- Name:
- Mark D. Fairchild
- Major:
- Instrumental Music Education
- Minor:
- Business
- Year:
- Junior
- Home:
- Platteville, WI
I decided to attend UWP for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the small town atmosphere was a huge consideration. I also looked at the variety of programs, most specifically the music and fine arts areas. Platteville is a real cultural center for the music and arts and it is probably one of the biggest factors in why I chose Platteville. Growing up and living in Platteville also allows me to continue running my business, E.A. Entertainment, as well as having many opportunities I may not have had if I'd gone to a larger school.
Aside from the great general academic classrooms at Platteville, the music program here is outstanding and unmatched in the state of Wisconsin. Platteville has the largest number of music education majors of any UW System school and this is directly attributable to the incredible faculty and staff of the UWP performing and visual arts department. Aside from having professional musicians as your everyday teachers, the small classroom size is a great benefit to learning this fine art. I'd also like to thank Joe Caploe for being my direct percussion instructor; it is teachers like Joe who make you want to become an educator more and more each day. The UWP music faculty are dedicated to their fields and care only about the students. I also enjoy being involved in Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band and Percussion Ensemble.
I have been an at-large commissioner on the Student University Fee Allocation Commission (SUFAC) since the spring of 2005. While being a member of this very active organization, I've had to make many difficult and ethical choices based on the purpose and needs of other organizations requesting student fee monies. SUFAC is probably the most active student governance group at UWP and prides itself in being one of the best functioning organizations as well. The group of people I met and worked with while being a part of this group has left a lasting impact on me and will help me make difficult choices later in life.