Daily Pioneer News

From left to right, back row: Nicole Eggebeen, Jess Sandry, Laura Schreiber, Riley Schultz, Evelyn Martens, and Cynthia Sawatske; Seated, from left to right: Spenser Austin, Jordan O'Connell and Will Krupecki. (Photo by Andrew McNeill)

PLATTEVILLE - A dedicated group of people on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus who are passionate about writing and helping others to become more effective writers was awarded the College of Liberal Arts and Education 2008 Excellence in Teamwork honor. The award recognizes excellence in any group at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville that has worked to enhance academic life at the college, department, committee or unit level. The Writing Center, which is designed to help students develop critical reading, writing and thinking skills, has done just that.

Evelyn Martens has been the director of the Writing Center for five years. Throughout this time, she has trained tutors to help UWP students examine the purpose, audience, style, etc. of their writing assignments, including everything from essays, lab reports, research papers, creative works, scholarship applications, cover letters and resumes, and business writing. The atmosphere of the Writing Center is one that is friendly and productive, with excellent rapport between the director, tutors and visiting writers.

Based on professor Deborah Gillespie's experience with the group over the past several years, she wrote in her letter of nomination, "As a long-term faculty member of English, I have seen the Writing Center grow and develop in many ways, always improving the quality of their tutors as well as their resources and computer technology. Evelyn Martens is a true leader who has established amazing rapport with the student tutors she has hired throughout her years as director." In addition, Stephanie Branson, chair of humanities, wrote, "The Writing Center, under the direction of Evelyn Martens, has become a place where all students at the University, first-year through seniors, can go to get assistance in any class that they take which requires writing. The friendly, but seriously academic atmosphere allows students to grow as writers in a non-judgmental context." The group received several other letters of support from faculty and staff in the English program and the Division of Student Affairs.

According to Martens, the Writing Center provides a safe, comfortable environment where writers can discuss their thinking during any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to drafting and revising, to polishing the final draft.

"One message I really try to share with student writers is that the Writing Center is a safe place to come and sort through their thinking. We know that critical reading, writing and thinking are all closely linked processes, and sometimes students just need good listeners who know what kind of questions to ask and how to provide reflective feedback, as our student tutors do so well. When a writer invests that kind of time, 'that grammar thing' often greatly improves simply because the writer's thinking is clearer and further developed," she said.

The tutors were treated to a dinner with Mittie Nimocks, dean of the College of LAE, on March 11. "We are so fortunate to have this talented, dedicated team of tutors who are genuinely committed to helping their peers," said Nimocks. Current student tutors include Riley Schultz, Nicole Eggebeen, Jess Sandry, Will Krupecki, Laura Schreiber, Spenser Austin, Jordan O'Connell, Cynthia Sawatske and Amy Kwallek, in addition to 14 Writing Center alumni.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Writing Center can contact Evelyn Martens, (608) 342-1615, martense@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Evelyn Martens, UWP Writing Center, (608) 342-1615, martense@uwplatt.edu

Written by: Alison Ross, UWP Office of Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, rossa@uwplatt.edu