Wein recognized for outstanding service to UW-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education

PLATTEVILLE – Dr. Kory Wein, associate dean of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education and associate English professor in the UW-Platteville Department of Humanities, was honored with the College of LAE Outstanding Service Award at a reception held in Ullsvik Hall’s Harry and Laura Nohr Gallery this spring. The annual award, which includes a $500 travel stipend, plaque and the recipient’s choice of an annual parking permit or a Pioneer Activity Center pass, is bestowed upon individuals who have provided outstanding service at the program, departmental, college and/or university level.

“We cannot think of another person who better deserves this award,” wrote English Program colleagues Drs. Laura Beadling, Teresa Burns, Peter Hadorn and Amanda Tucker in their nomination letter. “Kory has worked tirelessly on behalf of this university and college as well as within our own department.”

Among Wein’s many notable achievements at UW-Platteville are coordinating the first College of LAE Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors symposium, which debuted this spring and showcased top-notch student artwork, musical performances, creative writing and research; co-founding and editing “Stylus: An Anthology of Freshman Writing,” a guide to college-level writing featuring examples by UW-Platteville Freshman Composition students; rejuvenating the Humanities Internship Program, which he still directs; and teaching abroad for four summers and serving as the humanities liaison for the Master of Science in Education-English education program coordinated between UW-Platteville and the South Central University for Nationalities in Wuhan, China.

Since joining UW-Platteville in 2005, Wein has also served on and chaired numerous department, college and university committees, including 10 search and screen committees, the General Education Task Force, the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Faculty Senate, the Retention Task Force and many others.

Burns, chair of the UW-Platteville Humanities Department and award presenter, referred to Wein as “the man who is everywhere.” She added, however, that Wein’s broad involvement at UW-Platteville has never been at the expense of personal connections or a willingness to help others, whether it be a student who needs assistance finding just the right internship or a colleague who needs advice on writing a grant.

Evelyn Martens, director of UW-Platteville Writing and Tutoring Resources and fellow nominator, wrote that she has had the privilege of working with Wein on a variety of projects and has found his energy and expertise to be invaluable.

“Kory was my primary English Program consultant when I wrote a successful $53,000 grant proposal last year to fund a Writing Partners program to provide intensive added support for students in Fundamentals of English, many of whom come from historically underserved and underrepresented populations,” wrote Martens. “I believe that it is primarily through his intervention that we have seen markedly better teaching and support for those students over the past year.”

Beadling, Burns, Hadorn and Tucker each agreed, jointly crediting Wein with “doing more than any other person on campus to strengthen our university’s commitment to excellent student writing.”

For more information, contact Anderson at (608) 342-1151 or andersla@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Dr. Laura Anderson, interim dean, UW-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education, (608) 342-1151, andersla@uwplatt.edu

Written by: Barbara Weinbrenner, communications specialist, UW-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education, (608) 342-6191, weinbreb@uwplatt.edu

May 16, 2012 · Category: LAE

UW-Platteville student enjoying co-op with Harley-Davidson

PLATTEVILLE – The throaty rumble and elegant finish of Harley-Davidson Inc. motorcycles have become a near trademark for the Milwaukee-based company, and it was this that caught the eye of University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior Anthony Forman when he was looking for co-op experiences. Forman, a mechanical engineering major, from Trevor, began his co-op in January and works at the Tomahawk location.

“I’ve always been interested in power sports,” he said. “I’ve had my motorcycle license since I was 16, and I got my Harley when I was 17.”

He works on a variety of tasks for the company including checking the humidity in the paint jobs of the motorcycles, checking the adhesion of the paint on certain parts and running repaint tests. The company also makes use of robots that spray the paint at different angles, and he has gained experience in the programming of those robots.

“I’m involved in different projects every day,” he said. “When I first arrived, they threw me into the swing of things very quickly and let me figure things out on my own. I loved it, and every day I feel like I’m contributing and coming up with solutions. It’s an engineering environment, and that’s the most valuable thing to me.”

