The Milwaukee Post

October 27, 2017 • Milwaukee County Post • 11 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6 th FRANKLIN • ROOT RIVER CENTER • 5:00PM We're Proud To Show You America TM FALL TRAVEL SHOW! 257302030 Refreshments will be served. Great travel discounts offered day of show! Reservations Required! Call: (800) 236-8687 ENJOY A DVD PRESENTATION OF UPCOMING 2018 MOTOR COACH TOUR VACATIONS By KATHERINE MICHALETS Conley News Service MILWAUKEE — A $34 million donation will allow Milwaukee School of Engineering to construct an academic facil- ity that will be used for artificial intelli- gence, cybersecurity, robotics, cloud com- puting and other next-generation technolo- gies education. To be located in the center of the cam- pus, the $34 million Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall has been funded by a donation from MSOE Regent and alumnus Dwight Diercks and his wife, Dian. In the announcement Monday, MSOE touted the facility addition as a way to transform the school that will "deepen and enhance the current disciplines of study at the university: engineering, business and nursing." "I am pleased to announce this invest- ment in our future. Thanks to the generosi- ty of Dwight and Dian Diercks, MSOE is building on our foundation of excellence and answering the call to educate the next generation of professionals needed to fill the global demand for technology experts, leaders and entrepreneurs," said John Walz, president of MSOE, in a statement. "This new building is the first step in transforming the heart of campus to ensure current and future students, faculty and staff, and industry leaders and employers are at the forefront of evolving technology. Put simply, MSOE is positioned to be a national leader in artificial intelligence education." Diercks earned his bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering at MSOE in 1990 and he holds an honorary doctor of engineering degree from the university. The Diercks' donation is the largest single gift given by an alumnus in the university's 114- year history. Today, Diercks is senior vice president at NVIDIA, a California-based technology company and global leader in AI, super- computing and visual computing. "MSOE changed the course of my life and my career, and has a special place in my heart," Diercks said in a statement. "Just as the modern computer transformed technol- ogy 30 years ago, AI will transform technol- ogy as we know it for the next generation and across all industries. I wanted to give MSOE a gift that would position this incred- ible university as a major application- focused computer science and artificial intelligence center for the Midwest and U.S. for years to come." The Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall is a proposed 64,000-square-foot facility that will be con- structed in the center of campus, near the intersection of Milwaukee and State streets. Planned for the interior of the building are modern classrooms, innova- tive laboratories, an auditorium, and spaces to support companies who partner with MSOE. A major feature of the facility will be a state-of-the-art data center, which will be home to a graphics processing unit-acceler- ated supercomputer. The project is set for groundbreaking in early to mid-2018. Uihlein-Wilson Architects will serve as project developers. MSOE to add $34m technologies facility Major changes needed for South Shore Frolics to resume, if ever Largest donation in school history Submitted rendering To be located in the center of the Milwaukee School of Engineering campus, the $34 million Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall will focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, cloud computing and other next-generation technologies education. By DAN MUCKELBAUER Post Editor MILWAUKEE — The South Shore Frolics could return in 2019, but either major changes in expenses or a generous benefactor would have to happen, accord- ing to a spokesman for the sponsoring group, the Bay View Lions Club. A Bay View summer highlight for 68 years, the Lions Club announced the sus- pension of the 2018 Frolics after failing to produce a profit in three of the past four years, cutting into its ability to provide funds for its charitable causes. "A number of our fixed costs continue to increase leaving us with no options except to suspend the Frolics for 2018," Bay View Lions Club President Lyn Graziano said in a news release. "Our basic costs from the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and Milwaukee County Parks as well as outside vendors have risen to the point where it is extreme- ly difficult to produce a profit — any prof- it." Dave Reszel, in charge of media rela- tions for the Frolics, said expenses, such as 50 percent of the fireworks fee and per- mits, have to be met soon, so the event can't be held in 2018, but he didn't give up hope for a return in 2019. "There is alway that possibility," Reszel told the Post, "if there is a godfather or a foundation that comes forward that says the Frolics is important to Milwaukee. "Maybe we could see some reduction in costs in fees from the city and county; I doubt that," he added. Graziano said, "While we won't close the door entirely for 2019 and beyond, we would need the public, local government officials and business leaders to work together WITH us to help bring the event back." Alderman Tony Zielinski, whose dis- trict includes South Shore Park, said a reduction in fees isn't likely for the event held the second full weekend in July. "If we do it for the Lions, we would have to do it for all of the festivals," Zielinski said Wednesday shortly after the news broke. "We're looking into all avenues and a foundation would be one of them," Zielinski said. Submitted photo A scene from the 2017 South Shore Frolics at South Shore Park in Milwaukee. See SOUTH SHORE FROLICS on Page 16 Expenses, attendance cited as Lions suspend popular Bay View event

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