The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will celebrate its 2022 Distinguished and Outstanding Alumni Award recipients at the Alumni Association Awards on Friday, Oct. 14 in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall, Center for the Arts at 5 p.m. The event recognizes individuals for accomplishments in their careers, contributions to the community and service to the university. The ceremony is part of the university’s annual Homecoming celebration weekend.
The Distinguished Alumni Award winners are Jim Ryan, Lana Wiese, Jill Furman, Kevin McMullen, Richard H. Weber and Dr. Tori Erickson. The Outstanding Alumni Award winner is Aaron Athas.
Ryan is a 1977 UW-Platteville graduate earning his degree in agriculture. He’s the senior vice president of corporate affairs for Constellation Brands in Chicago, Illinois, and works with elected officials across the country. Ryan remains active on campus, where he serves on the UW-Platteville Foundation Board of Directors, a lifetime member of the UW-Platteville Alumni Association and a proud member of the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. He is a member of the 1866 Cornerstone Society. Ryan also established the Raymond and Beatrice Ryan Spirit of Life Scholarship. In 2019, Ryan delivered the principal speaker address at the spring commencement ceremony.
Wiese received her bachelor’s degree in business from UW-Platteville in 1971. She continued her education, earning an MBA in 1982 from UW-Whitewater. Wiese is the co-owner and president of Studio Gear, LLC, an audio, video, lighting rental and sales company that facilitates live events for corporate and nonprofit organizations. Wiese established the Lana and Bob Wiese Endowed Scholarship. Wiese and Studio Gear are both 1866 Cornerstone Society members. She also received the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture’s 2011 Outstanding Alumni Award and delivered the UW-Platteville commencement address in 2015.
Furman graduated from UW-Platteville in 2003 with a degree in electrical engineering. She received her master’s degree in electrical engineering from UW-Madison in 2004 and earned her MBA from the University of Denver, Daniels School of Business in 2017. Furman is the global product manager–CARESCAPE at GE Healthcare in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a member of the 1866 Cornerstone Society. Furman also created the Jill Pamperin and Miles Hill “Lab Rat” Scholarship and serves on the UW-Platteville Biomedical Engineering Advisory Board. She was the December 2019 principal speaker at the UW-Platteville College of EMS commencement ceremony.
McMullen earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UW-Platteville in 1986. He’s the president of the Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association in Madison, Wisconsin. McMullen is active on the UW-Platteville campus, delivering a lecture twice a year focused on engineering ethics to the senior design class in civil engineering. He is also a member of the Civil Engineering Advisory Board. McMullen is a lifetime member of the UW-Platteville Alumni Association and received the Outstanding UW-Platteville Recent Alumnus Award in 1998.
Weber graduated from UW-Platteville in 1979 with a degree in civil engineering. He continued his education and earned his master’s degree in civil and geotechnical engineering from Northwestern University in 1981. He is the Burnham Canal Wetland Base, Project Manager and Technical Consultant for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. Throughout his career, Weber has worked on several projects across the United States, Hong Kong and Germany. Weber currently sits on the UW-Platteville Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Board.
Erickson is a two-time alumna of UW-Platteville, earning her bachelor’s degree in education in 1983 and her master’s degree in counseling and student personnel in 1988. She furthered her education and received her doctorate in education from UW-Madison in 1995. Erickson has spent her career working in higher education. She worked in admissions both at UW-Platteville, Carthage College and UW-Whitewater. Erickson continued her career at the University of Iowa. She is a UW-Platteville Foundation board member and a member of the 1866 Cornerstone. Erickson established the “Jon and Tori Erickson Scholarship” and “Sheila A. Nelson Scholarship.” In addition, Erickson has an estate planned gift to the UW-Platteville Foundation. She also received the Outstanding Alumni Award in 1998.
Athas earned his bachelor’s degree in choral and general music in 2010. He received his master’s degree from Minnesota State University in 2014 and is currently pursuing an education administration license from Concordia University. Athas is the instructional technology specialist at Sartell (Minnesota) Senior High School. Throughout his career, Athas been recognized for his achievements, including being the recipient of the 2020 Herb Kohl Excellence in Education. Athas is also the board president of the UW-Platteville Alumni Association, serving in the role since 2020.
To nominate alumni for the distinguished or outstanding alumni award, visit www.uwplatt.edu/alumni-friends/awards.
In addition to the Alumni Association Awards, the colleges will be recognizing the following alumni:
College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture:
- Brad Gehrke ’82 – Outstanding Alumni Award
- Keith Glewen ’75 – Outstanding Alumni Award
- David Lutzke ’82 and ’83 – Outstanding Alumni Award
- Jen Davie ’06 – Outstanding Alumni Award
- Jennie Franks ’11 – Outstanding Alumni Award
- Sandie Brick-Margelofsky – Friend of the College, Individual Friend Award
- Milwaukee Tool – Friend of the College Award
College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science:
- Danielle Izdepski ’96 – Outstanding Alumni Award
- Dr. David Kunz – Outstanding Emerti Award
- Alliant Energy – Friend of the College Award
College of Liberal Arts and Education:
- Kalee Crist ’12 – Distinguished Educator Award
- Kathleen Hughes ’86 – Professional Achievement Award
UW-Platteville will celebrate Homecoming week Oct. 9-15. For more information, visit www.uwplatt.edu/homecoming.