Cities, villages, and towns across Wisconsin send UW–Madison their very best, and these people return to their communities to do great things. These stories of ingenuity, innovation, industry, and inspiration illustrate the powerful partnership between the university and the state’s 72 counties. See the map and stats >
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It was often a hair-raising commute to UW–Madison on snow-clogged roads, a treacherous drive that once nearly claimed her Chevy Camaro, but Tanya Kotlowski wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. “I didn’t know what…
Learn MoreAdams County A Life’s Mission Discovered
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Thank you, Adams County, for volunteers who work with the University of Wisconsin–Madison and use knowledge and cooperation to take on the fear and confusion that surround cancer.
Learn MoreAdams County Committed Partners in a Community’s Fight
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In far northern Wisconsin, a demand for more emergency medical technicians (EMTs) is providing middle school girls with a pain-free opportunity to experience an ambulance ride and see how an emergency room works. With help…
Learn MoreAshland County Rescue Divas Saving Area’s Future
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Thank you, Ashland County, for Robert Bruce McCoy. When it comes to heroes, he was the real McCoy.
Learn MoreAshland County The Real McCoy
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For 13 years, Barron County has had a tradition of supporting spinal cord research through a basketball tournament run by Chetek’s own David Busta. The effort has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for research…
Learn MoreBarron County Thirteen Years of Support for Spinal Research
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Thank you, Barron County for Wallace Jerome, whose agricultural innovations have helped to feed the world.
Learn MoreBarron County The Turkey Tycoon
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For the community of Bayfield, Wisconsin, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and its sea caves are an economic engine. Every year, the park and the breathtaking caves attract hundreds of thousands of visitors and bring…
Learn MoreBayfield County Taking on the Waves
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Thank you Bayfield county for Sigurd Olson, loyal guardian of northern lakes and waterways.
Learn MoreBayfield County View from a Canoe
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When is a veterinarian more than a veterinarian? When they show as much care for people as they do for animals. That definitely defines Dr. Patrick Warpinski. Warpinski is the owner and operator of The…
Learn MoreBrown County Top Dog
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Thank you, Brown County, for KI, a business that does more than build furniture. Through its philanthropic efforts, it is also helping to build the leaders of tomorrow.
Learn MoreBrown County Furniture Maker Builds for the Future
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Few men have helped to transform 20th-century American culture more than Arthur Altmeyer ’14, MA’20, PhD’31.
Learn MoreBrown County The Wisconsin Idea Goes to Washington
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It all started with baby mice. When Dr. Margaret Meier Jones was a child in Mondovi, Wisconsin, she and her sister stumbled upon a nest of mice. Feeling that something was wrong with one of them…
Learn MoreBuffalo County Small Animals. Big Dreams.
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Thank you, Buffalo County, for Carol Bartz, whose tough, tenacious leadership has been an important force in the technology field worldwide.
Learn MoreBuffalo County Tech Titan
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From a very early age, Dr. Jacquelynn Arbuckle was introduced to the medical field. “My brother has cystic fibrosis. And from the time he was born — I was six years old then — my…
Learn MoreBurnett County Finding Destiny as a Doctor
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Thank you, Burnett County, for Tom Plunkett — who shows us that with determination and skill, we can advance nuclear power generation to meet the nation’s expanding energy needs.
Learn MoreBurnett County UW Education Opened the Door to Emerging Nuclear Technology
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When William Engler, Jr. was named Outstanding Small Business Person of the Year by President Bill Clinton in 1993, it was for more than just Kaytee Product’s exceptional business performance. The award recognized Engler’s imagination…
Learn MoreCalumet County A Lifetime of Leadership
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Thank you to Calumet County for Edward Schildhauer, for his engineering feats that helped to unite two oceans.
Learn MoreCalumet County Love of Locks
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Stephanie Harvey has been very successful. After a career in sales, she went on to establish Independent Surgery Center, LLC, in Chippewa County, which specializes in eye surgeries. Today she is the CEO of the…
Learn MoreChippewa County Sharing a Sense of Connection
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Thank you, Chippewa County, for Alexander Wiley, a giant of the United States Senate.
Learn MoreChippewa County The Big Cheese
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Dr. Tim Meyer arrived in Neillsville as part of the National Public Health Service Corps with a three-year commitment to practice medicine in rural America. When he arrived in the 1990s, some had heard of…
Learn MoreClark County Finding a Sense of Home in Clark County
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Thank you, Clark County, for the Chief — a patriot, a judicial reformer, and a tireless advocate for open government.
