The University of Wisconsin-Platteville ABC Construction Management Competition Team showcased their exceptional talent by placing fourth overall in a national competition in Las Vegas that mirrors the challenges of real-world construction management. The four-person team put their leadership and project management skills to the test on a complex, multi-phase construction project. 

“The team had to develop a comprehensive project management plan for a real 27-acre development in Oceanside, California, including a 27,000-square-foot medical facility,” said UW-Platteville alumna Gretchen Bockenhauer, program coordinator and assistant professor of construction management and construction safety management. “It included an organization chart, who’s involved in the project, schedule and estimate, quality control plan and a safety plan. It’s so relatable to what they’re going to be doing when they leave here.” 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will hold its 214th commencement on Saturday, May 17. UW-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich will preside over three ceremonies in Williams Fieldhouse, where an estimated 900 students are expected to walk across the stage.

The College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture degree candidates will be recognized at 9 a.m. The College of Liberal Arts and Education, associate degree and master’s degree candidates will be recognized at 12:30 p.m. The final ceremony of the day will recognize the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science degree candidates at 4 p.m.

Seating at the ceremonies is limited to the graduates’ guests. All ceremonies will be live streamed; visit uwplatt.edu/commencement for more details and the live stream link for each event.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) announces a new transfer pathway to help regional students continue their business education. This collaboration addresses the growing demand for skilled business professionals in the region by providing a clear route from SWTC’s Associate of Applied Science in Business Management to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) within the School of Business at UW-Platteville.

"We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Southwest Tech through this transfer pathway," said Dr. Les Hollingsworth, director of UW-Platteville’s School of Business. "Both of our institutions have a deep commitment to strengthening the regional workforce and meeting the needs of employers. This pathway helps build and keep the exceptional talent that already exists in southern Wisconsin.”

Following a nationwide search, University of Wisconsin-Platteville Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Laura Reynolds announces the selection of Dr. Travis Nelson as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education. 

Nelson has served in the interim role for the past year and served as associate dean of the College of LAE since 2022. 

The seventh annual Pioneer Creative Activities and Research Poster Day showcased more than 90 poster projects highlighting faculty, staff and student research from across the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The projects reflect the rigorous and wide-ranging nature of undergraduate research at the university, with topics spanning veterinary medicine in Thailand, the synthesis and characterization of pyrylium dyes and the historical restoration of clothing for the Mining & Rollo Jamison Museum.

Josh Landowski, a senior psychology major, presented research from an independent project on the continued influence effect of misinformation in video formats. This phenomenon, studied within cognitive psychology, examines how false statements can continue to influence people’s beliefs, behaviors and judgments even after being corrected or retracted.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s annual literary magazine, Spirit Lake Review (SLR), will be hosting a launch party celebrating the release of its 2025 issue on Wednesday, May 7, from 5:15-7:30 p.m. in the Nohr Art Gallery. SLR is a literary magazine published every spring semester and is edited and designed by Dr. Kara Candito’s class, Literary Magazines. The publication is student-led, setting it apart in the literary magazine landscape. SLR has been running for more than twenty years and originated as a project at UW-Platteville’s Baraboo-Sauk campus.

“Spirit Lake Review is completely different from most other classes I've taken at UW-Platteville,” said Editor-in-Chief Matty Olson. “Everything we do has a purpose—and that purpose is to create a literary magazine. I love it.”

The Helios Program for Integrated Liberal Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville hosted the inaugural writing awards in the Nohr Gallery. The awards were created by Dr. Amanda Tucker and Dr. Katie Kalish, professors of English and co-directors of the Helios Program.

“We created the Helios Awards to celebrate the outstanding work being done by students in the program,” said Tucker. “We established two award categories: one for the Helios Gateway, which includes first-year courses built around a shared reading list, and one for the Helios Pathway, which encompasses upper-level courses organized around broad themes such as Law and Conflict Resolution, Global Citizenship and Environment and Sustainability. Our goal was to recognize the distinct types of work that emerge from these two different parts of the curriculum.”

Sesquicentennial Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has been recognized with the prestigious 2025 Merit Award in the Large Scale Design category by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (WI ASLA).

The award celebrates excellence in landscape architecture and site design, and it highlights the building’s transformative impact on the campus environment. Designed in close collaboration with landscape architects and planners committed to sustainability and community engagement, Sesquicentennial Hall exemplifies innovative design solutions at scale.

