Foundation News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced the creation of a scholarship fund by TriCore AEA. The scholarship will be available to junior and senior UWP engineering students from Racine and the surrounding area.

TriCore AEA - an engineering firm based in Racine - is nationally recognized for its expertise in factory automation for the food, dairy, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. It is a privately owned company consisting of dozens of engineering professionals with over 350 years of combined experience in process control and data integration. Regarding the scholarship fund, Dave McCarthy, TriCore AEA president, said, "We currently employ a number of high quality graduates of UW-Platteville and are excited about the prospects of helping to send deserving local students to this fine engineering school."

The scholarship will award two $1,500 scholarships per year for five years. Eligible students must be of junior or senior status at UWP and maintain a GPA of 2.8 or better. The recipients will need to have declared a major in computer science, software engineering or electrical engineering, with a preference going towards those who have a controls emphasis. Students must come from a 30-mile radius around Racine.

Anyone with questions about the scholarship may contact Denee Hirsch, UW-Platteville Foundation, director of development, at (608) 342-1969 or hirschd@uwplatt.edu.

Labels: foundation, fund, scholarship

PLATTEVILLE - When the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's new engineering building opens next month, students will walk in the shadows of faculty members who nurtured the university into the force that it is today.

The two wings of the new engineering building will be named for two former engineering faculty members, Dale C. Dixon and Edward O. Busby, who both were popular with students and influential in guiding the department as it grew into a widely respected and multi-faceted engineering school.

Dixon, who died in 1999 at age 83, retired from UWP in 1980 after a 42-year teaching career. He taught in Platteville during the transition from Wisconsin Mining School to the Wisconsin Institute of Technology and the merger with UW-Platteville. He also coached many sports at the mining school.

Busby, who now lives in Madison with his wife, Lois, was dean of the College of Engineering from 1966 until his retirement in 1988. The Busbys have provided numerous scholarships to engineering students through the Edward O. and Lois E. Busby Endowed Scholarship.

The administrative wing of the $25.6 million, 108,500-square-foot building will be named for Busby, who shepherded the school's engineering programs through accreditation and expansion. The building's other wing - housing mainly classrooms, laboratories and student work spaces - will be named for Dixon, who frequently has been cited by mining school alumni and others as one of their favorite professors.

The ribbon-cutting for the new building will occur at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle will open the building and later speak at the first of UWP's two fall commencement ceremonies. Classes in electrical engineering, engineering physics and physics will begin in January in the new building, which also will house general engineering labs, the Nanotechnology Center for Collaborative Research and Development, workspace for student organizations and display cases to highlight student projects.

Busby said he is thrilled to be able to attend the opening of the new building.

"Obviously, I'm extremely proud of what's been accomplished at Platteville while I was dean and professor of civil engineering," he said, adding that Dixon, who played a role in hiring him at UWP, and Chancellor Bjarne Ullsvik, who "gave engineering the kind of support we needed to get accredited," also deserve a lot of recognition and credit.

Busby said that he was very proud to be at the department's helm as the civil engineering program received national accreditation in 1968, followed by the mining program in 1970. That provided the opportunity to establish other new programs, including mechanical engineering in 1974 and electrical engineering in 1982.

He said he is very happy to see how the engineering programs have blossomed over the past few decades, adding that he remembers when starting an electrical engineering program was a dream and that the school now has just awarded its 1,000th electrical engineering degree.

"The world is a better place to live because of Platteville engineering grads," he said.

Dixon received a mining degree in Platteville in 1936 and taught on campus for approximately three years before enlisting in the Navy and serving in the South Pacific during World War II. He participated in the battles for the Gilbert Islands, Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands, Palau and the Philippines. He returned to Platteville in December 1945 and resumed his teaching duties in the mining school. In addition, Dixon coached the mining school football team from 1952 to 1959 and also coached basketball, track and baseball.

Dixon is widely remembered by mining school alumni as a favorite professor. In a program printed for a 2006 reunion of graduates of the Wisconsin Mining School and the Wisconsin Institute of Technology, student after student listed Dixon as a "significant professor" in questionnaires completed for the book.

