The international partner in the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s renewable energy endeavors visited the University during Commencement week.
Dr. Martin Viessmann, who leads the Viessmann Group of Allendorf, Germany, provided an eye-opening overview of his internationally renowned, award-winning, family-owned company’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability and also accepted an honorary doctorate during the 2012 spring Commencement ceremony May 12.
The company and its leader have worked diligently with educational partners such as UW Oshkosh, sharing expertise and state-of-the-art technology to develop environmentally sound biogas energy facilities on campus and in the Oshkosh area. The Viessmann Group and that company’s Wisconsin subsidiary, BIOFerm Energy Systems of Madison, have been essential partners with UW Oshkosh’s College of Letters and Science and UW Oshkosh Foundation in the establishment of Biodigester facilities on and off campus.
Here’s a “This Week in Focus” video slideshow documenting Dr. Viessmann’s visit to campus and off-campus Biodigester partner sites in the Oshkosh area and his receipt of the honorary doctorate on May 12:
About the UW Oshkosh honorary doctorate
Each semester, faculty, staff, students and private citizens are invited to nominate candidates for a UW System honorary degree, bestowed on faculty, staff, students and private citizens of exceptional accomplishment and distinction who have made significant contributions to the university, region, state or nation.
UW Oshkosh’s honorary doctorate recipients are the personification of excellence and accomplishment. The Mercury 13 women, secretively trained as astronauts in the space program’s infancy, received honorary doctorates in 2007 for their pioneering spirit and efforts in the advancement of women’s rights. In 2010, Muriel Howard, president of the American Association of State Colleges and University, received the degree for her work on diversity and inclusivity in higher education. A year ago, UW Oshkosh alumnus James VandeHei ’95, was honored for his innovative work as cofounder and executive director of POLITICO, a thriving nonpartisan media company covering national politics.
Read more: