Beth A. Partleton '79
Lives filled with experiences on the Great Lakes’ waters were the inspiration for Beth Partleton’s gift in memory of her late husband, Vernon C. Vice. “Vern and I began our married life on a boat – motoring up to Mackinaw Island to get married in the summer of 1992. Vern’s experience on the water started earlier as he was an avid boater most of his life.”
Beth and Vern noticed the problems with the Great Lakes, as well, such as invasive species and the great damage caused to the ecosystem. They hoped there could be a way to improve the lakes and protect them for future generations.
When Beth learned more about the School of Freshwater Sciences, she thought the School could benefit from a gift. “Vern and I shared the belief that investing in education can pay great dividends; investing in students at the School of Freshwater Sciences makes sense. They’ll get the education they need to help solve some of the problems with our lake waters.”
Impact
Beth Partleton received her BS in Interior Design from UW-Madison in 1972 and her MA in Architecture from UW-Milwaukee in 1979. She recalls her time at UWM to be a pivotal time in her life. “I started out wanting to be an interior designer. I had never considered architecture but my experience working in an architecture firm doing interior design made me realize I had an interest in doing more. That’s when I enrolled in UWM.” Beth thinks the small school and sense of community she experienced at UWM played a strong role in her development. “I got to know my classmates well and many of us are still close today.” One of the reasons Beth created the scholarship is to help others have the experience she had. “I hope that all students receiving the scholarship – especially women – feel empowered and supported.”