in Naperville, Ill. He and his wife, Dannie, live in Oswego, Ill., with their two children.

dAVE SAEGER,’72-’76 BRAd WiLSON, ’98


An accomplished athlete turned D.C. sports at-

torney now makes the calls for UW-L athletics. Josh Whitman took over as athletic director in September.

“I am privileged to have the opportunity to join the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and to lead one of the nation’s elite Division III athletics programs,” says Whit-man. “UW-L’s student-athletes have excelled consistently both in their respective sports and in the classroom, and I hope that under my leadership we can continue to build on the strong foundation laid by the coaches and existing administrative staff.”

The West Lafayette, Ind., native has more than 13 years

of experience in collegiate and professional athletics. Whit-man had been an attorney at Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, D.C., since Sep-tember 2009. His clients at the nationally recognized sports practice included the NFL, Mi-crosoft and GlaxoSmithKline.

Whitman earned a bach-elor’s with highest honors in fi-nance from Illinois in 2001. He earned a juris doctor, summa cum laude, from the Univer-sity of Illinois College of Law in 2008. Before becoming an attorney, he was an athletics administrator at Illinois, serv-ing as assistant to the director of athletics in 2007-08 and coordinator of special projects from 2005-07.

sporting a new job

JOSH WHiTMAN TO LEAd UW-L ATHLETiCS

josh whitman

1. I have a distant cousin who pitches for the Milwaukee Brewers.

2. My favorite TV show is M*A*S*H.

3. I met my wife in 8th grade.

4. I was president of my high school student body.

5. My brother-in-law is an executive for ESPN.

6. The only cereal I eat is Grape Nuts.

7. I graduated as my high school’s second all-time leading scorer in basketball.

8. I grew up wanting to be a professional baseball player.

9. I played in 45 career games with 29 starts for the Fighting Illini.

10. I appeared in a commercial for my alma mater that you can find on YouTube.

11. When I was a kid, I took gymnastics and tennis lessons and played soccer.

12. I played with the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins, as well as the Frankfurt Galaxy of the now-defunct NFL Europe League.

13. I was a judicial law clerk for the Honor-able M.S. Kanne on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

14. I was one of six Division I-A recipients of the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award.

15. I wear size 15 shoes.

THiNGS yOU dON’T KNOWABOUT ME15


UW-L ON

twitter.com/uwlacrossenews

Former UW-L swimmer Chelsea Hoff was one

of 30 finalists for the 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year award. An NCAA committee named finalists from a record 452 nominations.

Hoff, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Con-ference (WIAC) nominee, attended the awards dinner in Indianapolis in October. The award honors female student-athletes with distinguished academic achievement, athlet-ics excellence, community service and leadership.

“I was honored to be

chosen as the WIAC Woman of the Year nominee,” says Hoff. “Being one of the top 30 honorees surpassed my expectations and I was so grateful to be chosen among the most elite athletes.”

The Middleton native was named the WIAC Female

Swimmer of the Meet at the conference championship for the third straight sea-son in 2010 following three individual and three relay conference titles. Hoff holds four individual and four relay records at UW-L, as well as three individual and four relay conference records.

Hoff graduated in spring with a 4.00 GPA majoring in exercise and sport science-fitness pre-physical therapy. She’s currently in UW-L’s doctor of physical therapy program.

KUdOS AFLOATSWiMMER iS NCAA FiNALiST

SHE SURViVEd … FOR A WHiLE.

Political Science Major Yve Rojas, ’91, lasted just over a month on CBS’ fall “Survivor” reality show. The Kansas City, Mo., homemaker joined FOX Sports analyst Jimmy Johnson in the over-40 tribe, Espada. Rojas says campus ROTC training helped her through the show’s rigorous games and tough living conditions.

“i was honored

to be chosen as

the WiAC Woman

of the Year

nominee,”

Chelsea hoff


HEAdiNG TO NATiONALSThe Women’s Rugby Club has won a bid to the national champi-onship this spring. The women beat Indiana University-Pennsylvania 25-14 and Notre Dame 35-0 to claim the Midwest Regional Champion-ship in November. The club team ranks No. 2 in the nation, accord-ing to RugbyMag.com. That’s the club’s high-est ranking in school history and its first regional championship. The Eagles have flown through the competi-tion all season — post-ing a 12-0 record by outscoring opponents 558-60 and winning by an average 41.5 points.

The NCAA has named UW-L host for the

2011 and 2012 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. Events are at the La Crosse Cen-ter March 11-12, 2011 and March 9-10, 2012.

“We’re excited to have the championships for two years in a row,” says Head Coach Dave Malecek. “Our committee has been working hard to put on the best tour-nament possible. Our team

is extremely excited to get the opportunity to wrestle at home and in front of our family, fans and alumni for a national championship.”

Hosting the top grappler

meet is a first for UW-L —and only the second time in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UW-Stevens Point hosted the meet in 1994.

UW-L placed second at the 2010 NCAA III

Championships, its 10th top-four finish. That equaled second-place trophies in 2001, ’06 and ’08.

ROLL OUT THE MATSUW-L TO HOST NCAA iii WRESTLiNG TOURNEyS

other national tournaments at uw-l 1965�&�1970National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men’s Swimming

1973,�1976�&1981NAIA Men’s Gymnastics

1986�&�1997NCAA III Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field

1989,�1997�&�2005National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA)

1995NCAA III Men’s and Women’s Cross Country

The men’s basketball team took its turn to play the Badgers in an exhibition

season opener Nov. 6 at the Kohl Center. Eagles Head Coach Ken Koelbl, left, shook hands with UW-Madison Head Coach Bo Ryan, prior to the game, in which the Badgers won 84-59. The annual exhibition game alternates WIAC schools to play the Badgers in their home opener.

“This was a great opportunity for us,” says Koelbl. “We obviously know the Bad-gers are a very good basketball team, and we knew we were going to have our hands full. What I was most pleased with was the way we battled in the second half. I thought we fought really hard, got back in it, made some plays and adjusted well to playing a pretty good team.

eagles badgered in madison


STUdENTS ON ALL-AMERiCA TEAMS

• CHELSEA�HoFF, swimming, Middle-ton, 2010 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® of the Year for the College Division Women’s At-Large Team.

• GABI�HooPEr, gymnastics, New Brighton, Minn., 2010 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® College Division Women’s At-Large Second Team.

• DAN�LAUrENT, wrestling, Mishicot, Academic All-America® of the Year for the College Division Men’s At-Large Team.

UW-L finished seventh in the 2009-10 Division III Learfield Sports Direc-

tors’ Cup, which rates the overall athletics program. The Eagles recorded 678.75 points while Williams College (Mass.) captured its 12th consecutive cup with 1,292.25 points. Williams has won 14 Directors’ Cup in its 15 years.

UW-L’s seventh-place showing in 2009-10 ties its previous best finish — in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2006-07. UW-L now has nine top-10 finishes.

The old cliché is two’s com-pany; three’s a crowd. In that

case, the Boll siblings on campus are a crowd.

UW-L freshman Jason Boll joined his two siblings on campus this fall. “It was between UW-L and UW-Platteville,” says the Darlington native. “Platteville was too close to home.”

Distance was one consid-eration in his older brother’s decision to attend UW-L as well. “At two-and-a-half hours from Darlington, UW-L was perfect,” says Jake, a senior studying education.

In high school, Jake ran at the state track meet at the Veteran’s Memorial Sports Complex and was impressed by the area’s beauty and campus friendliness. He hasn’t been disappointed. As a resident assistant, Jake’s well known on campus and is on a first-name basis with many, including UW-L’s administrative team.

UW-L’s friendliness was what drew their sister, Janelle, to campus. Visiting UW-L was the last campus tour Janelle took in high school. “Everyone was so friendly,” the therapeutic

recreation major recalls. “Advisers and faculty have been so easy to talk to. It wasn’t what I expected college to be like.”

Although they didn’t hang

out together in high school, the three — who all have busy sched-ules — have tried to get together once a week for a meal.

No. 7 nationally

THREE’S COMPANy A CROWd dARLiNGTON SiBLiNGS ON

CAMPUS

THREE STUdENT-ATHLETES RECEiVEd ALL-AMERiCA HONORS LAST SPRiNG

From left, Darlington siblings Jason, Jake and Janelle Boll all chose UW-L as their college. The three have tried to catch up with one another at least once a week for dinner.


They’re college administrators. One stepped into a mayor’s office to restore dignity to a major southeastern Wis-consin city. Another shows her creative artwork on the streets of Chicago.

Their commonality is roots at La Crosse. Whether they were here 40 or four years ago, alums have great stories to share: why they came to campus, who their favorite professors were and their favorite collegiate memories. Let us introduce you to four alums who all have great stories to share.

