Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor David Markee presided over the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Ullrich Hall on April 15, which was also Show Your Colors Day during UW Spirit Week. Representatives from Governor James Doyle's office, as well as other state officials joined 11 members of the Frederick Ullrich family and scores of faculty, staff and visitors to celebrate the official opening of the high tech computer engineering building.

Markee shared brief remarks about the project and the man whose name graces the building. "UW-Platteville has a proud heritage and history and Fred Ullrich was a great part of that. He was revered on campus and in this community," Markee said. After Markee spoke, Robert Cramer of the state facilities office addressed the crowd. "The governor's office is glad to have played a part in this exciting time for Platteville, and it's especially exciting as we look forward to the new students you'll be attracting with the Tri-State Initiative. You play an important role in education and your graduates are mainly maintained in Wisconsin. Not only has this project helped build the local economy in the short run, UW-Platteville has an important role in building Wisconsin's future," he said.

After Markee and Kramer spoke, Andrew Ullrich, great-grandson of Frederick Ullrich, shared the duty of cutting the ribbon. He will be attending UW-Platteville as a freshman next year and says it will be interesting to walk daily in front of the building which bears his great grandfather's name.

Following the ceremony, visitors, as well as faculty and staff, were invited to tour the building. Ullrich now features high-tech classrooms with wireless computer access, 24-hour-access computer labs and a student lounge. It will be home to the computer science and software engineering department faculty and staff offices. A number of business administration classes will be taught there as well.

The $6.9 million project began in November 2003 and was completed in January 2005. The building originally opened as the agriculture and manual arts building in fall 1917. It underwent modifications in the 1960s and was renamed Ullrich Hall in 1966. Ullrich joined the faculty in 1914 as the head of the agriculture and science departments at what was then the Platteville Teachers College.

In 1942, University President Asa Royce wrote of Ullrich: "Mr. Ullrich dreamed in a large way. The agriculture department, the college farms, the college tree farm, the college farm recreation grounds were largely of his planning. He had a persistence to make dreams become a reality..."

For the students of UW-Platteville, the renovation of Ullrich is a realized dream with very practical implications. It will mean training using the most up-to-date technology and easier access to their professors as they prepare for 21st century careers.

Contact: Jim Valaskey, UWP Facilities Management, (608) 342-1177,valaskey@uwplatt.edu. Prepared By; Evelyn Martens and Dan Lehnher, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1615,martense@uwplatt.edu