Forman described his biggest challenge as being able to reach out to different people in the company in order to get his parts from start to finish.

“There are a lot of people you have to touch base with,” he said. “We mold our own parts here and then they’re washed, tacked, painted, given a clear coat and an added decal, if needed. But after a few months, you begin to reach out to these people and become friends.”

Forman hopes that the fast-paced engineering environment will prepare him for future jobs that he will take on after graduation. He can ultimately see himself working at the Milwaukee Harley-Davidson facility, which focuses more on the power train including the engine, transition and chassis of the motorcycles.

He originally heard of the opportunity from a friend who completed the co-op with the company previously and returned with a positive experience.
He encourages other engineering students to pursue internships and co-ops because of the experience and opportunities that they offer.

“The co-op not only gave me a break from school, but also made me decide that this is what I want to do for my career,” he said. “I have motivation when I get back to school, knowing what it is exactly that I will be working towards. Doing a co-op like this can show you what to expect as well as show you the processes in a given field. It’s mainly a preview for how life will be.”

Written by: Angela O’Brien, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, obrienan@uwplatt.edu

May 16, 2012 · Category: Career Center, Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Schlager contributes engineering skills to Nicaragua during sabbatical

PLATTEVILLE – Dr. Lynn Schlager, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, took his variety of skills to Central America recently. Schlager spent January through March in Sabana Grande, Nicaragua, a small community of 800-1,000 people in northern Nicaragua, working with locals on a collapsible solar cooker. For the past 8-10 years, the community has been building rigid solar structures. “They were looking for ideas and ways to make it more portable and moveable,” said Schlager, noting he also worked on 8-10 other smaller projects.

Schlager also did some repair and maintenance work, as well as a review of heat transfer, similar to what he has done at UW-Platteville. “Overall, it was a really good experience,” he said.

Schlager’s son, William, spent time in Sabana Grande more than three years ago. Schlager was intrigued by his son’s experience and decided to take Spanish classes at UW-Platteville and prepare for a trip of his own.

Schlager’s experience was coordinated through the Grupo Fenix organization, which provides opportunities for the promotion of solar energy in Nicaragua.

The day-to-day living in Nicaragua was considerably different compared to southwest Wisconsin. Those stark differences included climate conditions, food, transportation and living conditions. Schlager’s time was spent during the dry season.

The cuisine included beans and rice 90-95 percent of the time, along with fruits and vegetables. Occasionally, he was able to eat eggs and meat. There was very little refrigeration. Transportation included either walking or utilizing old United States’ school buses. Schlager never used a private vehicle, other than a taxi. There was no sanitary plumbing; however, outhouses were available. Farmers use oxen for power on their farms and Schlager witnessed cows grazing in roadside ditches.

“Everybody and his or her sister or brother or dog seems to have a cell phone with them,” added Schlager. “It’s a strange mix of high tech and really low tech.”
The infrastructure for cell phones is much easier to build, compared to water lines or electricity.

The country recently initiated an aggressive renewable energy initiative. Schlager is hoping to organize a short-term travel abroad course to Sabana Grande. The 8-10 day experience would help students understand varying engineering methods.

“What they need are things they can make from local materials, that don’t require a lot of maintenance and are very reliable,” said Schlager. “You can usually get one or two of those. To get all three of those is difficult.”

Schlager traveled by himself; however, his wife, Susan, joined him for 10 days. They were able to get away and explore the countryside during that time.

Contact: Dr. Lynn Schlager, mechanical engineering professor, 342-1439, schlager@uwplatt.edu

Written by: Dan Wackershauser, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, wackersd@uwplatt.edu

May 16, 2012 · Category: Mechanical Engineering

UW-Platteville to host Sustainability and Renewable Energy Institute

PLATTEVILLE – With the addition of a new Sustainability and Renewable Energy Systems major at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, university officials are teaming with green industry leaders to a host a new event. The Sustainability and Renewable Energy Institute is geared for university students and it will be held May 23-24 at the Markee Pioneer Student Center on the UW-Platteville campus.