Learn MoreClark County The Chief
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When students at the Portage School District have their vision screened, the nursing students who examine them are looking beyond just their eyesight. It’s a chance to assess their overall wellness and consider anything that…
Learn MoreColumbia County An App-solutely Amazing Nurse
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Thank Columbia County for Zona Gale, who showed the world the force of small-town dreams.
Learn MoreColumbia County Drama Queen
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Students in Lisa Andresen’s middle-school science class at North Crawford School got their hands dirty learning about energy and biodiversity thanks to UW-Madison–based programs. “They loved every minute,” says Andresen, who took advantage of…
Learn MoreCrawford County Energizing Students’ Interest in Learning
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Thank you, Crawford County, for Brent Wachter — and his scientific skills that have helped the nation recover from major disasters by guiding emergency personnel to do their jobs safely and effectively.
Learn MoreCrawford County Forecaster Helps Steer Disaster Recovery
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Keena Atkinson knows what it means to persevere. Before she became a UW-Madison graduate and was recruited by a major corporation, she was a homeless, single mother. What changed her life trajectory?
Learn MoreDane County Woman on an Odyssey
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Thank you, Dane County, for Sean Cleary, who not only builds pre-engineered structures but also builds up employees for future success in the community he still calls home.
Learn MoreDane County Building Relationships through Building Business
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Thank you, Dane County, for Epic and its leadership in medical records software and recognition of the importance of higher education as the company continues to grow and enrich Wisconsin’s economy.
Learn MoreDane County UW–Madison Tied to an Epic Success Story
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Thank you, Dane County, for American Family Insurance — and its strong and successful partnerships that benefit business and UW–Madison students in powerful ways.
Learn MoreDane County American Family and UW–Madison Partner for Mutual Success
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Spending an entire career as a medical doctor serving one community is becoming increasingly rare. Clinics are less frequently owned by the doctors who staff them, doctors themselves are more mobile, and as a result…
Learn MoreDodge County Down Home Doctor
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Thank you, Dodge County, for Craig Karmazin and his outside perspective on what makes Wisconsin such a special place to live, work, and get an education.
Learn MoreDodge County Tuning in to What Makes the UW Special
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When she faced the challenge of helping scientists explain their research while she studied and worked at UW–Madison, Jane Hillstrom had a point of reference: her grandfather’s work on the farm. Her grandfather…
Learn MoreDoor County Planting the Seeds of Communication
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Thank you, Door County, for Eddie Cochems, whose innovations moved the game of football forward for players and fans alike.
Learn MoreDoor County Pay It Forward
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It felt a little strange to Rachael Holden-Kaufman to return to Superior High School as a teacher just a few years after hauling her books down the hall as a student. “I was only 24…
Learn MoreDouglas County When the Student Becomes the Teacher
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Thank you, Douglas County, for Gordon MacQuarrie who invited us to see the humor and poetry of a life in the outdoors.
Learn MoreDouglas County Odd Duck
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For more than 130 years, young men and women have been coming to UW-Madison to take the Short Course at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The Short Course is a series of lectures…
Learn MoreDunn County The Power of the Short Course
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Thank you, Dunn County, for John Russell, whose creativity and energy inspire us and the youth at Badger Boys State.
Learn MoreDunn County A Renaissance Man
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Dr. John Drawbert never intended to stay in Wisconsin. He spent much of his childhood in Florida, and after a few years in Madison during high school, he returned to the Sunshine State to attend…
Learn MoreEau Claire County An Orthopedic All-Star
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Thank you, Eau Claire County, for dedicated business owners like Chris Larson, who is using his expertise in the gravel industry to help build roads and structures — and a strong foundation for his community.
Learn MoreEau Claire County Digging into the Family Business
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Did you know that Eau Claire is home to a superstar of math education?
Learn MoreEau Claire County A Mind for Numbers, a Commitment to Serve
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Looking back at her education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Meg Dallapiazza says she loved the fact that it was a challenge. She had come from Florence County, the uppermost reaches of the North…
Learn MoreFlorence County Taking a Chance on the Future
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Thank you, Florence County, for teachers who are fostering lasting relationships and improving education in rural Wisconsin.
Learn MoreFlorence County UW–Madison’s Long-Lasting Lesson of Personal Connection
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Thank you, Fond du Lac County, for Cory Raymer, who shows that hard work and a belief in yourself can help to make dreams come true.
