SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015 2 | University Welcome
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SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015 2 | University Welcome UNIVERSITY WELCOME The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is proud of the accomplishments celebrated in today’s commencement ceremony. We recognize and applaud the determination of the graduates to complete their studies. We also recognize and appreciate the help families and friends have given to make this graduation possible. The completion of a program of study is signifcant. It commemorates the end of one important activity while signaling unlimited opportunities for the future. It is in this spirit of hope and optimism that today we congratulate those who have now completed their studies at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Our newest graduates represent a rich tradition of hands-on collaborative learning, academic excellence and personal growth that extends back to the date the University was founded in 1871. It is this tradition that links our newest alumni with prior graduates, who are actively enriching the civic, business, charitable and political sectors of our global community. As a regional center for the celebration and promotion of knowledge, culture and innovation, our University is an integral part of our broader community. With the fresh effort and focus of today’s graduates who join us in this broader role, we envision even more opportunities that will connect our University with the region we so proudly serve. It is my honor as the 11th chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh to extend this special recognition on behalf of the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the University. Sincerely, Andrew J. Leavitt, Ph.D. Chancellor University of Wisconsin Oshkosh University of Wisconsin Oshkosh | 3 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh was frst doctoral degree: the Doctorate of Nursing founded as the state’s third normal school in Practice. Chancellor Andrew J. Leavitt, 1871. President George S. Albee headed a faculty who was appointed in November 2014, leads of fve normal school teachers, the model school this vibrant educational institution — the director and three teachers. Forty-three students third-largest university in Wisconsin with an attended the frst day of classes. The Oshkosh on- and off-campus enrollment of more State Normal School became the state’s foremost than 14,500. teacher-training The picturesque institution. A fre and environmentally in 1916 destroyed conscious campus the school’s main covers 171 acres building, which and is home to was replaced with four colleges — Dempsey Hall Business, Education in 1918. and Human Services, Letters In later years, and Science, as the focus and Nursing. and curriculum UW Oshkosh’s expanded, the focus on teaching institution underwent is evident in its several name changes. distinction of A graduate school having won nine was added in 1963. In its centennial year of UW System Regents Teaching Awards of Excellence. 1971, President Roger Earl Guiles guided UW Oshkosh’s merger into the Wisconsin system. UW Oshkosh also is committed to becoming a nationally recognized model for the “engaged Today, UW Oshkosh prepares students for university.” Our striving to meet this goal is fulflling lives and challenging careers with illustrated in the Points of Pride described on 60 undergraduate majors, 15 master’s degree the following pages. programs and, as of fall 2010, the University’s UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM The University of Wisconsin System is governed The board is currently comprised of John R. Behling, by the Board of Regents, an 18-member board Mark J. Bradley, José M. Delgado, Tony Evers, appointed by the governor. The board, in turn, Regent President Michael J. Falbo, Margaret Farrow, appoints the system president, the chancellors of Eve M. Hall, Nicolas A. Harsy, Tim Higgins, the 13 universities, the chancellor of Extension and Edmund Manydeeds, Regent Vice President Regina UW Colleges, and the deans of the 13 colleges. Millner, Janice Mueller, Drew Petersen, Charles Pruitt, The current system president is Ray Cross. Anicka S. Purath, José F. Vásquez, David G. Walsh and Gerald Whitburn. 4 | Points of Pride UW OSHKOSH POINTS OF PRIDE At UW Oshkosh, students, faculty and staff come together to form a distinctive institution that prides itself on engaging people and ideas for common good. Our University Highlights are some of the many achievements that set us apart. We are especially proud of the accomplishments of our faculty and students: Student Points of Pride • The UW Oshkosh Model United Nations • Our newly-created program to support student/ team extended its winning streak to 31 years faculty collaborative research, the Oshkosh by winning two more Outstanding Delegation Student Scholarly and Creative Activities Awards at the world’s largest Model UN at Program (OSSCAP), launched in 2014 to improve UN headquarters in New York in 2015. our students’ access to a wide range of collabora- tive, hands-on scholarly and creative