Dr. Tim Zauche, program director of SRES, is organizing the inaugural event. He said the institute would help students realize the many career opportunities that are available to them in the green industry. “One of their biggest concerns is, ‘I know if I am a chemistry major, if I am an engineer, if I’m an ag major, I know the types of jobs I can go into. What kind of jobs can I go into if I choose this as a major,’” said Zauche, who is also a professor of chemistry and renewable energy at UW-Platteville.

The institute experience will include a visit to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified building in Dubuque, Iowa, as well as discussions with various green business leaders.

Franklin Energy Services, LLC and Baxter are partnering with UW-Platteville for the event.

The institute will be applicable to students interested in switching majors or obtaining the minor.

The event is open to 20 students and will be free of charge.

Dr. David Kraemer, mechanical engineering professor, and Dr. Mike Dalecki, sociology professor at UW-Platteville, along with industry officials will be hosting the event.

Zauche indicated there have been discussions about offering a similar event in January, where green industry officials could meet potential summer interns.

Contact: Dr. Tim Zauche, Program Director for SRES, 342-1678, zauchet@uwplatt.edu

Written by: Dan Wackershauser, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, wackersd@uwplatt.edu

May 15, 2012 · Category: Pioneer Student Center, Student news

UW-Platteville VECTOR organization whitewashes the “M”

PLATTEVILLE -The stark white “M” on the Platte Mound has been an iconic landmark since 1936 both to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the surrounding community. It is 241 feet high, and 214 feet wide with legs 25 feet in width. UW-Platteville became actively involved in the maintenance of the world’s largest “M” in the 1940s and 1950s, and such efforts continue today by whitewashing the stone formation. The UW-Platteville VECTOR Organization held a whitewashing of the “M” on Monday, May 7. The “M” is located on West Mound Road.

“Ultimately, this is something that we want to carry out every year,” said Eric Windsor, an engineering major from Geneseo, Ill, and the “M” coordinator for the VECTOR Organzation. “A lot of people recognize Platteville just by the ‘M’, which is why it is important that we keep it looking nice. It’s such a big part of the community and the school.”

The last whitewashing of the “M” took place a year-and-a-half ago, but prior to that, it had been four years since the service had been performed.

Members of the VECTOR Organization used about 2,000 pounds of whitewash mixed with water in a tank at the top of the hill, and walked along the “M” in order to distribute it via a hose. This is an improvement over previous years, said Windsor, where buckets needed to be passed up the steps by hand. The process typically takes about two hours. Though the whitewashing was the primary focus, other maintenance responsibilities included picking up trash, repairing steps and knocking the brush down between the limestone.

The whitewashing is important because without it, the stones would take on a dull brown color, and the pristine white helps the formation stand out.

“We always try to do it in the spring because if you whitewash in the fall, no one will be able to see it once the snow comes,” said Windsor.

Contact:
Eric Windsor, “M” Coordinator, VECTOR, windsorer@uwplatt.edu

Written by: Angela O’Brien, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, obrienan@uwplatt.edu

May 15, 2012 · Category: Student news

Garrett and Douillet at UW-Platteville awarded Fulbright grants

PLATTEVILLE – Dr. Richard Garrett, lecturer in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Humanities Department, and Dr. Catherine Douillet, lecturer in the UW-Platteville Women’s and Gender Studies Program, have both been awarded Fulbright grants through the U.S. Department of State to teach in Moldova’s capital city of Chisinau during the 2012-13 academic year – Garrett at Moldova State University and Douillet at the Free International University of Moldova.

Participants in the Fulbright Program, which is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, are selected for their academic merit and leadership potential, according to the program’s website.

“I have always been intellectually curious about the world and this is one of the reasons I chose to study sociocultural anthropology, which involves traveling overseas and meeting other people from other cultures,” said Douillet, who is a native of France. “Traveling and learning about other countries makes me happy.”

