Foundation News

PLATTEVILLE- Livingston State Bank and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation have established the Livingston State Bank Scholarship.

The scholarship will provide $500 to its recipient to be used to offset the cost of tuition. Recipients must have a high school cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent. Recipients should also hail from Grant, Iowa or Lafayette county and have a declared major of agriculture, agricultural business or business. Preference will be given to students with an emphasis in finance.

"We are establishing this scholarship because the five shareholders of the Livingston State Bank are all UWP graduates," said Sheila Ruchti, vice president and loan officer at Livingston State Bank. "We firmly believe in and support post secondary education, and UWP has been a very important influence in our lives and our business."

Livingston State Bank began operations in 1903 as a State Charter Bank. It was originally founded by local community members interested in serving the local people. Today, it is one of the few locally owned banks in Grant County. Shareholders of Livingston State Bank include Ruchti, Tom Kenney, Doug Martin, Dan Engelke and Jeffrey Ketterer, who are all UWP graduates.

"It is so great to have the support of Livingston State Bank," said Jackie Bevan, development officer at UWP Foundation. "This scholarship will really benefit the surrounding communities that are served by UWP and Livingston State Bank."

For information on how to establish a new scholarship or support an existing one, contact Bevan at (608) 342-1864 or zimmermanj@uwplatt.edu.

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PLATTEVILLE- The Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has seen a significant increase in use by high school, college and intramural sports teams since the installation of a ProGrass artificial turf surface. In order to accommodate this increase, a facility will be constructed southwest of Butch Leitl Field that will include locker room space, an area for officials as well as a multipurpose space for team meetings, film review, game preparation and special events. To support these plans, the UWP Foundation has made it possible for individuals and groups to become permanent parts of the stadium through sponsorship.

Pioneer Stadium Steps Sponsorship project, much like the "M" step project, offers participants the opportunity to sponsor one of the stadium's more than 370 steps and rows, and have their name inscribed on an aluminum plate to be secured on a stadium step or bleacher row forever.

This is a great opportunity to become a part of the Pioneer's winning tradition and help keep the stadium a premier home for Pioneer sports in the future," said Robert Callahan, development officer at the UWP Foundation. "Those interested in sponsoring a step can secure their place in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium history for $500. For $250, one can take a seat among the Pioneers' greatest fans with a seat sponsorship."

To guarantee a sponsorship will be part of the unveiling at the 2010 season home opener against the University of Dubuque on Saturday, Sept. 11, please respond no later than Thursday, July 1. Also, be aware that seat and row sponsorships do not reserve seating for events at Pioneer Stadium.

For more information on how to sponsor a step, contact Callahan at (608) 342-6122 or callahar@uwplatt.edu.

Labels: foundation, fund, scholarship

PLATTEVILLE- The Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has seen a significant increase in use by high school, college and intramural sports teams since the installation of a ProGrass artificial turf surface. In order to accommodate this increase, a facility will be constructed southwest of Butch Leitl Field that will include locker room space, an area for officials as well as a multipurpose space for team meetings, film review, game preparation and special events. To support these plans, the UWP Foundation has made it possible for individuals and groups to become permanent parts of the stadium through sponsorship.

The Pioneer Stadium Steps Sponsorship project, much like the "M" step project, offers participants the opportunity to sponsor one of the stadium's more than 370 steps and rows, and have their name inscribed on an aluminum plate to be secured on a stadium step or bleacher row forever.

"This is a great opportunity to become a part of the Pioneer's winning tradition and help keep the stadium a premier home for Pioneer sports in the future," said Robert Callahan, development officer at the UWP Foundation. "Those interested in sponsoring a step can secure their place in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium history for $500. For $250, one can take a seat among the Pioneers' greatest fans with a seat sponsorship."

To guarantee a sponsorship will be part of the unveiling at the 2010 season home opener against the University of Dubuque on Saturday, Sept. 11, please respond no later than Thursday, July 1. Also, be aware that seat and row sponsorships do not reserve seating for events at Pioneer Stadium.

For more information on how to sponsor a step, contact Callahan at (608) 342-6122 or callahar@uwplatt.edu.

