Faculty Awards Wall

At the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, faculty responsibilities have traditionally included the areas of teaching, advising, scholarship and service. In recognition of this fact, the College of Arts and Sciences has presented faculty awards for Excellence in Teaching since 1985, Excellence in Advising since 2002, and Excellence in Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities and Excellence in Service (University, Professional, Community) since 2004. Although several of the awards are new, faculty in Arts and Sciences have contributed significantly in these areas since the inception of the college. The awards are intended to recognize sustained achievement, rather than accomplishments in a single year. Faculty are only eligible to receive an award in a specific category once in a ten-year period. A splendid visual reminder of these faculty accomplishments is found on the College of Arts and Sciences Awards Wall that was dedicated on April 27, 2004. The display is located in the main lobby of the Kleinpell Fine Arts building, across from the CAS Dean's Office (136 KFA).

The wall display was a collaborative project of the college, the UWRF Publications Office and Trick Communications located in Hudson. From information provided by the college dean and a design developed by Kevin Bertelsen of the Publications Office, Trick Communications manufactured and installed the 15-foot by 5-foot display using a variety of durable materials. The six formica panels (including the top banner) are adorned with adhesive-backed vinyl lettering, vinyl images produced on a large format printer, and laser-cut acrylic name plates. Campus photographer Jens Gunelson provided the photographs that are displayed on the wall.

Four members of the Whitmire family - Rick, Trudy, Chris and Liza - and three other members of the Trick Communications staff - Erick Vega, Craig Weiler, and Susannah Vickerman - were involved in the production of the display. Erick and Craig also happen to be UW-River Falls students. Erick is a sophomore transfer to UWRF from Stout and is taking a variety of design courses. Craig is a senior marketing communications major.

Trick Communications has been in business for 30 years in Hudson. It specializes in collateral and marketing pieces, primarily printed materials, for banks, colleges and a wide variety of businesses. Approximately 10 years ago it added signage to its product line, utilizing nearly any kind of material available in the natural world or fabricated by humans. The business provides full service design, manufacturing and installation. Trick Communications work is on display in New York's Times Square, Disney World in Florida, on billboards in South America and throughout the U.S., even on a 65-foot Miller Brewing "bottle" in San Francisco.

At the dedication, CAS Dean Gorden Hedahl stated: “Clearly there are many individuals who contribute in countless ways to the work of this college. This wall only marks the beginning of our attempts to celebrate the work of the many people who help to make this campus an outstanding place for our students, colleagues and visitors.”