They’re our fellow alumni who do extraordinary things in their profes-sion and the communities in which they live.


lorrainemoedavis’65 bachelor’s, ’67 master’s

Physical education and mathematics Eugene, Ore.

Currently: 40 years at the University of Oregon. Special Assistant to the President, Provost, and

Athletic Director at University of Oregon. Six months earlier this year, Interim Athletics Director. Partial

retirement for four years after serving 20 years in central administration, retiring as Vice President for Academic Affairs. Pre-viously, professor of health education. Family: husband, Mason; sons: Josh

(34) and wife, Jody; Zach (32).

“i met my wife”

c o n t i n U e d o n p A g e 3 0

WHAT’S yOUR TyPiCAL dAy LiKE?

As a campus administrator for 20 years, there was not really a typical day. That was one of the appealing things about adminis-tration — the varied issues that were part of my daily responsibili-ties. As Interim Athletic Director and Vice President for Academic Affairs, typical days were very similar.

Weekends usually bring an event or two requiring presence. Usually I tried to get work done within a 70-80 hour per week time frame; sometimes I made it, sometimes I didn’t. Almost always on task mentally as an administra-tor. I usually had a note pad by the side of the bed so when I would wake up in the night, I could

write down questions or items needing attention. This would facilitate returning to sleep easier.

WHAT’S HE BEST PART OF yOUR JOB?

Interacting with people, whether it be teaching, leading, organizing or planning. I particu-larly enjoyed teaching graduate students statistics and research methods and did that for 20 years prior to being in central admin-istration. Watching the students realize they could accomplish something they might have not imagined or grasp concepts unknown prior to the course was particularly satisfying. My passion for teaching and the regular inter-action with students was some-thing I missed in administration,

although I at-tempted to keep involved with students by serving on theses/disser-tation committees when possible.

WHAT’S THE FAVORiTE PART OF yOUR dAy?

Mornings, prior to everyone getting in gear, bring a quiet calming perspective and an opportunity to begin anew with

“lifelong friendships”

ThomasC.pleger

“i met my wife”



There is usually no typical day. My day ranges from meeting with student government officers, to faculty, to local and state political leaders, university administrators, and students and parents. At least one third of my job is off campus. My work is focused on promot-ing the campus and helping faculty and staff be successful in their jobs.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF yOUR JOB?

I am passionate about higher education and believe that our campus provides

tremendous personal and community enrichment opportunities. We live and breathe the “Wisconsin Idea,” the notion that University of Wisconsin resources should benefit the entire state and beyond. I know our faculty and staff make a difference in the lives of our students. We provide access to a UW edu-cation and, at the same time, provide community enrich-ment by offering art exhibits, theater, music performances, lectures, debates and other opportunities.

WHAT’S yOUR FAVORiTE PART OF THE dAy?

Having lunch with facul-ty, staff and students. One of

the true benefits of working at a small public liberal arts college of the UW System is the ability to have daily conversations with faculty, staff and students interested in a wide array of academic subjects.

ANy HOBBiES? My wife, Teresa, and

I own 3.5 acres of mature woodland. We spend a lot of time outdoors. I enjoy wood-working, hiking, canoeing, running and we have a horse. Teresa is involved in dressage horseback riding and I enjoy-ing assisting when possible. I also enjoy photography, and am an audiophile.

’91, bachelor’s in political science, minor in anthropology;

master’s and Ph.D. from UW-MadisonBaraboo (work), Reedsburg (home)

Currently: Campus Executive Officer/Dean and Associate Professor of Anthropology/Archaeology at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County.

Other UW-L ties: Teresa E. Pleger, ’90 & ’10

Photos courtesy of Christina Beam, UW-Baraboo/Sauk County.


What’s your typical day? No two days ever seem alike. Each week I try to get a couple good full days being creative in my studio. I work a couple days at a frame shop and I teach art one day a week at an after-school program.

WHAT’S HE BEST PART OF yOUR JOB? Flexibility. It’s good for me to have a bit of

structure, but it’s really great to be able to move things around as needed. One of my mantras is to do something creative everyday ... which comes in many forms. Teaching art and framing art provide the perfect structure – there’s a start and an end to those projects on those days. Whereas in my studio, things are much more free flowing, which can be a struggle at times, but I continually try to find comfort in the ebb and flow of creativity.

WHAT WAS yOUR MOST iNTERESTiNG dAy AT WORK?

How it feels when you get awarded a big project. I’ve submitted proposals for public art projects in Chicago (Cows on Parade, River-walk and Fine Art Fridges) and it really is quite gratifying when your idea gets selected ... and then the fun begins when you get to execute on that idea.


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“it was different”

’86, bachelor’s in marketingChicago

Currently: Visual artist Family: Husband, Duey.Other UW-L ties: Brother-in-law, Gordon Fimre-ite, ’86; nephew Tyler is a UW-L junior.


Kathryn (Trumbull) Fimreite with her fine art fridge on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.


johndiCkerT

’86, bachelor’s in political science, minor in mass communicationsRacine

Currently: Mayor, City of RacineFamily: Wife, Teresa; son: Riley;

daughter: EleanorOther UW-L ties: Brother,

Pete Dickert, ’84.

“i love coming back” WHAT’S yOUR TyPiCAL dAy LiKE?

My typical day as a mayor is undescribable. It would take way too long to explain.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF yOUR JOB? I get to come to work everyday in an effort to help

people. It’s very rewarding to put people and groups together to do good things for the city.

yOUR MOST iNTERESTiNG dAy AT WORK … I had the opportunity to meet with President Bar-

rack Obama when he came to Racine to hold a town hall meeting in June.

HOW dO yOU RELAx? I enjoy climbing mountains and spending time with

my kids. My favorite vacation spot is anywhere I don’t know someone and with my family.

HOW did yOU ENd UP COMiNG TO LA CROSSE? I followed my brother to campus in hopes of study-

ing television. I became involved in the political science group and worked with WMCM-TV. I left with way too many favorite memories to pick just one to tell.

WHO WAS yOUR FAVORiTE PROFESSOR? Dr. Joe Heim of the political science department.

He’s one of the main reasons I am where I am today — a mayor of a large city. He left such an impact on me that years after I graduated, I worked with other political science alums to form a scholarship through the UW-L Foundation that honors Dr. Heim.

WHAT ELSE? I love coming back every year for the alumni golf

outing to see former classmates and professors. I espe-cially enjoy catching up with Professor Joe Heim and Foundation President Al Trapp — two of my favorite people in the world! The day also allows for me to play a round of golf with my best friend Scott Meske, ’85.

President Barack obama samples a pecan kringle with Racine Mayor John Dickert during a 2010 visit.

Photos courtesy of Mark Hertzberg, The Racine Journal Times.


lorrainemoedavisc o n t i n U e d f r o m p A g e 2 6

kaThrynTrumbullfimreiTec o n t i n U e d f r o m p A g e 2 8

energy. Middle evening brings the opportunity to debrief and bring closure by acknowledging that someone was assisted by my action, interaction or intervention. Even if rather complex and difficult is-sues were dealt with, if a positive response to “Did I help someone today?” is possible it makes the effort and time worthwhile.

WHAT’S yOUR FAVORiTE LA CROSSE MEMORy?

I decided to go to La Crosse because of the national reputation of the physical education and teaching programs.

I talked to a student from my high school who was going to La Crosse and his perspective had an influence.

My FAVORiTE MEMORiES?

Student teaching and participating in competi-tions with other schools. We were not allowed to have “teams” per se but rather had sign-up sheets about who wanted to go and be part of a group to play another school. The faculty member taking the team to the contest would look over the list and post who was selected, some-times based on whether you had an automobile to assist with transporta-tion. That group might get together a couple of times and then take off in early morning to make the trip since we would usually return on the same day. On the sign-up sheet it in-dicated how much money we would need to contrib-ute for gas and then usu-

ally be responsible for our own meals. I played field hockey, softball, volleyball, basketball, bowling, track and field, and badminton with this process.

Student teaching was a very special time in my educational career. I taught mathematics and physi-cal education in Viroqua. Student teachers took a class from 7-8:30 a.m. on campus and then departed for our assignments. Three of us car-pooled and drove to Viroqua for a full day of teaching, returning by 4 or 5 pm to participate in activities back on campus. I enjoyed the camaraderie with my car mates as we solved our problems and issues on the commute.

WHO WAS yOUR FAVORiTE PROFESSOR?

Leo Schnur, math-ematics. He challenged me to be a mathemat-ics teacher; he taught mathematics as a process of thinking about solutions to problems with basic mathematical principles. That process and way of approaching things carried over to many other areas and into life in general.

