(from left) John Zumbrunnen, Eddie Espinoza, Vanessa Mariscal, Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, Jessica Rubio, Chinyere Nwabeke, and Richard Gustin. (Photo credit: Joe Koshollek)
MADISON – The Alliant Energy Foundation and the University of Wisconsin System recognized the outstanding achievements of four UW System students and three UW System teachers at an Oct. 30 awards presentation in Madison.
“Congratulations to this year’s award recipients,” said UW System President Ray Cross. “We are proud to partner with Alliant Energy to recognize the outstanding efforts of these students and faculty members, who are leveraging their talents to make their communities better places to live, work, and learn.”
Bob Bartlett, Director of Public and Community Affairs, Alliant Energy Foundation
The Alliant Energy Foundation and the UW System presented four students with the 2015 Alliant Energy/Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Academic Achievement Award. This 9th annual award recognizes the outstanding scholarship and community-service efforts of students from traditionally underrepresented minority groups who are pursuing a degree in business or engineering at UW-Madison and UW-Platteville, institutions within Alliant Energy’s service area.
The 2015 recipients of the Alliant Energy/Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Academic Achievement Awards are:
- Eddie Espinoza, senior, UW-Madison. He expects to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in May 2016.
- Vanessa Mariscal, senior, UW-Madison. She expects to earn two Bachelor of Business Administration degrees, one in Marketing and the other in Management and Human Resources, in December 2015.
- Chinyere Nwabeke, senior, UW-Platteville Collaborative Engineering Program at UW-Fox Valley. She expects to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in May 2016.
- Jessica Rubio, senior, UW-Madison. She expects to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering in May 2016.
Erroll B. Davis, Jr., the first Black leader of a “Business Week 1000” company, is a former chief executive of Alliant Energy and a former member of UW System’s Board of Regents. He was interim Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools from 2012 to 2014. The Alliant Energy Foundation established an endowment in 2006 to honor Davis’s distinguished record of public service. The award program is administered by UW System Student Affairs.
The Alliant Energy Foundation and the UW System also presented three members of the UW System’s teaching faculty with the 2015 Alliant Energy/Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Awards. This 23rd annual award recognizes outstanding commitment to student success. The awards are presented to teachers from UW System campuses located within Alliant Energy’s service area.
The 2015 recipients of the Alliant Energy/Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Awards are:
- Richard Gustin, Professor, Communications-Theatre Arts, UW-Fond du Lac
- Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, Professor, School of Agriculture, UW-Platteville
- John Zumbrunnen, Professor, Department of Political Science, UW-Madison
The Underkofler awards are given as a tribute to the energy company’s long-time senior executive, the late James R. Underkofler (1923–2015), who was a staunch proponent of excellence in undergraduate teaching. The award program is administered by UW System Academic Programs and Educational Innovation and funded through an endowment established by the Alliant Energy Foundation.
For a high-resolution photo, visit: www.wisconsin.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2015/11/Alliant_Full_Group_3000px.jpg
Photo credit: Joe Koshollek