Rick Peterson

Author: Rick Peterson

Lawrence hosts 25th annual community celebration of MLK’s life, legacy

Although Lawrence University classes won’t be held Jan. 18 on the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., more than 300 students will make it “a day on, not a day off” by engaging in 18 community service projects.

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Lawrence students have embraced the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as a day of community engagement and service.

Lawrentians will spend part of their day volunteering their time and talents on activities ranging from painting a rock climbing wall at Appleton’s Edison Elementary School to leading interactive projects that incorporate themes of equality, advocacy and the civil rights movement at the Boys and Girls Club of the Fox Valley.

Highlighting the day will be the community celebration of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King at 6:30 p.m. in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel. The annual commemoration of King’s life and legacy is jointly presented by Lawrence University and the community organization Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities, with the support of The Post-Crescent, numerous Fox Valley organizations, churches and individuals.

Stansbury Theatre in the adjacent Music-Drama Center will be equipped with a video screen to accommodate overflow crowd should the Chapel reach capacity. The event is free and open to the public and a sign language interpreter will be present.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Breaking the Chains of Injustice.” Social justice icon, scholar and author Dr. Angela Davis will deliver the event’s keynote address.

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Dr. Angela Davis

As a student, writer, scholar and activist/organizer, Davis has devoted much of her life to social justice movements domestically and internationally. Most recently, the Birmingham, Ala., native has focused largely on social problems associated with incarceration and the generalized criminalization of those communities that are most affected by poverty and racial discrimination.

“I am looking forward to hearing Dr. Davis’ call to action for our community at the annual celebration,” said Kathy Flores, the diversity coordinator for the City of Appleton and chairperson of the MLK planning committee. “Many people forget what a radical Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was considered in his time on this earth. I am confident that Dr. Davis will inspire and challenge us to remember and embrace the true legacy of Dr. King.”

In 1970, Davis was placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted List.” She spent 18 months in jail and on trial before being acquitted by a jury. Davis has drawn on those experiences as an author of 10 books, including 2005’s “Abolition Democracy” and 2003’s “Are Prisons Obsolete?” in which she argues for “decarceration.”

Her just released book, “Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine and the Foundations of a Movement,” is a collection of essays, speeches and interviews highlighting the relationships among historical and contemporary state violence and oppression in the world. It will be used as the next installment in the Fox Cities’ Books Build Community series.

Davis, who studied at Brandeis University and the Sobornne in Paris, has spent the past 15 years at the University of California, Santa Cruz where she is Distinguished Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness and of Feminist Studies.

Her career as an educator and scholar has seen Davis teach at San Francisco State University, Mills College, University of California Berkeley, Vassar College and Stanford University, among others.

“I am confident that Dr. Davis will inspire and challenge us to remember and embrace the true legacy of Dr. King.”
— Kathy Flores, Appleton diversity coordinator

The community celebration also will recognize Tony Awofeso with the annual Jane LaChapelle McCarty Community Leader Award and Ben Vogel with the MLK Educator Award.

A former Outagamie County Board Supervisor, Awofeso is the current president of B.A.B.E.S., Inc., a child abuse prevention program, and former chair of the organization Towards Community: Unity In Diversity (the precursor to Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities). He co-founded African Heritage, Inc. and has served on the boards of the North East Wisconsin Fair Housing Council and CAP Services.

Vogel is the assistant superintendent of school/student services for the Appleton Area School District. He has been an advocate on social injustice issues pervading the school and community cultures with a focus on closing the opportunity gap between African American K-12 and white K-12 students.

Four local students winners of the annual MLK essay contest — Eliana Brenn, Sydni Wanty, Ndemazea Fonkem and Michayla Kading — will read their winning entries as part of the celebration.

The celebration will include music by Anthony Gonzalez, Lawrence student B-Lilly, members of the Lawrence Black Student Union and a spoken word performance by members of Lawrence’s Slam Poetry Club.

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.

Lawrence student musicians win national opera competition

Seven Lawrence University students wowed a judging panel of professionals with an eight-minute scene from Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” to earn first-place honors in the recent Collegiate Opera Scenes Competition.

