UW-Whitewater Commencement: Extraordinary Graduates
Released: May 12, 2004
Among the more than 1,300 graduates receiving degrees Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, there are extraordinary stories of students who overcome adversity to achieve success.
Here are two such stories from the Spring 2004 graduating class. Both will be recognized by Chancellor Jack Miller during Commencement proceedings. Photos are available upon request.
BARBER A 'CORNERSTONE' OF WHEELCHAIR ATHLETICS
Eric Barber will graduate in May with an MBA in Human Resource Management and Technology Training and is playing basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks National Wheelchair Basketball Association Division I team. For the last year, Barber has worked in UW-Whitewater’s Human Resources and Diversity as a student intern and is described as a “pretty amazing, smart, reliable guy” by the staff.
At the age of three, the Chicago native underwent surgery to correct scoliosis, curvature of the spine, and as a result of the surgery was paralyzed from the waist down. Barber enrolled as a freshman at UW-Whitewater in the fall 1989 and graduated in 1995 from the College of Arts and Communication with a Bachelor of Arts in communication and a journalism minor.
While an undergrad he joined the Wheelchair Athletics program playing on the Warhawk Wheelchair basketball team. “Eric has been a cornerstone of the Warhawk Wheelchair Athletics and is a large reason for the success we’ve enjoyed during the last decade,” said Tracy Chynoweth, coordinator for Wheelchair Athletics and Recreation.
After receiving his undergraduate degree and before starting a Masters degree in 2001, Barber worked for WCLO radio in Janesville and tried out and made the U.S.A. Wheelchair Basketball team.
Barber represented the U.S.A. team in Sydney, Australia at both the World Championship in 1998 and the Paralympics in 2000 and at the World Championship in Japan in 2002 winning gold, bronze, gold metals respectively at the three events. Barber also received “all world” honors as one of the six top players in the world during the 2002 World Championship in Japan.
CONTACT: Tracy Chynoweth, (262) 472-1145, chynowet@uww.edu
KAUKAUNA NATIVE'S ACCIDENT BRINGS AN ACADEMIC FOCUS
Heather Vander Heiden, a graduating senior with an Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health major and a construction emphasis, had a life-altering experience that led her to UW-Whitewater and the College of Education.
In 1998, Heather was working in a paper mill near her hometown of Kaukauna, Wis. She was happy and satisfied working in a mill and had no intentions of going to college when an industrial accident changed her focus on life.
Both of Heather’s arms were extensively injured and left with permanent functional limitations when, while working at the paper mill, a stack of paper backed up into the machine and brought Heather’s arms along with it.
Because she could no longer do her job at the mill, she decided to return school. Heather has become a success story, graduating summa cum laude and pursuing a career in construction safety in the hopes of preventing others from receiving injuries similar to hers.
“She is an excellent student and is graduating with a 3.95 G.P.A.,” said Alvaro Taveira, associate professor and chair of the Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health department. “Heather is a very conscientious student who decided to study safety and health after her accident. When safety is overlooked, how treacherous it can be for your life.”
CONTACT: Alvaro Taveira, (262) 472-5427, taveiraa@uww.edu
- Cindy Vergenz,vergenzc@uww.edu
