Feature Story

From left, Michael "Silk" Casper, a UW-FDL alumnus, will serve as emcee of the April 22 dinner, Jim Neumann is an alumnus and serves on the UW-FDL Foundation Board, Christa Williams is executive director of the foundation, which is sponsoring the dinner, and Dr. Dan Blankenship is campus dean. Inset is Willard Henken.

   by Scott Wittchow

   Willard "Bill" Henken recalls clearly the day when the 40-year-old UW-Fond du Lac campus opened its doors.
   "I made it a point to be there," he said. "Students breathe life into an institution; they are the lifeblood.”
   Henken was the first dean of the campus and credited for assembling a team of professional instructors and staff and recruiting that first class of freshman for the 1968-69 school year. He helped grow the campus into a jewel of higher learning as thousands of students have utilized the solid foundation offered at UW-Fond du Lac to catapult them forward to four-year degrees and rewarding careers.
  Among them are Jim Neumann, president and CEO of R.B. Royal Industries; Bob Carew, retired president and publisher of Action Printing and Action Advertiser; Mary Jo Merwin, Aurora Health Center administrator; Sandi Roehrig, director of the FDL Area Foundation; Lyle Birschbach, insurance professional, Don Noe, nationally-known meterologist; plus many more.
   Now, as the campus celebrates its 40th anniversary, "Dean Henken," as he is affectionately called more than 20 years after his retirement, will be honored at a campus celebration April 22 in the University Center Commons on campus.
   Also recognized will be other former deans, this year's winner of Spirit of Excellence Award and supporters of the campus including past and current members of the foundation on campus.
   Sponsored by the UW-Fond du Lac Foundation, proceeds of the 40th Anniversary Dinner will be invested in student success and academic excellence.
   Christa Williams, executive director of the foundation, will serve as host and will introduce Michael "Silk" Casper, as emcee. Casper attended the campus in 1977-78.
   Henken was followed by deans Dr. Bradley Gottfried (1987-1993) and Judy Goldsmith (1993-2002). Dr. Dan Blankenship has been serving as dean since 2002.
   Gottfried is best known for his efforts in creating a prairie-style arboretum on 20 acres of campus land. During Goldsmith's tenure, nearly $13 million was approved for major capital improvements of the campus.         Improvements included the addition of Prairie Theatre and the University Center Commons which have become a popular settings for a variety of community events from dinners and celebrations to stage performances.
The April 22 dinner will be the highlight of the 40-year anniversary celebrations which kicked off last fall, Sept. 9, the day when the doors of the campus opened in 1968.
  Blankenship notes the event is in recognition of a "mile marker" in history of the campus.
"It is a celebration of our existence, but more importantly, it is an opportunity to celebrate our years of success in educating students from Fond du Lac and the region," he said.

     Blankenship said UW-Fond du Lac brings important assets to the community.
   "UW-Fond du Lac brings education, but importantly, it brings the people resources - well educated, committed faculty who are interested in serving the educational needs of the community. They are also an intellectual and scholarly resource to Fond du Lac as well. Secondarily, we are able to provide the campus buildings as a community resource."
   Neumann, who attended the campus in the early 1970s, said UW-FDL provided him with a good start to his education and career.
"I had the opportunity to live at home and hold down expenses while attending college here. Student-to-teacher ratios were very beneficial in the classroom as well as allowing students ready access to faculty for one-to-one assistance."
   Many agree that UW Fond du Lac students have always received a high-value, affordable education.
   "For 40 years, this university has turned out individuals who help make a difference in our community," said Neumann. "About 60 percent remain in the area following their education at UW-Fond du Lac. This means the money we have invested remains right here generating better paying jobs as well as educated, involved citizens."
   The campus still remains affordable, compared to four-year campuses. However, the state support that assisted students 40 years ago (who paid $161 for tuition and fees), is not the same today.
   "We receive about 43 percent of our budget from the State of Wisconsin right now," said Blankenship. "This means that students pay for much of their education. To continue to provide a UW education accessible to all qualified students in our community, additional support is needed."
   Just last fall, the UW-Fond du Lac Foundation awarded over $36,000 in scholarships and provided additional funds for instructional staff development.
   "People hear the words 'University of Wisconsin' and immediately think that the cost of education here is highly subsidized. THEY COULD NOT BE MORE WRONG!" said Neumann. "When I attended UW-Fond du Lac, the state covered about 80 percent of the campus' budget. Today, it's half of that. With less and less state funding available, significant community support will be essential if UW-Fond du Lac is to survive."
   Neumann, a member and past president of the UW-FDL Foundation said the organization was formed "as an instrument to provide funding for the university and its students. For the school, faculty and staff, it can provide funding for programs and opportunities not possible under normal budget constraints."
   The April 22 40th Anniversary Dinner will include an elegant dinner, silent auction
"I'm looking forward to a great night!" said Casper. "A few beverages with old friends, and educators who became friends. A video has been produced, plus a slide show, and we'll have some audio clips of alums who aren't able to attend.
   "We plan on a multi-media reminiscence, lots of 'remember the time' stories, and an opportunity to honor Dean Henken."
   (Tickets for the event are $40 and can be obtained by calling Williams at 929-1335. For more information on the 40th anniversary, including archive photos and recollections, visit: http://www.fdl.uwc.edu/anniversary/index.html.)

-- Archived Feature Stories --

March 22

Community News | Source Book

Home

to purchase a banner ad for this page call -- (920) 922-8640 ext 7840