Apply for a Bucky Award

This award recognizes a business student who has demonstrated leadership in a co-curricular project or initiative that resulted in a positive impact on their community.  This student exemplifies the leadership traits that make Wisconsin School of Business students Trusted to Lead.  These traits include competency and trust, humility and grit, individual goals for collective success, and inclusive leadership.  In addition, this student has achieved academic excellence and has put the business knowledge they have learned in the classroom into action throughout this project/initiative.

These leadership traits are defined in the following ways:

Competency and Trust – WSB students master the techniques and tools of their industry, but they are distinguished by being in tune with others and the combined contributions to the greater community.

Humility and Grit – WSB students are high achievers with great ambitions.  They become team members everyone seeks out – the dependable ones; the people who deliver and who surpass expectations; the unrelenting seekers of a better path forward.

Individual Goals for Collective Success – WSB students work in collaboration with others to achieve for our community and our world.  They demonstrate the confidence to pursue new solutions and the initiative to achieve them together.

Inclusive Leadership – WSB students approach working in a diverse environment in a way that acknowledges various backgrounds/identities.  Students actively learn to recognize and minimize unconscious biases and remove structural barriers to equality in order to create an inclusive and welcoming environment.  A key component of Inclusive Leadership is cultural competency.

To be eligible for the Business Badger Leadership Award, a student must meet the following criteria:

• At least sophomore standing as an admitted undergraduate business student in the Wisconsin School of Business
• Clearly articulates their involvement in a co-curricular project, program, or other initiative that led to a positive impact on a specific community
• Demonstrates how the 4 leadership traits listed in this application were applied within their initiative
• Explains how they incorporated business skills learned in the classroom into their co-curricular project/initiative

Apply for the Business Badger Leadership Award

This award is given to an ambitious student regarding their international engagement, whether in-person or virtually.  It recognizes a student’s efforts to increase their awareness of global issues & leadership through an internship, a class, or a volunteer project. The chosen student applies skills and values acquired through their international experience to improve themselves as well as their community.

To be eligible for the Global Citizenship Award, the individual must meet the following criteria:

• Has traveled outside of the U.S and/or their home country or engaged virtually with another country (e.g. remote internship or study abroad program) – note, this is open to both domestic and international students
• Has intentionally engaged and interacted with the host culture and community during their international experience
• Has participated in events or activities that foster awareness of global issues
• Demonstrates a desire to apply the knowledge and skills gained from their international experience in future endeavors
• If they traveled outside the U.S. – must have been enrolled in CISI insurance for the duration of their time abroad as required by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Must not have traveled to a country with a U.S. State Department Travel Warning active at the time of travel, unless the trip was approved as an official University of Wisconsin-Madison program
• Must be a current undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

 Apply for the Global Citizenship Award

This award honors outstanding student leaders who have made a significant impact on the University of Wisconsin campus, surrounding community and beyond. These students have demonstrated strong leadership skills through outstanding initiative, meaningful involvement, and measurable influence on students, citizens, or programming.

To be eligible for the Individual Leadership Award, an individual must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a current undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison

 Apply for the Individual Leadership Award

This award recognizes a student leader who has demonstrated sincere commitment to their student organization(s). This student demonstrates meaningful, purposeful engagement in their leadership role(s) by applying different skills to better improve themselves, their organization(s), and the UW-Madison community

To be eligible for the Most Engaged Award, an individual must meet the following criteria:

• Must have taken at least one leadership role within at least one organization
• Must demonstrate how they have utilized their leadership role to positively impact, innovate or develop their organization, program, or cause
• Demonstrate leadership qualities that lead for positive change in their organization(s) by: partnering with others within and/or outside of their organization, encouraging creative inquiry, and exercising critical thinking
• Exemplify the four areas of the Wisconsin Experience: Empathy and Humility, Relentless Curiosity, Intellectual Confidence, and Purposeful Action.
• Must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout all semesters on campus while registered as a student
• You must be a current undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison

 Apply for the Most Engaged Award

This award goes to a freshman who has shown his or her ability to be a leader on campus and in the surrounding community. This student shows strong interest in furthering their involvement in a student individual, program, or cause and to create a unique mark on the UW community. In addition, this student has taken initiative within their involvement and encompasses important values and ideals of the “Wisconsin Experience”.