Garrett said he became interested in the Fulbright Program for very similar reasons. “I lived and taught in France for two years and in India for four months, and now I teach in Wuhan, China, each summer as a visiting UW-Platteville professor,” said Garrett. “These international, cross-cultural experiences profoundly changed my worldview. Thus an international program like Fulbright, in which one gets to teach or do research abroad and represent the United States, seemed quite appealing to me.”

Garrett and Douillet added that Moldova, which is located in Eastern Europe and became an independent republic following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, is a particularly interesting country for many reasons – just one being its significance in literary works, such as Aleksandr Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin,” which Garrett said launched the Russian Romantic movement, and Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” where it played a crucial geopolitical location.

“Moldova is a culturally and politically fascinating nation at the historical and political crossroads of countries such as Romania, Turkey and Russia,” said Douillet. “As an anthropologist interested in issues of ethnicity and nation-building in small, newly-independent countries, I am particularly intrigued by the fact that the Moldovan nation is a multiethnic country in an important phase of transition with various sociopolitical issues of national reconstruction and identity to consider.”

Garrett said Moldova’s education system is also being transformed, with an increasingly popular interest in English and Anglo-American culture. He added that he hopes to be a part of that transformation through his teaching experience.

“I would enjoy the opportunity to actively participate in and contribute to Moldova’s efforts to internationalize higher education in the country,” said Garrett. “At my host institution, I will teach, among other courses, Language and American Culture, which will cover a variety of topics that explore different aspects of American culture and the English language and underscore the strong connection between the two.”

Douillet, who will focus on the social sciences, said she is looking forward to giving students a more thorough understanding of social relations in American society, as well as in their Moldovan society, through cross-cultural dialogues.

In order to further students’ reflections and questions on sociocultural issues from a cross-cultural perspective, Douillet said she plans to develop extracurricular activities like film festivals and a reading group.

Although Douillet and Garrett will be teaching at different universities, they said they intend to collaborate and coordinate student field trips together, such as to prominent castles and monasteries, Moldova’s Pushkin Museum and the American Embassy in Chisinau.

Contact: Dr. Richard Garrett, lecturer, UW-Platteville Department of Humanities, (608) 342-1868, garrettri@uwplatt.edu

Written by: Barbara Weinbrenner, communications specialist, UW-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education, (608) 342-6191, weinbreb@uwplatt.edu

May 15, 2012 · Category: Women's Studies

UW-Platteville named Grand Champion for Wisconsin division of RecycleMania

PLATTEVILLE – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has been named Grand Champion of Wisconsin for the RecycleMania competition that took place over an eight-week period across the globe. The university also placed 50th out of 605 schools for the overall national Grand Champion competition.

RecycleMania, a friendly competition to promote waste reduction, began on February 5 and ended March 31. Within these eight weeks, data was then collected and compared from last years RecycleMania data to determine exactly how much material had been recycled over the eight weeks.

“I encourage students to keep recycling, not only during the competition, but through the entire school year as well. I think we are doing a good job, and each year we are getting more aware about good recycling habits with the help of RecycleMania,” said Andrea Winkler, RecycleMania coordinator.

RecycleMania was started in 2001 between two universities in the United States as a way to get students to start recycling more. The friendly competition then expanded to other universities, and by 2011, the event had grown to 630 participating schools in the United States and Canada. More than 7.5 million students and staff participated in 2011, weighing in with 91 million pounds of material that was recycled. This year, 92 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials were recycled as a result of RecycleMania.

Fifteen Wisconsin schools participated in RecycleMania. Other small contests in the event included targeted recycling materials such as paper, cardboard, and bottles and cans. UW-Platteville placed first within the state competition for the largest cumulative recycling of paper and cardboard per person. They also placed second for the recycling of bottles and cans per person.

The competition also extended to the residence halls, where they competed against other halls on campus to see which hall could recycle the most material. Melcher Hall was named the champion for the residence hall competition. It is the hall’s second consecutive win.