The Rountree Gallery in Platteville is featuring the Roger Gottschalk Retrospective—a celebration of the late artist’s vibrant legacy from abstract paintings to surreal prints that reflect on humanity and the absurd beauty of life. The exhibit in the Main Gallery runs from May 8 through June 21. An Artist’s Reception will be held Friday, May 16, from 4-7 p.m.

Gottschalk began teaching in the Art Department at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1965. In the 1990s, he served as department chair for several years, helping to guide the program's development. Throughout his time at UW-Platteville, he made lasting contributions to the department and its students.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts and Pioneer Players will conclude their theatre season with Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes). The production opens on Thursday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. and continues with evening performances on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. All performances will be held in the Center for the Arts–Theatre at UW-Platteville.

Too Much Light was the longest-running show in the history of theatre in Chicago and was the only open-run Off-Off-Broadway show in New York. Originally performed by the Neo-Futurists, an experimental theatre troupe co-founded by creator Greg Allen, the show opened in Chicago in 1988 and ran 50 weekends a year through 2016. As its subtitle states, the show consists of 30 original short plays performed in 60 minutes. All were written, directed and performed by an ensemble.

Two teams from the Cybersecurity Club at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently achieved an impressive milestone, both placing in the top 3% out of more than 10,000 teams worldwide in picoCTF 2025, one of the most prestigious cybersecurity competitions in the world. The competition tested participants on real-world cybersecurity challenges, including cryptography, reverse engineering and web exploitation. This competition featured not only college teams but also seasoned cybersecurity professionals. This student organization is more than a club; it’s a training ground for what lies ahead for these students once they leave campus. 

Students from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's second cohort of the Sociocultural and Place-Aware Civil and Environmental Scholars (SPACES) program recently took part in a transformative field trip to Dubuque, Iowa, as part of their second semester, first-year seminar. The SPACES program is supported by a National Science Foundation scholarship grant awarded to civil and environmental engineering students and is designed to expand students’ sense of identity as engineers while fostering a community-oriented, place-based approach to problem-solving.

For many people, the agony of the Russian Revolution and the breakthroughs of the Soviet MIR space station are distant events, far removed in space and time. But not for the students in UW-Platteville’s Modern Russia class.

On April 10, students in Dr. Andrey Ivanov’s History 4120 course stepped outside the classroom for a day-long field trip to the Wisconsin Historical Society, followed by the Annual Petrovich Lecture in Madison.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Collegiate Soils Team attended the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Judging Conference, hosted by West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, from April 9–12.

Eighty-seven students from 15 universities competed in the four-year division of the contest. During the competition, students described and classified soils and landforms using tools and techniques employed by professional soil scientists. The skills developed through practice and competition are directly applicable to careers in soil mapping, conservation planning, ecological site classification and wetland delineation. Contestants were scored based on how closely their descriptions and classifications aligned with those of the professional soil scientists serving as official judges.

Thousands of dedicated middle and high school student musicians from Wisconsin and contiguous states are preparing for the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Solo & Ensemble Festivals. UW-Platteville will host this event on Saturday, April 26 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. It will be open to the public and free of charge. 

“The WSMA State Music Festival is an enriching experience for all participants, both performers and their supporters,” said Matt Gregg, Festival manager for UW-Platteville. “It is also an opportunity for our music program to showcase our facilities and emphasize how much we value and support the efforts of our school music colleagues, their students and their families.” 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's History Department is sponsoring a discussion on the role of immigration in our region, featuring Alex Baum, director of Advocacy, Data and Learning at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. The event will take place on Monday, April 29, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Doudna 103, and is free and open to the public.

Baum will explore the relationship between immigrants and the economic success of local Midwestern communities. With a focus on how immigration shapes economic mobility and impacts immigrant families, this presentation will break down complex data in an easy-to-understand format. 

What if earning a mechanical engineering degree didn’t require uprooting your life, quitting your job, or putting your family on hold? At the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, it doesn’t. The UW-Platteville Engineering Partnerships (PEP) program is changing the face of engineering education—one success story at a time.

Madi Wunderli, now a lead engineer at ALKAR, Inc.—a company that designs industrial cooking and chilling equipment—describes the PEP program as “learning from afar with a strong sense of community.” Despite minimal in-person requirements, students collaborate regularly, tackle real-world problems together and build lasting professional connections.

