The La Follette School’s annual fundraiser, Day of the Badger, is coming up on April 8 and 9, and this year your support is more important than ever. During these unprecedented political times, the La Follette School remains steadfast in our commitment to training the next generation of leaders who will bring thoughtful, informed perspectives to the critical issues facing our communities, our country, and the world. Our mission remains vital: to empower students with the curiosity, skills, and understanding they need to approach complex problems with the sense of respect and the spirit of collaboration.
Gifts support the school in three critical ways: 1) They support faculty in preparing students for public policy careers and advancing critical research; 2) They provide resources to connect the campus to the community; and 3) They give students opportunities to develop skills through academic excellence, experiential learning, and hands-on research.
When students receive scholarships, they can fully immerse themselves in their studies, with time to take on enriching coursework and participate in practical training that prepares them for careers in public service. Offering these opportunities to incoming students also helps La Follette attract highly accomplished students.
Thanks to a generous gift from Board of Visitors member Katharine Lyall, which supports six students each year, MIPA student Morgan Pincombe received a scholarship to support her studies during 2024-25. Pincombe, whose past research has focused on supporting better health and development outcomes for lower-income countries, was able to take additional courses with the flexibility the funding provided. Still in her first year at La Follette, she says she has already had many valuable educational and professional experiences during her time in the MIPA program. “This program’s interdisciplinary curriculum is strengthening my ability to assess trade-offs and craft compelling evidence-driven, context-appropriate proposals, including through classes in microeconomics for policy analysis, public program evaluation, and international governance,” says Pincombe. She hopes to continue her career in international development and global health policy after graduation.
MPA student Sequoia Sirek, one of the recipients the Curt & Sue Culver Graduate Fellowship Fund in Public Service for 2024-25, says the scholarship has been pivotal in her educational journey. “Growing up in a rural town in northern Wisconsin, I saw firsthand the stark disparities in opportunity and the significant role policy plays in either perpetuating or alleviating those disparities,” she says. Sirek say she aims to use her education at La Follette to “create policies that not only address the immediate needs of my community but also empower people to break free from cycles of poverty and lack of opportunity,” and the Culver Scholarship has allowed her to focus on these goals.
Last year, 202 donors gave over $101,000 to the La Follette School during Day of the Badger. We rely on the entire La Follette community for support, and every dollar counts. Save the date for this year’s Day of the Badger on April 8 and 9 and help our students learn how to bridge divides and create meaningful policy solutions.