Lee Stephenson, physi-cal education and WRA adviser. She believed in me and taught me about care-ful planning and record keeping, organizational skills, and the promo-tion of opportunities for women.

Beatrice Baird, physical education. She promoted my pursuit of graduate education and suggested I consider a doctorate pro-gram, which I eventually did. Her strong and deep preparation and focus on philosophical and theoreti-

cal foundations for sport and physical education was something that I didn’t re-ally appreciate at the time, but has been important in my continuing educa-tion and in the guiding of graduate students.

WHEN HAVE yOU USEd yOUR COLLEGE EdUCATiON RECENTLy?

Every day. Strategic thinking, problem solving, communication, both oral and written, accept-ing of differences, seeking knowledge and informa-tion, continuous learning.

WHAT ELSE? One of the important

outcomes of my UW-L education is the life-long friendships I have maintained for more than 40 years. The caliber of faculty, staff and students was exceptional. The overall focus on excel-lence in a genuine caring manner was realized in so many ways. I cherish the people and it will always be a special place.

ANd … One of the most

treasured events for me at UW-L was being named an Excellence Award recipient in Mitchell Hall. It was a special honor and one I hold in highest regard.

WHAT’S THE FAVORiTE PART OF yOUR dAy?

I’ve come to love mornings. (I didn’t in college — more of a night owl then!) I spend a couple hours at home working on various things on my computer, sipping coffee and easing into my day. I love that I don’t have to be somewhere everyday at a certain time right away in the morning.

ANy HOBBiES? I love to cook and be creative with

ingredients. (Recipes are a great place to start, but I usually improvise with what I have on hand!) I like to play rec team sports for fun and social interaction. About a year ago I started a running routine and have found that my creative thoughts really flow while I’m out there listening to music!

WHAT’S yOUR FAVORiTE VACATiON SPOT?

Sydney, Australia if we have a couple weeks ... or Puertos Adventuras, Mexico if we only have a long weekend.

HOW did yOU ENd UP COMiNG TO LA CROSSE?

I picked La Crosse because it was dif-ferent; no one in my family had gone there (youngest of seven) and not many from my high school had heard of it (except that Old Style was brewed there!) It was the right distance from home — far, but not a plane ride. And, playing a lot of sports, I thought I might be interested in physical therapy. My first visit was a one-day trip: my brother drove me, we walked around campus, had some pizza and beer at The Cellar and then drove back. It seems crazy that we didn’t stay overnight or take any campus tours, but I just wanted to get “a visual” of the place!


ThomasC.plegerc o n t i n U e d f r o m p A g e 2 7

WHAT’S yOUR FAVORiTE VACATiON SPOT?

Probably Door County and northern Wisconsin, but we enjoy spending as much free time at our home as possible.

HOW did yOU dECidEd TO COME TO LA CROSSE?

I attended a summer archaeology field school during high school. It allowed me to meet Dr. Jim Gallagher, Research Archaeologist Robert “Er-nie” Boszhardt and Dr. Jim Theler. I was impressed with the faculty and staff, as well as the campus, and the amazing geography and setting.

HOW did yOUR STU-dENT ORGANizATiON iNVOLVEMENT HELP SHAPE yOUR CAREER?

I was involved in the Mississippi Valley Archae-ology Center (MVAC) and spent many hours working on field projects and in the lab. My experience with MVAC gave me hands-on field experience, which gave me an advantage over fellow graduate students at UW-Madison.

WHAT’S yOUR FAVORiTE UW-L MEMORy?

I met my wife Teresa. We both lived in Wentz Hall and later started dating while I took my archaeology field school

course during summer 1988. We both have very fond memories of the cam-pus and the community and enjoyed spending time at Riverside, Pettibone, Grandad Bluff and Goose Island parks. I also partici-pated in the Wisconsin in Scotland (WIS) program during spring 1989. WIS was a transformational experience that resulted in lifelong friendships while providing my first real international experience.

WHO WAS yOUR FAVORiTE PROFESSOR ON CAMPUS ANd HOW did THEy LEAVE A LAST-iNG iMPACT?

Dr. Jim Gallagher was by far the most influential faculty member of my undergraduate experience. He provided guidance and advice, allowed me to work in the field and in the lab doing archaeol-ogy, recruited me to go to Scotland with him, introduced me and my wife to his family, and assisted in my acceptance into graduate school. Jim and Jan Gallagher continue to be good friends. Jim and I have motorcycled across the Four Corners Region of the Southwest.

I would also have to say that Archaeology Pro-fessor Dr. Jim Theler and Research Archaeologist Robert “Ernie” Boszhardt were also an important part in my development as an archaeology student. What made UW-L unusual was

the ability to get to know professors and researchers and spend time working with them outside the classroom.

HAVE yOU USEd yOUR COLLEGE EdUCATiON LATELy?

I use my liberal arts education skills every-day in my job! Problem solving, communication skills, the ability to work with a diverse group of people, are all important in my job. Although I have three degrees and 11 years of college, I would say the skills I learned during the first two years of my undergraduate experience at UW-L are by far the most important. My liberal arts education prepared me for success in graduate school, being successful as a research archaeologist, professor and eventually a university administrator.

ANyTHiNG ELSE? UW-L provided me

and my spouse with an outstanding education. We were able to get to know faculty, staff and fellow students, and were exposed to an excellent liberal arts curriculum. It was a tre-mendous value and by far one of the best investments we made.

WHAT’S yOUR FAVORiTE CAMPUS MEMORy?

There are a lot of them, but I came away with one of the most terrific net-work of friends, with whom, to this day, I still keep in touch.

WHO WAS yOUR FAVORiTE STAFF PERSON ON CAMPUS?

I did work-study in the Dean’s Office for the College of Business Administra-tion. I remember Amelia Dittman was a terrific adviser. Also, Sham Viyas, one of my marketing professors, had a really great relationship with his students.

HAVE yOU USEd yOUR COLLEGE EdUCATiON LATELy?

Recently, I applied for a variety of grants, both for myself as an individual artist and for the art program I’ve initiated at the after-school program. I used skills from college to organize the content of the grant and to not just “tell the story,” but “sell the story” in the application. Keeping in mind the audience that would be reviewing it, keeping it succinct and to the point, having all the necessary budget information as well as tracking methodology ... I felt like I was right back in a sales-marketing presentation class or doing my marketing research project for Cub Foods!

WHAT ELSE? I really appreciate the effort of sup-

port and recognition that UW-L has put forth toward alumni. I think it says a lot about the “personality” of the university.

32 UW-L ALUmnUs mAgAzine sUmmer 2010

Faculty and staff are the glue that keeps the university running smoothly. Without their guidance and support, we would not be where we are today. Many alums and non-alums work at UW-L and continue to give back to students (future generations of alumni) by joining the Alumni Association.

“My positions at UW-L have given me the opportunity to know literally thousands of students. The Alumni Association has allowed me to stay connected to those graduates and follow their careers and accomplishments,” notes Karla Stanek, ’75 & ’80, director of Career Services and Academic Advising Center.

“I joined initially out of respect for Eleanor Kennedy, the first Alumni Director,” says Carl Wimberly, professor emeritus. “I continue to be a member because I believe in the programs it offers and it has been a wonderful support to the university over the years.”

“I’m one of the lucky ones who gets to connect with UW-L and its alumni on a daily basis. The Alumni Association, first and foremost, is made up of UW-L alums (and friends) just like me,” notes Carla Burkhardt, ’86 & ’93, assistant to the dean, College of Science & Health. “We all share a comfort level, a common perspective. UW-L and the La Crosse area are such special places that there is an instant bond between alums, even if they are meeting for the first time.”

The Alumni Association supports students and alumni through Legacy scholarships, the Alumnus magazine, networking events, the Etiquette Dinner, Welcome Weekend events, Alumni Awards, and much more.

Become a life member and receive a special edition UW-L lapel pin! You can make two payments, if you’d prefer. Visit www.uwlalumni.org for all the latest alumni information.

As alumni, faculty and staff, we all belong to the UW-La Crosse family. We also belong to the Alumni Association and we want you to belong too. Please join today!

for you. for la crosse. for a lifetime.

karla Stanek ’75 & ’80

UW-La Crosse Alumni AssociationCleary Alumni & Friends Center

615 East Ave. N | La Crosse, WI 54601 USA608.785.8489 | 877.UWL.ALUM (877.895.2586)

www.uwlalumni.org | [email protected]

carl Wimberly

carla burkhardt’86 & ’93

To BELong: www.uwlalumni.org or 877.895.2586


’57Jo�Ann�Boyd�Scott has retired to Ashevville, N.C., but spends three months in Montana and Wyoming each summer. She misses teach-ing; she taught more biology and earth science than physical educa-tion. “I loved every day and I miss it,” she says. Her current volunteer “job” is designing websites for genealogytrails.com/mon (Mon-tana) and genealogytrails.com/wyo (Wyoming). Her husband, Lawrence, is an artist who designs jewelry.