“Even if we didn’t see each other in person, we still worked together on projects and helped each other whenever we could,” explained Wunderli. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education continues to lead the way in the field of rural education. The university hosted the third annual Rural Education Conference and Job Fair this week. Each year, the conference provides vital conversations and networking opportunities for students, educators and community leaders passionate about the opportunities and challenges facing rural communities. It also highlights how robust partnerships help strengthen rural districts and addresses the gap in preparing future teachers for careers in rural education. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Collegiate Crops Team participated in the National Association of College Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) crops contest, held April 9-12 at West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. The event welcomed 100 students from 14 universities. The UW-Platteville team achieved an impressive seventh-place finish in the overall rankings of the NACTA Judging Conference.

The NACTA Judging Conference consists of four segments: an agronomic quiz, a math practical, a lab practical and identification of crops, weeds and seeds. To prepare, students participate in two two-hour practice sessions each week, beginning in the first week of the semester, to master the skills needed for accurate identification and evaluation.

The Steel Bridge Team at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville proudly earned the prestigious title of first place overall at the 2025 Western Great Lakes Student Steel Bridge Regional Competition, held this month in Milwaukee, Wisconsin—a first for UW-Platteville. The competition is an annual event where student teams design, build and assemble a scale-model steel bridge. Teams are judged on construction speed, bridge weight and load performance. They competed against 15 other teams in the Western Great Lakes Regional Competition.  

A group of five students from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville traveled last month to Fort Collins, Colorado, to take part in the 49th National Collegiate Landscape Competition, hosted by Colorado State University. The event, organized by the National Association of Landscape Professionals and sponsored by STIHL, brought together students from across the country to compete in hands-on landscape and horticulture events.

As the school year draws to a close, students in one marketing class at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville are preparing for a final project designed to leave an impact that extends far beyond the campus. Their professor has shown them that learning is not just about absorbing information but about transforming experiences into knowledge. 

"Knowing abstract concepts alone isn't enough to truly learn," said Dr. Xinghui Chen, assistant professor of marketing at UW-Platteville. "True learning comes from acting on that information, applying it to real experiences and reflecting on the process." 

As the spring blossoms bloom, so will the art exhibits around the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus and surrounding region. Eight student art exhibits will showcase the efforts of the graduating visual arts students from the UW-Platteville art program. Exhibits are set to begin at the Nohr Gallery with a reception for the Senior Show and BFA Group Exhibition on April 16 from 3–4:30 p.m. Seven additional solo shows hosted by each of the Bachelor of Fine Arts students will follow, with opening receptions beginning on April 25 and continuing into May.

More than a dozen University of Wisconsin-Platteville students participated in the 21st annual Research in the Rotunda event on April 2 in the State Capitol. They were among hundreds of undergraduate researchers from across the Universities of Wisconsin who presented their work to state legislators, business leaders, alumni and the public.

"This event is a testament to the power of investing in undergraduate research,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “We are cultivating the next generation of leaders who will drive innovation, advance knowledge and help shape the future.”

The students presented a total of six projects, representing all three colleges.

“I have seen significant interest in my project, and I’ve really enjoyed sharing the topic with people today,” said Jade Fitzgerald, a senior English and engineering physics major who presented research on AI’s ability to create narratives.

UW-Platteville projects included:

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education will host the third annual Rural Education Conference and Job Fair on Wednesday, April 16. The conference provides vital conversations and networking opportunities for students, educators and community leaders passionate about the opportunities and challenges facing rural communities. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneer Farm will host the 68th Annual Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association (WBIA) Bull Sale on Saturday, April 5, at 11:00 a.m. The sale will offer a variety of high-quality yearling bulls for sale.

The WBIA has conducted and overseen a performance bull test each year since 1957 and remains the longest running bull test in the country. Since 1970, young beef bulls from all over Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest have been brought by top beef breeders to UW-Platteville Pioneer Farm. Bull prospects are developed on a forage-based ration with their performance measured over a 100-day period.

The top 60-70 bulls are selected and sold at auction on the first Saturday in April at the UW-Platteville Pioneer Farm Beef Center. The sale is also broadcast over DVAuction, providing the opportunity to preview, watch and bid online.

In a groundbreaking event, University of Wisconsin-Platteville forensic investigation students participated in the first-ever cold weather Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) Full-Scale Exercise. Held at Northern Michigan University earlier this month, the mass fatality response training was conducted in freezing conditions. Students joined members of more than a dozen agencies representing local, state, regional and federal response teams.

