Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - In her four years at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Katie Reichling, Darlington, maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average. An example of what students can achieve when they set high goals, Reichling will be the valedictory speaker at one of two UW-Platteville spring commencement ceremonies May 7.

Reichling, an animal science major, said she set her sights on earning straight As when she first came to UW-Platteville in 2001. She wasn't afraid to put in extra hours studying, and often went to professors for supplemental help.

"A lot of it was staying up late [studying] some nights. ... In a lot of my classes I had to go to the teachers and ask them, 'Can you explain this for me?'" Reichling said. "The School of Ag, they're great, because if you have a question, they're more than happy to help you."

Reichling maintained academic excellence while participating in several student organizations and extra-curricular activities. She served as president of Alpha Zeta agriculture honor society, as vice president of Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and was active in Ceres agriculture fraternity for three and one-half years. As president of the UWP ag council, she helped organize the first ever Spring Fest, an event that brings families to Pioneer Farm for fun activities designed for kids. This year's inaugural Spring Fest attracted about 70 children, Reichling said. "For our first year doing it, I was very proud," she said.

As a graduating animal science major, Reichling will return to Darlington where she plans to become dairy herd manager for Reichling Farms. She loves animals, especially cows, something she has known since the seventh grade when her family's farm was threatened by a barn fire.

"I came home from school, and the whole thing was on fire," she said. "It's one of those things you don't realize how lucky you are and how blessed you are with something until it's gone."

Luckily, the family didn't lose any cows. They repaired the barn and continued farming, and ever since Reichling has known that she wanted to work in the agriculture industry.

Despite receiving scholarship offers from UW-Madison, Reichling knew she wanted to study agriculture at UW-Platteville. She liked the UWP campus, and benefited from small class sizes and the personal attention she received from professors. "I think the teachers really care," she said.

Katie Reichling is the daughter of Rick and Karen Reichling of Darlington. She will deliver the valedictory address at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony for graduates from the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture and the School of Graduate Studies during UW-Platteville's spring commencement May 7.

Contact: Barb Daus, UWP Special Assistant to the Chancellor, 608-342-1282, daus@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Dan Lehnherr, UWP Public Relations, 608-342-1194, lehnherd@uwplatt.edu