August 1998

Six receive UW-Green Bay awards for excellence

GREEN BAY -- Six members of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay faculty and staff were honored Thursday morning (Aug. 27) with Founders Association Awards for Excellence.

The awards were presented during the faculty and staff fall convocation which also included the introduction of new staff members and an address by Chancellor Mark Perkins.

Honored for their outstanding and sustained contributions to the University were Daniel Alesch, recognized for excellence in community outreach; David Damkoehler, scholarship; Joan Evans, academic support; Denise Scheberle, teaching; Marie Stephenson, administrative support; and E. Michael Thron, institutional development.

Each recipient received a plaque and check from the Founders Association, a philanthropic organization supporting UW-Green Bay scholarships and special projects that enhance undergraduate teaching and campus life. Association President Paul Kendle, president of Norwest Bank in Green Bay and chairman of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the awards. Selections were made last spring by a campus committee which solicited nominations from the University community.

Daniel Alesch, a professor of public administration, joined the UW-Green Bay faculty full-time in 1979. He is president of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District Commission and has been active in the organization for two decades, helping shape its planning efforts and image as a regional leader in addressing waste treatment and pollution-control issues. In the early 1990s Alesch was a driving force in the formation of Fox-Wolf Basin 2000; the grass-roots group consists of people from paper manufacturing and environmental, agricultural and conservation groups concerned with water quality of the bay and Fox and Wolf rivers. He has served as a management and planning consultant for corporations, non-profits and government agencies. Alesch previously received the Founders Association award for community outreach in 1986.

David Damkoehler, a professor of communication and the arts, joined the UW-Green Bay faculty in 1969. The award for scholarship recognizes his work as an artist; nominators said his flawless technique, clarity of vision and highly original contributions to the field make him a standout. His recent emphasis on industrial materials and art metals - primarily stainless steel - have gained favorable national attention. His work is now featured in the permanent collection of the Museum of American Craft in New York City, and his pieces were included in nearly a dozen national and international exhibitions in 1997-98 alone. Damkoehler was also praised for his efforts in building UW-Green Bay's environmental design program and in lending his design expertise to a variety of local and regional planning initiatives.

Joan Evans, assistant registrar for UW-Green Bay, has been a University staff member since 1978. Colleagues say she has been instrumental in the design of new on-line systems that have improved registration, planning and advising for UW-Green Bay students. The STAR (Student-degree Tracking Audit Report) system helps students and their faculty and staff advisers to track academic requirements, progress toward a degree, and the possibilities for additional majors, minors and program changes to enhance the educational experience. The award citation notes that her thorough understanding of the curriculum - and its extensive, interconnected array of programs and course options - is a resource not only for students but for University planners who are charged with making decisions about future academic programming.

Denise Scheberle is a political scientist and an associate professor of public and environmental affairs. She joined the UW-Green Bay faculty in 1992. She has received outstanding teaching evaluations from students at all levels in settings ranging from large introductory courses such as American Government and Politics to upper-level courses in the major such as Public and NonProfit Management and graduate courses such as Seminar in Environmental Science and Policy. Nominators say she leads tightly organized courses incorporating the latest advances in the field - making use of Internet and multimedia- and develops a rapport with her students. They also observe that Scheberle involves students as active participants and discussion leaders in her classes, serves as her unit's internship coordinator, and is particularly active in supervising graduate theses, honors projects and independent studies.

Marie Stephenson, a program assistant in the Office of the Registrar, has been a member of the UW-Green Bay clerical and administrative support staff since 1970. Colleagues noted her professionalism, commitment to excellence and willingness to embrace new technology, in particular her support of technological advances in the University's class registration process. She took a lead role in trouble-shooting the new on-line registration process, and in making Registrar's information available via the World Wide Web. Her other responsibilities within the Registrar's Office include overseeing the publication of the Timetable of course listings, and service as the veterans' affairs contact for students needing assistance with veterans' benefits administered by state and federal agencies.

E. Michael Thron, a professor of humanistic studies (English), was recognized for contributions as an "excellent teacher, committed scholar, and effective administrator" over three decades with UW-Green Bay. He joined the faculty in 1968 and was elected the first speaker of the Faculty Senate; he went on to serve on, or lead, most major faculty committees. He was assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs for UW-Green Bay in the early 1980s. Thron was the first director of the University's Writing Center and provided leadership in curriculum design and the creation of a team of writing instructors. This past year, he stepped down after a five-year tenure as Secretary of the Faculty and Academic Staff; colleagues praised his work as parliamentarian, recording secretary and the individual responsible for maintaining governance records and personnel handbooks, and in providing advice on interpretation of UW-Green Bay and UW System personnel policies.