activities. • Celebrating 15 years, the Student Managed Endowment Fund (SMEF) program, which • The Cooperative Academic Partnership Program started as a $25,000 fund, has grown to more (CAPP), an accredited concurrent enrollment than $500,000. program, provided opportunities for more than 2,300 students from 50 high schools in the region • Undergraduate student performance on the to take college-level courses. NCLEX RN licensure exam continues above the national pass rate (89 percent) at 94 • UW Oshkosh won the 2014 Women’s Indoor percent or above. Track and Field championship, for a total of 46 national athletic championships. Campus Points of Pride • Six individual faculty members and three anaerobic biodigester plant in Wisconsin, serving departments have received the Regents Teaching as a model community program for food and yard Excellence Awards. waste and assisting UW Oshkosh in meeting a state off-the-grid energy goal for campus. • At more than 14,500 students, the University’s enrollment is holding strong at record levels over • UW Oshkosh became the nation’s frst Fair Trade its more than 140-year history. University in 2008. The University also was one of the frst to analyze its carbon footprint. • College of Letters and Science faculty, staff and students serve as a cultural anchor to the region by • The total UW Oshkosh economic contribution to contributing to the quality of life through theater the state is more than $500 million. The campus is productions, musical performances and art exhibits. responsible for directly and indirectly creating more than 9,000 jobs, generating more than • UW Oshkosh is recognized as a national model $37.5 million in tax revenue and giving more than for developing and highlighting exemplary $4 million in time and money to local charities. campuswide liberal education programs. • UW Oshkosh has achieved more than 50 years of • UW Oshkosh ranked 21st nationally — and offering graduate studies, can boast of more than frst in Wisconsin — on the Sierra Club’s 13,000 graduate school alumni, and continues to Coolest Schools list for its sustainable practices. be a leader in graduate education by offering more • The UW Oshkosh Foundation partnered with than 30 master’s, post-master’s and certifcate the University to build the frst dry fermentation programs as well as one doctoral program. Points of Pride | 5 Alumni of Pride Nearly 86,000 people worldwide call UW Oshkosh their alma mater. This sample of their accomplishments highlights how our alumni are impacting their professions, communities and the world: • Diane (Vanheuklon) Abraham • Timothy Greinert (BA, • Christopher Mohr (BA, (BS, economics ’84, MBA ’87) operations management ’85), is religious studies ’04) is the is the president and CEO of president of Junior Achievement of frst Buddhist chaplain in the the Oshkosh Area Community Wisconsin, Inc. Wisconsin National Guard. Foundation. • Norbert Hill (BS, sociology ’69, • Thomas Puls (BS, psychology • Carol Angell (BS, special MSE ’71) is the area manager for ’74), former cofounder of education ’90, MSE ’95) chairs education and training for the Donna Ricco, launched a new the Department of Educational Oneida Tribe. high-fashion menswear line called Studies at UW–La Crosse. Crow Philosophy in New York, N.Y. • Anton “Tony” Hopfnger • Steve Boettcher (BS, radio-TV- (BS, mathematics and physics ’66), • Shannon Stone (BSE, special flm ’82), Emmy-winning flmmaker, professor emeritus of medicinal education ’99) serves as the highlighted Wisconsin’s sturgeon- chemistry and pharmacognosy assistant director for East Asia with spearing tradition in his 2014 at the University of Illinois, is the U.S. Agency for International documentary, The Frozen Chosen. known as the founding father Development, Washington, D.C. of computational chemistry and • Kristofor Brown (BS, radio-TV- chemistry informatics. • Todd Teske (BBA, accounting flm ’88), former voice director and ’87) powers Briggs & Stratton, the staff writer for the MTV cartoon • Christian Jensen (BS, history world’s largest producer of gasoline series Beavis and Butt-Head, is the and physical education ’07), engines and leader in outdoor executive producer of Disney XD’s is the executive director of the power products with revenues Kirby Buckets. Wisconsin chapter of myTEAM exceeding $2 billion annually, TRIUMPH, a nonproft athletic serving as the chairman, president • Monique Caradine (BS, radio- mentoring program for challenged and chief executive offcer. TV-flm ’93), award-winning media athletes. professional, is the founder and • Thomas Zoch (BS, biology and president of Momentum Media • Robert Keller (BS, economics chemistry ’79), of Neenah, is Group. ’69) is chairman of the board an executive leader of Ministry of J. J. Keller and Associates Health Care, associate medical • Cliff Christl (BS, political science Inc., Neenah. director of Network Health and ’70), the offcial team historian the medical director of Network for the Green Bay Packers, is • William Lecher (BSN, nursing HouseCalls. quarterbacking the team’s 100th ’87) works as the senior clinical anniversary in 2019. director of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.