Campus Connection

Outstanding graduates named

Spring commencement is May 14 UW-La Crosse’s Spring Commencement is set for Saturday, May 14, at the La Crosse Center, 300 Harborview Plaza. The ceremonies include: 10 a.m. — College of Business Administration; College of Liberal Studies; School of Education, including teacher education programs in Early Childhood-Middle Childhood, Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence, English, Social Studies, History, Political Science, Sociology, German Studies, Spanish; School of Arts and Communication, including teacher education programs in Art and Music (Choral, General, and Instrumental) 2 p.m. — College of Science and Health; School of Education, including teacher education programs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, General Science, Mathematics, Physical Education, and School Health Education Complete details at https://www.uwlax.edu/commencement/

 Six named outstanding graduates for 2016

Six graduates have received the university’s top awards for seniors. They include:

The Murphy Awards for Academic Excellence 

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_45954" align="alignright" width="200"] Marissa Eckrote[/caption] Marissa Eckrote graduates with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, with an actuarial science concentration and economics. Eckrote was secretary of the competitive ballroom dance team, treasurer of the mathematics and statistics club, and a mathematics and statistics tutor in the Murphy Learning Center, as well as the Multicultural Student Services Office. She was a research assistant for a National Science Foundation research project, “A Permutation Test for the Spread of Three-Dimensional Rotation Data.” Following graduation, Eckrote will attend Michigan State University to obtain a doctorate in economics, focusing on empirical microeconomics. Her professional goal is to be a researcher and professor. She is the daughter of Thane and Denise Eckrote, Plover. [caption id="attachment_45956" align="alignright" width="200"] Danielle Weber[/caption] Danielle Weber graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in rhetoric and writing with a double minor in creative writing and professional/technical writing in December 2015. Weber was English Club president, writing tutor for Student Support Services, and research assistant for Special Collections and the Area Research Center at Murphy Library. She published short fiction pieces in UWL’s literary journal, The Catalyst. In the community, she interned at The Center to assist in advocacy for the LGBTQ community. After graduation, she plans to continue creative writing endeavors while finding a job in the publishing industry or at a nonprofit. She is the daughter of Mark and Dana Weber, Appleton.

The Jake and Janet Hoeschler Award for Excellence

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 partnership of business and the university. Recipients receive $1,500. [caption id="attachment_45957" align="alignright" width="200"] Haley Cassidy[/caption] Haley Cassidy graduates with a Bachelor of Science in finance with a concentration in risk, insurance and financial planning. Cassidy was involved in Residence Life serving as desk coordinator for Reuter Hall and lead desk coordinator for campus where she hired, trained, scheduled and supervised 16 student employees. She was a math tutor for Student Support Services for three years. Following graduation, Cassidy will return to Madison to work as a financial analyst at CUNA Mutual Group. Her professional goal is to manage people because her desk coordinator experience taught her how rewarding people management can be. Cassidy is the daughter of John and Lisa Cassidy, Sun Prairie. Hear more about Cassidy —

The Strzelczyk Award in Science and Health

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_45966" align="alignright" width="200"] Zackory Erickson[/caption] Zackory Erickson is graduating with a bachelor’s in computer science and mathematics. Erickson was a tutor for computer science, a mentor for high school FIRST Robotics teams and helped establish a campus Computer Science Outreach & Diversity organization. He received National Science Foundation honorable mention and performed summer research at the University of California-Berkeley and Georgia Tech. His research encompasses assistive robotics, machine learning and human-robot interaction. Erickson plans to attend Georgia Tech to pursue a doctorate in robotics to design healthcare robots that collaborate with and assist humans. He hopes to share his robotics passion as a professor. He is the son of Randy and Korin Erickson, La Crosse.

The John E. Magerus Award for the Outstanding Graduating Senior from the College of Liberal Studies

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_45961" align="alignright" width="200"] Cassandra Philippon[/caption] Cassandra Philippon graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and sociology. Philippon worked at the REC climbing wall and off-campus at Ophelia’s House, a rehabilitative re-entry home for female offenders. She was the teaching assistant for the introductory research methods class for psychology majors and the advanced research methods for sociology majors. Last fall, Philippon presented research on “The Role Children and Family Play in Successful Re-entry of Parents” at the American Society of Criminology’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Following graduation, Philippon has accepted a Reaching for the Stars Fellowship at the University of Arizona to study criminology. She hopes to develop and evaluate programming for re-entry and substance abuse, as well as programming within the correctional system. She is the daughter of Timothy and Cynthia Philippon, New London.

The Rosandich Graduate Thesis Award

The Rosandich Graduate Thesis Award recognizes the best graduate thesis, based on originality, impact and written quality. The award is funded through generosity of Thomas P. Rosandich, ’54, president of the U.S. Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama. The recipient receives $1,000. [caption id="attachment_45964" align="alignright" width="200"] Melanie Tatge[/caption] Melanie Tatge graduated in January 2016 with a master’s of public health in community health education. In May 2011, Tatge earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology with a German studies minor from UWL. Tatge was a member of the Eta Sigma Gamma: Beta Phi Chapter, the Latin American Student Organization, German Club, P.R.E.P. team and symphony orchestra. Her thesis was “Using the SWOT Analysis Framework to Assess Barriers and Enabling Factors to STD Control, Prevention, Education, Testing, and Treatment among the Ho-Chunk Nation in Western Wisconsin.” Since graduation, Tatge became a public health educator/accreditation coordinator at the Forest County Potawatomi Health and Wellness Center. Her professional goals include working at the Center of Disease Control and Prevention and obtaining a doctorate in community health education.