GREEN BAY -- The second new "apartment suites" residence hall at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, set to open and welcome its first 113 student tenants this week, will be named for civic and education leader Donald F. Harden in a dedication ceremony next month on campus.

Donald F. Harden Hall will be dedicated at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, in a public, outdoor ceremony at the new building. Rain site is the University Union.

The three-story, frame-and-brick facility on the east side of the campus has a total of 31 apartment suites. Construction of the $3.5 million building is supported by rental income and made possible by city- and county-approved bonding through University Village Housing, Inc., a private, non-profit corporation.

Green Bay attorney Robert W. Schaefer is president of the corporation board that since 1985 has built and managed the University's 13 new halls. He notes that Harden organized a core of community leaders to help UW-Green Bay gain the student housing it needed and, with the late John I. (Jack) Robishaw, developed and instituted the funding model which has proven so successful.

Harden, who is president of The Bellin Foundation of Bellin Health, Green Bay, was a member of the faculty and administration at UW-Green Bay from 1970 until 1994. He served as the University's associate chancellor and had responsibility for areas including academic support, student services, university advancement and community relations. His most far-reaching contributions were as the engineer of programs and projects that forged for the new university partnerships and bonds with the region's civic establishment and general public. He is credited for entrepreneurial efforts that involved creating or fostering a range of important initiatives for UW-Green Bay and the community. Among the most visible have been the university's NCAA Division I athletics program and its philanthropic support organization, the Phoenix Fund; major gifts fund raising for the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts, leadership of the Founders Association, and creation of student housing.

Harden also compiled an extensive record of successful volunteer service in support of community development and public-private collaborations. This included leadership roles for the Chamber of Commerce and with youth, health, symphony and museum organizations. Harden is a past chairman of the board of Bellin Health. In 1982, he led the Brown County United Way to its first campaign to exceed $2 million. His corporate directorships have included Firstar Bank of Green Bay, the Morley Murphy Company and TNT Crust Inc. Harden currently serves on the seven-member Executive Committee of the Green Bay Packers.

Chancellor Mark Perkins says Harden's efforts in advancing UW-Green Bay makes naming of the residence hall in his honor most appropriate.

"Dr. Harden's efforts have built a foundation for success for this University," Perkins says. "From community and civic support, through Division I athletics, the Weidner Center and especially Housing, his work has been instrumental in making UW-Green Bay the sort of institution it is today."

Harden Hall brings total on-campus capacity at UW-Green Bay to about 1,550. Along with Robishaw Hall, which opened last year, the new facility offers a new style of "apartment suites" with private bedrooms, more spacious living areas and access to kitchen facilities. Harden Hall has 21 four-bedroom units, five two-bedrooms, three three-bedrooms and two five-bedroom units.

Speakers at the dedication ceremony will include Harden, Schaefer, Perkins, and student representative Kate Nadeau of Rogers, Minn., who is president of the Residence Hall and Apartment Association on campus.

GREEN BAY - The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus has a new look for fall semester 1998 with the installation of new, high-visibility outdoor signs.

The forest green signs are located along the campus boundary, at entries, intersections and parking areas. The two largest and most prominent signs are located at the main entrance boulevard at Nicolet Drive, and along Highway 54-57 near Bay Settlement Road. All of the new location and directional signs will be in place by the beginning of classes Sept. 2 to aid motorists and pedestrians.

Planners identified new signage as a priority more than two years ago. The intent is to make the campus safer, as emergency response time by outside fire and police agencies will be enhanced by a more comprehensive "wayfinding" system. The new signs should also make the campus more visitor-friendly and easier to navigate.

In total, more than 350 signs, ranging in size from street signs and small message boards (18 inches by 7 feet) to the largest identifier sign (11 by 20 feet), are being installed as part of the $295,000 project which includes lighting, wiring and landscaping. The new signs replace decades-old wooden signs.

Work was done by Badger State Industries and Pablocki and Sons of West Allis. Concepts were reviewed by members of the campus community including faculty and staff from the art and planning programs, and Director of Public Safety Randy Christopherson.

GREEN BAY - "Celebrating Wisconsin: Then and Now" is the title of both a traveling photography exhibit and a special slide show/discussion at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The exhibit originated by the State Historical Society will be on display Sept. 1 through 14 on the plaza level of the Cofrin Library at UW-Green Bay.

