Alumni news

Phoenix flashbacks:
A new generation follows parents' path

Forty years old this year, UW-Green Bay is producing an increasing number of sequels: a flock of second-generation Phoenix making their own choices and, in the process, following family tradition back to campus.

Interesting.

If the saying "Never trust anyone over 30" was once a rallying cry for America's youth, it is widely perceived that today's college-age students are much more traditional.

Echo Boomers, it is said, not only value the experience of their Baby Boomer parents but even trust — yes, trust &3151; their advice, right down to matters of college and career choices. Finally, something multiple generations can agree upon: UW-Green Bay is a great school.

Homing instinct: Legacy program beckons out-of-state alumni

Hans F. Christensen graduated in 1982 with an environmental science degree and Amanda is working toward her French degree. Amanda's decision to follow in dad's footsteps came 230 miles away, in Mokena, Ill., a Chicago suburb. The family moved there from Green Bay in 1994.

UW-Green Bay was Amanda's first choice. Only later did she discover the Legacy Tuition Break Program, a UW System effort initiated last fall to offer discounted tuition to non-resident children and grandchildren of UW-Green Bay alumni. This year, three students here are participating in the program.

"Before the program, my parents had wanted me to stay in-state for financial reasons, but I wasn't really pleased with what Illinois schools had to offer," Amanda says. "The program just made paying for school a little easier."

The Legacy program offers a 25 percent discount on tuition. Strengthening relationships with alumni and increasing non-resident enrollment — to bring talented people with Wisconsin roots back to the state — are goals of the program.

"My parents try to teach me financial responsibility, so I pay for a lot of my education myself," she says. "Being out of state, it's really hard because I did want to come here. The 25 percent helps so much with cutting the costs."

Amanda's father recommended UW-Green Bay for its one-on-one contact with professors and hands-on learning. He has visited Amanda several times and notices some things are still the same.

"He always says the trees are bigger," Amanda says. "But he also says that in some places the campus hasn't changed much. The walls are still orange (or purple or avocado, at least where vestiges of the original 1970s decor remain), and it's kept its quiet, clean look."

The Klotzbuecher Center? If he follows granddad's example

Klotzbuecher practically grew up on campus. Frequent visits with his grandfather proved exciting as he toured the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts, attended musicals and even went backstage to meet performers. Though the 19-year-old also looked elsewhere, he knew UW-Green Bay was his future home based on family history and the school's great science programs.

"With the fond memories and great times I've had in Green Bay, some of it just transfers over to the school in general," Klotzbuecher says. "Since I grew up with this campus, I'm familiar with it. I wasn't a lost freshman on my first day here."

Though both his parents graduated from the University, they did not influence his decision to attend, he says. They did, however, share their experiences at UW-Green Bay, including the story of how they met in a biochemistry lab.

"My parents (Karen Weidner and Kurtis Klotzbuecher, both 1974 graduates) actually got married here on campus in Rose Hall," their son says. "I guess it was one of the only buildings back then. The men's basketball team was playing that night on television, so everyone was running back and forth from the reception to the TV." Coming from such a prominent UW-Green Bay family, Klotzbuecher knows the value of education. He says his won't end here.

"I have 11 years of school ahead of me," he says. "After this, I'm going to graduate school, and then I'll go to dental school for four years. Basically, it works out that I'm in first grade this year."

Family convinced about connections

They gave other institutions little thought. Their parents, Ross Gilbert ('81, business administration, director of quality for Brady Corp.) and Ellen ('73, humanism and cultural change, a substitute teacher/homemaker) are UW-Green Bay alumni. Each had very different, but positive, experiences to share with their girls about the campus and its academic programs. The decision for their daughters, then, was easy.

Victoria, a sophomore communication major, says she knew since she was 6 years old that she would attend UW-Green Bay. She didn't apply elsewhere. Kate, a senior education major, was motivated by the reputation of UW-Green Bay's education program, today's equivalent to the program her mother followed.

"It wasn't something we pushed," their mother explains. "Ross and I attended on different circumstances. I was a traditional-aged student, lived on campus, had fun...he returned to school, commuted and focused on earning his degree quickly. But we both thought UW-Green Bay was a small, intimate place and the best thing — and we've always talked about this with the girls — is that we were taught by real professors, who were very approachable."

It's a perception now echoed by their daughters.

"Everybody is so nice around here, even the lunch ladies," says Victoria, who works for the University's Advancement Office. "We got back from Spring Break in Arizona, and I can tell you that you're not treated there like you are here. Everybody here takes the time to stop and help. Everybody cares."