“Through this mutually beneficial exercise, our students gained invaluable forensic experience and real-world connections while DMORT members gained new insight and renewed motivation for their own work,” said forensic anthropologist and UW-Platteville Professor Dr. Janamarie Truesdell. “Hopefully, memories of this exercise will continue to inspire our UW-Platteville students throughout their forensic careers.”

Thirteen students from diverse majors such as psychology, theatre and biology, recently traveled to New York City for a one-credit Political Science Field Trip course. Their experience centered on “Glocalization," which encourages thinking globally and acting locally.

During the trip, they explored a variety of global and local initiatives. Their first stop was the United Nations, where they met with a representative from UNICEF to learn about global efforts to promote human rights and development. The students then visited the Brooklyn Grange, an urban rooftop farm dedicated to sustainability, where they saw firsthand how fresh produce is grown and distributed to various cultural communities throughout the city.

Livia Winch will be serving in the Peace Corps as an English teacher in Querétaro, Mexico later this year. Winch, a senior from Dodgeville, Wisconsin, is double majoring in business management and Spanish. She will graduate this May.

Winch is the first University of Wisconsin-Platteville student in more than a decade to be accepted into the Peace Corps before graduation. She hopes to use this prestigious opportunity to further her education and career goals.

"I want to gain more experience before I go back to school for my master's degree, and the Peace Corps is a route many people take to get into the U.S. State Department, which is what I would eventually like to do," said Winch. "I can continue teaching English, work directly to make a positive influence and use my Spanish!"

Winch credits UW-Platteville’s Spanish faculty as being crucial to her development as a teacher and Spanish speaker. 

The 52nd annual Criminal Justice Career Fair at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is more than just an event with booths and pamphlets—it’s a living testament to the strength, community and impact of the university's Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation. This year, nearly 70 agencies, with more than 100 representatives from various sectors of the criminal justice field, gathered to offer current students an invaluable, real-world look at the diverse career paths within the system. 

“It’s something we take great pride in,” said Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation Department Chair Will LeSuer. 

UW-Platteville’s Mathematics Department is hosting the annual conference of the Wisconsin Section of the Mathematical Association of America on April 4-5. The Mathematical Association of America is a national professional organization with a specific focus on teaching and learning. 

This year's meeting will be attended by about 100 participants, including more than a dozen UW-Platteville students.  

The two-day meeting will include:

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Department of Performing and Visual Arts-Theatre and Pioneer Players will be returning to the stage with the hit Broadway show, “The Prom.” With a book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, the 2016 musical follows four Broadway actors as they travel to Edgewater, Indiana to help a lesbian student who is banned from bringing her girlfriend to the prom. 

Performances are Friday, April 4, Saturday, April 5, Thursday, April 10, Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 6 and Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m. There also will be a special matinee at 11 a.m. on April 9. All performances will be held in the Brodbeck Concert Hall at the Center for the Arts of the UW-Platteville campus. 

On Tuesday, March 11, the faculty and staff from the UW-Platteville art program shared their artwork during the opening reception of “Light: A UW-Platteville Art Faculty Exhibition” in Nohr Gallery. This annual faculty exhibition encourages the UW-Platteville art instructors to create artwork within their area of expertise based on a common theme which may be incorporated into their artwork any way they wish. This year, they investigated “light.” 

“Light is essential and endlessly varied,” said Dr. Tyler Ostergaard, associate professor of art history with the Department of Performing and Visual Arts. “It allows for vision, personal discovery, reflection and growth. Light is the spark of creation.” 

The campus was alive with activity today as high school students participated in the annual University of Wisconsin-Platteville FFA Career Development Events. It serves as a precursor for teams hoping to qualify for the state FFA competitions. The university welcomed nearly 100 FFA chapters from across the state, ranging from local school districts to those from Milwaukee, Green Bay, Wausau and La Crosse.

"This is an incredible event," said Dr. Wayne Weber, dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Sciences and Agriculture. "With 2,000 participants here, they’re actively engaging in agriculture skills tests. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about UW-Platteville and the exceptional faculty and staff who are here to support their education."

There are several categories, including Floriculture, where 15-year-old Isabel is excited to compete alongside her teammates.

Lauren Carlson, a senior in Environmental Horticulture, took first place in the Landscape Illinois design competition, becoming the first UW-Platteville student to win the award. She was tasked with completely re-designing the landscape of a given property.

“I received a plot survey of the land, along with the customer’s wants and needs, and was granted creative freedom to develop the design,” Carlson shared.