Learn MoreFond du Lac Becoming the Center of Attention
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Positivity. It’s a quality many of us strive to exhibit. But Denise Retzleff is one of the few to radiate it on an almost daily basis. In her role as 4-H Youth Development Educator in…
Learn MoreFond du Lac County Guiding the Youth Movement
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Did you know that software with UW roots keeps dairy herds across the world healthy?
Learn MoreFond du Lac County Herd Helper
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Gordon P. Connor’s career was shaped by the ability to move strategically. He was three years old when his father moved the family from northern Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to build a mill for…
Learn MoreForest County Seeing Possibilities in the Trees of Forest County
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Thank you, Forest County, for Peter Connor — and for his family who have built a long-lasting, thriving business that contributes to the Wisconsin Northwoods economy.
Learn MoreForest County Building Success at Northwoods Lumber Business
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Jennifer Schuhmacher loves what she does. As a licensed clinical social worker in Grant County in southwest Wisconsin, she works with a wide variety of people facing serious issues in their lives. “It’s an honor…
Learn MoreGrant County Fully Equipped
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Thanks, Grant County for heroes like Dave Schreiner, who showed the value of leadership and character over personal gain.
Learn MoreGrant County Gone Too Soon
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Did you know about Platteville’s place in the history of this prestigious prize? A mining town. An agricultural hub. These are what Platteville is known as. But the hometown of a Nobel Prize recipient? Not so much. But it is. Herbert Spencer Gasser was born on July 5, 1888, and went on to earn the… Read more »
Learn MoreGrant County From Nerve Fiber to Nobel Prize
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In the emergency rooms and clinics where Michelle Reisen-Garvey has made her career, her patients have often been her friends and neighbors. “I can’t say I knew absolutely everyone who came in,” she says, “but…
Learn MoreGreen County Caring for a Community
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Thank you to Green County for John Baumann, who has remained a fully engaged civic and business leader in his own community and the UW community.
Learn MoreGreen County Business Savvy. Civic Minded. Badger Supporter.
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With an area of 7,346 acres and a depth of 237 feet, Big Green Lake lives up to its name. It’s a special lake, famous for its cold, clear water and its trophy lake trout.
Learn MoreGreen Lake County The Badger on Big Green Lake
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Thank you, Green Lake County, for giving us Al Sass, who has harnessed his business talents and food-science knowledge to link his small Wisconsin community to world.
Learn MoreGreen Lake County The Mustard Maestro
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Nestled on a quiet street near Brewery Creek in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, the nine cabins and limestone buildings that make up the core of Shake Rag Alley look like a quirky postcard from the Wisconsin…
Learn MoreIowa County Using Smarts to Improve the Arts
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Thank you to Iowa County for Deb Ivey and her years of service as an inspirational educator to Wisconsin’s children.
Learn MoreIowa County Sharing Wisdom with Wisconsin
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Did you know about the significant role women play on today’s dairy farms?
Learn MoreIowa County A Woman in Charge Who’s a Dairy Girl at Heart
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Did you know that alfalfa production in the upper Midwest is possible because of a UW alumnus?
Learn MoreIowa County That’s Mr. Alfalfa to You
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At the very top of the state, in Hurley, Wisconsin there is an independent pharmacy on Silver Street called the White Cross Pharmacy. All the pharmacists there are Badgers. Of the three, Laura Burt is…
Learn MoreIron County A Prescription for Iron County
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Thank you, Iron County, for the relentless Joseph Sullivan, who solved some of America’s most famous crimes.
Learn MoreIron County On the Case
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At age 11, Amanda WhiteEagle’s father planted a seed. “Long before I knew what went into going to law school, I told him that I wanted to be an attorney,” she says. “He told me…
Learn MoreJackson County A Real Legal Eagle
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Thank you, Jackson County, for farmers and teachers like Chris and Becky Blaken, who help build Wisconsin’s dairy economy and make sure the state’s children get an outstanding education.
Learn MoreJackson County Cows to Classrooms: Family Traces Success to the UW
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Driving away from their dairy farm in Jefferson County on their way to visit one of their grown daughters, Daphne and Lloyd Holterman can see what got them here. “You don’t get to choose what…
Learn MoreJefferson County Choosing the Right Path
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Thank you, Jefferson County, for Edwin Witte, who transformed FDR’s hopes into a functional policy that made the lives of millions of Americans more secure.
Learn MoreJefferson County Attention to Details
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When nurse practitioner Cris Custer looks at a patient, she sees more than an ailment.
