In memory of Joanne Lazirko, Lecturer in the Lubar College of Business (formerly the Lubar School of Business), an annual award has been established to celebrate her passion for teaching and successful use of learning technologies in her classes.
The Lazirko Award, bestowed by the Provost’s Office in consultation with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), recognizes innovation in the effective integration of learning technologies to promote student engagement and collaboration, active learning, and critical thinking. Technology-enhanced teaching recognized by the Lazirko Award is particularly meant to identify models and practices of pedagogy that may be productively used by other instructors. All full-time faculty and academic staff with no less than three years of service at UWM who routinely use learning technologies in their teaching to accomplish these ends are eligible for consideration.
On November 12, 2009, Joanne Lazirko, 52, of the Village of Merton in Wisconsin, passed away after a courageous 15 month battle with breast cancer. She is survived by her loving husband of 30 years, Mark Yamilkoski, and her sons Thomas and Daniel Yamilkoski of the Village of Merton. She will also be missed by 4 siblings: Marianne, John (Kumiko), Barbara (Hugh Watters), and William (Susan) as well as 5 nieces, nephews and many wonderful friends.
Joanne dedicated her life to education, both as a student and a teacher. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and her Master of Science in Management from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She worked at UWM for 20 years and taught Management Information Systems there for the last 16 years. She began her doctoral studies in Management Information Systems while at UWM but switched to teaching when her children were born so that she could devote time to her family. Joanne was respected and admired by her colleagues and students. She always believed that education was the key to both personal development and solving of the many problems that society faces. She was a true educator because she believed that the acquisition of knowledge had no meaning unless it was effectively used and conveyed to others. She studied how students learn and incorporated new techniques and technology into her large lecture halls to make her presentation more interactive.
Joanne was dedicated to her children and active in their school, University Lake School. She volunteered at the school’s Barn Sale and was a Class Representative. She enjoyed participating in Parent Association meetings.