Fiskums pledge $100,000 for UW-Whitewater art gallery
Released: February 4, 2003
Thanks to the generosity of Robert and Yvonne Fiskum of Elkhorn, a new art gallery will be part of the long-range plan for an addition to the University Center. The Fiskums have pledged $100,000 in memory of their daughter, Roberta A. Fiskum, a talented art student at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater who passed away in October of 1993.
“Our daughter’s lifetime goal was to own an art gallery,” Yvonne said, “so this seems like the right opportunity to give.” The couple has also established a $50,000 memorial scholarship in graphic arts, the first for that field.
Besides excelling in fine art and graphic design, Roberta was an accomplished potter, seamstress, cook and a church organist since the age of 15. Her mentor in college, art professor Amy Arntson, included several of Roberta’s designs in a textbook she uses to teach her classes. Arntson described Roberta as “an extremely creative, talented individual whose work showed a special sensitivity and intelligence.”
Robert Fiskum, a UW-Whitewater Foundation Board member, was a coach and teacher in the Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Coaching department from 1965-1996. Yvonne Fiskum recently retired after 32 years from teaching in the Adult Learning Center at Gateway Technical College in Janesville.
- Jane Provorse,provorsj@uww.edu
