MSOE fall commencement this Saturday
| Published: 11/15/2006 |
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More than 70 students will receive their bachelor's and master's degrees at MSOE's Fall Commencement, slated for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at MSOE's Kern Center (Broadway and Knapp Street).
The program will feature keynote speaker and honorary degree recipient R. Douglas Ziegler, former president and CEO of The Ziegler Companies in Milwaukee, who will receive an Honorary Doctor of Business and Economics degree.
The student class respondent will be Nathan Schaefer of Hartford, Wis., who is graduating with high honors with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
Veronica Konieczka of Chicago will receive the Alumni Association Award for Student Achievement. She is graduating with a bachelor's degree in architectural engineering.
William Lund, a teacher at Wauwatosa West High School, will be presented MSOE's VIP Excellence in teaching award, which recognizes those who positively influence an MSOE graduate. He was nominated by his former student Matthew Schueller of Wauwatosa, Wis. Schueller will walk across the stage to receive his B.S. in management information systems on Saturday.
R. Douglas Ziegler
R. Douglas Ziegler, former president and CEO of The Ziegler Companies in Milwaukee, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Business and Economics degree. The company is a major investment banking, asset management, and financial services firm.
After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Ziegler earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University School of Business. He began his career working on the shop floor at West Bend Aluminum and rose through the executive ranks, serving as director, corporate vice president and president of the company's consumer products group.
Following the tragic death of Ziegler Company's president and CEO in 1972, Ziegler, and his brother, Bernard, stepped in to take the helm of the company. He served as president and CEO of the parent holding company comprising six subsidiaries, including the nation's largest private institutional bonding company.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the company became widely known for tax-exempt financing of healthcare facilities and led the investment banking industry in the recognition of emerging demographic trends. Through its capital markets' activities the firm developed institutional distribution of healthcare and senior living securities with many of the nation's leading mutual fund complexes and other institutions.
In 1986, Ziegler became chairman and CEO of subsidiary B.C. Ziegler, and in 1991 established Ziegler Asset Management. Even after retiring as chairman of the board, Ziegler remained a navigating force in the company, holding executive positions.
Ziegler also served on the boards of a number of corporations including Johnson Controls, Globe Union, Firstar, Wisconsin Electric Power, Dart Industries, Western Publishing and Mattel. He served on the boards of charitable organizations as the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin and the Nature Conservancy.
Ziegler is a supporter of higher education, arts, culture, environment, health and human service programs. He and his wife, Sharon, live on Big Cedar Lake near West Bend, Wis.
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MSOE is an independent university with about 2,400 students. MSOE offers 17 bachelor's degrees and seven master's degrees in the engineering, engineering technology, architectural engineering and building construction, computer, business and health-related fields.