New graduates join UW-Eau Claire alumni ranks at spring commencement UW-Eau Claire's 1,164 newest graduates became Blugold alumni during commencement exercises May 22 in Zorn Arena. The graduates included 1,089 students who received bachelor's degrees and 75 who received master's degrees. Full story. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle delivered the commencement address during the morning ceremony (read summary), and the Rev. Donald Wisner of University Lutheran Church spoke at the afternoon ceremony (read summary). The entire commencement ceremony can be viewed online.

Above, business finance major Christine Lammar, from Farmington, Minn., was among those graduating May 22. At left, members of the Class of 2004 wait to receive their diplomas. (UW-Eau Claire photos by Rick Mickelson)

Awards honor six alumni, friends of university

John Kell	Michael Kell	Thomas Kell	Peter Eckerline	James Doucette	Claire B. Lang

The UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association presented awards to six alumni and friends of the university May 22. John Kell '73 and Peter Eckerline '82, '83 received the President's Award, Michael Kell and Thomas Kell received the Honorary Alumnus Award, and James Doucette '87 and Claire B. (Bennett) Lang '76 received the Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. Read more about the award recipients and see photos from the awards event.

Faculty, staff members announce retirements
Twenty-four UW-Eau Claire faculty, academic staff and classified staff members have recently retired or will retire this summer. The following faculty and academic staff members recently announced their retirements: Nancy Baker, Richard Boyum, James Brummer, William Dunlap, Carolyn Hopp, Karen Horan, Helena Jones, Richard Kark, Caroline Majak, Bill Rowlett, Katherine Schneider, Robert Shaw, Billie Earl Sparks, Paul Vanderheiden, Michael Weber and Thomas Wineinger. Full story. The following classified staff members have announced their retirements: Geraldine Dudansky, Linda Haag, Bonnie Hays, Ronald Robl, Robert Scott, Dianne Shane, Judy Stitt and Vicki Vogler. Full story.

Dr. Donald Christian

Donald Christian named Arts and Sciences dean
Dr. Donald P. Christian will assume duties as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UW-Eau Claire on Aug. 1, Chancellor Donald Mash announced May 25. He will replace UW-Eau Claire's interim Arts and Sciences dean Bernard Duyfhuizen, who will return to his position as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Christian has been the associate dean for biological sciences and professor of biological sciences at the University of Montana in Missoula since 1997. Full story.

J. Scott Kilgallon

J. Scott Kilgallon to assume athletics director post
J. Scott Kilgallon has been hired as the director of intercollegiate athletics at UW-Eau Claire, Interim Provost Steve Tallant announced June 7. Kilgallon will assume the director responsibilities July 1, replacing Interim Athletic Director Tim Petermann. Petermann will return to his position as assistant to the athletics director and director of sports information. For the last seven years, Kilgallon has been the director of athletics at Southern Vermont College, as well as the men's and women's cross country/track coach. Full story.

Lucretia Mattson

Lucretia Mattson appointed to state accounting board
Lucretia Mattson, associate professor of accounting at UW-Eau Claire, has been appointed as a professional accounting member to the Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board by Gov. Jim Doyle. Mattson is well known nationally and in Wisconsin as a leader in the accounting profession. Most recently, she served on the Governing Council of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) from 2001 to 2003. In 2000, she was honored with both the UW-Eau Claire Excellence in Teaching Award and the UW-Eau Claire Excellence in Service Award. It was the first time in the history of the university that an individual won both awards in one year. Full story.

Campaign gifts from alumni, friends reach $36.9 million
As of June 1, contributions and commitments from alumni and friends to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation's Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence campaign totaled $36.9 million. The campaign seeking private support for UW-Eau Claire's people and programs continues through June 2005.

Web site offers online giving option Alumni and friends who wish to support people and programs at UW-Eau Claire can now make an online gift on the UW-Eau Claire Foundation's secure Web site. In addition to a link for online credit card gifts, the site includes a printable gift/pledge form for donors who wish to contribute by check and a form to make a gift through electronic funds transfer. Read more.

"We’re ecstatic at the generous response to the campaign from our alumni and friends, who've seen the importance of supporting excellence at UW-Eau Claire," said Foundation President Carole Halberg in a recent interview. "We’ll continue to get our message out about this important effort — we want to invite every alumnus and friend to be a partner in this." Read full interview.

