The best and brightest future athletic trainers and physical education teachers were recognized at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point School of Physical Education & Athletic Training 2015 Recognition Awards Banquet on Friday, April 24 in the Dreyfus University Center Alumni Room. [Photo Gallery]
Outstanding Students
ATHLETIC TRAINING
Sophomore: Megan School
Junior: Colton Funk
Senior: Frederick “Max” Vermeern
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Sophomore: Brittanie Mastricola
Junior: Michael Longmeyer
Senior: Matthew Landolt
MINORS
Adventure Education: Catherine Lucas
Adventure Education: Taylor Fabricius
Coaching: Alexander Richard
Health Education: Beth Pyan
COLONEL M. AND PHYLLIS NEMEC SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Matthew Landolt
Colonel Nemec graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 1968 with a degree in political science. Phyllis graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 1967 with a degree in physical education and elementary education. Colonel and Phyllis were non-traditional students. Phyllis competed on early field hockey teams, coached by Marge Spring, as a 39-year-old student-athlete with three children, playing with and against women 15-20 years younger.
This scholarship is awarded to a student pursuing a physical education degree, exhibiting a strong interest in the adapted physical education program; preference will be given to non-traditional students, who have military experience.
EDDIE KOTAL MEMORIAL AWARD
Recipient: Sarah Vitale
This award was established in 1973 to recognize the contributions of Eddie Kotal, former coach at UW-Stevens Point. While at UW-Stevens Point, Eddie coached football, basketball, boxing and track and field teams. He left Stevens Point to become a coach and scout for the Green Bay Packers and later for the Los Angeles Rams. Mr. Kotal died in January 1973, three months after his induction into the UWSP Athletic Hall of Fame.
This award is given to a student who has demonstrated scholastic achievement and financial need and is active in co-curricular activities.
NANCY PAGE PHYSICAL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Karlyn Wormuth
Nancy Page was a teacher and coach at UWSP from 1973-2004, coaching field hockey (1973-85), softball (1980-90) and tennis (1986-2004). Nancy taught numerous activity classes inside and outside the physical education major and was generally responsible for teaching 175-200 students a semester. Her teaching day may have featured teaching two hours each of badminton, cross country skiing and tennis with enough energy left to play tennis in the late afternoon or evening. Her passion for sports and activity served as an outstanding role model for students and staff. Nancy was active in promoting women sports and is a charter member of the Women’s Athletic Fund.
This scholarship is awarded to a physical education major of junior or senior standing, with demonstrated academic success, financial need and community involvement.
DR. MARJORIE SPRING ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Karlyn Wormuth
Marjorie Spring’s contributions to UWSP during her 18 year tenure as an educator in elementary physical education and coach in women’s field hockey and track and field are still being felt today. During her tenure, Marjorie created opportunities for women to compete in athletics that paved the way for women athletes today. Her foresight in providing hands-on teaching opportunities for students studying to be teachers created the motor development and adapted physical education programs. Additionally, Marjorie has the unique distinction of being the first woman inducted into the UWSP Athletic Hall of Fame.
This scholarship is awarded to a physical education major interested in working with elementary students in PE or adapted PE. The student must possess a strong academic performance and be recommended for this scholarship by a faculty member in PEAT.
CAROL HUETTIG MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Abigail Strobel
Carol Huettig taught and coached at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point from 1981-89. She was a masterful leader, inspiring students and athletes to continually raise their goals and perform to their maximum abilities. As a specialist in adapted physical education, Carol was a passionate advocate for underserved populations, particularly children. Her research focused on ways to improve services to children with disabilities, and she shared that information by authoring many articles and books and speaking at conferences throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Carol was very intuitive about individuals’ feelings. She had a gift for sensing the needs of people and reaching out to assist them in any way that would protect their dignity and self worth. Last, but not least, she was a lover of dogs, a great cook and knew how to throw a fabulous party!
This award is to provide a scholarship for physical education majors with an emphasis in adapted physical education.
MARGARET AND HENRY (TINY) BANNACH SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Abigail Strobel
This scholarship was established by Mary Stevens and Kitty Schuler, daughters of Margaret and Henry Bannach. Mrs. Bannach was a 1934 elementary education graduate. Mr. Bannach, nicknamed “Tiny,” was a 1930 graduate of the same program and went on to receive a master’s degree from UW-Madison. Tiny Bannach played football, basketball and baseball and was inducted into the UWSP Athletic Hall of Fame in 1971. He was given the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1982.