To be eligible for the Outstanding First-Year Freshman Award, an individual must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a current first-year student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison

Apply for the Outstanding Freshman Award

This award honors outstanding student leaders who have made a significant impact on the University of Wisconsin campus and surrounding community as a transfer student. This student has demonstrated their leadership through creating a unique mark on the UW community and successfully handling their transition onto campus through meaningful campus involvement. In addition, this student has taken initiative within their involvement and encompasses important values and ideals of the “Wisconsin Experience.”

To be eligible for the Outstanding Transfer Student Award, an individual must meet the following criteria:

• You must have transferred to the University of Wisconsin – Madison from another college or university
• You must be a current undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison

 Apply for the Outstanding Transfer Student Award

This award goes to a senior who has shown his or her ability to be a leader on campus and in the surrounding community. In addition, this student has shown growth and made a significant contribution to the campus community by making the most of their “Wisconsin Experience.” The students that receive the Outstanding Senior Award are those students that have been actively involved in the UW-Madison campus and community, those that are dedicated to its community, and those who associate strongly with the university.

To be eligible for the Outstanding Senior Award, an individual must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a current undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison

 Apply for the Outstanding Senior Award

This award recognizes an advisor who excels in guiding their students and/or organization to success. They promote social justice and student development while following a strong ethical code. This advisor positively challenges and supports the individual or group in order to achieve an overall goal or mission statement.

Nominators may be placed by both undergraduate and graduate students or student organizations.

 Nominate a Best Advisor

This award is given to a student organization that was founded within the last three academic years. They are awarded for their member participation, the successes they have had, and the unique contributions they bring to campus and the surrounding community. In addition, this organization has a plan for continued growth and achievement in future years and wants to continue to be a successful organization on campus.

To be eligible for the Best New Student Organization, the organization must:

• Have a mission statement
• Been established in Fall 2022 or later
• Have a dedicated, hard-working student membership
• Be a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

 Apply for the Best New Student Organization Award

This award is presented to a student organization that excels in three pillars: Wisconsin Experience, Discovery, and Innovation. The Wisconsin Experience revolves around the idea that, together, we create and apply learning inside and outside the classroom to make the world a better place. Therefore, this organization actively works to incorporate effective program planning, innovation, leadership service, valued membership, and social justice into its mission and the events and programs it hosts each year.

To be eligible for the Dean’s Award of Excellence, an organization must meet the following criteria:

• Involve multiple aspects of the Wisconsin Experience in your organization or activity. For more information regarding the Wisconsin Experience, go to: https://wisconsinexperience.wisc.edu/about/
• Collaborate with at least one student organization on campus throughout the year
• Host at least one event that is beneficial to the UW campus and the Madison community
• Create a new aspect or improve upon one aspect of your organization
• Participate in events that foster awareness, inclusion, and belonging
• Actively provide recognition for members who contribute to the organization
• You must be a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin—Madison

 Apply for the Dean’s Award of Excellence

This award recognizes a student organization that excels in preparing its members for the future. Whether it is through networking sessions with members of the field, job fairs, or internships, this organization greatly values providing its members with outstanding employment and co-curricular opportunities that will allow them to succeed in the post-graduate world.

To be eligible for the Outstanding Career Preparation Award, the organization must:

• Have a mission statement
• Have a dedicated, hard-working student membership
• Be a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

 Apply for the Outstanding Career Preparation Award

This award is presented to an organization that intentionally creates welcoming spaces, promotes equitable access to involvement, and amplifies diverse voices through its leadership, programs, and organizational practices. Rooted in the belief that inclusivity revolves around a strong relationship between its members, this organization dedicates extra time towards developing internal relations. Through concerted and ongoing efforts, this organization fosters learning opportunities, contributes to the scholastic and leadership growth for its members, and focuses on cultivating interactions and a sense of belonging amongst its members. 