Written by: Brooke Bechen, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, bechenb@uwplatt.edu

May 14, 2012 · Category: Recyclemania

UW-Platteville Office of Multicultural Student Affairs establishes Student of the Month Achievement Award

PLATTEVILLE – Recognizing students for their achievements has always been an important part of campus life, and in 2012 the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Office of Multicultural Student Affairs established the Student of the Month Achievement Award to recognize an outstanding student and an influential faculty member of his or her choice. For March, the recipient was Chang Thao, an elementary education major from Wisconsin Rapids, who recognized Dr. Rea Kirk, professor of education, as his influential staff member. The April recipient was Edwin Sullivan, a criminal justice and political science double major from Kenosha. Sullivan recognized Travis Nelson, professor of political science, as his influential staff member.

The UW-Platteville Multicultural Student of the Month Achievement Award recognizes excellence within multicultural students on campus. It is designed to give high-achieving and engaged underrepresented students the opportunity to be recognized as well as recognition to a faculty member that has been influential in the student’s educational journey. The award is presented monthly during the academic year.

Thao has been president of the Hmong Club on campus for the past two years, and he also sits on the UW-Platteville School of Education Advisory Board to discuss issues about the current education program.

“I’ve done everything from sitting at a booth simply to display the word ‘Hmong’, to giving a presentation in front of over 100 students to spread my culture,” he wrote in his application. “I’ve been an advocate for many minority groups on campus besides just the Hmong population. I’ve also rallied side-by-side with my fellow students to stop racism.”

As part of the award, Thao recognized a UW-Platteville faculty member who has had a positive impact on his personal and educational goals, and he chose Professor Kirk.

“In her classes, Dr. Kirk does a good job of helping students see and understand the experiences of those who are marginalized,” Thao said. “She embodies what she teaches. She makes people feel comfortable, and students can talk to her about anything. She has helped me become a better teacher for the future and how to work past walls people put up when judging students and people.”

Kirk first had Thao in her Introduction to Inclusion course.

“His strong leadership skills, his academic curiosity and diligence, and the fact that he manages to balance coursework, co-curricular activities and family life make him an excellent recipient for this award,” she said.

Sullivan began his criminal justice major with the desire to become a law enforcement officer, but after taking a class with Nelson he added political science as his second major.

“I have done better in the rest of my classes because of the new-found rejuvenation I have for being a student,” he wrote in his essay. “Professor Nelson has inspired me to push myself academically as well as professionally to the boundaries of my own creativity. Just from conversations with him, a person can see the passion that he has for teaching.”

Sullivan originally applied for the award because of the fact that it honored a faculty member as well as a student, and he wanted to recognize Nelson as an exceptional professor on campus.

“He really gets you involved in his classes,” Sullivan said. “You become excited about what he is teaching, and you look forward to going to class every day. Through his enthusiasm and work ethic, he inspired me to do great things.”

Sullivan will complete a semester of study abroad in Prague in the spring of 2013 with the ultimate goal of working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He added that because of Nelson’s influence, he is also considering teaching at the university level after gaining some career experience.

The Multicultural Student of the Month award will be offered every month of the academic year, and interested applicants should contact the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Contact:
Pusaporn Tabrizi, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, tabrizip@uwplatt.edu
Antonio Galvan, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, galvanan@uwplatt.edu

Chang Thao is from Wisconsin Rapids.
Edwin Sullivan is from Kenosha.

Written by: Angela O’Brien, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, obrienan@uwplatt.edu

May 14, 2012 · Category: Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA), Student Affairs

UW-Platteville fiber art students carry on traditions

PLATTEVILLE – An exhibit of work by Barbara Westfall’s fiber art students is open to visitors on the main floor of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Art Building until Wednesday, May 16. The display, which represents hundreds of hours of work in total, is the culmination of two projects that began early this year.

Even before the snow and ice disappeared this semester, Westfall’s students were bundled up harvesting willow in Southwest Wisconsin in order to construct baskets for their Crafts I: Fibers and Fabrics course project. Westfall, who specializes in textiles and recently had her willow and grapevine weaving installation, “FLOW: The Web of Interconnection,” displayed at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, said she was glad to share the expertise she’s gained over the years with her students.