’60Jeanne�(Lentz)�Ferraro, Racine, has received the Wisconsin Dance Council Lifetime Achievement Award, given to those whose life has centered on dance as a performer or educator enriching the state’s dance heritage.

’64Sandra�Wendorf�Libke and her husband, James, have sold their condo in La Crosse and have bought a home in the gated com-munity of Oyster Creek, Engle-wood, Fla.

’68ray�Byerly, Sheboygan, built a new “green” house that can be viewed at richlinebuilders.com; click on homes or home tours and click on the house in the upper right. They have a geothermal heat pump system that gathers hot air in the winter and cold air in the summer. Ray works for Lakeshore Technical College.

Jack�Connaughton, ’68 & ’71, Manhattan, Kan., plans to retire after 30 years as Associate Direc-tor/Director of Operations at the K-State Student Union at Kansas State University. He and his wife, Georgeann, have a country home near Cashton where they plan to live beginning in December 2010. He hopes for an opportunity to give back to UW-L as a volunteer.

Dean�J.�Schwarten, Cedarburg, has retired from teaching physical education and coaching in Cedar-burg for 33 years. He lives with his wife, Lois (Graff), who attended in ’62 & ’63. They have three grown children: Dean Jr., Neenah; Doug, ’91, Cedarburg; and Daren, ’93, West Bend, who with his wife, Kerie, has daughters, Talor and Grace.

’69Theo�Lynn�Flickinger, La Crosse, has been teaching English for 20 years at Western Technical College in La Crosse. Flickinger has three children, Shannon (37), Erin (35) and Andrew (28).

Mary�(Tornowske)�Lubner, Cedarburg, recently returned from a month in South Korea where she was a chaperone for a 4-H youth exchange program.

’71rinda�(reinold)�Schibi, Cincin-nati, took early retirement from her job as a system analyst at Ohio Casualty Insurance Co. She is now activities coordinator at the Alois Alzheimer Center in Greenhills, Ohio.

’72Everett�Bellamy, ’72 & ’74, Wash-ington, D.C., has retired after serv-ing as a dean in the JD Program of Georgetown University Law Center for 30 years. He will continue to teach as an adjunct professor.

THEy’LL BE PART OF iT: Ny, Ny

UW-L’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble has been asked to par-ticipate in the Distinguished Concerts International Vocal Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall in May. The ensemble, conducted by Music Profes-sor Gary Walth, will perform a solo set and join other groups to form the Distin-guished Concerts Singers International, a mass jazz choir of distinction.

carla burkhardt’86 & ’93

To BELong: www.uwlalumni.org or 877.895.2586


’74Bonnee�(Anderson)�Nelson, Mission Viejo, Calif., has worked as a registered nurse at Mission Hospital for 22 years. She’s cur-rently working in cardiac rehab and preoperative testing. She and her husband, M. Peter, planned to show their son the campus when she attended the Pompon Reunion during Oktoberfest.

’75Vickie�Evenson, La Crosse, is a certified optician at Gundersen Lutheran. She is excited to be on staff again where she worked 10 years ago.

’76Li�Anne�Wai`oli�Taft, ’76 & ’86, Seattle, works with leisure service management at Wai`oli Creative Services. She organized a UW-L reunion in Honolulu for alumni in the islands in 1999 and looks forward to planning more in the Northwest.

Mary�Beth�(Wambach)�Volz, Sus-sex, traveled to Haiti on a mission trip as part of a 15-member team from Praise Temple Church. They organized religious gatherings, conducted free medical clinics and supplied food to an orphanage.

’77Mark�Hartman, Sun Prairie, passed his final Actuarial Exam in 2009 and has achieved the desig-nation of Fellow in the Society of Actuaries. He passed the first two actuarial exams while a student at UW-L in 1977.

’78Kevin�J.�Kenny, Rochester, Minn., is an instructional designer in the Education Technology Center in Mayo Clinics College of Medicine. He recently received a doctorate from the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development. He and his wife, Kathleen, have three children who

are attending graduate school and undergraduate school at the University of Minnesota and Creighton University.

Mary�J.�(rudolph), ’78, and Thomas�W.�ottman, ’79, live in Andover, Minn. After receiving a bachelor’s in health adminis-tration, Mary went on to get a master’s from the University of Minnesota in Public Health Admin-istration. She founded Siena Soap Co. (www.sienasoap.com) three years ago and is busy developing, manufacturing and selling all-natural soaps, lip balms, lotions and salves. Thomas has worked in investment management since 1981. He currently works with a local Minneapolis firm as an independent contractor managing investment portfolios for several of the local trade unions, as well as to small to mid-sized corporations and individuals. They have five children ranging in age from 11 to 26. While two of their children re-cently graduated from St. Thomas

University and Bethel University, they hope at least one of their chil-dren will follow in their footsteps and graduate from UW-L.

’79Phillip�E.�Hohensee, Buena Park, Calif., is a teacher at Cypress (Calif.) High School, a pastor at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Los Angeles and part owner of Acad-emy 4 Test Prep. He and his wife, Jo Anne, have a daughter, Phija.

’81Nancy�Vittone�Paddison, Pearland, Texas, was named the “Heart of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center” for December 2009. The award is given monthly to one outstanding employee of the cancer center and is based on peer nomination and approval by an institution-wide committee. Paddison is a

COLLEGE WEBSiTESCollege of Business Adminstration:

www.uwlax.edu/ba

College of Liberal Studies: www.uwlax.edu/LS

College of Science and Health: www.uwlax.edu/sah

CONNECT WiTH yOUR

OLd COLLEGEThe university’s three

colleges have websites and alumni newsletters. Keep your address info updated at www.uwlalumni.org/

whatsnew.htm

Alums held their 33rd annual La Crosse Inverrary Classic this sum-mer. With some members attending the Pom Pon reunion in Oc-tober, attendance was lower. Chancellor Joe Gow joined the group to provide a campus update. Those attending, from left, included: Tom Litterski, Tom Kelly, Paul Beitlich, John O’Connor, Mike Welsh, Tim Guth, Bill Harlos, Steve Ward, Mike Noll, Paul Nelson and Dick Thorpe. Commish Jeff Bloxdorf took the picture.

CLASSiC iN iTS 33Rd SEASON

physical therapist assistant in the outpatient rehabilitation services department.

Allan�(Al)�J.�Pahl, Green Bay, re-turned to working from his home after 14 years at Camera Corner/Connecting Point in Titletown. He works in technical support and client training for Management Information Group, an Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, firm that writes student information systems software for the K-12 market.

’84Debe�Kortness, Kotzebue, Alaska, is a nurse educator. “Funny how much of my Rec degree I use in all my jobs in ‘non-related’ fields,” she says. “Thanks, UW-L!”

Jane�M.�osterhaus retired as a professor in kinesiology at San Jose State University in May 2010 after 23 years. She relocated to New Vienna, Iowa, and was named head varsity softball and co-head volleyball coach at Beckman Catholic High School. Osterhaus works as a substitute teacher in the area.

Denine�rood, ’84 & ’04, is vice president of learning at Wauke-sha County Technical College in Pewaukee.

’85Doreen�Lemke, Grayslake, Ill., loved swimming for La Crosse and still enjoys returning for swim-ming and alumni events. Another favorite memory for her is working with Jerry Culver. Doreen still loves visiting with Jerry’s wife, Anna Beth Culver, when she’s in town. She’s most proud to share

For more than 30 years, Karla Stanek has helped

students land a job. Now, she has a new job herself — Mrs. Oktoberfest.

The title honors a La Crosse-area woman who has impacted the community in her profession and as a volunteer. Stanek spent Oktoberfest week traveling throughout the com-munity with the Royal Family, and will represent the area during the next year.

Stanek, director of UW-L Career Services and the Academic Advising Center, was humbled and honored when asked to serve. “I didn’t know what to say when I was asked to be Mrs. Oktoberfest,” she re-

calls. “I know there are so many deserving women in the area who could be given the honor. I was deeply humbled.”

As a person deeply com-mitted to community service, Stanek chose “Take Time to Give Back” as her theme for her year-long reign. The theme ap-pears prominently on the button she handed out to festgoers.

