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UW-River Falls honors outstanding alumni at Evening of Excellence
The accomplishments of four outstanding University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates were celebrated during the university’s annual Evening of Excellence Wednesday. The UWRF Alumni Association presented four honors during the event: the Distinguished Alumni Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Outstanding Young Alumni Award and Outstanding Service Award. Distinguished Alumni Award: Mary Ella Jerome Mary Ella Jerome lives by the philosophy that “God gives you a gift, and you need to use it,” a
Banks receives 2026 Lydecker Student Research Award
Hayden Banks, a senior chemistry major from River Falls, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Drs. Ann and William Lydecker Student Research Award at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Each year since 2011, the Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (URSCA) Office has recognized an outstanding undergraduate’s research efforts coupled with service to and/or involvement at UW-River Falls. The award was created by William (Bill) Lydecker, now deceased, to honor his late
Falcon Futures: Student Gabby Huitema one of three Alice in Dairyland finalists with UW-River Falls ties
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will be well represented when Wisconsin’s next Alice in Dairyland finals are held May 14-16 in Marathon County. Half of this year’s finalists are current or past students. Gabby Huitema, a senior from Markesan majoring in animal science with a meat animal emphasis, will join UWRF alums Michelle Stangler and Jessica Moor along with three other finalists as they vie to become the 79th Alice to represent Wisconsin’s agriculture industry on behalf of the Department
UW-River Falls Commencement set for May 9
679 students will receive their degrees from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls during three spring Commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 9. All three ceremonies will be held at Page Arena inside the Falcon Center, 185 Emogene Nelson Ave. 589 students will receive bachelor’s degrees, 80 will receive master’s degrees, six will receive doctorate degrees and four will receive associate’s degrees. Spring Commencement is divided into three separate ceremonies: 9 a.m. – College of Education,
DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski honored with Wisconsin Distinguished Agriculturalist Award at UW-River Falls
Randy Romanski, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), has been named the 2026 Wisconsin Distinguished Agriculturalist by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. The award was presented to Romanski, a 1989 UWRF alum, at the 60th Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet April 16. “As secretary of DATCP since 2019, Mr. Romanski has worked on important issues to Wisconsin
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2026 Chancellor Award
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls presented its highest non-academic honor to 11 students during the annual Chancellor’s Award for Students reception Wednesday. “Our 2026 Chancellor Award honorees exemplify excellence through their leadership in the classroom, engagement in campus life and service beyond the university,” Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth said. “We are proud to recognize these students for their outstanding achievements in research and for their meaningful contributions to the
