Alumni

Pioneers Day of Giving raises more than $141,500 for student success

Authored on: Oct 10, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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UW-Platteville alumni and friends celebrated Pioneers Day of Giving by raising $141,514 on Oct. 9. The university surpassed its goal with more than 290 donors.

Family legacy honored with renaming of Busby Hall of Engineering

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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For more than 50 years, the Busby family has helped transform and enrich UW-Platteville and the greater Platteville community. To honor their family legacy, UW-Platteville will rename Engineering Hall to the Busby Hall of Engineering.

Engineering alumni and professor launch Skillzboard, LLC

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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It’s an idea that has evolved since 2019 when four engineering students and Dr. Gokul “Gopal” Gopalakrishnan, associate professor of engineering physics, discussed their passion for rock climbing and developed the first prototype of Skillzboard. Today, Gopal and his former students are now partners and have started their own company.

Recent alumni publish academic work, credit summer research program

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Two recent UW-Platteville alumni, Kathryn Bartels and Dominique Kornely, have had their research work accepted for publication in academic journals. Both alumni are former participants of UW-Platteville’s Summer Undergraduate Scholars Program and credit the program for their success.

UW-Platteville to celebrate Pioneers Day of Giving

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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UW-Platteville will celebrate 154 years since becoming an institution on Friday, Oct. 9. In honor of Founder’s Day, alumni and friends are invited to participate in the annual Pioneers Day of Giving. The all-day event raises funds to support student success.

LRT Family Scholarship connects Minnesota students to UW-Platteville

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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The message to never give up is one that alumnus Greg Loek ’80 and his wife Kathy Rice share through their endowed Loek-Rice-Titus Family Engineering, Mathematics, and Science Scholarship. The renewable four-year scholarship is targeted to UW-Platteville students from Minnesota who have declared a major in the College of EMS. Both Loek and Rice, who have spent their careers as engineers, want to give students an opportunity to further their education.

Teresa’s Team carries on a giving legacy

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Remembered as an “individual more concerned with making a difference than making a fortune,” Teresa Kirkeeng-Kincaid ‘80 was a leader in the engineering field, respected as much for her care and compassion as for her expertise and drive. It is this legacy that her family hopes to see carry on through others with the Teresa Kirkeeng-Kincaid Memorial Scholarship for Women in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Nancy Ware’s giving legacy lives on

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Paul Erickson

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Nancy Ware was one of the most visible citizens in Platteville, whether at sporting competitions, at the swimming pool or taking her dog out for a walk. It was only fitting that in her will, she ensured her impact would live on in the city for years to come.

The story behind the scholarship: James Bade

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Jane Halpern

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When freshmen arrive at UW-Platteville every year, many of them notice the names attached to their financial aid statements. These loyal alumni of UW-Platteville have shown their commitment to the future of the school by funding scholarships for students much like themselves, just starting out on their careers. One of these generous Pioneers is James Bade, a Wisconsin native whose long career with Shell took him far from his hometown, state, and even country.

Foundation breaks $4 million in donations for first time

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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The UW-Platteville Foundation is celebrating a new milestone, as it recently announced record fundraising for the 2020 fiscal year, which ended on June 30. UW-Platteville alumni, friends and corporate partners donated more than $4 million for the first time ever, exceeding the previous year’s total by $1 million.

Pioneer Spotlight: Jeff Gard

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Jason Piddington

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Jeff Gard just finished his 11th season as head basketball coach of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Being in athletics was always Jeff’s dream and goal as a young man growing up in Cobb, Wisconsin. He was surrounded by coaches who helped mentor and guide him along the way, and coaching was his opportunity to stay in athletics.

The Bill and Jean Sanders Scholarship: A Way Of Sharing

Authored on: Jun 06, 2020, Written by: Jane Halpern

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If you are a mathematics major at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, then odds are that some aspect of your life has been touched by either Bill or Jean Sanders. The pair taught at the university for a combined total of 56 years, and their shared love of mathematics helped inspire multiple generations of Platteville students to pursue careers in STEM. When the couple retired in 2000, they decided they weren’t done being Pioneers. By funding two scholarships, one for new freshmen and one for continuing mathematics students, the couple have ensured an ongoing impact on today’s Pioneers.

Alumni transcribe Apollo 11 history

Authored on: May 05, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Two recent UW-Platteville graduates are pursuing their Ph.Ds. at the University of Texas at Dallas and contributing to a variety of projects that are significant to both the past and future.

