MADISON, WI (May 10, 2024) — During the week of May 12, 175 years of Badger connections and UW-Madison impact throughout Wisconsin will be on display in newspapers across the state.
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Newspapers Association (WNA) are collaborating to honor the legacy and celebrate the many ways the state’s flagship public university contributes to the quality of life throughout Wisconsin. The magazine, “Celebrate around the State,” will be included in issues mailed to Wisconsin newspaper subscribers and available in issues for purchase on newsstands.
The University of Wisconsin was incorporated on July 26, 1848, about two months after Wisconsin became a state. UW-Madison, WFAA and other partners have been commemorating the 175-year milestone since July of 2023 with storytelling, special events and even dairy products.
“This major milestone is more than a celebration of our state’s flagship university. It is a recognition of all the ways we have, for 175 years, worked with partners throughout the State of Wisconsin to improve the lives of the citizens of this state,” said Jennifer L. Mnookin, chancellor of UW-Madison. “We’re delighted to showcase a small sample of this impact in this commemorative magazine that we’ll share throughout Wisconsin.”
The magazine, which was produced by WFAA and is being paid for with private funds, highlights milestones, statewide partnerships, companies, students and alumni who represent both the history and the future of the UW and the state of Wisconsin. Because local newspapers also have long histories and deep roots within communities across the state, they are a fitting vehicle for this commemorative item.
“The newspapers of Wisconsin write the history of the communities that they serve as the primary provider of state and local news,” said Beth Bennett, executive director of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. “It seems only appropriate that these same newspapers deliver the historied story of the role that UW-Madison, the state’s flagship university, and its many partners have played in contributing to and shaping the lives of the citizens of Wisconsin.”
Stories within the commemorative magazine include:
- Profiles of talented students who can attend UW-Madison through Bucky’s Pell Pathway, which guarantees financial support to cover tuition, books and fees for hundreds of students.
- A spotlight on the number one ranked School of Education and students who are pledging to become Wisconsin teachers.
- Key medical research and resources for those struggling with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Badger business innovations and entrepreneurs contributing to Wisconsin’s economic vitality.
- A Badger football season preview and student-athletes who call Wisconsin home.
- An update on the Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine, which is training doctors to work in Wisconsin’s high-need rural hospitals and clinics.
“These stories illustrate the reach and positive impact of UW-Madison and reinforce that all citizens of Wisconsin play a role in its success, along with 191,000 alumni who live in the state,” said Sarah Schutt, executive director of the Wisconsin Alumni Association. “Everyone in Wisconsin should feel proud of what UW-Madison has accomplished and excited for the possibilities ahead.”
The 175th-anniversary celebration will conclude this summer with events including:
- The UW Now Livestream 175th Special Edition: Leading the Way on Alzheimer’s Research:
- May 21 / 7pm
- Link – https://uwalumni.com/events/175-alzheimers-research/
- UW-Madison State Tour events in the Fox Valley, Janesville, Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire, La Crosse and Waukesha.
ABOUT THE WISCONSIN FOUNDATION AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It brings together alumni and friends of the university to raise, invest, and distribute funds, and it connects a growing number of Badgers to help facilitate their support for each other and the university. For more information, please visit supportuw.org or uwalumni.com.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Tod Pritchard, tod.pritchard@supportuw.org, 608-609-5217, @WisAlumni