The free and informal slide-show/panel discussion takes place from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Room 304 of the Cofrin Library, one floor up from the exhibit. An interdisciplinary panel - with experts in photography, history, geography and communication and the arts - will offer perspective.

The exhibit at UW-Green Bay features forty photos, old and new, side-by-side, documenting change and continuity in Wisconsin's urban and rural landscapes. The Sesquicentennial project was initiated by the State Historical Society, which dispatched photographers, including two from UW-Green Bay, to revisit historic images of Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison and farms, forests and churches across the state.

Panelists are Green Bay photographers Jerry Dell and Kristina Rothe, geographer William Laatsch and historian Jerrold Rodesch. Dell, Laatsch and Rodesch are professors at UW-Green Bay; Rothe is a part-time instructor.

Reprints of images displayed in the exhibit may be ordered from the historical society. Order forms will be available.

The Sept. 9 program is sponsored by the Friends of the Cofrin Library and Kelley Photo Service.

GREEN BAY - The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay enjoys a special-category listing in the 1999 edition of the 1999 U.S. News & World Report "America's Best Colleges" guide. UW-Green Bay is listed No. 2 in the "Least Debt" category for Midwest universities. The ratings show that 56 percent of graduates receive their degrees carrying some debt, and the average amount of debt is $7,148. That is less than all other regional universities except Eastern Illinois University.

UW-Green Bay financial aid officials point to a number of factors. The University's tuition is below the national average; many UW-Green Bay students are returning adult students and nearly all students work either full- or part-time to defray expenses and reduce indebtedness; and the University is able to provide new students with individual counseling regarding financial aid and borrowing.

What started as a corny little idea has grown quickly into a corny big idea that will create fun for Northeast Wisconsin, an educational experience for some university students, and funds for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay athletic program.

Baylake Bank and UW-Green Bay, with the assistance of an area farmer, Clyde Brunner, have teamed up to create a corn maze that will open to the public beginning Sept. 12 and 13 in conjunction with the University's Fall Festival.

Local media can get a sneak preview on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998, when the maze opens from noon to 1:30 p.m. for a look behind the scenes. In addition, project representatives from UW-Green Bay, Baylake Bank and the Brown County Survey Department will be on hand to answer questions. The newly completed maze is located at 2260 Bay Settlement Road just off Highway 57 in Green Bay. Special event weekends, designed to appeal to people of all ages, will be introduced on that day to the media.

Implementation of the Fighting Phoenix Phun Maze represents both a cooperative effort and use of sophisticated technology. Design work evolved from simple sketches to digital encoding using Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Once merged with GIS, the digital file of the maze was reformatted to allow creation of land point coordinates using the county's Global Positioning System (GPS) software. Using GPS, these coordinates were located in the cornfield to define the maze, according to Bill Niedzwiedz, Professor of Public and Environmental Affairs at UW-Green Bay.

"The project has been educational for all. It has allowed two students to experience all stages of a project from concepts and early design to lab and field use of state-of-the-art GIS/GPS technology. The project also highlights cooperation between the University and the County Surveyor's Office," Niedzwiedz said. Over 620 points were plotted, staked and cut.

The maze's perimeter outlines UW-Green Bay's Phoenix with an adjacent logo of Baylake Bank.

"The course ranges from .8 of a mile, if every decision is made accurately to a maximum of four miles if every decision by the participant is incorrect. At any time participants can exit via the perimeter. The event, when open, will have several volunteers along the route to answer questions or assist participants.

The maze also includes a special section for children. This section will be located closest to the bank's office and is designed to be fun for children of all ages.

"We're excited to be able to use our field of dreams for such a worthwhile and fun community cause," Wanish said. "The maze will give families, businesses and students the perfect excuse to, well, just walk in the corn."

After its grand opening during Fall Festival weekend, the maze will reopen to the public every weekend through October 31, 1998 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day with special events to be planned for specific weekends, including Halloween. Admission will be only $5 per adult and $3 per child (ages 7-12). Proceeds from the event will benefit the University's athletic program.

Tickets are now available at all Baylake Bank Financial Centers located throughout Door, Brown, Kewaunee, Manitowoc and Waupaca counties.

Maze contacts:
Steve Swan, 920-465-2074
Executive Director, University Advancement, UW-Green Bay

Jean Wanish, 920-468-0900
Baylake Bank, Bay Settlement Supervisor

Otis Chambers
Director of Athletics, UW-Green Bay

Bill Niedzwiedz
Professor, Public and Environmental Affairs, UW-Green Bay

Clyde Brunner
Farmer with cornfield