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Lawrence students were all smiles after winning the Collegiate Opera Scenes Competition. Showing off their first-place plaque are (front row, l. to r.) Katie Mueller, Kayla Siembieda and director of opera studies Copeland Woodruff. Back row (l. to r.): Mitchell Kasprzyk, Derrick Hahn (accompanist), Jackson Rosenberry, Josh Eidem and Paul Gutmann.

Held Jan. 7 at the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, Ind., the competition was part of a national joint convention of the National Opera Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Six singers, all seniors — Josh Eidem, Paul Gutmann, Mitchell Kasprzyk, Katie Mueller, Jackson Rosenberry and Kayla Siembieda —  and junior Derrick Hahn as accompanist on piano, performed the Act III sextet from “Figaro” in front of an audience of more than 300 that included directors, educators and international artists, among them legendary operatic stars George Shirley, Esther Hinds, Thomas Young, and Donnie Ray Albert.

“The convention and competition was a wonderful opportunity for our students to step outside their bubble and see where they stand in relation to their peers,” said Copeland Woodruff, director of opera studies at Lawrence. “It also afforded them the opportunity to perform for and meet opera professionals, colleagues and educators, who helped them understand what a tightly knit community the opera world is. They received valuable feedback and audience response, including that from well-respected, graduate school educators with their eyes on potential students.

“And,” Woodruff added, “it helped us showcase what amazing talent we have here at Lawrence.”

Selected on the basis of a submitted video, Lawrence was one of just five finalists chosen to perform in Division I of the competition. Lawrence competed against performers from DePauw University, Kennesaw State University, Michigan State University and Sam Houston State University.

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.        

Bike Battles: Presentation examines the role of bicycles in society

Historian and author James Longhurst examines the debates over bicycles and their place in society since the 1870s in a presentation Thursday, Jan. 21 at Lawrence University.

Bike-Battles-book_newsblogBased on his 2015 book of the same name, Longhurst presents “Bike Battles: A History of Sharing the American Road” at 7 p.m. in Main Hall, Room 201. The event is free and open to the public.

While bicycle usage is up in the country, so, too, are arguments about where it belongs. Conflicts over sharing the road are like other environmental debates over scarce resources: difficult to solve, politically fractious, with origins shrouded in mystery, and absolutely essential for creating a sustainable future.

Longhurst will examine these conflicts and discuss what we can learn from the past. Much of what we believe about the bicycle today, says Longhurst, is based on an incomplete picture of the past.

In his book, he argues that governments large and small have had a hand in shaping the conflicts we see on the road today.

“Since Americans don’t entirely take bicycles seriously, historians haven’t always done so either,” said Longhurst. “So stories about 19th-century bike laws, cycle paths in the 1890s and bicycle rationing in World War II haven’t gotten the attention they deserve.”

An associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Longhurst is a historian of urban and environmental policy. His inspiration to study bicycle history began in 2008 when he started commuting by bicycle to work every day.battling-bikes_newsblog

“Riding to work is great, but it reminds you that not everyone agrees on the place of bicycles and cars on the road,” says Longhurst. “Traffic engineers, bike advocates and politicians all have had their say on the subject. I wanted to add a bit more history to the discussion.”

The presentation coincides with the recently opened exhibit at the History Museum at the Castle, “Shifting Gears: A Cyclical History of Badger Bicycling.” Showcasing the crucial role that Wisconsin has played in two national bicycling eras, Shifting Gears features historic bicycles and artifacts, intriguing images, and virtual interactive experiences.

Copies of Longhurst’s book will be available for purchase at the talk.

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.

Prof. Gustavo Fares leads post-film discussion on PBS documentary

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Gustavo Fares

Lawrence Professor of Spanish Gustavo Fares will will lead an audience discussion following the screening of “Peril and Promise (1980-2000),” part of the award-winning PBS documentary series “Latino Americans.”

The screening, Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Appleton Public Library, 225 N. Oneida St., is part of a series of of community programs highlighting 500 years of diversity and achievement by Latino Americans. The event is free and open to the public.

The 2013 six-hour PBS series chronicles 500 years of Latinos in the United States with a focus on the struggles and triumphs of the film’s characters. It features nearly 100 Latinos, including Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Dolores Huerta, co-founder with César Chávez of the National Farm Workers Association, author/commentator Linda Chávez, who became the highest-ranking woman in President Reagan’s administration, and award-winning actress and singer Rita Moreno.

