Alumna Bonnie J. Smith receives Hosler Award in Business Education

October 20, 2009

For the fourth consecutive year, an individual from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is the recipient of Wisconsin's top business education award. For her involvement in numerous areas of business education, Bonnie J. Smith, a 1975 graduate of UW-Whitewater, is the 2009 recipient of the Russell J. Hosler Award.

The Hosler Award was established to stimulate, encourage and reward outstanding contributions to the advancement of business education.

Smith started her career teaching beginning typewriting, shorthand and accounting at the high school level. From there, she expanded her knowledge to the latest technologies including podcasts, web casts and web conferences.

"I've had the fortune to work with innovative people who are truly interested in life-long learning," said Smith.

Smith currently teaches at Lakeshore Technical College, continuing to integrate the latest technologies in her teaching techniques.

"My latest toy is a pen that video-records what you write and what you say," Smith said. "A student can then download the video and watch you write out, for example, a math problem while you explain what you're doing."

Smith is as much involved in her business education profession outside of the classroom. She served as secretary of the Wisconsin Business Education Association from 1989-1993 and twice filled the role of president.

Three students from UW-Whitewater also received academic scholarships from the Wisconsin Business Education Association. The WBEA scholarships are awarded to students in the business education program.

David Rippl, Jeremy Joecks and Jessica Brown have all shown a high level of student and professional organization involvement while displaying the hard work ethic that the scholarship committee takes into consideration.

"The scholarship has helped pay for books, for one thing," said Brown. "Being a member of the WBEA has helped me meet new teachers as well as provided really good networking opportunities."

Joecks also saw joining the organization as a great opportunity to build his resume.

"It helps to learn about a specific topic from a credible expert," said Joecks, referring to the WBEA conventions he has attended.

Students looking to join the WBEA should contact Professor Lila Waldmann at waldmanl@uww.edu or by phone at 262-472-5475.