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“My education at UW-Madison taught me to look at people as a person first, then their disease,” says Custer. “My…Juneau County Small Town Nurse. Big Time Impact.
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Thank you, Juneau County, for Tommy Thompson, who stands tall among the titans of Wisconsin politics.
Learn MoreJuneau County Passionate Public Servant
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What do you get when you combine a full-time UW–Madison student with a part-time park maintenance employee? An all-time advocate for environmental sustainability. That’s Andrew Strother, who, as a freshman in 2015, earned an…
Learn MoreKenosha County Protector of the Park
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Thank you, Kenosha County, for Alan “the Horse” Ameche, whose remarkable dedication and stamina inspired fans on and off the field.
Learn MoreKenosha County Firsts on the Field
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Even though UW-Madison undergrad Jordan Ebert grew up on a dairy farm, he wouldn’t describe himself as a farm kid. “In high school, I focused on school and sports,” says Ebert. “I didn’t have farm…
Learn MoreKewaunee County A Next-Generation Dairy Farmer
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Thank you to Kewaunee County for Jean Krohn Doell and her valuable contributions — both professional and personal — in her community, and for her continuing ties to the UW.
Learn MoreKewaunee County Badger of All Trades
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Fresh out of UW Law School, Brent Smith took a job with a La Crosse law firm, never imagining he’d stay for long. Thirty-eight years later, he still calls La Crosse home as managing partner…
Learn MoreLa Crosse County Putting Down Roots. Establishing a Legacy.
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Thank you, La Crosse County, for the record-breaking George Poage for inspiring others to keep their eyes on the finish line.
Learn MoreLa Crosse County Medals for Mettle
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Did you know La Crosse’s Trane Company started as a small plumbing shop?
Learn MoreLa Crosse County Cool Ideas, Hot Commodity
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Don Osterday, juggling the demands of family life and a full-time job, took 11 years to get his master’s degree in school counseling from UW–Madison. “At the time, they told me that it was…
Learn MoreLafayette County A Lifetime Dedicated to Education and Helping Others
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Thank you to Lafayette County for Chris Roelli, who has used his cheese-making knowledge to take his business and products to new heights, dazzling connoisseurs and enhancing the reputation of the Dairy State.
Learn MoreLafayette County Top-Shelf Cheesemaker
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George Shinners is an entrepreneur with business interests as diverse as an international concrete-breaking firm, a 3,000-cow dairy farm, and a neon sign company. “I wouldn’t be doing any of this if not for…
Learn MoreLanglade County Cementing a Legacy
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Thank you, Langlade County, for Mike Matucheski, who — through creativity and passion — has produced exquisite cheeses that give the world a chance to savor true Wisconsin excellence.
Learn MoreLanglade County The Making of a Master Cheesemaker
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Did you know that a UW professor designated Antigo silt loam as Wisconsin’s state soil?
Learn MoreLanglade County Down to Earth
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Randy Brandner had plenty to do. He was finishing up his Executive MBA at UW–Madison, serving as president of the Merrill Chamber of Commerce, and working at Church Mutual Insurance Company. He was dealing…
Learn MoreLincoln County Putting an MBA Degree to Work for a Community
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Thank you, Lincoln County, for William T. Evjue whose work in publishing and broadcasting provided platforms for the discourse that is essential to democracy.
Learn MoreLincoln County The Storyteller
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The building that Anton and Michelle Doneff decided to buy at a sheriff’s auction is a little more ambitious than the average fixer-upper. It stands as a landmark in downtown Manitowoc, encloses 35,000 square feet…
Learn MoreManitowoc County Downtown Developers with an Eye to Preservation
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Thank you to Manitowoc County for showmen like Billy Schultz, who used his talents to make the world a more entertaining place.
Learn MoreManitowoc County The Ringmaster
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Did you know that UW–Madison helped to launch the satellite era? In the early morning hours of September 6, 1962, a streak of light flashed across the sky above Manitowoc County. More than 3,000 pounds of Soviet technology were burning up in the atmosphere until all that was left was a 20-pound metal hunk, which… Read more »
Learn MoreManitowoc County Eye on the Sky
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As a farmer at Stoney Acres, UW–Madison alumnus Tony Schultz was invited to a panel discussion where he and others — including a Nobel Prize winner — were asked to answer one question: What does…
Learn MoreMarathon County Farmers Grow Food for Thought
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Thank you, Marathon County, for Crazylegs Hirsch, a gridiron legend whose unorthodox running style led to countless football victories that became a source of pride for Wisconsin.
