Alumni and supporters gathered in Madison on April 16, 2024, to celebrate the La Follette School’s 40th anniversary. The event coincided with Day of the Badger, the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s annual day of giving, where a record-breaking 202 donors gave over $101,000 to support La Follette students.
Celebrating 40 years of La Follette
The festivities began with a reception at the Madison Club where alumni and supporters from across the country connected with students, faculty, and staff.
Molly Collins Offner, retired policy development director for the American Hospital Association, kicked off the evening by welcoming guests and introducing New York Times columnist Ezra Klein. Before his public presentation at the Monona Terrace, Klein stopped by the Madison Club to meet the La Follette School community and preview his talk.
Klein’s visit to the school was supported in part by the Paul Offner Lecture Series, named in honor of Molly Offner’s late husband who served in the Wisconsin State Legislature.
The reception also honored the recipient of the annual Alumni of Distinction Award. Created in 2022, the award recognizes outstanding graduates for their dedication to the school and service in their careers.
2023 recipient Wesley Sparkman (MPA ’00) presented the award to retired Ambassador and former Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly Tom Loftus (MA ’73). Following a 14-year career in the State Legislature, Loftus was the U.S. Ambassador to Norway from 1993 to 1997.
As a graduate of La Follette’s predecessor, the Center for the Study of Public Policy and Administration, Loftus knew firsthand the value of UW–Madison’s policy instruction and research. “One thing I took with me wherever I went, in whatever role I took on, was my UW–Madison education,” he said while accepting the 2024 award.
During his time in the State Assembly, Loftus rallied legislators to create the La Follette Institute, which would later be renamed the La Follette School. A close friend of Paul Offner, Loftus also helped create the Paul Offner Lecture Series in 2007.
View more photos of the celebration.
A record-breaking Day of the Badger
While commemorating the La Follette School’s past, alumni and supporters also rallied to support its future on Day of the Badger, UW–Madison’s annual day of giving.
Two hundred and two donors gave over $101,000 on April 16–17 to fund opportunities for students. In addition to raising more than double last year’s total, the school was the first unit in UW’s College of Letters and Science to exceed $100,000 during a Day of the Badger campaign. The School of Business was the only campus unit to raise more money during the 2024 event.
An enticing challenge created by Kevin Hayden (MA ’84), Terry Lierman (MA ’71), and Michael (MA ’82) and JoAnn Youngman was instrumental to this year’s success. In honor of the school’s anniversary, every 40 donors added an extra $10,000 to the school’s total. The full $40,000 gift was unlocked when the school reached 160 donors.
“The La Follette School is incredibly grateful for the support of our alumni and donors,” said Interim Director Greg Nemet. “Kevin Hayden, Terry Lierman, and the Youngmans continue to inspire our community with their generosity.”
Recent graduates also got involved through the graduating class competition. The class of 2018 secured victory for the fifth year in a row by having the highest percentage of Day of the Badger donors.
Money raised from the event will support opportunities for graduate students, including scholarships, fellowships, paid assistantships, application fee waivers, and networking trips. Since 2019, funds from donations have supported 47 future leaders.