CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) — 175 years after the University of Wisconsin Madison was founded, teaching, research and public service continue to be at the forefront across the state. For Feel Good Friday, First News at Nine Badger Kim Leadholm tells us how the university is celebrating its impact while thanking Wisconsinites in the Chippewa Valley and beyond for their support.
“With cardinal red and Bucky Badger, UW Madison celebrates its 175th anniversary with a focus on the Chippewa Valley.”
“It’s cool to see them entering into different partnerships and recognizing every part of the state.
“We celebrate our impact on the community and that’s why we’re in the Chippewa Valley. The idea of UW Madison and Wisconsin is to apply what we know and learn in Madison across the state and around the world.
For the University of Wisconsin Madison anniversary, there was Babcock ice cream and lots of merchandise. “All of my siblings and I are graduates of the University of Wisconsin, so we thought we’d just celebrate. As fans.”
But the star of the show? Bucky Badger himself. “He’s pretty funny.”
The 175th anniversary celebrations are not only meant to highlight the University of Madison. They are also meant to thank the Chippewa Valley for its support. “We would not be a strong, dynamic university if we did not have the support of the people of the state. There are currently 200 students from the Chippewa Valley studying at the University of Madison.
And each of these students has the potential to bring new ideas and information about the state back to the university. “We listen to people so they can tell us what’s important to them and what we need to do to make the university and the state better. And to make the Chippewa Valley better.”
So much of the reverence at Madison’s 175th anniversary celebration is for the beloved mascot: “Do you want the ice cream, Bucky, the drawing? I like it all.”
Even the people who call themselves Badgers say, “I’m always trying to hopefully get him to go to Wisconsin.
“University officials say hundreds of graduates have come from the Chippewa Valley and they hope that number will continue to grow.”
UW Madison’s stop in Chippewa Falls was part of its anniversary tour, which travels through the Badger State for the celebration.