Furthermore, this organization’s commitment to inclusivity is far-reaching. Through campus and/or community engagement, its positive impact is felt beyond its own membership. Through its partnerships and/or hosted events, this organization seeks to spread awareness on topics relevant to student and/or community needs and is rooted in the fundamentals of social justice and equality.

To be eligible for the Inclusivity Award, an organization must meet the following criteria:

• Be a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

 Apply for the Inclusivity Award

This award recognizes a student organization that has excelled in their use of leadership skills to work towards a positive change on campus or in the surrounding community. This organization has demonstrated excellence in the core values of the UW-Madison Leadership Framework, which include integrity, inclusive engagement, and connection with the community. In addition, the organization has developed leadership skills in both members of the organization and the community in order to support them as they engage in this positive change. Finally, this organization demonstrates continuous reflection to overcome obstacles and weaknesses that are encountered during the process of implementing the positive change.

To be eligible for the Outstanding Leadership Award, an organization must meet the following criteria:

• Engage in multiple competencies tied to the Leadership Framework. For more information visit: https://leadership.wisc.edu/leadership-framework/ 
• Involve multiple aspects of the Wisconsin Experience. For more information regarding the Wisconsin Experience, go to: https://wisconsinexperience.wisc.edu/about/ 
• Had at least one representative at the All-Campus Leadership Conference within the past two years. This is highly suggested but not required.

 Apply for the Outstanding Leadership Award

This award recognizes a student organization that has participated in service activities continually throughout the academic year and has hosted at least one service activity for the campus community. This student organization has worked consistently through dedication and perseverance to improve our campus and the surrounding community.

To be eligible for the Outstanding Service Award, an organization must meet the following criteria:

• Be a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin – Madison

 Apply for the Outstanding Service Award

This award recognizes a student organization that has invested considerable time into philanthropy by creating events to raise funds, assist others, and volunteer on campus and throughout their community. These ideals cultivate many benefits for those within the community by establishing these philanthropic actions leading to future success. Their actions embody the Wisconsin Idea and generate continuous advancement.

To be eligible for the Philanthropic Achievement Award, an individual must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

 Apply for the Philanthropic Achievement Award

This award is given to a student organization that has met the requirements of the RSO Accreditation Program and goes above and beyond the program requirements to create an intentional, meaningful, and collaborative experience for its student members. 

To be eligible for the Outstanding Accredited Organization Award, the organization must: 

• Be a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 

• Have successfully completed the Fall 2025 semester requirements of the RSO Accreditation program and be a confirmed Accredited RSO

Apply for the Outstanding Accredited Organization Award

This award recognizes an organization or an individual that has gone above and beyond to better their community in terms of sustainability and/or conservation.  This student or organization demonstrates that they have had an impact on the UW–Madison campus and community in helping to move toward a more sustainable environment.  

To be eligible for the Conservation and Sustainability Award, the organization must:

• Have a mission statement
• Have a dedicated, hard-working student membership
• Be a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

 Apply for the Conservation and Sustainability Award

This award honors an individual or student organization whose sustained and intentional efforts advance belonging, inclusion, and pluralism on the Madison campus and within the wider community. Recipients create meaningful impact by designing welcoming spaces, facilitating inclusive events and programs, and fostering opportunities that bring people together across identities, perspectives, and experiences.

 Apply for the Creating Inclusive Community Award

This award is given to an ambitious student or student organization that excels in promoting and achieving overall health and wellness on campus. This student or student group has shown excellent skill in promoting health, providing resources to campus to improve wellness, and working toward improving the overall wellbeing of the UW–Madison community.

 Apply for the Health and Wellbeing Award

The Graduate Student Peer Mentor Awards recognize graduate students who exhibit stellar mentorship qualities. These graduate students are selected based on their ability to mentor undergraduate and/or graduate students, on or off campus.

To be eligible for the Graduate Peer Mentor Award, the applicant must:

• Be a current graduate or professional student at UW-Madison

 Apply for the Graduate Peer Mentor Awards