Learn MoreMarathon County Crazy Like a Fox
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Did you know that ginseng is helping to energize Wisconsin’s economy?
Learn MoreMarathon County Wisconsin Roots Pay Off in Marathon County
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As a kindergartner, Dr. Kurt Hallgren recalls being fascinated with the animals at his family’s sheep and beef cattle farm near Niagara, Wisconsin. “I’d head straight to the barn after I got home from school,” Hallgren…
Learn MoreMarinette County A Special Rapport with Animals
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Thank you, Marinette County, for producing patriots such as Harvey Higley, and for helping the UW to stand out as an institution that honors the sacrifices of our nation’s veterans.
Learn MoreMarinette County The Veteran’s Friend
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As a high school student, Ross Dahlke was waking up each weekend morning well before dawn to carry out his cheese- selling strategy. He left his home in Westfield, Wisconsin before 4 a.m. to get…
Learn MoreMarquette County Electing to Make His Own Way
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Thank you, Marquette County, for Merry Ross — and for showing us how to stand up for those who have nowhere to turn.
Learn MoreMarquette County Justice for All
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The language of the Menominee tribe is spoken fluently only by about a dozen people, most of them elders who live on the reservation. But younger tribal leaders, including Joey Awonohopay, are working hard to…
Learn MoreMenominee County Helping a Language From Getting Lost
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Thank you, Menominee County, for Ada Deer, who has helped to extend the Wisconsin Idea far beyond the state’s borders and set the Menominee Nation apart as a national leader.
Learn MoreMenominee County Tireless Trailblazer
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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee is the largest youth-serving organization in Milwaukee. It’s also the largest Boys & Girls Clubs chapter in the nation. Every single day, more than 5,000 youth stream…
Learn MoreMilwaukee County On a Mission to Improve the Lives of Children
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Thank you, Milwaukee County, for Bud Selig, who did more than bring back baseball back to Milwaukee. He helped to keep the city on the national stage, and in the process, he showed that dreams are worth fighting for.
Learn MoreMilwaukee County Stepping up to the Plate for Milwaukee
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There’s a special challenge to Bob Wiedl’s work as a physical therapist in a community near where he grew up. “Most of the people who come into my clinic I’ve known for years — aunts…
Learn MoreMonroe County Degree Opens Doors for Physical Therapist
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Thank you, Monroe County, for Kathryn Clarenbach — and for all those who have opened doors for generations of women.
Learn MoreMonroe County Journey to Equality
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Kris Alwin is involved in her community in a deep way. As a registered nurse for REM Wisconsin, she works to integrate adults with disabilities into her community. And, in her role as a member…
Learn MoreOconto County A Complete Education
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Thank you, Oconto County, for Deral Teteak, a hero who truly laid it on the line.
Learn MoreOconto County The Little Bull
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On her family’s 10-acre hobby farm just outside of Ashland, Wisconsin, Chelsea Retaskie grew up with a love of animals — and a menagerie of chickens, cats, ducks, rabbits, and dogs. Like many kids, she…
Learn MoreOneida County For the Love of Animals
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Thank you, Oneida County, for John Kotz — and for those who inspire us to shoot for success.
Learn MoreOneida County His Championship Season
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Did you know that an Oneida County alumnus made an impact on what Rhinelander looks like today?
Learn MoreOneida County Building a City
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When school buses packed with field-tripping grade schoolers rumble up to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame and the Paper Discovery Center in Appleton, Harry Spiegelberg feels a special satisfaction. There, in the refurbished…
Learn MoreOutagamie County The Power of Paper
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Thank you, Outagamie County, for Ann McKee: a true pioneer of science whose knowledge base grew at UW–Madison and whose work has helped to reveal the once-hidden devastations of traumatic brain injuries.
Learn MoreOutagamie County One Brain at a Time
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Did you know that 90 percent of the sauerkraut sold in North America is produced by a Badger-run, Wisconsin-based company?
Learn MoreOutagamie County Kraut King
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Tragedy is what brought the city of Port Washington together with UW-Madison engineering professor Chin Wu. On September 2, 2012, 15-year-old Tyler Buczek was swimming in Lake Michigan when a riptide suddenly pushed him out…
Learn MoreOzaukee County A City and a Professor Team up to Save Lives
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Thank you, Ozaukee County, for Josh Gasser and his will to succeed. His heart, passion, and perseverance embody what it means to be a student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Learn MoreOzaukee County Turning Hoop Dreams into Reality
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Did you know that a Washington County Badger gives children who suffer the most a reason to smile?
