Outlook Magazine - Fall 2016

ON CAMPUS

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CAMPUS MELTING POT Science Olympiad National Tournament features students from 49 states

n a typical Saturday in late May after commencement, the campus at UW-Stout is a quiet place. On Saturday, May 21, the campus became a microcosm of the United States. Approximately 3,000 high school and middle school students from 49 states competed in the Science Olympiad National Tournament. Another approximately 2,000 coaches, officials and spectators took part. Groups of teenagers wearing colorful team shirts roamed the south campus throughout the day as they moved from event to event, such as bridge building in Applied Arts, disease detective in Jarvis Hall Science Wing and air trajectory at the Sports and Fitness Center. A total of 120 U.S. teams and an exhibition team from Japan competed in more than 50 events.

Message from the Chancellor BOB MEYER

The day wrapped up with an awards ceremony Saturday night in a packed Johnson Fieldhouse. Mira Loma High School of Sacramento, Calif., was named the high school champion and Daniel Wright Junior High School of Lincolnshire, Ill., the middle school champion.

Dear alumni and friends: Every Outlook magazine is special in its own way as the UW-Stout Alumni Association works to stay connected with the 70,000 alumni spread over the country and around the globe. But this Outlook, coming out in the university’s 125th anniversary year, obviously has a unique significance. The intent of this edition is to bring our alumni insights into the history of the institution they hold near and dear. Therein lies the value of celebrating a milestone like our 125th anniversary; it provides us with the opportunity to look back on what has made us the vibrant institution that we have become. As a UW-Stout alumnus, I feel incredibly privileged to be the chancellor of UW-Stout at the time of our 125th anniversary. Our 125th year has been an extraordinary one. Once again we achieved record enrollment with 9,535 students attending classes in the fall of 2015, and applications for fall 2016 also are strong. Consistent enrollment growth confirms the value of a UW-Stout degree and reflects the positive efforts our staff continues to make in improving our great programs. In addition, our last graduating classes posted an outstanding 97.3 percent employment rate (up from 97.1 percent). This rate provides clear evidence that UW-Stout graduates are held in high esteem and bring immediate value to employers. The high employment rate also reflects on the outstanding reputation of our alumni in the workplace. But the year was not without challenges as we worked through a state funding cut that reduced our operating budget by 10.5 percent. Historically, this was our second highest budget reduction, eclipsed only by the 17 percent budget reduction during the Great Depression. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our staff we were able to minimize the effects of the reduction on our students in the classroom. This downward trend in state funding has revitalized our efforts to raise private funds. I’m proud to report that the Stout University Foundation has made great strides this past year developing a major fundraising campaign that will be vital to our future.

I used my spring commencement address to discuss the grit, dedication and perseverance that Sen. James Huff Stout needed to keep his dream alive after his beloved Stout Manual Training School burned to the ground four years after it was built. Instead of abandoning that dream, Sen. Stout immediately began planning a new building, and he even made the Clock Tower higher. Bowman Hall stands today as a symbol of our founder’s incredible character and strength. When we find ourselves in rough seas, I often think about what Sen. Stout went through during those days and how his dream continues today. Nothing that confronts us is as devastating as the fire that consumed the first Stout Manual Training School. If Sen. Stout could make it through that tragedy, we can weather whatever storms come our way. In closing, I want to bring attention to three items of special significance for our alumni. A special history book on our first 125 years, written by Assistant Communications Director Jerry Poling, will be published soon. Every reader of this magazine will want a copy. I want to offer a personal invitation for alumni to attend the grand reopening celebration of Harvey Hall, which was built 100 years ago and has been totally renovated. The celebration is Thursday, Sept. 22. Finally, our 125th anniversary homecoming will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, with many alumni- centered activities. Read more inside about all three of these topics. Again, I can’t begin to express how honored I am to be part of UW-Stout during its 125th anniversary celebration. Every day, I am reminded that one of the major reasons we have thrived over our long history is because of the passionate and dedicated alumni who remain connected to their university. Please accept my thanks for all you do for UW-Stout.

About 300 students, faculty and staff from UW-Stout helped with the event. Chancellor Bob Meyer was one of the speakers at the opening and closing ceremonies. Many faculty and staff gave presentations Thursday and Friday during a STEM expo and opening ceremony. The tournament director was Forrest Schultz, UW-Stout chemistry professor who led the effort to bring the event to campus. It was the 32nd annual national tournament.

MenomonieHighSchool students participate in the opening ceremony at JohnsonFieldhouse.

Competition on campus included the robot armevent.

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