The encouraging phrase has been something Stanek has impressed upon thousands of students she has met with and mentored during her 34+ years on campus. “I deeply believe it’s vitally important to give back to the community in which you live,” she explains.

The Independence, Wis.,

native holds two UW-L de-grees — a bachelor’s in mass communications in 1975 and a master of education-profes-sional development in 1980. After serving as publications editor on campus for nearly a year shortly after earning her bachelor’s degree, Stanek has worked in the university’s Career Services Office since. In 1999, she became the office’s director.

Stanek and her husband, John, ’76, live in La Crosse and have two grown daughters, Kasey and Kelly.

GiViNG BACKKARLA STANEK, ’75 & ’80, 2010 MRS. OKTOBERFEST BELiEVES iN VOLUNTEERiNG

Karla Stanek, ’75 and ’80, was named Mrs. oktoberfest in octo-ber. She’ll represent the La Crosse area as part of oktoberfest’s Royal Family.



La Crosse with her 7-year-old daughter and bridge the old and new parts of her life together.

Douglas�Michele�Turco, ’85 & ’89, Bethlehem, Pa., received the 2010 Outstanding Researcher Award by the Goodwin College of Profes-sional Studies at Drexel University, where he is an associate profes-sor.

’86Susie�Jans-Thomas, Pensacola, Fla., is working for the University of West Florida in the doctoral pro-gram for curriculum and diversity

studies. She hopes to open an “Office of Diversity Studies.”

Sheila�(Wirkus)�Psolka has been hired as Director of Field Experience in the UW-L School of Education after 25 years in the Sonora Desert in Yuma, Ariz., as a high school teacher and administrator. She’s happy to be home!

’88rod�Gabriel, Fredonia, accepted a position as a member of the global VMware User’s Group (VMUG) Board of Directors in June.

’89Scott�Belcher, Minneapolis, is a full-time realtor covering residential sales in the Twin Cities. He had been a residential supervisor for individuals with developmental disabilities, men-tal illness and traumatic brain injury for 20 years.

robert�P.�Bender married Sarah Beth Hammett June 19, 2010. They spent their honeymoon on an Alaskan cruise before return-ing to live in Artesia, N.M. Robert is a tenured history professor at

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell.

’90ronald�J.�Counsell, Watertown, owned and operated a business for 13 years until three years ago when he changed careers and joined Edward Jones Investments as a financial adviser. He opened his own office in May and reports “everything is going great.”

Melissa�Graff, Holmen, and Dean-na�Lee, ’92, La Crosse, recently performed four-hand piano works at a La Crosse concert. UW-L Pro-fessor Dallas Weekley paired them as a piano duo more than 20 years ago. They played duet works ed-ited by emeriti Dallas Weekley and Nancy Arganbright and composed by Vanhall, Federer, Pachelbel and Joyce Grill.

Andy Temte, ’88, closed the New York Stock Exchange last spring. The La Crosse-based Kaplan Professional CEO rang the final trading bell March 12, marking the firm’s Schweser Study Program’s 20th anniver-sary.

“The bell ringing was one of the top 10 things I’ve ever done and it wouldn’t have happened without the strong team I have working along side me,” says Temte.

Thirty employees joined Temte when he stood on the balcony overlooking the floor. “It was a wonderful way to kick

off the company’s 20th,” he notes. “We are very fortunate and humbled to have had the opportunity to help so many students achieve success on the highly sought-after CFA designation.”

The Schewser Study Program has helped more than 100,000 investment profes-sionals study for the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, along with other certification and licensing exams. See the bell clos-ing at www.nyse.com/events/1268219685731.html

BELL RiNGER

MORE OKTOBERFEST ROyALTy

Karla Stanek wasn’t the only 2010 Royal Family member with UW-L ties. Student Elizabeth Kramer was crowned Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest 2010. Along with traveling with the 2010 Oktoberfest Roy-alty until next year’s fest, Kramer will represent the area at the Miss Wisconsin scholarship pageant.

Class of ’52 physical education majors got together for a traditional Wisconsin Fish Fry in July. Ken and Marie (Molstad) Potterton, Oshkosh, seated, and Nancy (Hamilton) Dunbar, Colorado Springs, Colo., enjoyed food and friendship in Wautoma. Dunbar’s deceased husband, Bill, was a Beta member with Ken.

FiSH FRy WiTH FRiENdS


Take the lead in get-ting the new online

student information system implemented. Check.

Serve as the go-be-tween for the Student As-sociation and La Crosse MTU to get the Safe Ride and U-PASS programs up and running. Check.

Provide oversight for the partnership with Follett Higher Education Group University Book-store and Textbook Rental operations. Check.

The tasks on Debbie Veglahn’s to-do list are as many as they are varied. For more than a decade Veglahn has been the go-to person for the university’s vice chancel-lor for administration and finance. For two decades before that, she helped employees with human resources issues.

Veglahn has found success because of her positive attitude and willingness to take on new challenges, as well as her humble leadership style. “I’ve always en-joyed helping people with whatever project needs to get done,” she says. Her work has been so impres-sive that colleagues gave her the 2010 Academic Staff Excellence Award.

Veglahn started work-ing on campus in 1974, shortly after dropping out of college. She had come to UW-L a year earlier, but had to quit because she didn’t have money to return. Her future mother-in-law convinced her to take the state’s civil service exam. Veglahn did. She passed and soon found herself as a typist

and receptionist in the Personnel Office in Graff Main Hall.

Despite holding a full-time job, Veglahn didn’t turn from her desire

to earn a college degree. She took a class a semester until nearing her management informa-tion systems degree in the late ’90s. Then, she doubled up on classes so she could graduate before her son.

After earning her degree — with honors — in spring 1999, Veglahn was asked by then Vice Chancellor Sue Schoen-berger to become her assistant. She managed a variety of projects for nu-merous vice chancellors and supervised a number of campus service units. She also championed getting classified staff not on computers online access so they could access needed personnel services.

In 2007, Veglahn became project man-ager for the new Student Information System. Following that success, Veglahn began overseeing Follett’s operation of the Bookstore and Textbook Rental. She’s currently heading up implementa-tion of Image Now, a program for electronic storage of documents as part of UW-L’s paperless environment efforts.

If she had an op-portunity to start her career over, Veglahn would no doubt pick UW-L. But, she would earn her degree earlier. “I wish I would have stayed in school,” she says. “A major motivation was that I didn’t want to be turned down for job advance-ment because I didn’t have a degree.”

THE GO TO FOR TO dOdEBBiE VEGLAHN, ’99, HAS LONG LiST OF CAMPUS ACCOMPLiSHMENTS

• Began as a typist and receptionist in the UW-L Personnel Office, August 1974, after completing a year of college on campus. Dropped out because she didn’t have any money to continue college.

• Took classes while working full time, being a wife and mother of two boys. Earned a degree — with honors — in management information systems in 1999.

• Became Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance in June 1999. Worked on numer-ous major campus initiatives, includ-ing: Growth, Quality and Access; Student Information System; University Bookstore and Textbook Rental changeover; U-PASS and Safe Ride; Image Now initiative.

deb’s file

Writing helped Kent Koppelman cope with losing his 19-year-old son in a car accident more than 20 years ago. And, it’s helped the retired teacher educa-tion professor deal with deaths of his parents, a sister and close friends since. Now, his words are helping others who have suffered loss of a loved one.

Professor Emeritus Koppelman just com-pleted his second book on loss, “Wrestling With the Angel: Literary Writings and Reflec-tions on Death, Dying and Bereavement.”

“Ever since my son’s death in 1989, I have found that writing about grief has been enormously helpful for me to deal with grief,” explains Koppelman. “Sometimes the words come faster than oth-ers. The book about

Jason’s death was written very quickly as the words rushed out on paper to define and confine the pain I was feeling. But it took me over three years to finally write the poem in the book about my mother’s death. I can’t explain why that is, but I don’t need to.”

The book includes essays, a one-act play, a short story, poetry and quotations. Along with helping those hurt-ing from loss, the book aims to help scholars, hospice workers, funeral home directors, chaplains, ministers and others who work with bereavement.

To find out more about Koppelman’s books, search by author at www.bay-wood.com and www.pearsoned.co.uk/Book-shop.

An alum currently living in Portland, Ore., recently completed his third book of poetry, “Twenty-Four Hours of Darkness, Twenty-Four Hours of Light.”

Christopher Keller, ’02, penned the book as an independent read and companion poetry book to Julio Cortá-zar’s 1963 antinovel, “Hopscotch.” The book has been nominated for the 2010 Oregon Book Award for Poetry.

