1. 06 Brigham Hall | 608.342.1194 | Fax: 608.342.1023
1 University Plaza | Platteville WI 53818-3099 | www.uwplatt.edu
July 25, 2015
Outstanding Volunteers recognized
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Recipients of the Denny Pratt Volunteer of the Year
Award and Outstanding Volunteer Award were recognized at the University of
Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation annual Donor and Volunteer Recognition Dinner
on July 25. The recipient of the Denny Pratt Volunteer of the Year Award was
Dan Paulson, while Monte Muller, Chuck and Marcia Smet, and Tom Nelson all
received the Outstanding Volunteer award.
Paulson, a 1992 graduate from UW-Platteville with a bachelor’s degree in
business administration with emphases in management and human resource
management, is the CEO of InVision Business Development and Marketing LLC
in Madison, Wis. He served on the Alumni Association board of directors from
2008-14, serving one year as president and one year as past-president. In his
time on the board, Paulson went above and beyond the typical board member
responsibilities. He not only helped secure the Madison Club as a member and
suggested the Alumni Association host the first event there, but he also set up
sponsorship levels and agreed to be a sponsor for the first and second year of
An Evening in Monte Carlo. Last year, instead of sponsoring the event, Paulson
donated an auction item that included hosting a scotch tasting at the Madison
Club, which he donated again this year. He and his wife also attend the event
every year.
“I believe it is important to give back to the communities we serve,” said Paulson.
“While it was exciting to hear about my nomination, I also feel it is our
responsibility to give back to organizations within our community. UW-Platteville
provided me with many great experiences as well as a great education. It’s just
the right thing to do.”

2. In addition to Paulson’s support of An Evening in Monte Carlo, he has also led
the Alumni Association board of directors with brainstorming sessions and goal
settings. He has spent many hours in executive board meetings and with Kim
Schmelz, Director of Alumni Services, to discuss the direction of the board. He
has spoken at commencement, attended the Leadership Awards to hand out
Lifetime Pioneer awards, Homecoming and other local and Madison area events.
“I truly believe the Alumni Association and our board of directors would not be in
the place that we are today had it not been for Dan’s vision and leadership,” said
Schmelz.
Muller, a 1975 graduate of UW-Platteville with a bachelor’s degree in music
education, has dedicated his time to the Swinging for Scholarships golf outing
fundraiser in support of the UW-Platteville music program. From the very
beginning, Muller’s support was crucial to the success of the fundraiser.
Muller not only dedicates his time, but he also donates as well. He helps sponsor
holes and he and his family donate many items to the silent auction, helping raise
$700 in that area alone last year. Aside from donating, he also goes out and asks
his fellow alumni to sponsor holes, securing three $200 hole sponsorships. He
also participates in the social media aspect of the fundraiser, helping play a part
in the advertising.
The Smets have been involved with the Boyd Spikerman Golf Outing, a memorial
for UW-Platteville alumnus and Sigma Tau Gamma brother Boyd Spikerman,
since its beginning in 1984. Marcia is currently an administrative assistant in
Admission and Enrollment Services at UW-Platteville while Chuck, a 1978
industrial education graduate of UW-Platteville, is a technology education teacher
at Platteville High School.

3. “Chuck and Marcia’s dedication to the Spikerman golf outing has kept the event
going, now in its 31st year,” said Holly Clendenen, director of Advancement at
UW-Platteville. “This outing brings together alumni friends of Boyd Spikerman
and provides generous scholarships to current criminal justice students. We are
grateful for the time they give organizing and planning the event every year.”
Nelson, a retired faculty member from the UW-Platteville Civil and Environmental
Engineering Department and 1959 graduate of UW-Platteville, volunteered his
time for the American Society of Civil Engineers Benchmark Open, a golf outing
which happens to be the ASCE’s largest fundraiser. The event was intiated by
Nelson, and he played a vital role in being the liaison between ASCE and the
Platteville Golf and Country Club. “The event would not have been possible
without the many years in which he was involved,” said Dr. Philip Parker, faculty
advisor to the ASCE and professor of civil and environmental engineering at UW-
Platteville.
Written by: Carly Willman, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications,
608-342-1194, willmanc@uwplatt.edu