Latino-Anerican-logo_newsblogA partnership between Lawrence, the Appleton Public Library, Casa Hispana and the History Museum at the Castle is collaborating on a series of events for the program “Latino Americans: 500 Years of History and Culture.”  The program is supported by grants Lawrence receivedWHC color logo copy from the American Library Association and the Wisconsin Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

As part of the programming, the Appleton Public Library is currently hosting an exhibition of works by Milwaukee-based Mexican artist, author and illustrator Francisco X. Mora that will run through Feb. 29. Mora will lead a children’s-focused program at the library Jan. 30.

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.         

Lawrence receives additional $5 million challenge for scholarship endowment

$5M-gift_newsblogOn the heels of successfully completing a $25 million challenge match, Lawrence University has been presented another opportunity to boost its student scholarship support.

An additional $5 million commitment by the same anonymous donor who issued the $25 million challenge a year ago, has been pledged on the condition Lawrence makes every effort to raise $10 million in matching funds by December 31, 2016.

Both the gift and the matching funds would be applied to an endowment for student scholarships that currently stands at $51.9 million.

Charlot Singleton, who serves as chair of the Board of Trustees’ development committee says this newest commitment is “significant.”

Char Singleton_newsblog“Such generosity will allow us to recommit ourselves to the founding principle of educational access for all capable students,” said Singleton, a 1967 Lawrence graduate. “We can be proud of becoming the kind of institution that places that highest priority on ensuring a Lawrence education that remains affordable to all students.”

Two weeks ago, Lawrence announced it had raised nearly $27 million in just 15 months toward the original matching gift during its “Full Speed to Full Need” initiative. The latest challenge, when successfully completed, will add another $15 million toward the ultimate goal of creating a scholarship endowment of $75 million, a total that will make Lawrence a full-need institution.

“The impact of the gifts to the Full Speed to Full Need campaign is already making a huge difference in the lives of many Lawrence students,” said Hugh Denison, a 1968 Lawrence graduate who serves as chair of the FSFN initiative. “Our ultimate goal is to see that every student has the comfort of knowing that funds will be available for them to finish their education here. While we have had spectacular success in our efforts toward that goal, there is still much work to be done. I would urge every graduate of the college to consider a gift to this vital mission.Hugh-Denison_newsblog_2

“Our success in completing this campaign will insure that Lawrence remains among the national leaders of liberal arts colleges,” Denison added.

As a full-need institution, Lawrence will be able to provide financial assistance to make up any difference between what a family can contribute and what federal and state programs provide toward the comprehensive fee.

“When we are successful with this phase of the campaign,” said Ken Anselment, dean of admissions and financial aid, “we will be able to support all Lawrentians at a level that allows them to take full advantage of the Lawrence experience.

“This campaign will put Lawrence on the short list of colleges in the country that meet the full need of all their students,” Anselment added.  

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.         

 

Lawrence doctor recognized as state “Family Physician of the Year”

Dr. Kelli Heindel, who has served as Lawrence’s university physician since January 2010, has been named Wisconsin’s “Family Physician of the Year.”

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Dr. Kelli Heindel

A family practitioner with Appleton-based ThedaCare, Heindel was recognized by the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians.

“It has been clear since Dr. Heindel began serving as one of Lawrence’s physicians that she is a dedicated, skilled and caring professional,” said Nancy Truesdell, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “Our students recognize how fortunate they are to have Kelli working with them as they take steps to promote their own health and wellness.”

In addition to her work with Lawrence students in the campus Wellness Center, Heindel has served as a family physician for more than 20 years and sees patients at her office at ThedaCare Physicians-Appleton North, where she serves as the practice’s assistant medical director. She also provides volunteer care to underserved patients at a local clinic and serves as a mentor to students thinking about or pursuing a career in medicine.

In her role as a mentor, Heindel is committed to helping physicians, especially new doctors coming out of residency, establish a work/life balance.

“I think they all tire of hearing me say, ‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint,’ but generally all have been appreciative of the advice and role modeling,” said Heindel, a native of Wausau. “I would like to hope that means they will then be with our group and the community for very long and productive careers.

A diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Heindel earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry at Carroll College. She earned a master’s in physiology and a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin.

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.