Learn MoreOzaukee County Happy Camper
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Whether he’s piloting a successful pharmaceutical and medical-device company, raising wild mustangs, or chipping in to help prepare mechanical engineers for the future, Andy Rensink relies on his UW–Madison education. “What you learn are…
Learn MorePepin County Trailblazing Badger
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Thank you, Pepin County, for Bill Stumpf, and for giving the modern office worker a place to take a load off.
Learn MorePepin County Have a Seat
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Ever since her sister attended Camp Badger two years ago, 13-year-old Eva Parks has been looking forward to doing the same.
Learn MorePierce County Camp Allows Kids to Explore Engineering
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Thank you to Pierce County for Ed Peterson, who showed us what it takes to stand up to tyrants.
Learn MorePierce County Insight from the Past
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Did you know that the work of a Pierce County Badger doesn’t stop at the award-winning products at his family’s meat-processing business?
Learn MorePierce County Beyond the Bacon
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When Craig Dueholm went off to UW–Madison to attend the Short Course program, it wasn’t simply to learn more about dairy farming. “I wanted to get away from the farm and see something different…
Learn MorePolk County A Short Course Success Story
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Thank you, Polk County, for Gaylord Nelson — and for all those who protect the planet we call home.
Learn MorePolk County Earth’s Caretaker
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Anne Schierl lives by the example set by her mother, Ruth Gilfry, who rode into Portage County in a Model T Ford as its first public health nurse in the 1930s. “She was always taking…
Learn MorePortage County Civic-Minded Success Story
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Thank you, Portage County, for sending us Chris Solinsky — whose tenacity helped to set him apart as one of the top runners in the world, and who uses his hard-won experience to help shape young athletes.
Learn MorePortage County On Fleet Feet
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Did you know that former governor Dreyfus helped create today’s Wisconsin Public Television?
Learn MorePortage County The Man in the Red Vest
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How do you know you’re an industrial superstar? When your machine is being used in 4,000 installations around the world. That’s how many factories are using Carl Marschke’s high-speed corrugated-cardboard splicer. Over five decades, Marschke…
Learn MorePrice County Northern Wisconsin’s Industrial Superstar
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Thank you, Price County, for Leslie Patterson Ruffalo, who continues to run at a feverish pace in the pursuit of eliminating health and wellness disparities.
Learn MorePrice County Improving Health — One Community and Physician at a Time
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When Amy Petersen signed up for UW–Madison Professor Stanley Temple’s “Extinction of Species” class, she didn’t expect it to change the course of her life. “It was an incredible experience,” she recalls. “Everyone walked…
Learn MoreRacine County Badger Taps Into Her Animal Instincts
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We thank Racine County for Lou Holland Sr. — and for all those who never give up.
Learn MoreRacine County A Capital Letterman
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Working in rural health for close to 40 years at Richland Hospital, Deb O’Connell has built a diverse skill set around the specialty she was trained for at UW-Madison — physical therapy. “In rural health…
Learn MoreRichland County Therapeutic Approach to Community Support
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Thank you, Richland County, for Frank Lloyd Wright — and for brilliant innovation and a uniquely American architecture.
Learn MoreRichland County America’s Architect
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Greg Piefer had a decision to make after graduating from the College of Engineering at UW-Madison: he could take a $90,000-a-year job and enter a soaring tech economy, or he could keep studying with the…
Learn MoreRock County A Fusion of UW Pride and Passion
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Thank you, Rock County, for John Savage — and for the engineering marvels that shape our world.
Learn MoreRock County The Dam Whisperer
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Scott Martino admits that he probably lacked the maturity to fully develop his talents as a Badger wrestler in the early 1980s. Armed with that realization, experience in competition, an appreciation for hard work, and…
Learn MoreRusk County Pinning Hopes on Hard Work
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Thank you, Rusk County, for the talents of Jim Leonhard and his determination to exemplify what it takes to be a leader.
Learn MoreRusk County Tackling Whatever Life Throws at Him
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Growing up, Sarah Krier was fascinated by the outdoors. On a typical day she would be outside exploring, picking up bugs, and returning home muddy. These early experiences would set the foundation for her studies…
Learn MoreSaint Croix County Natural Leader
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Thank you, Saint Croix County, for Ed Carlson and his cow, and the lifesaving discovery they brought to light.
