Campus Connection

[caption id="attachment_15181" align="alignnone" width="757" caption="UWL100 course students and other freshmen got a taste of Oktoberfest last Tuesday during an event that helped them find out that "Oktoberfest: It's More Than Just Beer.""][/caption]   More than 75 students of a UWL100 course and other freshmen spent the evening of Sept. 18 learning the traditions and the volunteer work behind Oktoberfest. Students played bean bag toss, hammerschlagen and sang traditional La Crosse Oktoberfest songs during "Oktoberfest: It's More Than Just Beer." They were also treated to German fare of brats, kraut and potato salad. The event was sponsored by: Gemütlichkeit Foundation, Pepsi and UW-L University Communications. Members of the 2011 royal family, past festmasters, grenadiers and “Crazy George,” the accordion player, shared stories of their involvement with Oktoberfest. "The get-together gave students an opportunity to discover the rich tradition of Oktoberfest and that there are many family and teen-oriented activities throughout the fest ," says 2011 Mrs. Oktoberfest Florence Aliesch, University Communications.  The title honors a La Crosse-area woman who has impacted the community in her profession and as a volunteer. Find out more about Aliesch and her more than 30 years of volunteerism at http://news.uwlax.edu/the-new-mrs-o-florence-aliesch/. Aliesch gives up her title Wednesday, Sept. 26, when the new Mrs. Oktoberfest is announced in Valhalla, Cartwright Center. Jerry Kember, a lecturer in the Communication Studies Department, served as the 2011 Festmaster. The new Festmaster will be announced Friday during a ball at the La Crosse Center. For more on La Crosse Oktoberfest visit www.oktoberfestusa.com/

Past Oktoberfest royalty with UW-L ties

Here’s a list of past UW-L faculty and staff who have been honored by and held leadership in Oktoberfest. 1966 — Jim Conway, Mass Communications Department, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 1971 — Bob Mullally, Student Activities, President 1981 — John Alexander, Music Department, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 1981 — Bob Mullally, Student Activities, Festmaster 1988 — Noel Richards, Chancellor, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 1991 — Bob Wilhelm, Physical Plant, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 1993 — Bill Otto, Recreation Management Department, Festmaster 1993 — Donna Mae Phillips, Chancellor’s Office, Grenadier General 2000 — Rollo Taylor, Exercise and Sport Science Department, Festmaster 2001 — Brad Quarberg, University Communications, President 2001— Roger Harring, Exercise and Sport Science, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 2002 — Florence Aliesch, University Communications, President 2010 — Karla Stanek, Career Services, Mrs. Oktoberfest 2011 — Florence Aliesch, University Communications, Mrs. Oktoberfest 2011 — Jerry Kember, Communication Studies, Festmaster

UW-L student Tianna Vanderhei is the 2012 Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest!

[caption id="attachment_15168" align="alignleft" width="134" caption="UW-L student Tianna Vanderhei is the 2012 Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest. Photo courtesy of Design Photography."][/caption]   UW-L sophomore Tianna Vanderhei was named Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Saturday, Sept. 15. The  2011 Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School graduate is majoring in athletic training with a nutrition minor. Vanderhei's talent of lyrical ballet dance, platform issue, "Be the Best You, Stay Physically Active," along with spot-on interview responses won her the title over 10 other contestants.