CAMPUS MEMORY GARDEN
In honor of Mary Beth Mackin
The UW-Whitewater Campus Memory Garden is a place to celebrate, honor and remember our fellow Warhawks.
The garden contains a Memory Wall that memorializes both current students, staff and faculty members we have lost, as well as Warhawks who have made and are making significant contributions to our campus.
Established in 2017 in honor of former Dean of Students Mary Beth Mackin, the garden is a place of reflection and repose. It is also a place of celebration — the tassels that appear on the columns every commencement are a popular backdrop for graduation photos.
ABOUT THE GARDEN
Copper plates on the Memory Wall in the garden recognizes members of the Warhawk family — students, faculty and staff — who have left us too soon. The wall also honors achievements, extraordinary memories and milestones of our campus community and alumni.
This Adirondack chair was built by the late Rod Berg, master craftsman and longtime supporter of Warhawks Athletics, with materials generously donated by Home Lumber.
The columns in the garden and the architectural capitals atop them were recovered from the fire that destroyed portions of Old Main on February 7, 1970.
The Campus Memory Garden was designed and built around the bird feeding sculpture, a tree made out of rebar that was a student’s project for a metals class in the early 2000s. The copper leaves on the sculpture reflect donations to the bird seed fund.
Purple tassels are added to the columns every May Commencement for that perfect celebration of Warhawk pride!
Support and recognize
Ways to support and recognize people in the garden
Remembering a Warhawk
Those who wish to recognize a member of the Warhawk family in the garden should contact MemoryGarden@uww.edu to learn more.
Charitable donations can be made any time. Donations are used to replace plants, support general garden upkeep and to provide a copper plate at no charge for the family of any current student who loses their life, so that they may honor their Warhawk on the Memory Wall.
- Give online. Designate "Mary Beth Mackin Memorial Garden."
- Give by mail. Make a check out to "UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc.", indicate "Memory Garden-Mary Beth Mackin" on the check, and mail it to:
UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc.
800 W. Main Street
Whitewater, WI 53190
Supporting the birds
People and life events can also be recognized while supporting the birds in the Memory Garden and across campus. Donations will be recognized with a Memory Leaf, which is a copper leaf with up to 25 characters stamped on it that will be placed on the bird-feeding sculpture.
Using the memory garden
Out of respect for the memory of those whose passing inspired the garden, the Campus Memory Garden is intended to be a place of tranquility and veneration.
Examples of appropriate uses include: Performances, occasional classroom use, candlelight vigils, special occasions, etc. Use of the space is at the discretion of UW-Whitewater and must follow all university policies.
To reserve the garden for an appropriate use, please contact the University Center Reservations Office at 262-472-1175 or rooms@uww.edu. There is no fee.
Care of the garden
The Campus Memory Garden is cared for by volunteers, with the assistance and support of the university grounds and landscaping crew.
Members of the campus and general community are welcome to join us! The clean-up schedule is listed below. Tools are not provided — kindly bring your own — and volunteers are welcome to come for all or part of the time listed. Questions? contact us at MemoryGarden@uww.edu.
Friday 4/19, 9 a.m. to noon: Main annual tidying up from winter
Friday 5/10, 9 a.m. to noon: Weeding and tidy for commencement 5/11
Friday 5/24, 9-11 a.m.: Weeding and tidy
Friday 6/7, 9-11 a.m.: Weeding and tidy
Friday 6/21, 9-11 a.m.: Weeding and tidy
Friday 6/21, 9-11 a.m.: Weeding and tidy
Friday 8/2, 9-11 a.m.: Weeding and tidy
Friday 8/30, 9a.m. to noon: Weeding and tidy for the start of the fall semester 9/2
Friday 9/13, 9-11 a.m.: Weeding and tidy
Friday 10/4, 9-11 a.m.: Weeding and tidy for Family Fest 10/5
Friday 11/1, 9-11 a.m.: Weeding and tidy for Homecoming Parade 11/2
Friday 11/15, 9 a.m. to noon: End-of-season weeding and tidy
If you’d like to help with upkeep, or have general questions about the garden, please email MemoryGarden@uww.edu.