Photograph by Anthony Bauer
The groundbreakers included, from left, David Markee, Carol Sue Bts, Pamela Connollly, Phil Garthwaite, Eli Caywood, Eugene Woehrle, and Jared Keehn.

The initial planning of Williams Fieldhouse went to the Student Senate and passed with a 2 to 1 vote. Then in March 2007 it was slated to be in the state’s capital budget.

The planning team consisted of many people within the university, including: Provost Carol Sue Butts, Assistant Chancellor for Administrative Services Rob Cramer, Athletic Director Mark Molesworth and Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs Mick Viney. The team also consisted of three UW-Platteville students, former Student Senate President David Dregne, former Senate Vice President Devine Nzegwu and Segragated University Fees Allocation Comission Vice President Jared Keehn.

The facility was designed by American Design and construction will be completed by PA McGuire Construction from Highland. The addition should be complete in late June or early July, Daus said.

Photograph by Anthony Bauer
Chancellor David Markee speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Phase I project will include construction of a two-story, 19,000 square foot addition to the Williams Fieldhouse. The student wellness facility will have direct connections on both levels to the existing Williams Fieldhouse. The addition will have a multi-purpose exercise classroom and cardio workout machine area on the upper evel. The ground level will feature space for free weights and weight machines, as well as an outdoor recreation sports services office. Additional existing space will be reconfigured to serve the intercollegiate wrestling program and create coaches’ offices. New bleachers will be installed at Bo Ryan Court which will help complete the improvements made to the court and a new floor will be installed in the Pioneer Activity Center.

“It is great to see the university adding on to the field house to help students stay healthy and taking point to the growing student population,” Shane Reitzer said.

“The student body has grown over 40 percent in the last 10 years. Additions have been made in classroom and lab space, residence halls and Glenview Commons. This space is needed to serve the health and fitness needs of our student body,” Daus said.

Daus said that parking lot 25A will be closed during construction. Inside there will be displacement of equipment, and also reduced offering of equipment once the current mezzanine is removed and prior to the addition.

According to the UW-P Sports Information Web site, freshmen Brittany Stezskal gave the Pioneers a 6-3 lead in the fifth, when she hit her first collegiate triple to the gap in right-center field scoring Mandy Cerqua, freshman shortstop Chantal McReynolds, and sophomore outfielder, Whitney Foltz, who had all singled.

Photograph by Jodi Krautkramer
The UW-P softball team falls to UW-Stevens Point 9-0 in game one and 8-6 in game two. The Pioneers finish their regular season in a double header at UW-Superior April 30.

The Pointers scored five runs in the top of the seventh to take the nightcap from the Pioneers, 8-6. The game was a milestone game for senior Tera Burr, who had an infield single in the first inning of the nightcap, becoming the 11th player in WIAC history to reach 200 career hits.

She had four hits, including two triples, on the afternoon, according to UW-P Sports Information Web site.

“We played really well against Steven’s Point, but they ended up having clutch hits in the top of the seventh to come away with the win. We showed dramatic improvement as our hitting was consistent up and down the line up.” Burr said. “ It was tough to see them loose that way because you can see how hard they are working to win.”

The Pointers improved to 4-10 in conference, 19-17 overall.

The Pioneers  faced Loras on Friday, April 24, in which the Pioneers fell to Dubuque by a score of 5-1, the Pioneers only run came in the top of the fourth when

McReynolds singled to centerfield followed by, Foltz grounded it out third base,  and Stezkal singled to bring the runner.The Duhawks improve to 13-14 overall.

The Pioneers fall to 0-14 in conference, 5-28 overall.

The Pioneers play UW-Superior on Thursday, April 30, in a doubleheader. The Pioneers will only be losing senior Burr at the end of the season, so finishing the season on a good note will help them build for next season and during the offseason.

Nimocks enjoys working at UW-P, saying she enjoys being able to tell someone that they are doing a good job. Being able to stay connected with alumni is another reason that Nimocks enjoys being here at UW-P.

Nimocks did her undergraduate work at the University of Southern Mississippi. She received her master’s at the University of Illinois and then received her doctorate from the University of Florida.

Just like others who have to deal with budgeting or staffing, Nimocks has to deal with the current economic problem. She stresses that the toughest part of her job is dealing with the budget issues currently facing the state and the time to make crucial cuts that no one likes to make.

People say that Nimocks is a very friendly person and that she is willing to get to know you, which makes her a great person to be around.

“[She] cares! It is not just the program, college, budget, rules and regulations…,” Dan Fairchild, department of performing and visual arts chair, said. “With [her], it is all about what is the right thing to do, and the people it will impact.”

She is a person that will continue to lead the department even in these tough times. The ability to see the big picture and the way it will affect people is a great leadership quality that Nimocks has for leading the department.

Though she is the dean of  LAE, she enjoys participating in other aspects of  the campus. Nimocks enjoys theater very much, and just recently participated in the Laramie Project here on campus, and enjoyed being a part of the production very much.

A little known fact about Nimocks is that she is a huge animal lover that enjoys the bird feeder out her window. Nimocks will continue to make a difference for UW-P.

“I’m still waiting for the other foot to come down,” Joyce Burkholder, Markee’s secretary, said.

With the state of the economy and Wisconsin’s budget the way it is, Markee said being able to stay positive is a great attribute.

As a chancellor, Markee’s responsibilities include being responsible for staff, administration as well as maintaining and improving facilities.

Markee has many ties to UW-P, starting with graduating from UW-P with bachelor’s degrees in geography and English, and his masters in guidance and counseling. He attended the University of Missouri, where he received his doctorate in counseling and psychology.

Markee taught at Platteville High School, where he made a positive impact on the students.

Markee loves to attend sporting events and he tries to attend all sports. He’s drawn to watching men’s basketball games, even traveling with the men’s and women’s basketball team to Germany in 2005.

“He was a very nice and pleasant person that would talk to you about anything,” Shane Reitzner, business administration major who went on the Germany trip, said.

One thing that may come as a surprise to many is when Markee lived in Iron Mountain, Mich., he enjoyed ski jumping. Markee and his wife Lou Ann loved to go skiing when they were in their prime, he said.

Markee has high expectations and goals for the campus. He hopes to continuing seeking support for the campus by state and national organizations. He also hopes to keep giving opportunities for students to study abroad and for students to come study here at UW-P.

Despite his authoritative position, after talking with Markee, you will walk away saying how pleasant and nice he was to talk to.

Students can receive this scholarship if their family income is $35,000 or less. Students of an ethnic minority or those who have a physical disability will be given special consideration for this scholarship. Targeting a family with an income $35,000 or less is important to USA Funds.

“Federal research shows that children coming from families that make less than $35,000 are less likely to attend college,” Bob Murray, vice president of Corporate Communications at USA Funds, said.
USA Funds will be selecting 667 students for this scholarship in the coming year.

This type of scholarship is important for students to further their knowledge and hopefully go on to a better career.

“It was Malcolm X who said, ‘Education is our passport to the future; for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.’” Richard Egley, dean of students at UW-Platteville said of why this scholarship is important for students. This scholarship is also trying to keep minorities in school, especially at time when paying for school is truly difficult.
“I know of a recent study that reported that it can take up to 90 percent of the income of family with a low income to support a family member who is attending college,” Egley said.

Students that receive this scholarship or have received it in the past are allowed to receive it again. The scholarship does have a $6,000 cap.