UWM School of Education Honors Outstanding Alumni

MILWAUKEE - The educator who pioneered the middle school concept in Wisconsin and a longtime music composer/teacher are among the outstanding alumni to be honored by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Education Saturday, Oct. 26. The sixth annual Alumni Awards Recognition Dinner is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Golda Meir Library Conference Center, 2311 E. Hartford Ave.

Samuel Barosko, Jr. and Gregoria Karides Suchy are being honored as Distinguished Alumni. Receiving alumni achievement awards are Ramon Candelaria, Paulette Copeland, Olive Ruth Danecki, Phyllis King, Paul Melrood, Mari Jo Pesch and Bobbie Suggs.

Barosko, professor of education and educational administration at Edgewood College in Madison, has been active in the field for 51 years. Barosko received his B.S. in Education from Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee, a UWM predecessor institution, in 1952, and later earned his master's degree and Ph.D. from UW-Madison. He pioneered the middle school concept when he was principal at Sennett School in Madison. He is a longtime advocate of an extensive, interdisciplinary school curriculum in multicultural education.

Suchy, who earned her bachelor's degree from Milwaukee State Teachers College (MSTC), a UWM predecessor institution in 1945, spent more than 53 years teaching in UWM's Music Department and continues her association with UWM as a composer. Sje has her master's degree in music from Northwestern University. Last year, she composed a piece for the UWM Jazz Ensemble to perform at the 25th anniversary of the Grand Viennese Ball, a fundraiser for the Peck School of the Arts. She helped shepherd UWM's electronic music program in its early years, and is well known for her "Soundscaping" course, which allowed students to develop experimental compositions for performance. Her own compositions have been recorded and performed nationally and internationally.

Candelaria, executive director of the Latino Community Center and an active member of Milwaukee's Latino community, received his B.S. in community education from UWM in 1999. Before joining the Latino center, he was assistant director of youth programs at the Milwaukee Christian Center, and youth development administrator-assistant in the Milwaukee Community Service Corps. He also works with a first-time juvenile offender program that provides mentoring and tutoring services.

Paulette Copeland, a literacy specialist in Milwaukee Public Schools, has taught for 27 years in MPS. She received her master's degree in exceptional education from UWM in 1981. She is vice president of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA), active with the Milwaukee Partnership Academy, and received the Black Excellence Award-Education from the Milwaukee Community Journal. Her work focuses on highlighting inequities in Milwaukee and bringing about positive change to improve education.

Danecki, a former mathematics teacher still active in national mathematics organizations, received her B.S. (1943) and M.S. (1949) from MSTC. She taught mathematics in MPS' Hampton School for 25 years. She also was a reading specialist in the schools, and an instructor and adjunct professor at UWM and Concordia University. The Wisconsin Mathematics Council honored her as a Distinguished Mathematics Educator.

King is an associate professor in UWM's College of Health Sciences and an ergonomics consultant to major area businesses. She received her B.S. (1983) in occupational therapy and doctorate (1995) in urban education from UWM. In addition to teaching occupational therapy, she also teaches courses in work programs, industrial rehabilitation and ergonomics, and is involved in research in those areas. She also has developed software programs for data collection and analysis for clinics and other health care facilities.

Melrood, a builder, real estate broker and founding member of the UWM Alumni Association, graduated from MSTC in 1941 with an art education degree. He was drafted into the Army Air Corps in December of that year. After the war, he turned his artistic talents to homebuilding to meet the needs of GI bill graduates and their families.

Suggs, is a retired Milwaukee Public Schools teacher, who received her master's degree in curriculum and instruction from UWM. She taught science courses for 37 years in MPS. She has been active in the community in parent-teacher-student associations as well as Cub Scouts. In 1993, she received the Outstanding High School Teacher Award from the Wisconsin Society of Engineers.

Pesch is assistant director of education at Westwood College of Technology in Chicago and president of the Adult and Continuing Education Alumni Association at UWM. She earned her master's degree in administrative leadership from UWM in 1996, and has taught marketing, advertising and human resources management courses at the college level. She also has led team-building programs, including the well known Ropes and Challenge Course for business, industry and education groups. She currently is working on her doctorate.

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