The scholarship is awarded to a student majoring in elementary education or physical education to benefit the student during his/her student teaching experience.
HALE QUANDT MEMORIAL AWARD
Recipient: Bryce Pomplum
Friends and associates of the late Hale Quandt established this award in 1969. Hale’s initial assignment on campus was the unenviable task of working with the basketball and football programs at a time when men’s athletics had been eliminated at the university because there were too few men to create a team, due to World War II. He served as athletic director at UW-Stevens Point for 18 years.
The award is given to a student of junior or senior status, who has demonstrated strong citizenship on campus and in the community with an interest in the coaching profession.
DALE H. & ELDORA I. VOLLRATH PHYSICAL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Stephanie Stuebs
Dale H. Vollrath completed his undergraduate degree at UW-Stevens Point in history with a minor in mathematics and physics in 1959. He took additional course work at UW-Madison, UW-Green Bay, UW-Whitewater, University of Western Illinois, London, Texas A&M, Berline Volshochsule and completed his master’s in history (MSE) at UW-Oshkosh. Dale taught three years at Clintonville and 28 years at Green Bay East. Eldora Vollrath completed her undergraduate degree UW-Stevens Point in home economics with a minor in physical education and physical science in 1955. She taught home economics and physical education for one year at Spencer and then stayed home to raise their three children. In 1980, she was hired as a full-time home economics teacher and taught in every junior and senior high in Green Bay, retiring in 1991. She was the first president of the Green Bay Substitute Teachers Union. They have been blessed to have traveled to more than 80 countries.
This award is given annually to a UWSP student majoring in physical education with a teaching emphasis.
PAUL J. STADDLER HONORARY SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Michael Longmeyer
Paul Staddler graduated from UWSP in 1982 with a degree in physical education and health education. Following several years of work for Glaxo Corporation, Paul began a very successful teaching and coaching career in the Wisconsin Rapids School District, where he was recognized as a Kohl Outstanding Teacher. Paul and his wife Doris worked their way through college; therefore, this scholarship was a life goal of Paul’s to assist students with their college expenses. He also felt the scholarship was a way to honor faculty and staff at UWSP for the guidance and many kindnesses they offered. Paul’s hope is that, at some point in their lives, the recipients of this scholarship will find the means and opportunities to enhance the lives of future students. Paul died on Sept. 3, 2004, at the age of 45 after a courageous battle with leukemia.
This scholarship is awarded to junior or senior physical education major with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
JOHN AND JEANNE KNOTT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Michael Longmeyer
Jeanne and John Knott were devoted to their jobs, both of which involved working with children. Many children suffered home-life problems, or mental or physical disabilities and needed foster care, which the Knotts provided in their own home. They spent their lives taking care of numerous foster children, plus their own two sons. In September 1979, they were both killed in a small plane crash into Lake Michigan. This scholarship is given to an upper class student majoring in special education/elementary physical education in memory of the Knotts.
This scholarship is awarded to any Wisconsin undergraduate having completed at least 2.5 years of work toward a major in special education/elementary physical education with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or better.
STEVEN BLOCHER MEMORIAL AWARD
Recipient: Madalyn Sawdey
The friends and family of Steven Blocher created this award in 1991.
Steven attended UWSP for two years before transferring to UW-Platteville to pursue his education to become a civil engineer. After returning home for the summer at the end of his junior year, he drowned in a boating accident, along with his father and brother while on a fishing trip on the Wisconsin River.
This award is given to a student athletic trainer who is either a junior or a first semester senior with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
PEAT FACULTY/ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Jamie Destache
This scholarship recognizes the outstanding achievement by a PEAT student.
This award is given to a junior enrolled in School of Physical Education & Athletic Training programs who is involved in extra-curricular activities on campus or in the community.
JUDITH ANN HERROLD ATHLETIC TRAINING PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient: Jamie Destache
This chartered endowed scholarship was created by Judith Herrold to recognize and honor a student possessing the academic and personal knowledge to become an athletic training professional. Judith dedicated 34 years of service to UWSP in the areas of teaching, advising, faculty governance and student advocacy.
This scholarship is awarded to a student who has been officially accepted into the UWSP athletic training major and has completed, or be currently enrolled in, a minimum of 2-3 semesters in the UWSP athletic training major.
FRIEND OF PEAT
Recipient: Tom Gustin