Carlson's work included the creation of hardscapes such as patios, outdoor kitchens and porches, all while ensuring both aesthetic appeal and functional use. A key element of her designs was selecting the appropriate plants, for which she carefully considered factors such as plant size, soil type, light requirements, water needs, color and bloom time to choose the most suitable species and cultivars.

The UW-Platteville Athletic Department is excited to announce a bone marrow drive in partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program on Thursday, April 3, at three locations on campus: Bridgeway Commons, Williams Fieldhouse and the Markee Pioneer Student Center. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the goal is to register more than 500 people with the National Marrow Donor Program Registry.

Seventy percent of patients needing a blood stem cell transplant don’t have a fully matched donor in their family. They depend on the National Marrow Donor Program to find an unrelated donor. This drive presents a great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals who need a life-saving bone marrow transplant. 

One of the biggest challenges today is ensuring that students develop skills that will make them irreplaceable by AI. With AI capable of generating anything from a fitness plan to a complex strategy, it begs the question: What makes us different? The key lies in the human connection. This is precisely what Health and Human Performance Professor Gail Hoffman is most concerned about. She is dedicating her class, HHP 4860 Fitness Wellness Internship, to preparing her students how to master both resume writing and interviewing skills to ensure they are fully prepared for the job market. Ironically, she’s using AI to do it.

STEM Career Exploration Day provided 75 local high school sophomores with a hands-on opportunity to explore the vast world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students learned about various majors and career opportunities in STEM fields through engaging workshops across campus.

One highlight was the "Environment, Safety and Materials" workshop, where students explored renewable energy with engineers. They also had fun at the "Science and Your Senses" session, diving into the science behind one of their favorite treats—ice cream!

“This event is the best showcase of our collaboration across colleges,” said Megan Jensen, assistant director of the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. “We work with each college to create interactive workshops that show students the many exciting pathways in STEM. When we say we are a ‘leader in STEM,’ this is the type of event I point to.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts will welcome ceramic artist Mitch Iburg on Wednesday, March 12, and Thursday, March 13, for two days of live demonstrations, an artist lecture and discussions with students about their work and ideas.

“Having access to an internationally recognized artist at the top of his game is an invaluable opportunity for our students,” said Scott Steder, lecturer of art at UW-Platteville. “This visit is not for art enthusiasts alone. Mitch is a material scientist who tackles applied chemistry and earth science through the lens of a ceramicist."

This January, three groups of UW-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education students and faculty engaged in once-in-a-lifetime study abroad experiences in England, Italy and the Galápagos Islands during the Winterim term.

Theatre faculty Dr. Ann Farrelly, Jeffrey Strange and Sarah Strange led English Period Styles for the Theatre and British Theatre for 22 students in the United Kingdom. This is the fifth time this study abroad opportunity has been offered by the university. Sarah Strange remarked that for an international trip focused on theater, London was an obvious destination as well as an accessible one for first-time international travelers. 

“London is a fantastic hub for theatre that is extremely well done and affordable,” she said. “For some of our students, they don't get the chance to be exposed to such high-quality performance outside of touring productions.” 

52nd Annual Criminal Justice Career Fair

Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Velzy Commons, Ullsvik Hall, 1 University Plaza, Platteville, WI

The 52nd Annual Criminal Justice Career Fair provides an excellent opportunity for students and faculty to explore career and networking possibilities within the criminal justice field. This event is open to all students and faculty interested in pursuing careers or internships in the criminal justice sector.

Participating agencies and exhibitors include:

• Law Enforcement
• Crime Labs
• Correctional Agencies
• Military
• Private Security
• K9 Units
• Drone Technology

The Pioneer Dairy Club is extending an official invitation for the 42nd Annual Pioneer Dairy Classic Sale taking place on April 5 at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Lancaster, WI. The sale will kick off at 11 a.m., and it will be a day filled with great cattle, opportunities and meaningful causes.

This student-run event is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication from club members. Each year, they bring together 60 to 70 high-quality cattle to be sold at auction on consignment. The club takes great pride in the selection process, advertising and preparing the cattle, ensuring they’re ready for the sale. From washing and clipping to feeding and caring for them, the team is involved every step of the way.

At the crossroads of food science, agriculture and sustainability, groundbreaking research is transforming the future of the dairy industry. Dr. Zifan Wan, an assistant professor of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is establishing a research program that leverages cold plasma technology to advance food safety, sustainable agriculture and dairy processing. With support from the Dairy Innovation Hub, she is developing innovative, chemical-free solutions that improve food sanitation, boost crop yields and promote a more sustainable agricultural system. 