Learn MoreSaint Croix County The Winding Story of Warfarin
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Did you know that Warren Knowles helped make Wisconsin a fishing paradise?
Learn MoreSaint Croix County Knowles Knew Nature
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When Carol May was young, she thought she’d be a “nursing nun.” “I discovered that I had neither the talent nor the aptitude for either one of those,” she says with a laugh.
Learn MoreSauk County Improving the Financial Health of Hospitals
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Thank you, Sauk County, for Culver’s, a company that every single day uses its influence to shine a light on Wisconsin’s farmers and help safeguard the future of farming in America.
Learn MoreSauk County Shining a Light on Farmers
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Day after day, Pam Miller would watch her son, Giizhik Klawiter, turn a half-inch thick stack of paper into a beautiful array of drawings. Diagnosed with autism when he was five years old, Giizhik learned…
Learn MoreSawyer County A Kid. His Cards. And a Cause.
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Thank you, Sawyer County, for Darren Dewing — and all those who serve our communities and help those facing difficult challenges.
Learn MoreSawyer County Banking Excellence and Community Service Drive Badger
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In an age of Snapchat, Twitter, and Netflix, Hannah Agyekum’s students at Bonduel High School made meaningful cultural connections last year through 400-year-old Chinese literature. Through the Great World Texts program, facilitated by the UW-Madison…
Learn MoreShawano County Opening Students Up to a Great World
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Thank you, Shawano County, for Daniel Leaf, whose service, leadership, and commitment to building a more secure world are important to us all.
Learn MoreShawano County Learning to Lead Globally through Critical Thought
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When John Hawley was a senior in high school, he attended a Wisconsin football game against Nebraska. Wisconsin won at the last minute, and the excitement of the Badger fans sold him on going to…
Learn MoreSheboygan County A Drive to Serve
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Thank you, Sheboygan County, for Walter Kohler Sr. — and for putting Wisconsin-made products on the map.
Learn MoreSheboygan County Toilets and So Much More
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Did you know that Sheboygan County’s number one attraction got a boost from the Wisconsin School of Business? Sandra Livermore ’80, MS’82 remembers the exact moment when she was inspired to start Sheboygan’s Bookworm Gardens, a 3.5-acre botanical garden based on children’s literature. The owner of a landscape-design business was visiting a small children’s garden… Read more »
Learn MoreSheboygan County Magic Gardens
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Rooted in Medford, four generations of the Peterson family have gone to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and returned to an award-winning family business that has built roads across the state. The family business began…
Learn MoreTaylor County A Commitment to Learning Pays Off for this Fourth Generation Badger
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Thank you to Taylor County for sending us Chris Schield, who has used his UW education as a doorway to success for his extended family, his family’s business, and the communities of which it’s a part.
Learn MoreTaylor County Window Wizard
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With her small-town roots and big-campus dreams, McKenzie Capouch is not unlike many UW–Madison students. For her, home is Ettrick, Wisconsin, population 1,300. That’s roughly a hundred more people than live in Witte Hall…
Learn MoreTrempealeau County Opening Up to a World of Possibilities
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Thank you, Trempealeau County, for Laura Delaney Roessler and other adventurers and creators who build businesses that contribute to local economies across Wisconsin.
Learn MoreTrempealeau County Vintage Adventures
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When people think of weekend getaways in Wisconsin, the Northwoods, Door County, and the Wisconsin Dells generally come to mind. A destination that deserves to be on that list much more often is the Kickapoo…
Learn MoreVernon County Wisconsin’s Best-Kept Secret
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Thank you, Vernon County, for Organic Valley and Louise Hemstead — and for their commitment to organic agriculture and rural Wisconsin.
Learn MoreVernon County Organic Valley Finds Growth and Success in Rural Wisconsin
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Wayne Valliere sees the value that UW–Madison brings to his community in helping to preserve Native American culture while improving health. Valliere has worked with Tim Frandy, an outreach specialist at the Collaborative Center…
Learn MoreVilas County Sharing Ojibwe Traditions with the Next Generation
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Thank you, Vilas County, for Ben Schumaker, who is improving children’s lives by providing them with a powerful connection to the wider world.
Learn MoreVilas County Memory Project Helps Challenged Kids Claim a Moment in Time
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Did you know that Vilas County is a hot spot for the director of Hot Shots?
