Central Wisconsin News

Several University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point alumni are being recognized for their service to their communities.

The Pointer Impact Award, created by the UW-Stevens Point Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2020, honors alumni doing good works for their communities and beyond. Whether through volunteering or as part of their career, Pointers shape the world in many ways, and this honor celebrates those achievements.

The UWSP Alumni Association will also host episodes of Coffee with Alumni and Friends with each award winner. Episodes can be found at facebook.com/UWSPAlumni.

Recipients include:

Tom Beyer, ‘85

A marketing and economics graduate, Tom Beyer is now a distinguished businessman as well as one of the founders of Rock River Rescue, an organization formed in 2001 to save the Rock River in Watertown, Wisconsin. He helped found the Rock River Rescue Foundation to improve the aquatic ecosystem of the river within the city limits. Since then, the organization has removed over 10,000 carp, stocked over 1 million game and pan fish and donated handicap accessible piers to the city that were installed at Riverside Park and Fannie P. Lewis Park. They have expanded their target area and continue to clean up and restore the Heiden Pond area. Over the last few years, the group has created scholarships available to graduating high school seniors pursuing a career in resource management.

Jessie Fritsch, ‘06

Fritsch, an encaustic artist (beeswax painter) for 20 years, began her specialty art journey at UWSP. In 2004, she received a research grant from UWSP to teach herself how to paint with molten pigmented beeswax. Following graduation, she began exhibiting at art festivals. Fritsch currently works as an artist, art fair exhibitor and encaustic workshop instructor. In 2022, she opened Buzz in Art Studios, a teaching art studio in Arnott, Wisconsin. She also created the “Trailblazers” mural in downtown Stevens Point that celebrates Ruth Bader Ginsburg and women’s rights. Fritsch is the Council Chair for the Stevens Point Area Festival of Arts and serves on the steering committee for Hidden Studios Art Tour in central Wisconsin.

Lyle Updike, ‘75

A graduate in wildlife ecology and management volunteers and facilitates training at Aldo Leopold Foundation—an organization focused on promoting conservation and land stewardship. During his time as a student he was responsible for planning UWSP’s first Earth Day in 1970 working with Gaylord Nelson—the founder of Earth Day—to make it happen. Updike was elected student body president from 1974-75 and was a candidate for assembly in 1976; it took him six years to graduate due to serving during Vietnam Conflict Updike volunteers Boy Scouts America serves elected town chair Town Sun Prairie retired position Dane County Lakes Watershed Commission after twenty years service

Aaron Hunnel ‘13

Founder director Comprehensive Health Wellness Program Wisconsin National Guard Aaron Hunnel believes people greatest gift life certified wellness practitioner intrinsic coach work combining personal organizational change influenced thousands people all over world empowers them live authentic fulfilled lives built behavior change leadership courses integrated nationally across Department Defense creating over twenty jobs four states passion wellness began struggling physical mental health multiple deployments unlocked passion endurance racing pandemic started project Ride Stop Suicide putting bikes hands veterans across nation campaign rode three thousand miles twenty-two days California Maryland raise money awareness reduce veteran suicide retiring after twenty years service National Guard transition back speaking coaching consulting various organizations

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