Campus Connection

More than $1 million being awarded in scholarships

The UW-La Crosse Foundation will award more than $1 million in scholarships for the upcoming academic year. The awarding of scholarships along with the recognition of UWL students graduating with top honors will take place during five ceremonies during the next week. Students will receive 852 awards totaling $1,001,750 during the ceremonies that are open to all throughout the week: Sunday, April 23 School of Education Social at 1 p.m., awards at 1:30, The Bluffs Room, UWL Student Union Monday, April 24 UWL Foundation general awards and scholarships Social at 4 p.m., awards at 4:45, The Bluffs Room, UWL Student Union Tuesday, April 25 College of Liberal Studies Evening of Excellence Social at 6 p.m., program at 7, Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts Wednesday, April 26 Accountancy Department awards Meet and greet at 3-5 p.m., social at 5:30, dinner at 6, program at 7 (reservations required) The Bluffs Room, UWL Student Union Friday, April 28 College of Science & Health Social at 4 p.m., awards at 4:45, Cleary Alumni & Friends Center Top honors and the graduating seniors being honored include: The Murphy Awards for Academic Excellence recognize the university’s top two graduating scholars as chosen by the Scholarship and Awards Committee. A grant from the Murphy Foundation created the awards in 1980 to recognize outstanding and exceptional scholastic ability. Recipients receive $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.

• [caption id="attachment_48579" align="alignright" width="251"] Jonathan 'Jack' Flinchum[/caption] Jonathan ‘Jack’ Flinchum graduates with a Bachelor of Science in psychology with minors in sociology and statistics. He was a member of several honor societies and other on-campus organizations, but his main involvement was research. As a freshman, he was a part of the Eagle Apprenticeship program. Flinchum continued in research during his academic career in a variety of fields including exercise and sport science, organizational behavior, psychology, and sociology. He presented at several research conferences, earned an on-campus grant, and has been published. Flinchum plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to work toward a doctorate in organizational science. He would like to become actively involved in research as a business consultant or professor. He is the son of Phil and Cindy Flinchum, Waunakee.
• [caption id="attachment_48580" align="alignright" width="251"] Courtney Mumm[/caption] Courtney Mumm graduates with degrees in statistics with an actuarial science concentration, and finance with a risk, insurance and financial planning concentration. She was treasurer of the UWL Volunteering Within Club, vice president of the UWL Actuary Science Club, a statistics tutor at the Murphy Learning Center, a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, and the UWL Mathematics and Statistics Club. Mumm interned with UWL’s Statistical Consulting Center and presented research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in spring 2016. She also participated in the Midwest Undergraduate Data Analytics Competition. Mumm has been hired as an actuarial analyst for State Farm Insurance Company in Bloomington, Illinois. She is the daughter of Jim and Sue Mumm, Lancaster.

The Jake and Janet Hoeschler Award for Excellence recognizes a College of Business Administration graduate for academic accomplishment and leadership on campus and the community. Janet Hoeschler, a 1940 graduate, established the award in 1992 to signify a business-university partnership. Recipients receive $1,500.

• [caption id="attachment_48582" align="alignright" width="240"] Benjamin Jordan[/caption] Benjamin Jordan graduates with a Bachelor of Science in economics and a minor in Spanish. Jordan was a four-year student athlete for the men’s track & field team. He served as chief justice to the UWL Student Association working to resolve student organization disputes, adjudicate cases brought to the Student Court, and refine the UWL conflict resolution process. Jordan was an active member of the CBA honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma, and the men’s track & field team representative on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. After graduation, he plans to attend the UW Law School. Jordan plans to remain committed to community and campus volunteerism, and intends to become an attorney in corporate, international or immigration law. He is the son of Mitch and Cheryl Jordan, McFarland.

The Strzelczyk Award in Science and Health recognizes an outstanding senior in the College of Science and Health for academic achievement, along with campus and community service. Robert, ’54, and Judy Strzelczyk, who funded many physical therapy projects and scholarships, endowed the award in 1996. Recipients receive $1,000.

• [caption id="attachment_48584" align="alignright" width="251"] Katie Davenport[/caption] Katie Davenport graduates with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a minor in biology. Davenport worked as an organic chemistry tutor, pioneered the supplemental instruction program in the Chemistry Department, and was an undergraduate research grant recipient studying factors affecting the stabilization of DNA. She also worked as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens and volunteered on a VIDA medical mission trip to Guatemala in summer 2016. Davenport plans to attend pharmacy school at UW-Madison and hopes to become a pharmacist in a Milwaukee area hospital. She is the daughter of Donna Davenport, New Berlin, and Dan Davenport, Mukwonago.

The John E. Magerus Award for the Outstanding Graduating Senior from the College of Liberal Studies recognizes an outstanding graduate for academic accomplishments, leadership, and campus and community involvement. The award is named for Magerus who retired in 2004 after 28 years of teaching and serving as an administrator in the college. Recipients receive $1,000.

• [caption id="attachment_48585" align="alignright" width="251"] Rachel Ramthun[/caption] Rachel Ramthun graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and public administration with a minor in economics. She was chair of the Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee, president of the Political Science and Public Administration Association, Learning Enrichment Coordinator at White Hall her sophomore year, and member of several other clubs and organizations. Ramthun completed undergraduate research on tax incremental financing and presented at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research where she was published in the conference proceedings. Ramthun has published a piece about Old Abe, the War Eagle on the website, WI101.org. She completed several internships and is currently the economic development intern for the City of La Crosse Department of Planning and Economic Development. She plans to attend graduate school for a Masters of Public Administration/Affairs and would like to work in local government management. She is the daughter of Jeffery and Mary Ramthun, Waukesha.

The Rosandich Graduate Thesis Award recognizes the best graduate thesis, based on originality, impact and written quality. The award is funded through the generosity of Thomas P. Rosandich, ’54, president of the U.S. Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama. The recipient receives $1,000.

• [caption id="attachment_48586" align="alignright" width="251"] Kayleigh Day[/caption] Kayleigh Day graduated in August 2016 with a Master of Public Health. In 2011, she graduated from UWL with a Bachelor of Science in community health education and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. Day was a graduate assistant in the Health Education/Health Promotion Department. Her thesis research was “An Exploratory Study Assessing the Perceived Health and Workplace Health Promotion Needs of Monroe County Employees.” Following graduation, Day continued working at Monroe County Health Department in Sparta as a community health educator. After spending time at the local level, she hopes to pursue a doctorate, along with teaching and conducting public health research. Day is the daughter of Michael and Amanda Day, Menomonee Falls. She is married to Eric Hammer.