Keller is a poet, poetry group founder, teacher and race director. Since arriving

in Portland in 2004, he has worked as advertising director for Portland’s literary jour-nal Poetry Northwest while completing his second book of po-etry, “Blindfolding the Nearsightedness of the Body.” He is an active member of the Oregon State Poetry Associa-tion and Oregon’s The Lane Literary Guild.

Keller teaches and reads his works throughout Wisconsin, Montana and Oregon. See more or buy the book at poetchristo-pherkeller.com.

“WRESTLiNG WiTH THE ANGEL”

“TWENTy-FOUR HOURS OF dARKNESS … “

Matthew�Nowakowski, Plymouth, Minn., received a doctor of educa-tion degree from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in March. He serves as director of MBA pro-grams for Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities campus.

Julie�Pool is the director of social services at The Good Samaritan Health Care Facility in St. Croix Falls.

’91Tami�Carpenter-olney, Phoenix, has taught for 19 consecutive years in Arizona. She is currently a world language Spanish teacher at an International Primary School in the Paradise Valley Unified School District where she’s been for 14 years. “Talk about having a Mid-western work ethic, this longevity is almost unheard of out here in Arizona,” she notes. After 12 years of marriage and three daughters, she was divorced in March 2007. She has a renewed vision to return to Wisconsin. She tells her students that their undergraduate college years will be some of their best. “I will never forget the warm culture that I experienced in God’s Country,” she says. “The highlight of my college education was being a foreign exchange student to Valladolid, Spain. I’m so satisfied I took full advantage of this opportu-nity of a lifetime. I have no regrets, and the six years that I lived in La Crosse were the best, carefree, innocent years of my life.”

’93Corey, ’93, and�Tamie�Weydert, ’94, live in Lancaster. Corey is director of rehabilitation at Grant Regional Health Center; Tamie works at Tricor Insurance. They’re


proud their oldest daughter en-rolled at UW-L this fall.

’94Jason�Parr, St. Paul, Minn., is co-founder and co-owner of JSP Properties, a full-service property management company offering professional services for residen-tial properties in the Twin Cities.

Willem�Van�roosenbeek, ’92 & ’97, married Tara�De�Long, ’94, May 1, 2010. They live in La Crosse. Will works as the Pride Center director at UW-L. In spring 2010 he received the UW System P.B. Poorman award for Outstand-ing Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQ People. Tara is currently a part-time graduate student in the UW-L Community Health Program. She continues to work at Gundersen Lutheran as a certified therapeutic recreation specialist.

Susan�Whittle, ’94, married Dennis Stank May 24, 2008. They live in Cedarburg. Erin Kimberly was born Feb. 16, 2009. Dennis adopted Sean Christopher May 5, 2009.

’95Keith�Steenlage, Silvis, Ill., has been promoted to assistant general counsel in the Law Depart-ment at John Deere, a manufac-turer of agricultural and forestry equipment.

’97Becky�L.�Belter, Jackson, Mich., has been named chair of the De-partment of Language, Literature and Arts at Jackson Community College.

CLASS OF ’61 ANd PRiOR RExFORd MiTCHELL SOCiETy 50 yEAR REUNiON PLANNEd

Each year, alumni marking their 50th anniversary of graduating from UW-L are welcome to join the Rexford Mitchell Society. Pictured above is the Class of ’59, a special class that graduated during the university’s 50th anniversary and held their special reunion 50 years later during UW-L’s centennial celebration in 2009.

Are you a member of the Class of ’61? Or, from a class that

graduated prior to ’61? Mark your calendar for a special reunion Oct. 14-16, 2011.

That’s when the Class of ’61 will be inducted into the Rexford Mitchell Society. And, the Alumni Association will celebrate all

grads of 50 or more years.Plans include a get-

reacquainted social, tours of Centennial Hall and the new residence hall, a reunion dinner, and a football game. Help plan the reunion or get more information from [email protected].

thinking about a reunion?interested in planning a college reunion? UW-L reunions take place on campus — and throughout the world! Get your Alumni Association helpful planning guide by calling 877.895.2586.

Pictured to the right are the members of the class of 1960 who returned to campus last year.


’98Shannon�K.�Cisewski, Minneapo-lis, was hired in March 2009 as an assistant professor at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota for the doctorate in education leadership program.

Houa�Xiong, ’98 & ’00, a senior academic adviser in the UW-Oshkosh Undergraduate Advising Resource Center, received an

Outstanding Ser-vice Award from the university in September. The award recogniz-es non-teaching faculty and

academic staff whose contribu-tions enhance the institution’s overall academic environment and educational goals.

’99Cindy�(Nerbun)�Burgos and her family have returned to the states after nearly six years in Brazil. They are now in the Houston area where her husband, U.B., is an IT manager with Exxon Mobil. Cindy continues to be at home on leave with their two children, Diego (4) and Victor (1).

Diana�(Stein)�Clark lives in New Glarus with her husband, Josh, and two children, Kaylie, (4) and Mya (1). She works in human resources- benefits in Madison and enjoys playing with her kids, yoga, reading, scuba diving and traveling.

’00Kate�L.�Braasch, Wauwatosa, earned a master’s in leadership studies from Marquette Univer-sity in December 2009. She is currently director of advancement relations at Marquette.

Kimberly�(Wilson)�Holst, Phoe-nix, is an associate clinical profes-sor of law at the Sandra Day O’ Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

’01Allison�Wiest, Makawao, Hawaii, has been living on Maui for eight years. She recently got a job as the East Maui Watershed Partner-ship’s Community Outreach and Education Liaison. The East Maui Watershed Partnership (EMWP) is an environmental effort between federal, state and private land-owners to preserve the native for-est. She educates the public and schools about water resources

A generous grant from the M&I Foundation will help minority students in need from Milwaukee go to UW-L. The $30,000 grant will provide five $2,000 scholarships for minority students from the central part of the city. The scholarships are renewable for up to three years beginning in fall 2011. The scholar-ship was announced at last fall’s Multicultural Reunion (pictured above).

GRANT FUNdS SCHOLARSHiPS FOR MiLWAUKEE-AREA MiNORiTiES

A long-time corporate attorney with extensive work with small businesses has returned to campus to head the UW-L Small Business Development Center. Anne�Morgan�Hlavacka (lah-VAH-kah), an ’84 gradu-ate in political science, became director of the center in June.

Before taking the job, Hlavacka spent more than 20 years in private law practice at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren in Milwaukee “I’m excited about being able to use the skills from my practice in business law and extend them to more than just one client at a time,” says Hlavacka.

The SBDC is known and has worked well with busi-nesses throughout western Wisconsin, says Hlavacka. She intends that to continue.

Hlavacka sees the La Crosse area’s thriving health-care and technology-based organizations as a springboard for developing more business. “You really want to see these types of businesses take off,” she says. “La Crosse is a very attractive area for these busi-nesses.”

The center serves Buffalo, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon counties.

ALUM HEAdiNG UP SBdC


by doing presentations and field study hikes.

’03Anthony�“Tony”�Derosa has been named assistant principal at Butler Middle School in Waukesha. His wife, Gretchen, is a read-ing specialist in the Wauwatosa School District. They are living in New Berlin and are thrilled to have moved the family back to Wisconsin.

Karyn�Sobczak, married William J. Elliott July 31st, 2010. They live in West Milwaukee. After five years, she’s still the business systems manager with First Stage Children’s Theater in Milwaukee.

Judy�L.�Stoney, Clinton, retired from Clinton Elementary School in June 2010 after teaching 29 years. She taught second grade — an age/grade level she felt very passionate about – for 28 years. In retirement, she plans to travel, play golf, read for leisure, and spend time with family and friends at the family’s cabin in Waters-meet, Mich.

’04Justin�P.�Moore moved to Colo-rado Springs, Colo., in October 2010 with his wife, Julia, and two-month old son, Colin James. He is working as an attorney for the Army at Fort Carson, Colo.

’05Sarah�Seitz, ’05 &‘07, Whitewater, an academic adviser in the UW-Whitewater Academic Advising & Exploration Center, received a

Thread Logic founder and president Jeff�Taxdahl has

been named a 2010 Minneso-tan on the Move by Finance and Commerce. Taxdahl, ’86, was honored in April and featured in the Twin Cities newspaper, Finance and Commerce. He’s pictured here with his wife, Wenda, right, who is part of Thread Logic’s team.

Also, Thread Logic won the 2010 Integrity Award from

the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota. The company was chosen for exemplifying the highest ethical standards and behavior in busi-ness, and displaying integrity in all operations.

Taxdahl founded the embroidery and logowear com-pany known for its Web-based marketing, quality work and customer service in 2002. He was one of 38 entrepreneurs

and business leaders to receive the award.

