Stories from UW Faculty and Staff

Commemorative Scholarship Supports CDIS Badgers

In fall 2024, the family of beloved Badger Arun Pancholia ’23 made a generous contribution to establish a fund in honor of Arun’s life and his belief in the transformational power of education. The Arun Pancholia Scholarship supports dedicated undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who are studying at the UW School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences.

Introducing the Wisconsin Exchange

At a time when national surveys show that 77 percent of Americans have few or no friends with differing political beliefs, UW–Madison is taking bold steps to foster connections across divides.

A Promise Worth Keeping

Since its launch in 2018, Bucky’s Tuition Promise has provided free tuition for Wisconsin students from families earning $65,000 or less, making a college education more accessible. Mackenzie Straub ’21 benefited from the program after her father’s untimely death when she was 13, leaving her family with significant financial uncertainty. This initiative has supported more... Read more »

Advancing Excellence for Nurses

Barbara Bowers dedicated 37 years to the UW School of Nursing, where she advanced research on aging and caregiving and went on to establish the Center for Aging Research and Education (CARE). Now retired, Bowers continues to mentor students and lead national efforts to improve long-term care. The Bowers Fellow giving level was established in... Read more »

The Power of Planned Giving

Gary Kramer ’67, MS’69, and his wife, Ellie, embody the spirit of lifelong generosity. From humble beginnings in Eastman, Wisconsin, Gary journeyed to UW–Madison largely because of the encouragement of his high school guidance counselor and the support of scholarships that made his college education possible. Though his academic path shifted — from chemistry to... Read more »

Expanding Borders of the Badger Experience

Imagine UW–Madison engineering students collaborating on a solar-powered race car, a mathematics faculty member pioneering an experimental lab to improve undergraduate research, or a human ecology program offering public speaking opportunities beyond the classroom to advance career skills. Discretionary funds make these feats possible, and at the UW, these donations are opening doors to life-changing... Read more »

Entrepreneurship at the UW

UW–Madison is launching the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub, a bold new initiative to strengthen entrepreneurial pathways across campus.

Flight Simulator Helps Launch Badger Engineers

A new state-of-the-art flight simulator at the UW College of Engineering is enhancing the aerospace option within the engineering mechanics major.

From Shop Floor to Meat Lab: Two Funds, One Vision

Micah Robinson ’23, MSx’25 walked into the Biological Systems Engineering Shop with one goal: to make “cool stuff.”

Practical Problem Solving for Busy Badgers

Experiential learning at UW–Madison is transforming education by combining classroom theory with real-world preparation.

A Legacy for the Love of Large Animals

For more than two decades, Morrison “Morrie” Waud Jr. was a cherished friend and enduring champion of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM).

A Legacy of Gratitude and Great Generosity

Early in life, John Marra ’69, MS’72 excelled in mathematics and the physical sciences, which led him to attend UW–Madison, where he studied electrical engineering.

Donor Support Drives Breakthroughs in Blindness

One of the nation’s 10 most prominent research institutions, UW–Madison is unique for its collaborations, which help researchers become innovators and bring life-changing advancements to patients. Thanks to a significant boost from federal funding and the generosity of dedicated donors, researchers at the UW are on the cusp of revolutionizing treatments for two rare, currently incurable eye diseases: Best disease (BD) and Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA).

Renowned Research to End Alzheimer’s Disease

The aging demographic of the United States presents an urgent and growing challenge. As more than 56 million Americans surpassed age 65 in 2020 — with an expected increase to 85 million by 2050 — the burden of aging-associated diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD), intensified. AD affects more than seven million Americans, ranking as the sixth leading cause of death and the only cause that is not decreasing.

Maintaining Federally Funded Research at the UW

UW–Madison is a renowned research powerhouse that drives significant, life-changing innovations throughout many areas. Researchers in Wisconsin are solving some of the world’s most prevalent issues and promoting economic growth across the state and throughout the country. Federal investments through agencies such as the National Institutes of Health provide 25 percent of the UW’s overall budget — funds that are essential for the future of this vital research. However, recent federal proposals are jeopardizing that work, and the university needs your help.