Dixon was referred to as "#1 Miner" in the headline of a story announcing his retirement in The Geode, UW-Platteville's engineering newsletter. His car also had the Wisconsin license plates carrying that title.

He clearly had a dry sense of humor. The retirement article included a quote on what he called the "large increase" in the number of women choosing mining as a major. "I think four years ago there were maybe one or two women in mining," he said. "Presently, there's about eight or nine."

Dixon's sons, Dale and Bill, both live in Tucson, Ariz. Bill Dixon said that he and his brother would like to attend the building dedication although they haven't yet finalized travel plans.

Bill Dixon said the naming is a well-deserved recognition of his father.

"He put 42 years of his life into the place," he said. "The attention might unnerve him a bit but I think he would be proud to have such an honor."

The decision to name the wings after Dixon and Busby was an easy one, said Dennis Cooley, assistant chancellor for University Advancement and executive director of the UWP Foundation.

"When we asked miners if it was appropriate to name a wing for Dale Dixon, who was greatly respected by the students he taught and mentored, the response was overwhelmingly positive," Cooley said. "And, when we wanted to name the administrative wing for Dean Busby, who led to the accreditation of many of our engineering programs and was outstanding in his development of the engineering faculty, we also received overwhelmingly positive support."

For more information on Busby, Dixon or the naming of the engineering building wings, contact Cooley at (608) 342-1309 or cooleyde@uwplatt.edu.

Labels: foundation, fund, scholarship

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has announced the establishment of the Dr. Peter Kang Memorial Scholarship Fund for Excellence in Public Service. Sunny, Susan and Kim Kang - the late Dr. Peter Kang's son, daughter and wife, respectively - started this scholarship in honor of the former UWP professor.

As a dedicated faculty member of UWP from 1969 to 1997, Kang served as a former chairperson and professor emeritus in political science. In 1991, he was the recipient of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society's Teacher of the Year award. Before coming to UW-Platteville, Kang received his M.A. in public administration from Seoul National University School of Law and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Minnesota. A Fulbright Scholar, Kang taught at the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan, the Yonsei University School of Law in Seoul, Korea and Harvard University, as well as other academic institutions. He received many grants for academic research and presented papers at professional conferences in North America, Asia and Europe. His writings in the areas of Japanese politics, comparative regional governmental systems and executive leadership have been widely published in professional journals and books.

Kang urged his students to build a better civil society through the use of their intellectual talents and higher education. Having lived in a land torn apart by war, Kang strove for peace, committing his life to helping raise ethical social leaders who are dedicated to public service.

Of establishing the scholarship in honor of his father, Sunny Kang said, "He believed that education is here to develop ethical social leaders, and he took pride in further education as a means for peace and not just getting a job. He understood the importance of civil leadership and the public servant."

The scholarship will be made available to UWP students in their junior or senior year with a declared major in the department of social sciences. Preference will be given to those in political science, international relations and history. The recipient must be in good academic standing with the university, and while financial need is preferred, it is not necessary. An essay with a 600 word minimum is required, covering the applicant's experience or commitment to excellence in public service. Along with the recommendation of an advisor or a faculty member testifying to the applicant's commitment to academic excellence, there must also be a recommendation that shows the applicant's commitment to excellence in public service and character. This scholarship is renewable, but must be reapplied for each year.

Anyone wanting more details on the scholarship or wanting to make a donation may contact Dennis Cooley, executive director of the UW-Platteville Foundation, at (608) 342-1309 or cooleyde@uwplatt.edu.

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PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is raising money to renovate the school's football complex after it names the field for Coach Lester "Butch" Leitl.

Leitl coached three sports over 41 years - from 1927 to 1968 - and retired from UWP in 1969. Leitl is known not only for his efforts as a coach but also as a mentor to student-athletes.

The dedication will occur prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff at the Pioneers' last football game of the season against UW-Whitewater on Nov. 15.

Thereafter, the field will be called Butch Leitl Field at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. UWP letter winners and others interested may attend the ceremony.

As part of the tribute, UWP plans to expand the stadium facilities to include a new locker room and multi-purpose area to better serve a growing number of athletes. The new facility will be used by the varsity football and soccer teams, club sports teams and during high school events.