Choosing UW-Platteville to build a research program 

What’s happening inside a lab at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville offers a resilient alternative to food supply issues, while educating students at the same time. The hydroponics lab, located in Glenview Commons, is a shining example of how new measures can be implemented to meet the need for sustainable, local food production. The student-run facility which opened in 2019, serves as a living classroom where they can explore innovative farming methods and contribute to the future of agriculture.

Kassandra Clint, a senior from Brodhead, Wisconsin, majoring in soil and crop science and environmental horticulture with an emphasis on plant breeding and genetics, is enthusiastic about the promise of the lab. For her, the hydroponics lab isn't just about growing food; it's about experimenting with new farming techniques and offering educational opportunities. 

Maddie Cooley has won the SHAPE America Major of the Year award. This award is a prestigious national honor that recognizes exemplary undergraduate students in the fields of health, physical education, recreation and dance. A Platteville native, Cooley graduated in December with a Bachelor of Science in health and human performance with an emphasis in physical education and minors in health education and athletic coaching. She was nominated for the award by Dr. Tim Swenson, chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance.

“From the moment she was a freshman in our department, her commitment to becoming the best PE/Health teacher was evident,” said Swenson. “What makes her special is her enthusiasm when she teaches. It doesn't matter the age level or content she was teaching; she could get students excited about it!”

The Dairy Innovation Hub will host an informational research poster session at the State Capitol March 26 to highlight select projects funded by the initiative at UW–Platteville, UW–Madison and UW–River Falls.

Attendees are invited to browse a dozen research posters and engage with students and faculty affiliated with Hub-funded projects. Legislators, staff and the public are encouraged to participate.

Dr. Zifan Wan, assistant professor of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences in the UW-Platteville School of Agriculture will address enriching human health and nutrition with the utilization of the novel atmospheric cold plasma technology for controlling Listeria monocytogenes in cheese brine. 

A pilot program through the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s School of Business is taking students out of the classroom and into Panama, where they apply their academic knowledge in real-world community development projects. This first-of-its-kind initiative brings both undergraduate and graduate students to rural areas in need of business consultation, fostering sustainable growth in underserved communities.  

"The first time I visited Panama, it was life-changing," said Dr. Caryn Stanley, UW-Platteville business professor. "I know that many of our students had a similar experience. Consulting in a rural area truly highlighted how much we take for granted in terms of daily access to resources." 

The College of Liberal Arts and Education, in collaboration with Avalon Cinema in Platteville, will host a free screening of February on Wednesday, March 5. The film, which won the Audience Choice Award at the 2024 Wisconsin Film Festival, is set in rural Wisconsin and follows a Mexican immigrant struggling to fit into a small town until he discovers ice fishing. February is part of the "Year Project," a series of films—one for each month of the year—set in Wisconsin. The film stars David Ezekiel Duran, Nayeli Hernandez, Erick Inestroza and Richie Gordon, and was written and directed by Nathan Deming.

After the screening, David Gillota, chair of the Humanities Department and professor of film, American literature and composition, will moderate a Q&A with the filmmaker.

On Tuesday, February 11, regional artists and UW-Platteville alumni gathered to celebrate the third annual Nohr Gallery “Small Works Exhibition.” This juried exhibit features a variety of artworks that measure twelve inches or less in all dimensions and weigh under 45 pounds. While the call for art was open to all artists, the exhibition provides an opportunity for regional artists and UW-Platteville alumni to revisit Nohr Gallery and reminisce on their artistic roots.  

“I loved UW-Platteville and my time there,” said Greg Senn, a 1982 graduate who currently resides in New Mexico with his wife, Barbara. “Coming across this venue and being able to participate in these exhibits for the past three years has been fun for me. My family and friends in Wisconsin have also been able to see my work firsthand.” 

Students, faculty, and staff attended the 19th annual Southwest Wisconsin Business & Education Summit on Thursday, Feb. 13. This exciting event featured Matt Kirchner, author of the TECH ED Podcast, who shared the latest insights on AI, Star Gate, manufacturing, business and education. Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Wayne Weber, dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture.

Thanks to our partnership with local school districts, the summit was completely free to attend.

Thank you for having your students and classes sign up! We appreciate CESA 3 for connecting education, industry and economic development partners to shape the future of our region.

For more information, visit Cesa 3.