The Greenhill Excellence in the Arts Award

H. Gaylon and Hannah Greenhill

H. Gaylon Greenhill was chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 1991-1999;  prior to that, he was a political science professor, Chair of the Political Science Department, dean of summer school and extension services, acting dean of the College of Letters and Sciences, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, and vice chancellor and dean of faculties.  During his tenure as chancellor at UW-Whitewater, the unversity developed and implemented the campus exterior plan, constructed the Irvin L. Young Auditorium, renovated the James R. Conner University Center and Hyer Hall, and made major technological advances such as the construction of a fiber optic computer network, the addition of numerous workstations in computer labs and the complete wiring of the residence halls.  The long list of improvements came to be known as the Excellence for the 21st Century Capital Campaign, which raised more than $12 million.

Hannah Greenhill taught first grade in the Whitewater public schools for 30 years.  She was a gracious and charming hostess and a regular attendee at banquets, concerts, lectures, recitals, and athletic events. Together, the Greenhills were partners in UW-Whitewater’s developing success story.  They have been familiar figures at auditorium events, theatre recitals, and exhibitions, and appropriately, on October 19, 2001, the Center of the Arts was named in their honor.

The Greenhill Excellence in the Arts Award is funded through the Greenhill Endowment at the UW-Whitewater Foundation.  The Greenhill Endowment was established by generous contributions from friends and colleagues at the time of Chancellor H. Gaylon Greenhill’s retirement.  The award is given to incoming freshman planning to major in the fine arts in each of their four years.