Memories of campus are stirred when the parents make an occasional visit. "Last year my daughter was in (Building) 103, and I lived in 102," said Ellen. "There's no choice: It has to bring you back. I remember students meeting with the Chancellor at his house...we used to study between those huge stacks in the library...(because of technology) the girls spend little time in the stacks."

In the meantime, the sisters are making their own memories — "rush tickets" at the Weidner, laptop convenience, the best "rez" halls around, and still, campus connections with people who care.

Two generations, two proud Phoenix athletes

Pat '76 was a four-year letterwinner on the great Phoenix basketball teams of the early- to mid-'70s. He co-captained the Phoenix to a 21-8 record and a Division II national tournament appearance as a senior in 1975-76. His 14 assists in a single game in 1975 is second best all-time for the Phoenix, and his 384 career assists rank ninth all-time.

Bree '02, an exceptional high school athlete in both soccer and basketball, was a four-year letterwinner for the Phoenix women's soccer team. But injuries — a torn ligament in her knee before the start of her freshman season and a high ankle sprain her senior year — limited her college success.

However, there's a tie that binds the two, Shorewood Golf Course. Pat spent a good deal of his free time on the course perfecting his second favorite sport. Bree spent a comparable amount of time at Shorewood, hanging out at the clubhouse with her boyfriend, former two-time Horizon League medalist, and now husband, Phoenix Golf Coach Shaun Rezachek.

"We didn't share a lot of the same campus experiences, but we've found that because we're all alumni, and all former student-athletes, we have that commonality in conversation," says Bree.

Pat, who carried a dual role as father and coach for his daughter in her youth, hoped Bree would choose to attend UW-Green Bay someday, but he remained silent about it as not to influence her decision. Apparently, actions do speak louder than words.

"Dad and I went to all the Phoenix games together over the years," says Bree. "I saw the fun and the great relationships he had with other people at alumni weekends and other events. Even though there was a part of me that wanted to go away to school, I knew it would be a good experience here, too. A scholarship made my decision easier."

Remaining close to home turned into a blessing for Bree during those frustrating times when injuries interfered with her competitive spirit. Having her mom and dad nearby for encouragement was a help.

Now that Bree is older, a family stop at Shorewood for a quick nine holes, a burger and a beverage might just bring out an untold story or two...and some new shared experiences.

'Prof. Kersten' has history at UW-Green Bay

It had been comfortably pre-worn, broken in over nearly three decades by each of his parents, award-winning faculty members Frederick and Raquel Kersten. Andrew, 35, represents the second generation of UW-Green Bay's first family of professors.

"My parents were consummate professionals, indefatigable scholars, incredible teachers, caring student mentors, and devoted to the University and community," he says. "I learned from both of them the importance and joys of teaching and research."

Andrew, born the year before his father and mother came to UW-Green Bay, joined the faculty five years after his father retired. Frederick Kersten had taught philosophy and humanities courses. A recipient of the Frankenthal Professorship and the Founders Association Award for excellence in scholarship, the elder Kersten still keeps a close eye on University developments.

Fred's late wife, and Andrew's mother, Raquel, was a gifted teacher. She, too, was a recipient of a Founders Association award and numerous honors. She is warmly remembered as the face of UW-Green Bay's dynamic Spanish and Latin American literature program during the institution's first two decades. She passed away in October 1988, at the age of 59.

Andrew weighed several options after much-honored graduate and post-graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati. That the school where his parents once taught had an opening in his field, American history, was coincidence. A happy one. Andrew got the job, settled in, and has been an active scholar and community presence. His receipt of an $822,000 federal grant to pilot new and exciting ways to teach American history is touching school districts across Northeast Wisconsin.

"I am living a very rare academic life: teaching in the town where I grew up. Although my career and my parents' careers are quite different, I do feel that I am carrying on a proud UW-Green Bay tradition. It makes my on-campus life all the more special."

Former commuter steers Alumni Association

Word Association with Andy Bottoni

President, UW-Green Bay Alumni Association; Class of '97, history major, public policy minor, regional sales and marketing officer for a national paint/coatings company

UW-Green Bay memories — Commuting. Woring full-time and full weekends, sometimes 60-plus hours a week. Excellent education and challenging classes. I wasn't able to be involved much in campus life because of work and school, but I am making time now to participate.

Favorite professor — Norbert Gaworek. Took quite a few history courses (Russian, German) and a senior seminar with him. I liked his approach: humorous and easy-to-learn-from, and always emphasizing concepts and events over dry facts and figures.

Commuter students — I want to give voice to them. They are a huge part of UW-Green Bay's alumni base. They hold this University in very high regard, they are accomplishing great things then and now, but at the time they were here, they might not have felt connected to the larger university beyond their major. I want to encourage them to feel comfortable in re-connecting now.