The award was created to “cast an eye on the future of Minnesota’s business land-scape by choosing a group of business people who have what it takes to gain great promi-nence in their field.”

‘2010 MiNNESOTAN OF THE yEAR’JEFF TAxdAHL, ’86 EARNS HONOR


When Joel Larson was di-agnosed with stage-four

lymphoma, he was told he had only a short time to live. He had no idea where or how to begin planning for death. And, he was also concerned about how he would be remembered by family and friends.

Larson, ’83, found nothing to help with pre-planning death and remembrance issues, so he invented assistance.

That was more than six years ago, and Larson has fully recovered from cancer. During that recovery, Larson carefully crafted a business plan and launched www.GreatBoo-kofLife.com.

The online resource provides:

• A place where people can write and publish life sto-ries of family members or loved ones who have died. The stories will be stored for future genera-tions.

• A place where people can write their own life story in advance of any health issues or life-threatening conditions.

• An End-of-Life Planning Guide offering a directory of end-of-life resources and services.

Larson says everyone should enter their senior years with peace of mind knowing their affairs are in order and their loved ones are protected.

LyMPHOMA FOR LEGACiESALUM’S BRUSH WiTH CANCER SAVES LiFE STORiES

2010 Outstanding New Advisor Cer-tificate of Merit from the National Academic Advis-ing Association.

Sarah�(Wilson)�Wood, Fish Creek, is manager of the Pamida retail store in Sister Bay. She and her husband, Rick, are happy in their little home with a wonderful cat, Gunther.

’06Matthew�P.�Cody, Milwaukee, is on the tax team with RitzHolman CPAs, a Milwaukee-based account-ing firm and has been promoted to supervisor.

Katherine�Haake, Colfax, received a doctor of medicine degree from The Medical College of Wisconsin in

Milwaukee in May.

’07Martha�Jacobs, Beaver Dam, a PR Specialist at C. Blohm & As-sociates, has contributed to the agency’s success for more than three years. CB&A was named a runner up in the small agency category in PRSourceCode’s Top Tech Communicator survey.

Jay�Gorsh, North Liberty, Iowa, is in his first year of a doctorate program at the University of Iowa. He is a research assistant for a science education grant and a fa-cilitator for the University of Iowa’s High Adventure Challenge Course.

’08Frank�Fiordellisi,�Jr., North Liberty, Iowa, is substitute teach-ing and coaching in the Iowa City Community School District.

Hollie�Nyseth, Neillsville, has re-ceived a 2010 Vincent L. Hawkin-

son Foundation scholarship in recognition of her efforts to promote a more peaceful and just world. She is currently

pursuing a doctorate at the Univer-sity of Minnesota in sociology with a minor in human rights.

’09Joshua�B.�Hockett, Columbia, Mo., is the coordinator of strength and conditioning for MizzouRec.

Kimberly�Schoenfeld, Ocono-mowoc, is serving with a team of AmeriCorps National Civilian Com-munity Corps members to support rebuilding efforts in New Orleans.

’10Jonathan�M.�DeVries, Randolph, is the business office manager of Human Resources at the Golden Living facility in Beaver Dam. He had been an employee at Golden Living in Randolph. He’s a member of the Rotary Club of Beaver Dam, the Dodge County YMCA and the Kiwanis Club of Randolph.

Lisa�r.�McGrath, Bloomington, Minn., started with the Univer-sity of Phoenix in August as an Enrollment Counselor/Account Executive.


Political Science and Public Administration Profes-

sor Cecilia Manrique wanted her African Government and Politics class to get a feel of the country. So, she teamed up with Mia Badenhorst, Univer-sity of Pretoria (South Africa) Golden Key adviser and a colleague and friend.

“I thought it would be a good idea to have my students raise questions and issues with students from the country we were studying,” explains Manrique. The students posed questions to each other through a shared computer learning system before meet-

ing face-to-face via video conferencing.

“It was a very success-ful meeting,” says Manrique. “My students agreed it seems the South Africans knew a lot about American politics and asked about election results. They learned that South African students speak an average of three languages each.”

The visit overseas wasn’t the first for one of Manrique’s classes. Last spring her students “traveled” to Qatar. She intends to link with a Latin American college in spring when she teaches a Contempo-rary Latin America class.

VidEO TRiP

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Class of 20??Natalie�J.�Wichgers, ’89, and Dean J. Pitcher, Franklin, a daugh-ter, Mary Rose, June 18, 2010. She joins brothers James (18), Tony (14), Mike (12), Peter (10), and David (6); and sisters Mary Pat (16), Mary Clare (8) and Mary Therese (4). Natalie loves being an at-home mom taking care of such an awesome clan!

Julie�(Droessler), ’94, and James Beck, Dayton, Ohio, a daughter, Sophia Grace, March 13, 2010. She joins a brother, Brady James (2). Julie is still working as an attorney with the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office cur-rently practicing in the area of labor and employment law.

Virgil, ’96, and Kristin�(Peterson), ’97, Jones, Jordan, Minn., twin sons, Madden Eugene and Porter Harrison. They join sister Samara and brother Elijah. “Kristin and I look forward to all of them becom-ing La Crosse Eagles,” says Virgil.

Vicki�(Hermanson), ’98, and Bran-don Ferrell, Edgerton, a daughter, Ava Hays, May 20, 2010. Vicki works for the Edgerton School District.

Kimberly�(overlie), ’99, and Brian L. Frutiger, Minneapolis, a daugh-ter, Kathryn Acadia, April 20, 2010. She joins sister Isabella.

Susan�(Knaus), ’99, and Jerry VanDenLangenberg, Janesville, a son, William, May 13, 2010. Susan works for the school district of Beloit.

Kristin�(Ponto), ’99, and Daniel Wilkins, Aurora, Colo., a daughter, Hailey Lyn, July 27 2010. Kristin works for the City of Aurora.

Christie�(Kerr), ’01, and Soren Gajewski, Sturtevant, a son, Jacek Louis Aug. 11, 2009. He joined brothers Aiden (7) and Shea (6), and sister Eleanor (2 ). Christie was promoted to the literacy coach position at Mitchell Middle School and works collabora-tively with teachers, students and administrators on reading and writing across the curriculum.

ryan�J., ’02, and Heidi�(Hipen-becker)�Meyer, ’01, New Lisbon, a son, Micah Raymond, June 10, 2010. He joins sisters Megan (6) and Madison (4), and brothers Mason (2) and Marshall (1). Ryan works for the New Lisbon schools; Heidi is a stay-at-home mom.

rebecca�(Yohn), ’02, and Jeremy Smith, Jefferson, a daughter, Isabella Mallory, Jan. 7, 2010.

Carrie�Meyer�McFarlane, ’03, and Dean W. McFarlane, Marshfield, a son, Reid Patrick, July 14, 2010. He joins brother Beckett (2). Carrie is employed by Figi’s.

Kristen�(Anderson), ’03, and Tony Possley, De Pere, a daughter, Harper Reese, March 28, 2010. Kristen is employed with Marshall & Ilsley Bank.

Melissa�(Keough), ’06, and Timothy ruder, Memphis, Tenn., a daughter, Sofia Lorraine Feb. 26, 2010. Melissa works for Memphis City Schools.

UW-L ALUmnUs mAgAzine sUmmer 2010 43


iN MEMORy1935: Lillian�Clark�George, Napa, Calif.1937: Helen�G.�(Thomasgard)�

Clausius, Richland Center1937: Marjorie�(Thoreson)�Sacia�Lee,

Holmen1943: Marion�Fremlin, La Crosse1945: M.�Lucia�“Punky”�(Weiss)�

Gronbeck, Madison1945: Marian�Hammes, Barre Mills1948: ruth�Kaun�Emerick,

Brookings, S.D.1948: Jean�Foss, La Crosse1949: Donald�Keenan�Sr., Kewaunee1953: William�Glynn�Humphrey,

Racine1953: Eileen�Muth, Jefferson1956: James�C.�Blackwood, Beloit1959: robert�“Bob”�A.�ritter,

La Crosse1960: Beatrice�“Bea”�(Nundahl)�

Hillbo, Viroqua1962: John�“Tony”�Anthony�Desmond,

Watertown1963: Blanche�A�Harder,

Mechanicsville, Va.1963: Mathias�James�“Jim”�Noel,

Pepin1964: Eugene�Kohlmeyer,

Black River Falls1966: Jeffry�B.�Klund,

Sun City West, Ariz.1967: �Earleen�Joyce�(Miller)�

Wardwell, San Antonio

1971: James�E.�rahn, La Crosse1972: Merna�(Feathers)�Koula,

Barre Mills1975�&�1990: Darlene�Zielinski�

Parker, La Crosse1975: Michael�r.�Strasser, Onalaska1978: William�T.�Weitzel,

Saint Joseph, Mich. 1982: JoAnne�“Joie”�K.�olson,

La Crosse1983: robert�osterhaus,

Burnsville, Minn.1987: Andrew�riemann�Fries,

Onalaska1994: Andrea�“And”�(olson)�Tomten,

Coon Valley2000: Sam�Felland, La Crosse2001: Jeremy�Cox, Houston, Minn.2009: Emily�Mae�Seay, Superior

r e m e m b e r i n g

diSABiLiTy didN’T SLOW HER dOWNLiFE REMEMBEREd — MARiAN HAMMES

Marian Hammes had a pioneer

spirit and didn’t let a disability slow her down.