Author, activist Angela Davis to deliver keynote address at annual Martin Luther King Jr. community celebration

Social justice icon, scholar and author Dr. Angela Davis will deliver the keynote address at the 25th annual community celebration of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Monday, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Breaking the Chains of Injustice.” The event is free and open to the public. A sign language interpreter will be present.

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Dr. Angela Davis

The annual commemoration of Dr. King’s life and legacy is jointly presented by Lawrence University and Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities, with the support of The Post-Crescent, numerous Fox Valley organizations, churches and individuals.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Davis has devoted her life to social justice movements domestically and internationally as a student, writer, scholar and activist/organizer. Much of her latest work focuses on social problems associated with incarceration and the generalized criminalization of those communities that are most affected by poverty and racial discrimination.

“It is with great pride and excitement that we look forward to having Dr. Angela Davis deliver our keynote address at the 25th anniversary of our community celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Kathy Flores, the diversity coordinator for the City of Appleton and chairperson of the MLK organizing committee. “As an activist, educator, author and prison abolitionist, Dr. Davis continues to inspire me. I know her message will inspire all of us that evening.”

In 1970, Davis was placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted List.” She spent 18 months in jail and on trial before being acquitted by a jury. Davis has drawn on those experiences as an author of nine books, including 2005’s “Abolition Democracy” and 2003’s “Are Prisons Obsolete?” in which she argues for “decarceration.”

Davis, who studied at Brandeis University and the Sobornne in Paris, is currently Distinguished Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness and of Feminist Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz, where she has spent the past 15 years.

Her career as an educator and scholar has seen Davis teach at San Francisco State University, Mills College, University of California Berkeley, Stanford University and Vassar College, among others.

Nominations are currently being accepted for two Jane LaChapelle McCarty-MLK Awards, one for a community leader and one for an educator. The community leader award honors an individual who has brought different people in the community together in the spirit of Dr. King. The educator award recognizes an individual who educates in the spirit of Dr. King.

Limited to two pages in length, nominations can be submitted to the attention of Dr. Bola Delano-Oriaran and Dr. Sabrina Robins via email at fcdrmlkevent@gmail.com by Jan. 6, 2016.  Nominations should include contact email addresses and phone numbers of the nominee and the nominator. Award recipients will be announced Jan. 18 at the community celebration.

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.

Saxophonist Daniel Whitworth earns second-place honors in state music competition

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Daniel Whitworth ’18

Lawrence University student saxophonist Daniel Whitworth earned second-place honors Nov. 14 in the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Young Artist Solo Scholarship Competition held Saturday in Manitowoc.

A sophomore from Highland Park, Ill., Whitworth received a $1,000 second-place prize and will be a featured soloist March 5, 2016 during the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s concert at the Manitowoc Capitol Civic Centre. A student in the saxophone studio or Sumner Truax, he will play Ingolf Dahl’s “Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Concert Band” at the concert.

The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Young Artist Solo Scholarship Competition, for woodwinds, brass, percussion and piano students, is open to musicians up to the age of 25.

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.

 

Lawrence, community partners celebrate Latino American history

A series of programs highlighting 500 years of diversity and achievement by Latino Americans will be conducted in Appleton over the coming months beginning Wednesday, Dec. 2 with a film and discussion.

A partnership between Lawrence University, the Appleton Public Library, Casa Hispana and the History Museum at the Castle will provide a series of community events including film screenings, an art exhibition and a Latin-themed concert for the program “Latino Americans: 500 Years of History.”Latino-Anerican-logo_newsblog

The program is supported by a pair of grants Lawrence has received: a $3,000 grant from the American Library Association and a $7,585 grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“This grant provides a great opportunity, particularly when Latinos are at the center of national politics, to help highlight the role of Latinos in the history of the Fox Cities,” said Jake Frederick, associate professor of history at Lawrence who specializes in Hispanic ethnicity. “It also allows several partner organizations a chance to connect with one another as well as the Latinos who make up so much of our community.”

Opening the series will be a screening of two segments of the award-winning PBS documentary series “Latino Americans” at the Appleton Public Library.

Latino-America_newsblogThe first segment, “Foreigners in Their Own Land (1565-1880)” will be shown Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The second segment screening, “Peril and Promise (1980-2000),” will be held Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. Both are free and open to the public.