The Association — Friend-raising, more than fundraising. I don't want alums to think of us as always looking for a handout. They should see us as their ticket to special events (like the big alumni reunion receptions in Milwaukee and Green Bay this year), a resource for what's going on at UW-Green Bay, a social and professional network. Now, once in a while, we might ask them to volunteer...be a mentor, maybe answer an online question from a current student in their field, be an advocate, or advise us or the University. But it's definitely more about friend-raising.

The future — I really believe the Alumni Association needs to be better connected with current students. There's a real benefit in today's students knowing there are alumni out there — highly successful leaders in their fields-who were once in their shoes.

Finally: Botany? Or Buh-TOE-nee? — Botany. All the old Italians roll their eyes when they hear that pronunciation, but that's the way our Bottoni family says it.

Grads from '70s, '80s, '90s add names to 'Distinguished' list

For the first time, three individuals were recognized with Distinguished Alumni Awards during the awards night gathering in April. Previously, only one award per year had been made since the program's inception in 1990.

THE 2005 HONOREES:

Craig Cobane '90 is on leave from his job as an assistant professor of political science at Culver-Stockton College (Mo.) to serve the U.S. Department of Defense through a Defense Policy Fellowship. He works in areas of peacekeeping and humanitarian aid. International relations, international security, American government and political philosophy are his areas of expertise. The former UW-Green Bay resident assistant and Chancellor's Leadership Medallion award winner has a lengthy list of fellowships, publications and teaching awards since graduating from UW-Green Bay with a degree in political science.

William Hanrahan '82, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General, is the director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit responsible for the prosecution of white-collar crimes involving physical abuse, sexual assault and neglect of residents of healthcare facilities. As Milwaukee County's Assistant DA in the early 1990s, he supervised the prosecution of more than 16,000 cases of domestic abuse annually, and authored policies hailed by media and others as "a welcome crackdown on abusers." He earned a degree in urban studies from UW-Green Bay and a J.D. from Hamline University School of Law. He is an adjunct professor of criminal law at both Marquette University and Edgewood College, Madison.

Jim Wochinske '74 took over ownership of Pomp's Tire Service in 1986, a company his father purchased in 1966, and grew the business from 12 stores and approximately 175 employees to 53 locations in eight states and nearly 1,000 employees. Through the years, he and his wife Kathy '74 (they met in London as part of a January Interim travel course) have generously supported the community and the University and its efforts including gifts to the Weidner Center, student scholarships, athletics and the Kress Events Center. Jim graduated in 1974 with a degree in managerial systems (now business administration).

Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

1990 — Patrick Madden '71
1991 — John Stoll '73
1992 — Richard Chernick '74
1993 — Karen Mancl '77
1994 — Keith Pamperin '70
1995 — John C. Heugel '71
1996 — Debra Herlache Galaty '85, Ron Vander Velden '73, '78
1997 — Dr. John K. Amuzu '81, '84
1998 — Julie J. Gordon '70
1999 — Urla (Teixeira) Barrow '79, '83
2000 — Gary L. Garriott '77
2001 — Ronald C. Opicka '70
2003 — Diane L. Ford '75, Steven A. Taylor '79
2004 — Christian Akiwowo '74
2005 — Craig Cobane '90, William Hanrahan '82, James Wochinske '74

New award spotlights rising alumni

The Alumni Association inaugurated a new category of alumni recognition when the first Outstanding Recent Alumni Awards were presented last month.

Naletta Burr, Green Bay, and Green Bay native Tina Sauerhammer were selected to receive the awards for graduates of fewer than 10 years whose accomplishments bode significant future achievements. Burr is executive director of On Broadway, Inc., a Wisconsin Main Street Program. Sauerhammer, who was second runner-up in the Miss America competition in 2003, is a medical doctor who presently is a resident in general surgery at the UW Hospitals and Clinics in Madison.

A native of Seymour and a 1998 graduate in urban and regional studies, Burr has been leading On Broadway, Inc., since January 1999 in its mission to revitalize and preserve the West Side downtown district. Sauerhammer was the youngest student ever to graduate from UW-Green Bay when she completed her degree at age 18 in 1999 with majors in human biology and human development. She continued "firsts" by also being the youngest student to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Medical School. She was 22 when she completed that degree in 2003.

For more, visit www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2005apr.htm#recent.

Alumni notes

An archive of alumni notes is available online at www.uwgb.edu/alumni/outreach/classnotes.htm. Check the Website often for the latest news on your fellow graduates.