The University of Wisconsin-Richland Alumni Association has named five individuals as Outstanding Alumni of 2015. They are:
Dr. Jerry Hui, Chippewa Falls, Class of 1999
Heather Lins, Madison, Class of 1993
Paul Harrison, Madison, Class of 1985
Lois Anderson Ursin, Richland Center, Class of 1959, and
Dr. Myrna Toney, Richland Center, Class of 1957.
They will be recognized during ceremonies to be held Saturday, October 3, during Fall Alumni Day on campus.
Dr. Myrna Toney will be a recent retiree by October, having completed 39 years of service at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and a total of 57 years in education. Prior to joining the DPI, she taught in a number of elementary and middle schools—in Muscoda, Richland Center, Beaver Dam, and Boscobel—and served as associate professor of education at Illinois State University, Normal, IL. Toney has been honored for her work improving educational opportunities for students who are from migrant, minority and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Lois Anderson Ursin is a retired educator who taught in the Richland School District for more than 37 years--at one-room schools in Woodstock and Berger, at Rockbridge and Union Schools. She served as principal of Union School 1975-1982. Anderson has been an active volunteer with the Richland Center Thrift Shop, Green Valley 4-H, Meals at Home, and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Richland Center. Since 1975, she’s been a member of Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, serving as president 1994-1996, the organization’s 50th anniversary year.
Paul Harrison has worked in fund development in Madison for the past 16 years, the past 11 as director of development and communications at Access Community Health Centers, which serves more than 27,000 patients in Dane, Iowa, Richland, Sauk and Grant Counties. Harrison has served on a number of Madison boards and committees with organizations that assist children, families, and that help build the non-profit community.
Heather Lins, design entrepreneur and creative director of Heather Lins Home, owns and operates a company that designs and markets nationally and internationally a line of home textiles and stationery. Her work has won many awards, most recently a 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Award, and HOW International Design Awards in 2013, 2012, and 2011. She gave the graduation address at 2015 UW-Richland Graduation and Awards Night in May. Heather, her sister Gretchen, mother Jackie, and father Terry are all UW-Richland alumni.
Dr. Jerry (Chiwei) Hui is a musician and music educator. Presently he is a UW-Stout assistant professor of music. Hui is also the assistant conductor of the Madison Early Music Festival, the artistic director and founder of two musical groups—Schola Cantorum of Eau Claire and Eliza’s Toyes. Hui has won numerous music awards and, through music, creates partnerships with communities for education and development, such as the recent “From Farm to Table” program at UW-Stout that focused on music about agriculture, food and thanksgiving and to help raise funds for local organizations providing food and shelter for the homeless. Hui began his college studies as a UW-Richland international student from Hong Kong.
Recognition opportunities were expanded from two up to five for the first time this year, continuing the practice of including those from the Richland County College and from the current campus. The UW-Richland Alumni Association is an organization for alumni of both campuses.
Details and a reservation form for the October 3 Alumni Brunch will be in the August issue of the UW-Richland Alumni News. All former students of Richland County College and UW-Richland, as well as their guests, are welcome, as are family and friends of honorees. Reservations need to be made by early September. On October 3, Wallace Student Center doors open at 10:30 a.m.; brunch serving begins at 11 a.m., followed by the program from noon -1 p.m. Outstanding Alumni Award winners will be recognized and a brief annual meeting will be held.
To make a brunch reservation, send a check for $15 per adult along with your name, address, the year you last attended, and the names of your guests (if any) to: Alumni Liaison John Poole, UW-Richland, 1200 Highway 14 West, Richland Center, WI 53581-1316.The cost for children age 6 -12 is $5 and children age 5 and under are admitted at no cost. More information is available by contacting alumni liaison John Poole by e-mail at john.poole@uwc.edu or by calling the campus at (608) 647-6186, Extension 266.
The Alumni Association also plans their 3rd annual Home Brew Fest from 2-5pm on Saturday, October 3 in the campus gym.
The UW-Richland Alumni Association accepts nominations for Outstanding Alumni Awards from anyone who wishes to make a nomination including families and friends of alumni, and their former teachers. A list of all honorees since the award was instituted in 1974 can be found in the Alumni section of the UW-Richland website at richland.uwc.edu and on a plaque located in Melvill Hall on campus