Labels: foundation, fund, scholarship

PLATTEVILLE- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's new sustainable and renewable energy systems major has received nods of approval from several industry leaders from across the nation. One such nod came from Wind Capital Group, a wind energy firm in Missouri. WCG has committed $5,000 to UWP's renewable energy program to help promote and further the program this year.

The renewable energy program is a wide-ranging interdisciplinary program designed to enhance the knowledge of UWP students with regard to renewable energy as well as traditional energy sources. By helping to further the awareness of issues related to the social, economic and environmental impacts of traditional and non-traditional energy sources, the program educates students in a way to help them apply their specific academic expertise to the areas of energy and renewable energy.

Tim Zauche, UWP associate professor of chemistry and physics, has found that it is extremely important for UWP to work with companies like WCG. "Without companies like Wind Capital, we would be like any other university where concepts are only being taught from the textbook," said Zauche. He also added that because of private support like that of WCG, faculty can introduce concepts with text and later compliment those lessons with examples of industrial applications through guest lectures and projects provided by industry leaders.

"When state budgets are strained, it is extremely important for private industries to support university programs," said Mesut Muslu, professor of electrical engineering at UWP. Muslu continued by saying that many opportunities for students are found through this type of funding, and that field trips to places like Darlington's wind farm and lab equipment for research and study are made available through donation.

"Wind Capital Group's support of the renewable energy program here at UWP is exactly the type of the support the university is looking for to help grow and expand this area," commented Holly Kaiser, director of development and major gifts at the UWP Foundation. "The UWP Foundation greatly appreciates Wind Capital Group's gift and looks forward to building a strong relationship with the company. Many students are excited about career opportunities in areas related to renewable and sustainable energy and this program will prepare them for those opportunities."

Besides equipment and field trips, WCG's commitment will also help fund student and faculty collaborative research and projects, scholarships within the program, and student and faculty conference trips.

"For the past several years, the utilization of renewable energy across the United States has grown by leaps and bounds," said Dean Baumgardner, executive vice president and chief development officer at WCG. "As a leading wind energy developer, Wind Capital Group is very mindful that in order for that growth to continue it is of great importance that we invest in the education of young and talented people looking to enter various fields within this new job sector."

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PLATTEVILLE- The IIW Engineering and Surveying Corporation and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation together have established the IIW Engineers & Surveyors Scholarship.

The scholarship, which will be awarded annually in the amount of $500 per student to offset the cost of tuition, shall be awarded to incoming freshmen with a declared major of either civil engineering or building construction management. Only students who graduated from a high school in Grant, Iowa or Lafayette counties of Wisconsin; Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque or Jackson counties of Iowa; or Carroll or Jo Daviess counties of Illinois are eligible for the scholarship. The student's high school G.P.A. must be no lower than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).

The scholarship is renewable for up to four years for a total of $2,000 per recipient. To be eligible to renew the scholarship, a recipient must remain in either the building construction management or civil engineering major program as well as maintain a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better.

"The UWP Foundation is grateful for IIW's support of these growing majors and the Tri-State Initiative," stated Holly Kaiser, director of development for the UWP Foundation. "We are excited to have this scholarship available to tri-state students interested in IIW Engineers and Surveyors, P.C., is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and provides civil, structural and architectural services. IIW works with many groups including, but not limited to, cities, governmental and county agencies, commercial organizations as well as owners of private property to provide creative and traditional design solutions.

"We wanted to help out deserving students financially and get more high school students excited about engineering," said Tim Tranel, vice president of IIW Engineers and Surveyors. "We know UWP prepares students very well to enter the engineering consulting world. The practical problem-solving approaches and real-world knowledge gained in the curriculum has been evident with UWP-educated employees."

IIW currently employees 12 UWP graduate engineers, four graduates from various construction technology programs and one graduate from the agriculture program.

IIW's chief executive officer, Mike Jansen, is active with the UWP Alumni Association and UWP Foundation Board of Directors. "Many UWP graduates know how to teach themselves, which is essential as they move through an ever-changing career," said Jansen. "The learning never stops and the UWP provides a solid foundation for intellectual curiosity to expand knowledge and accept challenges. Many of our staff, including myself, have a genuine obligation to UWP because of the opportunities it has provided for us, so we are proud to support UWP's mission as well with this scholarship."