Learn MoreVilas County Up-North Escape
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Michael Reader ’86 is someone who is making Wisconsin work. His company, PrecisionPlus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, manufactures precision parts, including pins, screws, shafts, valve components, spools, gears, and gear blanks. There is little margin for…
Learn MoreWalworth County A Badger Who’s Making Wisconsin Work
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Thank you, Walworth County, for Debra Alder and Jeffery Scherer, who are using their experience and resources to help Delavan reach its full potential.
Learn MoreWalworth County Building Up the Community
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When Mark Mueller founded Botanic Innovations in early 2000, he was selling plant-seed oils a gallon at a time, largely to home-based skin-care businesses. Today, Spooner-based Botanic Innovations, LLC has 15 employees, manufactures skin-care products…
Learn MoreWashburn County Building Better Botanicals
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Thank you, Washburn County, for Otto Wiegand — and for his years of work to advance agriculture and make farmers more productive in Wisconsin and around the world.
Learn MoreWashburn County Serving Northwestern Wisconsin and the World
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When Tom Nelson walked into a Milwaukee seminar featuring UW–Madison Professor Rajan Suri in 2004, he never envisioned that it would lead to a remaking of his corrugated-packaging company. That’s where Nelson, president of…
Learn MoreWashington County Containing a Valuable Partnership
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Thank you, Washington County, for Tom Zuern — and for all of the job producers who contribute to the state’s economic health.
Learn MoreWashington County Family’s Business Success is Building
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Did you know that a Washington County war hero became a Wisconsin legal titan?
Learn MoreWashington County The Wisconsin Idea, in Wartime and in Peacetime
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Alan Koepke thought he was saying goodbye to farming when he left his family’s home in Waukesha County in the 1960s to pursue an engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin– Madison. A few years…
Learn MoreWaukesha County Analytical Approach to Farming Pays Off for UW Grad
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Thank you, Waukesha County, for Donald Goerke — and for helping to make America’s food industry go ’round.
Learn MoreWaukesha County A Circular Solution
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Did you know that a Waukesha County Badger’s story and strong determination inspire others to achieve their goals? When the going gets tough, former Badger women’s hockey goalie Alex Rigsby ’15 isn’t one to back down. When she was cut from the 2014 Winter Olympic team heading to Sochi, for example, she used it as… Read more »
Learn MoreWaukesha County There’s No “Goalie” without “Goal”
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A University of Wisconsin–Madison education can be a powerful thing. For Michael Nikolai, it was the inroad into a company that he now heads as CEO. Nikolai was considering a job with Waupaca…
Learn MoreWaupaca County The Foundry at the Heart of a Community
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Thank you, Waupaca County, for Daniel Speckhard, who has demonstrated the value of solving problems through policy, understanding, and compassion.
Learn MoreWaupaca County Seeing the World from a New Perspective
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Deb Teubert’s career took a new course after her Siamese cat Simi fell ill with a painful case of pancreatitis. Conventional veterinary medicine couldn’t offer much relief, so Teubert researched and used holistic methods that…
Learn MoreWaushara County A Holistic Approach to Animal Health
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Thank you, Waushara County, for Jerry Apps, who has shared the richness of rural life with readers everywhere.
Learn MoreWaushara County The Rural Voice
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Jennifer Skolaski helps supercharge nonprofit groups, expanding their capabilities and helping them to help more people. Since Skolaski was a child, volunteerism has been her passion, and a graduate education at UW-Madison provided the skills…
Learn MoreWinnebago County A Career Volunteer
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Thank you, Winnebago County, for Plexus Corp. — and its support of an engineering education, and for enlivening the Wisconsin economy with its global reach.
Learn MoreWinnebago County Plexus Turns to UW–Madison for Talent and Helps Strengthen Engineering Education
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Did you know that mentoring by UW faculty can extend throughout careers? When Eric Smiltneek ’01, MD’06 was in medical school, he dreamed of being able to help both individuals and an entire community. Today his dual roles in Oshkosh as a family medicine doctor at ThedaCare Physicians and a medical director at Nova, an… Read more »
Learn MoreWinnebago County Keeping Oshkosh Healthy
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By the numbers, cranberries are big business in Wisconsin. The Badger State produces 58 percent of the nation’s cranberry crop, making Wisconsin the top producer in the country. Five million barrels of cranberries are produced…
Learn MoreWood County Cranberries on the Cutting Edge
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Thank you, Wood County, for Mark Tauscher, who continues to show that with passion and perseverance, great success is possible — on and off the field.
Learn MoreWood County From Walk-on to Running the Show