Tuesday, May 10, 2005

TO: Reporters, Assignment Editors

FROM: University Communications, (608) 262-0930

RE: Interesting Spring 2005 Graduates

UW–Madison Commencement ceremonies will be held Friday through Sunday, May 13-15, at the Kohl Center. Reporters looking for fresh angles on the event may consider one of the many compelling stories from the Class of 2005. Here are some possibilities:

Entrepreneur Merges Biology’s Old and New

Though he thrived for ten years as one of the top egg producers in the state, Scott Schneider heard the call of the future and reinvented himself as a biotechnology hot shot.

Now a chief operating officer at OvaTech Technologies, a Madison-based biotech startup, Schneider is slated to receive on May 14 a Master of Science in Biotechnology degree from UW–Madison.

Schneider’s journey is one reflection of Wisconsin’s ongoing metamorphosis from a traditional farming state into a modern high-tech hub. His transformation began with a call from UW–Madison poultry immunologist Mark Cook, who wanted Schneider to write a letter supporting Cook’s desire to commercialize his new invention. Cook had developed an immune system-boosting protein that farm animals could ingest instead of animal feed antibiotics that gradually induce antibiotic resistance.

Sensing an opportunity, Schneider sold his farm-and all 1.2 million hens-and dove into OvaTech alongside Cook. The long nights in Cook’s living room and office paid off this year when the start-up won $1.5 million in angel funding. Schneider says OvaTech aims to begin marketing its product later this year.

The UW–Madison experience was critical for securing credentials and providing an interdisciplinary glimpse of the biotechnology universe, Schneider says. “[UW-Madison] was a well-rounded experience because the program merged business, science and law into one degree. It’s an outstanding program.”

But even as Schneider forges ahead in his new cutting-edge career, he hasn’t completely moved beyond his past. He recently founded NatureLink Farms, an organic free-range, cage-free egg company. “I’m an entrepreneur at heart so I [decided to start NatureLink] to ensure a steady flow of income when the biotech industry goes through lean periods,” says Schneider. “But now I’m dealing with 70,000 birds running loose on my farm!”

Schneider can be reached at (920) 648-3530, sdschneider@wisc.edu

Student Builds Fascination with China into Unique Art

Inspired by a course on the history of Chinese art, spring 2005 graduate Matthew Harris developed a proposal to independently investigate the practices of potters in contemporary China. He developed this proposal into a successful application, as a sophomore, for a Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship, and spent the 2002-2003 academic year studying and traveling in China.

Harris, a Madison Memorial High School graduate, brought back detailed knowledge about modern ceramic production and the contemporary art scene. According to his faculty advisor, art history Professor Julia Murray, not only did Harris venture into unfamiliar terrain, he learned hands-on from a range of practitioners.

After his return from China and further course work in the art department, Harris attained another major award, a highly competitive Senior Honors Research Fellowship. Its support enabled him to study ancient Chinese glaze technology and incorporate his findings into his own practice as a ceramic artist.

In November 2004, Harris displayed the results of his intensive efforts in an Art Department gallery exhibit, a space normally made available only to graduate students. Harris created an array of ceramic figures with features suggesting certain ancient Chinese motifs, and painted them to suggest their imminent submersion under water, a reference to the Three Gorges Dam project.

“Contemplating the display, I found myself thinking that if I had not known that Matt had created it, I would have guessed it to be by one of the better emigr� artists from China,” says Murray.

Harris can be reached at (608) 287-0326, mhharris@wisc.edu

Double Major Reflects on Success Overcoming Disability

Kirsten Nichols of Middleton will accept her diploma for a double major in life sciences communication and genetics with pride – and with her lab/retriever mix Eddie at her side. As Kirsten prepares for law school at UW–Madison next fall, she reflects on the specific challenges she has faced as a student with a disability.

Kirsten uses a wheelchair, and Eddie, her assistance dog, goes almost everywhere with her. She and her family have had to find creative solutions to make it possible for her to attend class, including ad-hoc arrangements with physical and occupational therapy student volunteers who provide assistance with tasks like using the restroom, eating lunch, and putting on her coat.

“I feel much more aware of the issues facing people in my situation,” says Kirsten. “I know how to advocate for myself now.”

In addition to completing a challenging double major, she also worked as a computer troubleshooter at the DoIT Help Desk, completed a communications internship for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, was involved with the Society of American Women in Agriculture, and gave feedback on disability issues as part of a project in the School of Education.

Nichols can be reached at (608) 238, 9868, klnichols@wisc.edu.

Graduate completes law, medicine degree simultaneously

Maya Das, is graduating with a law degree and a medical degree, and hopes to pursue a career in health law and policy. She completed two years of medical school before starting law school in fall 2001. In addition to getting these two degrees, she was a member of the Natyakalalayam Dance Company, based in Chicago, which instructs students in classical Indian dance.

She can be reached at (608) 277-1402 or mayadas@wisc.edu.

Woodall: From the Pitcher’s Mound to the Business Pitch

Brad Woodall, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves, will be receiving his MBA in entrepreneurship. In one class, a professor offered students a challenge that consisted of giving students $20 and asking them to grow it as much as possible in a limited time. Woodall won the challenge by giving pitching lessons. Now living in Middleton, Woodall is interested in opening up a pitching and baseball school.

He can be reached at (608) 213-6261, or dbwoodall@wisc.edu.

Graduate Advocates for Law Students with Children

Cecelia Klingele is a non-traditional law school student who received an Association of Women in Law scholarship in 2004, which recognized her academic excellence and outstanding community service. Klingele founded the Law School Family Association. Cecelia and her husband now have five children. She was a foster parent for a number of years before Law School and did some informal respite care for former foster children during her first two years of Law School. Their adopted son is 16 and their daughters are six, four, two, and six months. The last two were born while Cecelia was a law student. Cecelia will be clerking for federal Judge Barbara Crabb for two years, beginning in fall 2005, and she hopes to continue in the field of criminal justice.

She can be reached at (608) 274-5691, or cklingele@wisc.edu.