For more information about the scholarship or to find out how to set up your own scholarship, contact Kaiser at (608) 342-1879 or kaiserh@uwplatt.edu.

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PLATTEVILLE- University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumnus Mike Jacobson, Ph.D. in biochemistry, has established the Alice Keegan Memorial Scholarship for Riverdale High School. It was because of Keegan's inspiring and dedicated role as an educator that Jacobson chose to honor her in this way.

The scholarship recipient must be an incoming freshman who graduated from Riverdale High School in Muscoda with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent) and who has declared a major in chemistry. If there are no incoming freshmen from Riverdale with that major, the scholarship will be available to continuing students from Riverdale with chemistry majors. The scholarship will be opened to new freshmen and continuing students from Riverdale with either biology or education majors if there are still no eligible students found. The first scholarship will be awarded in spring 2010.

Keegan, a chemistry teacher at Riverdale during the 1950s and 1960s, greatly influenced Jacobson to pursue further education at UWP. He graduated with a degree in chemistry and later earned his Ph.D. from Kansas State University.

In establishing the scholarship Jacobson said, "A great teacher at the right time can make a lasting impact. Alice Keegan was a great teacher of chemistry."

After receiving his Ph.D., Jacobson went on to teach at many different universities across the nation. Heavily involved in research concerning niacin's role in human health, he helped found Niadyne Inc., a company dedicated to understanding niacin's function and use in clinical applications. He now lives with his wife Elaine in Tuscon, Ariz.

Jacobson is a strong supporter of UWP; the Alice Keegan Memorial Scholarship is the second scholarship he has established with the UWP Foundation. The first was in honor of his former UWP chemistry professor, Dwight Klaassen, Ph.D. in biochemistry.

"Dr. Jacobson's support of UWP is greatly appreciated. He has done a tremendous job showing appreciation for the people that influenced his life during his education," stated Holly Kaiser of the UWP Foundation, who worked with Jacobson to establish the scholarship. "I believe this scholarship will encourage more students from Riverdale High School to continue their education at UWP in the field of chemistry."

For more information about scholarship donations, contact Kaiser at (608) 342-1879 or kaiserh@uwplatt.edu.

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PLATTEVILLE- University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumni Mike and Bernadette Routhieaux have established a new scholarship in honor of legendary coach Lester "Butch" Leitl.

The Coach Leitl Student Leadership Scholarship is available to any continuing student from Wisconsin, Illinois or Iowa with a minimum of 30 credits completed and a declared major within the School of Agriculture. Students applying for the scholarship must also demonstrate leadership abilities within a team setting inside or outside the classroom and be involved in extra-curricular activities like organizations, clubs or sports. Applicants must also display a strong work ethic as shown by part-time employment either on or off campus.

The scholarship will be awarded annually and will offset the cost of tuition. The scholarship amount is $1,000 per year.

"This is my way of saying thanks for his support," said Mike Routhieaux, class of 1965. "Coach Leitl will always have a special place in my heart. I do believe there are people who influence who you eventually become. Coach Leitl had a real personality," added Routhieaux, who played football for Leitl. "His players had a real love for him. He had a great, very subtle sense of humor and had such appreciation for a win. You could meet 100 guys and forget 99 of them but you could never, never forget him."

This is not the first time Leitl has been honored. In November 2008, the Pioneers' football field was dedicated and named after him. In addition to the field naming, a Leitl scholarship was established by several former players at the time of Leitl's retirement from the university. Routhieaux's annual scholarship will add to the more than 130 scholarships that have been awarded in Leitl's name.

"It was a pleasure to work with Mike to set up this scholarship to honor Coach Leitl, a person Mike feels truly influenced his life," said Holly Kaiser, director of development at the UW-Platteville Foundation. "A great part of my job is working with alumni who desire to honor a former coach, professor or classmate by establishing a scholarship or fund in their name."

For more information about scholarship donations, contact Kaiser at (608) 342-1879 or kaiserh@uwplatt.edu.

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