Lawrence faculty members Jake Frederick, associate professor of history, and Gustavo Fares, professor of Spanish, will each lead an audience-based discussion following the respective film screenings.

The 2013 six-hour series, chronicles 500 years of Latinos in the United States with a focus on the struggles and triumphs of the film’s characters. It features interviews with nearly 100 Latinos, among them 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Dolores Huerta, co-founder with César Chávez of the National Farm Workers Association, author and commentator Linda Chávez, who became the highest-ranking woman in President Reagan’s administration, and award-winning actress and singer Rita Moreno.

“This grant provides a great opportunity, particularly when Latinos are at the center of national politics, to help highlight the role of Latinos in the history of the Fox Cities.”
— Lawrence historian Jake Frederick

The Appleton Public Library also will host an exhibition of works by Milwaukee-based Mexican artist, author and illustrator Francisco X. Mora Jan. 4-Feb. 29. Mora personally will visit the library Jan. 30 to lead a children’s-focused program.

“Libraries are all about making connections and we’re delighted to be collaborating with the Appleton Public Library as well as our own academic departments to extend our connections within the community,” said Peter Gilbert, director of Lawrence’s Mudd Library.Latino-American_newsblog2

An art exhibition — “Selections from the Estampas de la Revolución Mexicana Portfolio” — showcasing the portfolio of 16 artists from the Taller de Gráfica Popular (“The People’s Graphic Workshop”) of Mexico City from Lawrence’s permanent collection will be held Feb. 11-March 11, 2016 in the Mudd Gallery of Lawrence’s Seeley G. Mudd Library. Founded in 1937 to advance revolutionary social causes, the TGP is an artists’ print collective. Wriston Art Center Director and Curator Beth Zinsli will deliver a gallery talk on the history and iconography of the Estampas portfolio at 4 p.m. the day the exhibition  opens.

On April 11, Lawrence Conservatory of Music faculty members Jose Encarnacion, saxophone, Matthew Michelic, viola, and Anthony Padilla, piano, along with special guests, will present the concert “A Celebration of Hispanic and Latino-American Music” at 7 p.m. at Riverview Gardens in Appleton.

The grants will also support Lawrence’s fifth annual Latin American and Spanish Film Festival April 20-23, 2016. The festival highlights award-winning contemporary cinema from Spain, Mexico and South America.

Latino Americans: 500 Years of History, a public programming initiative produced by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA), is part of the NEH initiative “The Common Good: The Humanities in the Public Square.”WHC color logo copy

The Wisconsin Humanities Council supports and creates programs that use history, culture, and discussion to strengthen community life for everyone in Wisconsin.

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.

Lawrence students earn five firsts at state singing competition

Lawrence University students claimed five first-place finishes at the annual Wisconsin chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition held Nov. 6-7 at UW-Eau Claire.

Alexander Quackenbush, Sun Prairie, and Clover Austin-Mueleck, San Francisco, Calif., won the men’s and women’s first-year division, respectively.

Yonah Barany, Portland, Ore., and Annie Mercado, Des Plaines, Ill., took top honors in the second-year men’s and women’s division, respectively.

Ian Grimshaw, Nellysford, Va., earned first-place honors in the men’s third-year division, while Elisabeth Burmeister, Chicago, Ill., received second-place honors in the third-year women’s division. Burmeister finished second in the second-year women’s division in 2014.

Austin-Mueleck and Grimshaw are students in the voice studio of Ken Bozeman, Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music. Quackenbush and Barany study with Associate Professor Karen Leigh-Post. Mercado is a student of voice teacher John Gates. Burmeister studies in the voice studio of Joanne Bozeman.

Twelve of Lawrence’s 19 entries advanced to the finals in the competition, which drew nearly 400 singers from around the state. First-place finishers receive $150, while second-place finishers received $125.

The NATS competition features 22 separate divisions grouped by gender and level. Depending upon the category, competitors are required to sing two, three or four classical pieces from different time periods with at least one selection sung in a foreign language.

Alex-Quackenbush_newsblogClover-Austin-Meuleck_newsblogYonah-Barany_newsblogAnn-Mercado_newsblogIan-Grimshaw_newblogPictured (from left): Alex Quackenbush, Clover Austin-Mueleck, Yonah Barany,  Annie Mercado and Ian Grimshaw.

About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.