Several of Leitl's former student-athletes say the honor is well-deserved.

"He was a special guy - one of the people in your life you never forget," said former football player Mike Routhieaux, '65. "I remember how much he respected his players and their decisions, even if he didn't agree with them."

Gil Lindloff, '48, a former football and baseball player, said he fondly remembers Leitl's great one-liners: "'Sleep nights' was a phrase I heard quite a bit."

Lindloff added that Leitl always showed great concern for his players. "He made sure we had a place to stay and looked after the ones that were away from home," he said. "He was helpful when we were looking for jobs during college and after we graduated. Many of his players' first jobs were because of his referrals."

Leitl lettered in football at UW-Oshkosh and then at UW-Madison where he held the school record for the long-distance place kick for many years. He is an inductee into the UWP Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. A decorated veteran of World War I, Leitl also is remembered for his emotional support of players leaving for World War II.

"Butch was a pretty tough cookie," said long-time friend and former UWP Assistant Chancellor Lloyd Linden. "He was full of fire and brimstone on the field but he was a really good fella to be around. He made sure his players were taken care of and felt like part of a family."

Leitl died in 1980. He is survived by a son, Jim, and a granddaughter. He also had one daughter, Mary, who is deceased.

The goal of the UWP Foundation is to raise $1 million for the naming and renovation project. Pledges and donations have been brisk. To date, more than $260,000 has been committed.

The project's funding will come from private gifts so construction cannot begin until a significant portion of the cost has been raised. Fundraising will continue through this year and most of 2009. Plans call for work to begin in summer 2010. Construction could occur sooner if funds are available earlier.

For more information on the naming, locker room project or dedication on Nov. 15, contact Holly Kaiser at the UW-Platteville Foundation at (608) 342-1879 or e-mail kaiserh@uwplatt.edu.

Labels: foundation, fund, phonathon, scholarship

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has announced a memorial fund in honor of Jeff Moring, a UWP alumnus from the 1960s. In an effort to encourage more students from Forreston, Ill., to attend UWP, the Jeff Moring Memorial Scholarship is eligible to incoming UWP freshmen who have graduated from Forreston High School.

The scholarship, started by Moring's UWP classmates Tom Frisbie and Paul Swalve, rewards one student each May. In addition to the lead gifts from Frisbie and Swalve, many others from around the Forreston area and the rest of the country contributed to the fund, and over $2,000 was raised during the spring phonathon.

The award for the 2008-09 academic year was earned by Alyssa Vails from Baileyville. She is the first recipient of the scholarship.

Frisbie said, "Paul and I were beneficiaries of a college that was affordable and allowed us to play a sport we loved. We want to give back to an institution that gave us opportunities that others did not. Jeff was smarter and a better athlete than I and he would have excelled if cancer hadn't taken him down his second year at UWP. So it is only fitting that the scholarship be in his honor. Most people won't know or remember Jeff, but hopefully another student from Forreston will know and benefit as we did."

Swalve said, "I was two years older than Jeff - we were very good friends. I had attended Platteville for two years, and I encouraged Jeff to also attend Platteville and also play football at Platteville. Jeff was a great athlete and ambassador for Forreston and Platteville. He was a terrific young man. I also appreciate the education I received at Platteville. It enabled me to have a good career. Hopefully this scholarship will help others to reach their goals."

As Frisbie and Swalve were involved with sports during their tenure at UWP, they would like to see the scholarship benefit a student who participated in extra-curricular activities, particularly sports, while in high school.

"Jeff and I were like brothers. We played and fought together, we attended the same church, we were in the same grade, we attended the same school from kindergarten through college, we worked on the railroad together, we dated twin sisters, we played every sport together. He was quarterback, I was the center. He was the pitcher, I was the catcher," said Frisbie. "I was the first in my family to graduate from college, and UWP made that possible. I've had a good life and hopefully I've given back to the community and have passed on what others have given to me."

Anyone wanting more details on the scholarship or interested in making a contribution may contact Holly Kaiser, director of development, at the UW-Platteville Foundation at (608) 342-1879 or kaiserh@uwplatt.edu.