“If this knowledge isn’t passed on orally, the tradition dies out,” said Westfall, an art instructor at UW-Platteville. “And anytime you get to work with plants, especially getting to go outside, slosh around in the wetlands and harvest the materials, it’s a great opportunity for out-of-classroom learning.”

Westfall, who studied at UW-Madison and served as the art teacher for Wingra School for 12 years before joining the UW-Platteville Art Program in 2011, said she and the students talked about the different species of willow, how to harvest it sustainably and the importance of fair trade in commerce.

For instance, Westfall asked her students to compare the price of hand-made baskets commonly found in the big-box market today, some of which are around $20 depending on their size, to the amount of time they put into their own hand-made baskets, which totaled 50-60 hours each, and discuss if those artisans were being paid fairly for their work.

“The students didn’t realize how long it would take,” said Westfall of making a basket from start to finish. “Now they have a new appreciation for this art form.”

In addition to the willow baskets, students also created their own unique fabric and fiber weavings using wood-frame looms they built themselves. To start them off on the right foot, Westfall invited Kathleen Nutter, a weaver from Mineral Point with nearly 30 years experience, to visit the classroom and share textile tips and fundamentals.

“When Barbara called, I thought, ‘Oh, fun! What a great opportunity to get involved,’” said Nutter. “It turned out to be a really interesting experience and I loved sharing what I know.”

Nutter added that she feels a particular joy when she gets to talk with people who are interested in looms and weaving. “I can’t wait to get down to campus and see the students’ finished work,” she said.

Westfall said she was really pleased by the students’ attention to detail and creativity on both projects. “They really added their own sense of design,” she said as she looked over the exhibit. “It makes me feel joyous. I’m happy for them.”

For more information, contact Barbara Westfall, lecturer, UW-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts, (608) 342-1640, westfallb@uwplatt.edu.

Written by: Barbara Weinbrenner, communications specialist, UW-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education, (608) 342-6191, weinbreb@uwplatt.edu

May 11, 2012 · Category: Performing and Visual Arts, Student news

Romanian-American cello/piano duo to perform at UW-Platteville on May 16

PLATTEVILLE – On Wednesday, May 16, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host A Romanian-American Cello/Piano Duo, a free performance by Dr. Eugene Alcalay, UW-Platteville associate professor of piano, and Dr. Simona Barbu, assistant professor of cello at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. The performance, which is part of an exchange project between the two universities, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall.

“As part of our recital, we’ll be performing a very diverse program that will include two of the most important chamber music works written for piano and cello: Beethoven Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69, and Brahms Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 99,” said Barbu, who recently returned from a concert tour in China.

Barbu added that, in order to complement the two ample works, she and Alcalay would also perform three short, lyrical pieces written by English composer Frank Bridge and Brazilian composer Marlos Nobre.

Alcalay and Barbu, who both share a Romanian heritage, first met a few years ago at the Masterworks Festival, an international summer music festival in Winona Lake, Ind., where Alcalay regularly serves on the piano faculty.

“I’ve always admired his performances, and I’m excited to have the privilege of performing with a musician I highly admire,” said Barbu.

Alcalay, who referred to Barbu as “an extraordinarily talented cellist and musician,” said he feels equally honored to be performing with her. “I am thrilled to host Simona at UW-Platteville and collaborate with her on this program,” he said.

As part of the exchange visit, Alcalay visited the UND campus on April 28-29 to give a piano master class and a recital with Barbu. Additional performances by the duo are also planned in other venues this semester as well as during the summer.

For more information, contact Dr. Eugene Alcalay, associate professor, UW-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts, (608) 342-1292, alcalaye@uwplatt.edu

Written by: Barbara Weinbrenner, communications specialist, UW-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education, (608) 342-6191, weinbreb@uwplatt.edu

May 11, 2012 · Category: Center for the Arts