 

Jonathan Watson

Physics/engineering program has first graduate
On May 22, Jonathan Watson became the first student to graduate from UW-Eau Claire's physics and engineering dual degree program. Watson, a native of Eau Claire, earned his bachelor's degree in physics from UW-Eau Claire and his bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Minnesota, where he participated in commencement ceremonies May 7. Fifteen students currently are enrolled in the dual degree program, through which they earn a physics degree from UW-Eau Claire and an engineering degree from either UW-Madison or the University of Minnesota in about five years. Watson has accepted a position working in the air defense area of MIT's Lincoln Laboratory, a prestigious research center in Massachusetts. Full story.

Ask An Alum connects alumni, current students
Ask An Alum, a Web-based program developed by UW-Eau Claire's Alumni Relations and Career Services offices, helps connect UW-Eau Claire students seeking information they need to make academic major or career choices with alumni from a variety of majors, career paths and occupations. Alumni participants provide pertinent information about what they did in college and since they have graduated. Some students will get all the information they need from an alum's online profile. Others may contact Career Services for the alum's contact information (which is not posted on the Web) and contact that alum via e-mail or telephone. "A student may want to discuss your career path, why you chose your major or opportunities to job shadow," said Eileen Oswald, Ask An Alum coordinator. "Participating in Ask an Alum is a great way to help the newest Blugolds, and the amount of involvement is up to the individual alumnus." Visit the Ask An Alum Web site for more information and to register.

Jennifer Johs-Artisensi

Health care administration graduates are in demand
UW-Eau Claire's health care administration program is gaining national attention for its success in bringing quality students to the health and aging services administration field, a field that has had difficulty attracting talented young leaders in recent years. Enrollment in UW-Eau Claire's program has doubled in the last four years and is continuing to grow, said Dr. Jennifer Johs-Artisensi, assistant professor of health care administration. Full story. An important reason behind the program's success has been the creation of the Center for Health and Aging Services Excellence, which brings health care professionals together with health care administration faculty and students in various ways.

Doug OIson

University to offer health care administration graduate certificate
Beginning this fall, UW-Eau Claire will offer a new graduate certificate program aimed at increasing the number of people becoming licensed and proficient as health and aging services administrators. The graduate certificate program in health and aging services administration will help meet the future management needs of the profession by assisting people with previous education and work experience in advancing their skills and potentially becoming licensed as administrators, said Dr. Doug Olson, assistant professor of allied health professions. To qualify for the certificate program, students must have a bachelor's degree and at least two years of professional work experience, preferably in the management or health care fields. Full story.

Alumni success stories

Knoll ends long military career Marine Col. Stuart Knoll '75, most recently the commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 16 in Iraq, retires after a long military career. Full story.

Alum's artwork gets published Chris Rommel '99 has his artwork published in the 2004 Playboy baseball preview. Full story.

Events calendar includes Idaho reception, Homecoming 2004
A UW-Eau Claire alumni reception in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, is planned for July; it's not too late to join other alumni on a trip to Switzerland and Italy; and Homecoming 2004 will be here before you know it! Get all the details on upcoming Alumni Association events in the online Alumni Events Calendar.

Blugold Trivia gives UW-Eau Claire alumni and friends the chance to show how much they know about the university — AND win great Blugold prizes! E-mail your answer to the Blugold Trivia mailbox -- all correct responses will be entered in a drawing for a prize. This month's prize is a UW-Eau Claire alumni T-shirt (pictured at left). The name of this month's winner will be published in the July issue of e-View.

June Blugold Trivia question:

Which residence hall was the first to be opened on UW-Eau Claire's upper campus?

Think you know the answer? E-mail it, along with your name and class year, to trivia@uwec.edu. You'll be notified by e-mail if you are this month's winner!

May's winner:
Congratulations to Erica Keezer, a 1992 UW-Eau Claire graduate, who won the drawing for a UW-Eau Claire alumni sweatshirt! Erica was one of those who correctly identified the scene in the photo at left, which shows the plaque on the old university gateway on Garfield Ave. northeast of Schofield Hall.