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PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville now has two new criminal justice scholarships to award.

Scholarships named for Jean Fricke and Cecile Hoffman were announced during the Sept. 18 UWP Liberal Arts and Education Scholarship Awards Banquet.

Both a former soldier in the U.S. Army and a graduate of UW-Platteville, Fricke has started a scholarship to support and facilitate students who share her passion for criminal justice, education and the administration of truth. Though she is currently employed as a parole officer in Kenosha, her dealings with law started nearly 30 years ago. Upon completing her tour of active duty in 1978, Fricke went on to successfully earn a B.S. in criminal justice from UW-Platteville in 1982. Her enthusiasm for criminal justice has failed to wane, as she earned a Master of Science degree in criminal justice from UW-Platteville in 2007.

Hoffman, a former instructor of family consumer education at UW-Platteville, has honored her daughter, Linda, with an award bearing her name. Linda Hoffman graduated with academic honors from UW-Platteville in 1992 with a B.S. in criminal justice before receiving a degree in law from the University of Missouri in 1995. After serving as a prosecuting attorney in Franklin County, Mo., for several years, Linda returned to Wisconsin, where she is currently employed as an assistant district attorney in Portage (Columbia County).

In accordance with her daughter's passion for criminal justice, the Linda Hoffman Criminal Justice Scholarship encourages university students to pursue careers in law enforcement by providing financial support and professional recognition.

Both scholarships require a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and a declared major of criminal justice. The Jean S. Fricke Criminal Justice Scholarship is available to junior or senior students at UW-Platteville who submit a one-page essay that indicates their career goals, extra-curricular activities, past achievements, why they feel deserving of the award, and how they would benefit from the award. The Linda Hoffman Criminal Justice Scholarship will be available to students with a minimum of 30 credits, a career goal of serving in a law enforcement field, and evidence of active campus involvement and/or community service. Financial need may also be of concern.

The addition of these two scholarships doubles the number of criminal justice scholarships available to UW-Platteville students.

Anyone wanting more details on the scholarships may contact Liz Goodfellow, director of Development, Major Gifts at the UW-Platteville Foundation, at (608) 342-1031 or goodfellowe@uwplatt.edu.

Labels: foundation, fund, scholarship

PLATTEVILLE- The pounding of drums and the stomping of feet will resound from the Williams Fieldhouse at the University of Wisconsin Platteville on Saturday, Oct. 25 as part of the Traditional Pow-Wow. Grand entries will take place at 1 and 7 p.m. This is a free event open to the public.

"A pow-wow is an expression of traditional culture, but also is part of the evolution of culture. It's traditional and modern at the same time," said Carl Allsup, chair of the department of ethnic studies.

While the public will be able to watch dances, Allsup said that the pow-wow is not a performance. It is a social gathering. In fact, the public will be invited to dance in several inter-tribal dances. "This a way to invite people in and show that it's for everyone ... It's a big social gathering that is not in itself a spiritual thing, but has a strong spiritual base," expressed Allsup.

One of the cultural traditions that participants will see at the pow-wow is the tribal dress of the Native American dancers. Allsup said that the regalia are part of individual expression. While similar at first glance, all regalia are drastically different, each an expression of the individual dancer.

Lance Tallmadge and Denise Logan will be head dancers for the event. The Lake Delton Singers will be the host drum and invited drums will be Little Thunder, Beenah Un Dennah and the BMB Singers of the Oneida/Menominee nation. Bobby Bird is the master of ceremonies. Evans Logan is the arena director. At 5 p.m., all dancers, singers and their families are invited to a feast.

"Those who come to the Pow-Wow will not learn what it's like to be an Indian, but they will begin to witness the vibrant and dynamic culture. It's a way to learn something and get outside traditional ways of thinking," stated Allsup.

The Traditional Pow-Wow is sponsored by the Indigenous Ethnic Studies Program, the UWP Foundation, College of Liberal Arts and Education, Teaching Excellence Center, Multicultural Educational Resource Center, Campus Programming Resources, department of humanities and individual donations.

Anyone wanting more information about the Pow-Wow may contact Allsup at (608) 342-1705 or allsup@uwplatt.edu.