Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Anthony J. Manoni will serve as the senior valedictorian for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's 9:30 a.m. commencement ceremony on May 10.

A graduate of Port Washington High School, Manoni matriculated at UWP in the fall of 2003. He had visited a number of college campuses during his junior year of high school. He reports that he chose UWP based on its excellent reputation for quality engineering and manufacturing education and his feeling of being "at home" during his visit.

Manoni is graduating with a major in industrial technology management with an emphasis in computer-integrated manufacturing and a minor in business administration.

Manoni has been active in his academic major and with his academic department. He held a summer position for two years with the Kohler Company, working as an application specialist to set-up, run, repair and strike power equipment for PGA golf tournaments nationwide. Manoni completed an eight month co-op experience with General Motors in Janesville. As a material supervisor, he led a team of 32 associates in the timely storage and delivery of materials to the main assembly line. He also completed a manufacturing engineer internship with Plexus, in Neenah. During the fall 2007 semester, Manoni served as project manager and budget officer for a senior design project that designed and manufactured 40 steel pillar palms used in the restoration of a 300-foot wrought iron ship, the Wavertree. All of these experiences involved applying what was learned in the college classroom to real-world situations.

Manoni competed on the Pioneer men's soccer team, as a freshman, earning a position on the Gabe Miller Honor Roll and the Academic Excellence Award for men's soccer at the 2006 National Student Athlete Day. He also served on the Segregate University Fee Allocation Committee, assisting with the distribution of over $650,000 to 80 student groups. Manoni has also been active with the UWP Student Ambassador Corps, assisting with student recruitment and alumni and community relations. He chaired the organization's annual tuition raffle and co-chaired the 2007 Homecoming parade. He was also a featured presenter at two regional Ambassador conferences.

Manoni is the son of Tom and Debbie Manoni of Port Washington. He has one sister, Laura (fiancee, Bill). Manoni has accepted employment as an industrial engineer with Oshkosh Truck Corporation in Oshkosh.

Contact and written by: Barb Daus, special assistant to the chancellor, (608) 342-1282, daus@uwplatt.edu