Matching gift supports Pioneers Helping Pioneers fund

Authored on: May 05, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Joshua Boots, assistant vice chancellor of development and alumni engagement, announced today that the UW-Platteville Foundation has received a $15,000 matching gift donation from an anonymous couple. This gift will match donations made to UW-Platteville’s $100,000 initiative in support of the Pioneers Helping Pioneers fund.

Alumnus finds success in innovation at UW-Platteville, now supports others

Authored on: May 05, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Recent graduate Caleb Dykema is taking the experiences in innovation he found at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and inspiring others to achieve the same through his new podcast, Just the Bulb.

Teal draws on UW-Platteville education, experiences to help others during COVID-19 crisis

Authored on: May 05, 2020, Written by: Laurie Hamer

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During the COVID-19 crisis, University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumni who provide critical services and resources to those in need have risen to the challenge by adapting and innovating new ways of staying connected with their clients in ways that meet safer-at-home guidelines. To do so, they often draw upon their education and experiences at UW-Platteville.

Paying it Forward: The Huff Family Scholarship Fund

Authored on: May 05, 2020, Written by: Jane Halpern

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When you ask Bill Huff what motivated him to give back to UW-Platteville, he likes to answer the question with a story. “As a veteran discharged in 1955, I was aware that education was a license for a better life,” Huff said. Founded in 2003, the Foundation allows Huff to give back in profound ways to a wide range of projects and causes.

Pioneer Spotlight: Joshua Boots

Authored on: Apr 04, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Joshua Boots joined UW-Platteville as the assistant vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Engagement last November. He works with alumni and friends of UW-Platteville to connect them with the university and find ways they can make a difference.

Timmerman credits UW-Platteville for personal, professional success

Authored on: Apr 04, 2020, Written by: Laurie Hamer

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When University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumnus Brett Timmerman first arrived at the university in August 2001, he was excited about beginning his college career. Despite his excitement, however, he also had some apprehension, but he proceeded into uncertainty, never imagining that someday, he would become a successful realtor and political fundraiser.

Pioneers answer the call for help

Authored on: Apr 04, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many UW-Platteville students are finding themselves facing mounting financial challenges. But in a show of Pioneer spirit, many alumni, friends, faculty and staff have already stepped in to help. Created in 2019, the Pioneers Helping Pioneers fund provides emergency financial support to students with unexpected expenses, outside of tuition. When a call for assistance went out to alumni, friends, faculty and staff last week, more than $5,500 was raised for the fund in only a few days, with donations continuing to come in.

Alumnus invests in the future of engineering students through scholarship

Authored on: Mar 03, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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“The older you get the more you appreciate the opportunities you had at the university because you begin to see how fortunate you are to have attended UW-Platteville,” said Robert Bates ’70. Bates credits his educational experience at Wisconsin State University-Platteville in helping him create his civil engineering firm, Bates Engineering Inc., located in Denver, Colorado. Now, he’s making a long-term commitment to his alma mater through the endowed Bates Engineering Inc. scholarship.

Redfearn credits family, UW-Platteville for igniting passion for history

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Laurie Hamer

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From the time she was about nine years old, UW-Platteville alumna Winifred (Winnie) Redfearn knew that she wanted to be a history professor. Over the years, her love of history grew, and she realized that, more than anything, she wanted to open a window to the past and share the stories of those whose voices had never been heard.

Something That You Love Doing: The David Murphy and Virginia Bowar Scholarship

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Jane Halpern

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When you ask Dave Murphy to describe the goals of the UW-Platteville scholarship that bears his name, the recently-retired president of MSA Professional Services is typically modest. “I really hope that I made it easier on the students’ parents, on the families who are supporting them,” he said. “And I hope it makes a difference to the students.”

Strand Associates’ impactful gift to support College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science students

Authored on: Feb 02, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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A longtime partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Strand Associates was recently reaffirmed with a $200,000 commitment from the engineering firm, located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Alumna gives back through scholarship

Authored on: Jan 01, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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Following graduation from UW-Platteville, Jill Furman '03 earned her master’s degree in electrical engineering from UW-Madison and with her first pay check out of graduate school she created the Jill Pamperin and Miles Hill “Lab Rat” Scholarship, in honor of her classmate at UW-Platteville, Miles Hill.