Sifting and Winnowing
Unleashing the Power of Alumni Influence
This issue of On Wisconsin is full of stories about alumni who have used their influence to benefit our communities and our campus.
On page 34, you'll learn about Paul Stitt MS'69, who has been a pioneer in reforming school lunch programs to get children the nutrition they need to perform at their best.
You'll read about Wade Fetzer '59 and the Posse Program on page 22. Designed to increase minority student retention, the program has drawn some sixty students to the university, and so far, they have a 95 percent retention rate. Wade's persistence and generosity went a long way toward making this initiative a reality.
Turn to page 48 to learn about this year's Distinguished Alumni Award winners: Florence Chenoweth MS'70, PhD'86, Paul Collins '58, Elliot Lehman '38, John '55 and Tashia '55 Morgridge, and Anthony Shadid '90. They have made extraordinary contributions to the global community, the nation, and the campus.
There are so many alumni who are making good things happen that we couldn't possibly cover them all in the magazine. The number of outstanding alumni in Wisconsin alone was so high in 2005 that fourteen alumni chapters named Badgers of the Year. They include volunteers like Tom Prosser '58. A board member for several of the state's largest employers, he has also served as chair of the Neenah-Menasha United Way and as WAA president. And Andrea Harkins '70 has been a president, founder, or board member of half a dozen Marshfield organizations, along with assisting the Badger Action Network and getting her red belt in Tai Kwon Do.
(Talk about power!)
This issue of On Wisconsin is full of stories about alumni who have used their influence to benefit our communities and our campus.
On page 34, you'll learn about Paul Stitt MS'69, who has been a pioneer in reforming school lunch programs to get children the nutrition they need to perform at their best.
You'll read about Wade Fetzer '59 and the Posse Program on page 22. Designed to increase minority student retention, the program has drawn some sixty students to the university, and so far, they have a 95 percent retention rate. Wade's persistence and generosity went a long way toward making this initiative a reality.
Turn to page 48 to learn about this year's Distinguished Alumni Award winners: Florence Chenoweth MS'70, PhD'86, Paul Collins '58, Elliot Lehman '38, John '55 and Tashia '55 Morgridge, and Anthony Shadid '90. They have made extraordinary contributions to the global community, the nation, and the campus.
There are so many alumni who are making good things happen that we couldn't possibly cover them all in the magazine. The number of outstanding alumni in Wisconsin alone was so high in 2005 that fourteen alumni chapters named Badgers of the Year. They include volunteers like Tom Prosser '58. A board member for several of the state's largest employers, he has also served as chair of the Neenah-Menasha United Way and as WAA president. And Andrea Harkins '70 has been a president, founder, or board member of half a dozen Marshfield organizations, along with assisting the Badger Action Network and getting her red belt in Tai Kwon Do.
(Talk about power!)
Other inspiring UW graduates who come to mind are Rhonda Bell '84, who contributes to minority student recruitment efforts in Chicago, and who helped coordinate one of our most successful Prospective Student Days ever this past April. Other alumni have volunteered to host Wisconsin Preview receptions to welcome students to Wisconsin. They include Dave Borghesi '70 in Chicago; Harvey Borkin '66 in Washington, D.C.; Stephen Mally '86 in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Kelly Oyler '01 in San Diego; and Peter Weil '70, JD'74 in Los Angeles. According to Rob Seltzer, director of admissions, their dedication “energizes our staff and truly inspires other alumni.”
Internationally, Yoshiyuki Kasai MS'69, president of the Central Japan Railway Company, sponsors a student intern program that provides invaluable experience to Wisconsin students in majors ranging from engineering to finance to Asian studies.
And this list could go on and on. The people I have mentioned represent just a tiny fraction of the alumni who have taken the time to exert some positive influence.
Paula Bonner MS'78
President and CEO, Wisconsin Alumni Association
Internationally, Yoshiyuki Kasai MS'69, president of the Central Japan Railway Company, sponsors a student intern program that provides invaluable experience to Wisconsin students in majors ranging from engineering to finance to Asian studies.
And this list could go on and on. The people I have mentioned represent just a tiny fraction of the alumni who have taken the time to exert some positive influence.
Paula Bonner MS'78
President and CEO, Wisconsin Alumni Association
