Commencement speaker for ceremonies at noon Saturday (May 19) is William Kuepper, provost and vice chancellor emeritus. He was present at UW-Green Bay's beginning and helped guide the institution for nearly 30 years as a member of key committees and as one of its top administrators. He has lived in Colorado since retiring in 1995 and is a senior policy adviser for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. He also reviews academic programs on U.S. military installations around the world for the American Council on Education.

Look for the dedication of the University's newest symbol — a ceremonial mace — to offer TV and newspapers a special photo opportunity during tomorrow's Commencement ceremony. Maces are symbols of authority that have been part of academic ceremonies since the middle ages. The mace is being presented to the University by Chancellor Mark L. Perkins and his wife Carolyn and daughters Diana and Patricia. It will be carried to the stage by Founding Chancellor Edward W. Weidner, and dedicated near the beginning of commencement proceedings by Perkins, Weidner and Chancellor Emeritus David Outcalt. In the recessional, it will be carried by the faculty member most senior in service to the University: retiring Prof. Walter Herrscher. The mace was designed and made by Art Prof. David Damkohler. For photos of the unveiling, check the next post-commencement issue of the LOG Online.

David Lamers will receive the Outstanding Student Award during Saturday's ceremonies. Lamers, Little Chute, was a student representative to major campus initiatives including the design for the new academic building, a planning committee on student facility needs, and a task force to examine the student learning experience at UW-Green Bay. He is an Elementary Education major with a minor in Broadfield Social Studies. Student speaker Michelle R. Cullen, Chilton, earned her degree in Human Biology with a Health Sciences emphasis. She completed a minor in Chemistry. A member of several honor societies, Cullen served as a teaching assistant in University classes and as mentor to high school students and was active in campus leadership.

Ten retiring faculty members will receive honorary titles traditionally earned in higher education through long service. Receiving Professor Emeritus titles will be Daniel J. Alesch, Public and Environmental Affairs/Political Science; Walter J. Herrscher, Humanistic Studies/English; Joseph M. Moran, Natural and Applied Sciences/Earth Science; Michael W. Murphy, Humanistic Studies/English; Jack C. Norman, Natural and Applied Sciences/Chemistry; and Charles R. Rhyner, Natural and Applied Sciences/Physics. Karon J. Winzenz will be named Professor Emerita. Associate Professor Emeritus titles will go to Bruce W. Mielke, Information Sciences/Computer Science, and Robert W. Obenberger, Business Administration. Ann L. McLean will receive the title Associate Professor Emerita.

Two recipients of master's degrees in Environmental Science and Policy in Saturday's commencement ceremonies have learned that they did their thesis projects with an environmental-award winning firm. Eric Merka and Timothy Scherer worked with CRI Recycling Service, Inc., of Woodville, recipient of a Wisconsin Business Friends of the Environment Award. Prof. John Katers, Natural and Applied Sciences, nominated CRI for the award given by the Wisconsin Environmental Working Group, an affiliate of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. The company has developed a closed-looped process for recycling used oil absorbent materials that generates no wastewater effluents, requires no landfilling of oily materials, and has no air emissions.

An editorial heard this week on WISC-TV3 in Madison reinforces the fact that UW System advocates are continuing to work hard promoting the Regents' "Economic Stimulus Package." Excerpts from the editorial: "The initial reaction to the new $760 million state budget shortfall has been pretty bleak: no one has any answers...with two exceptions. Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance Executive Director Todd Berry says if we'd been putting money into the budget stabilization fund since 1986 like we said we would we wouldn't have this problem today. He's right — And, with extraordinary confidence, UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley is telling the state to give us the money we need to educate the workforce this state's new technology industry will demand and you'll have plenty of tax dollars to spend in the future. Makes sense to us."

Organizers of the annual heirloom plant sale (see previous item) are once again offering a special perk. If you're employed at UW-Green Bay, you can purchase in advance from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 18. Plants are $1 each. Proceeds support the Ecology Lecture Series and student scholarships.

Angela Bauer-Dantoin, Assistant Professor of Human Biology and Women's Studies, has been asked to give an oral presentation on her research at the 2001 Society for the Study of Reproduction Meeting to be held in Ottawa, Canada in July. Her presentation is entitled "Galanin Enhancement of GnRH-Stimulated Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Secretion in Female Rats is Steroid-Dependent," and will detail her studies regarding the brain factor galanin and its role in regulating fertility in females. Her research is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health that was awarded to Dr. Bauer-Dantoin in 1999.

Bob O'Donnell, Media Services Manager, has been elected chair of the UW Educational Media Technology Council (EMTC). The purpose of the EMTC is to provide a forum for addressing educational media, distance education and instructional technology issues that affect individual campuses and the University of Wisconsin System as a whole.

Paula Ganyard, Head of Library Instruction and Web Resources, recently presented a workshop for Northeast Wisconsin Intertype Libraries on designing academic library web pages to facilitate remote usage of materials and services.

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