Hammes survived polio at age 2 that left her right arm disfigured. Even so, she played the piano using only her knuckles, lived independently in her rural home and engaged plenty of college students learning to be educa-tors.

Hammes, 94, of Barre Mills, died Sept. 5.

Hammes grew up in rural Barre Mills along with her seven brothers. She never married but cared for her older brother, Harold, who was develop-mentally disabled.

Her disability was “noth-ing you thought about,” said her 59-year-old niece Michaeline Kay.

“She accepted it, but I think other people could look at it as a weakness. There was no way she was going to let other people do that,” Kay said.

As a teacher in a rural school, she taught up to eight grade levels in one room while stoking the wood stove and feeding her students lunch, said Burt Altman, former professor at UW-L and friend. Her teaching experi-ence led to a career at the university, where she taught future teachers during a ca-reer of more than 30 years.

It was unusual for a woman at that time to obtain

a master’s degree and the career she eventually had, said Norma Altman, a close friend.

“Marian, in many ways, was a tough woman. She had to be. She was a woman pro-fessor in a day when women were treated not as equals in any field,” Burt Altman said.

As a teacher, Hammes didn’t just stand behind a podium, her colleagues said.

She sometimes took her teacher-education students to public grade-school classes where she would demonstrate the process of teaching, Burt Altman said.

“That took a lot of guts because you were dealing with an unknown … the kids,” he added.

She was a leader in establishing the early childhood education program at UW-L. An early childhood education center at UW-L was dedicated to her in 1984.

Although she had no children, Hammes had close relation-ships with her many

nieces and nephews.Kay said when she was

a child, Hammes would take her to the woods to pick mushrooms or paint trees or “whatever caught her eye.”

Another niece, Rose Hammes, said she and her aunt would sit in the sunroom of her aunt’s rural Barre Mills home and watch the birds.

Marian Hammes always had good advice about life, Rose Hammes said.

“She intuitively could understand people’s conflicts and help them work through them,” she said. “She always made time for you.”

Yet, she wasn’t one to draw attention to herself, Burt Altman said.

If she were alive now and heard the kind words about her, “she would be blushing,” he said.

Article courtesy of La Crosse Tribune

“Marian, in

many ways,

was a tough

woman. She

had to be.”

Burt Altman

UW-L ALUmnUs mAgAzine sUmmer 2010 45

AdVOCATE FOR SOCiAL JUSTiCELiFE REMEMBEREd — dARLENE JOAN ziELiNSKi PARKER

LiNdA HOST JEAN LOiS FOSS

EiLEEN P. MUTH

PAULiNE A. ABEL

Darlene Joan Zie-linski Parker had

several passions in life: grandchildren, gardens and a deep devotion to social justice.

Parker, who earned two degrees from UW-L: a bachelor’s in 1976 and a master’s in 1981, taught at La Crescent (Minn.) Elementary School for 31 years. She died June 18, 2010, at the age of 67 following a 25-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Parker was an early civil rights advocate beginning in the ’60s. She had an unrelent-ing opposition to racism, sexism, homophobia and war.

In the mid-‘60s, Parker

lead La Crosse’s opposition to the Vietnam War. Later, she contributed a quilt to the Names Memorial Quilt Project, honoring her brother, Robert, who died in 1992.

Parker loved the state’s landscape and wildlife. Her favorite spots were Land O’ Lakes, Eagle River and Sliver Lake. She loved the La Crosse River marsh and walked there daily. Her children and grand-children built a memorial bench, under her favorite big cottonwood in the marshlands.

Parker is survived by her husband, Professor Emeritus Jim Parker, their three children and five grandchildren. Memori-als may be given to the

Darlene Joan Zielinski Parker Scholarship for elementary education students through the UW-L Foundation. (See article on page 15)

Linda Host, 59, of La Crosse died June 2, 2010. After graduating from the

University of Wyoming, Host joined the UW-L Mathematics Department in 1983 where she taught until retiring in 2005. She was a popular teacher who could convey complex ideas to all levels of students, and a talented mathematician who authored research papers. Professor Emeritus Host was chair of the Faculty Senate, a faculty representative, and chaired the commit-tee charged with replacing Basic Studies with the General Education Program. Host is survived by her husband, Professor Emeritus Dave Bange of the Math Depart-ment. Memorials may be sent to the UW-L Foundation to an academic scholarship for future students in her memory. (See article on page 15)

Longtime professor and administrator Jean Lois Foss, 83, died Oct. 24, 2010,

in La Crosse. Foss, ’48, returned to the physical education department in 1962, chairing the department from 1970-74. Foss was one of the first women in the UW System to complete a UW System Administration Internship. For 15 years she was Associate Vice Chancellor and was the highest-ranking UW campus female administrator part of that time. She insti-tuted an automated registration system, an Office of International Education, the library planning process and more. Associate Vice Chancellor Emeritus Foss retired in 1989 and received the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Excellence Award. Memori-als may be given to the UW-L Foundation for the Jean L. Foss and Norene A. Smith OCW Scholarship.

Eileen P. Muth, 78, died Oct. 23, 2010. Muth, ’53, a long-time teacher in UW-L’s

Exercise and Sport Science Department, was born in Milwaukee and raised in Pewaukee. She attended Waukesha High School. Profes-sor Emeritus Muth taught school in Waupaca and West Allis, before returning to UW-L in 1968, where she taught until retiring in 1998. On campus she was known for her work with modern dance. After retirement she moved to Fort Myers, Fla., where she enjoyed many years of golf, tennis and traveling.

Pauline A. Abel, who taught in the univer-sity’s Campus School for more than 40

years, died June 6, 2010. Professor Emeritus Abel served students in the intermediate grades, as well as pre-service teachers. She recalled her students vividly up to her death, and cherished her teaching trips to Japan during the 1940s, easily recalling the coun-try’s language and geography. Abel worked alongside many for whom campus buildings were named: Mitchell, Reuter, Drake and others. She recalled many campus historical events in an informal interview conducted two years ago: http://edtech-media.uwlax.edu/UWLMediaSite/Viewer/?peid=0acf3a3f-cfaf-49aa-b043-fe242c82d4fc

MEMORiALS

Send�memorials�to�the�

UW-L�Foundation�615�East�Ave.�N.�

La�Crosse,�WI�54601�

or�go�to�www.foundation.uwlax.edu.

F O U N D A T I O N

homecoming 2010

A SUNNy RETURNThe Homecoming game was a highlight of Family, Friends and Alumni Weekend. Clockwise from left:

• The UW-L Cheerleaders perform a stunt during the football game.

• The UW-L Screaming Eagles performed for the Family Friends and Alumni Weekend crowd attending the football game against UW-Platteville.

• This eagle-eye view from the top of Roger Harring Stadium shows an ever-growing crowd before the Family Friends and Alumni Weekend football game Oct. 16.

• Senior Travis Bordeau snags a catch during the football game on a sunny, warm afternoon.

• The football game crowd cheered on the Eagles against the UW-Platteville Pioneers. The Eagles lost, 21-6.

• Members of the 1985 national championship football team enjoyed the reunion.

homecoming 2010

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDLa Crosse, WIPermit No. 545

If the address label lists someone who no longer lives here, please send the correct address to: UW-L Alumni Association, 1725 State St., La Crosse, WI 54601 USA.

PrODUCtION AND DIStrIbUtION Of the ALUmNUS IS COOrDINAteD by the UW-L ALUmNI ASSOCIAtION.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse1725 State St.La Crosse, Wi 54601 USA

UW-L POMPON ALUMS RETURNEd TO LA CROSSE TO REMiNiSCE ANd PARTiCiPATE

iN LA CROSSE’S OKTOBER-FEST MAPLE LEAF PARAdE

LAST FALL. SOME APPEAREd iN A LAMBEAU FiELd PHOTO,

ABOVE, THE COVER OF LAST SUMMER’S ALUMNUS.

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