UW 175th anniversary highlights: honoring the past and embracing the future

An anniversary is always a good time to take a look at where you’ve been and where you’re headed.

That’s why, in the year starting July 26, 2023, the University of Wisconsin took the time to celebrate yesterday’s achievements, showcase today’s qualities and look forward to tomorrow’s possibilities in honor of its 175th anniversary.

It had been 175 years since the University of Wisconsin was officially incorporated in an act signed by Gov. Nelson Dewey, the state’s first governor.

The 175th anniversary year included celebrations on campus and around the state, media and events that explored UW’s accomplishments and ambitions, and even special creations and projects to mark the anniversary.

Take a moment to look back at the highlights.

Kicking it off with fireworks, fun and ice cream

The kick-off celebration ended with some fireworks. Photo by: Jeff Miller

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin spoke to the crowd, saying, “We know that to be truly excellent, we must educate our students to add something of value to the world, and we must share our discoveries beyond the borders of the campus. That’s the Wisconsin Idea!” Photo by: Bryce Richter

Eliza Rusk found another way to cool off with a splash in the Welcome Plaza fountain. Eliza’s dad, Noah Natzke, is a double Badger and a current UW employee. Photo by: Althea Dotzour

It’s an exciting time for this family. At left, Jinx Lunger (alum from 1996) poses with her daughter, Zibby Lunger, who will be starting as a Badger this fall. The duo are attending SOAR and were excited to get to participate in the 175th Anniversary Launch Day Celebration. Photo by: Althea Dotzour

Bucky Badger looked on as the next generation of Badgers jumped around a Jenga game. Photo by: Althea Dotzour

On July 26, 2023, exactly 175 years to the day since the University of Wisconsin was founded, Badgers of all stripes flocked to the Memorial Union Terrace for a 175th Anniversary Launch Day Celebration. Festivities included free Babcock ice cream, a Fifth Quarter performance by the UW Marching Band, plenty of Bucky Badger sightings and a fireworks finale.

Looking back on our accomplishments

But the anniversary wasn’t just for fun and games. We looked back on what UW–Madison researchers and educators have achieved in the past 175 years, and it was impressive.

For instance, we looked at five UW ideas that changed the world. UW’s advances in weather satellites, space-based astronomy, organ transplants and stem cells made life better for people all over the world. We also looked at

• Changes in student life at UW (No more formal style dining served by waitpeople, but the same enthusiasm for Badger football.)
• UW research around the globe (from observing the heavens in a telescope in South Africa to tracking an endangered monkey in a rain forest in Brazil.)
• Surprising contributions from UW’s overlooked scientists (including a nun who was an early computer science innovator and a plant pathologist whose work helped preserve pine trees.)

Bringing the celebration around the state

Community members eat Babcock ice cream and play with Bucky Badger during a WFAA Community Celebration at Kohler Communications in Kohler, Wisconsin, on June 28, 2023. The event was part of a day-long celebration in Sheboygan to kick-off the 175-year anniversary of UW–Madison. Photo by: Althea Dotzour

With a practiced hand, Sue Sell, culinary resource manager at Johnsonville, grills hundreds of brats during a Johnsonville Employee Brat Fry at the 175th anniversary celebration in Sheboygan County on June 28, 2023. Photo by: Althea Dotzour

People enjoyed some ice cream from Babcock Dairy at the 175th anniversary celebration in La Crosse on Sept. 11, 2024.

Jay Burmeister gets the opportunity to meet one of his idols, UW mascot Bucky Badger, during a University of Wisconsin–Madison 175th Celebration Event held in Appleton on May 30, 2024. Photo by: Bryce Richter

More than 300 Badger alumni and friends gathered at Badger State Brewery, capping off a day of events in Green Bay to celebrate UW–Madison’s 175th anniversary on May 23, 2023.

Staff of the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association jump with joy before a Johnsonville Employee Brat Fry, a celebration of the collaboration between UW–Madison and Johnsonville, at the Johnsonville Marketplace in Sheboygan Falls on June 28, 2023. Photo by: Althea Dotzour

Throughout the year, Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin and other UW–Madison leaders hosted 175th anniversary events from La Crosse to Green Bay to Milwaukee, highlighting UW partnerships and projects that benefit local communities. Those highlighted efforts include training doctors to serve in rural areas, helping create a heat warning network to deal with climate change and building a partnership with GE HealthCare in Waukesha to boost innovation in biohealth.

Honoring those who came before us

To acknowledge that UW–Madison sits on the ancestral homeland of the Ho-Chunk people, UW community members created Ho-Chunk Banners honoring the tribe’s heritage as part of the 175th celebration. The banners, titled “Seed by Seed” were hung on Bascom Hall in a ceremony on Nov. 7.

Opening UW’s doors to the community

Olayinka Olagbegi-Adegbite, assistant director of the African Studies program, plays the talking drum from Nigeria while 2-year-old Amira plays the Sakara drum during the Children’s African Story Hour in Ingraham Hall. Photo by: Althea Dotzour

Visitors check out the campus views from the rooftop of the 15-story Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Science (AOSS) building during the UW 175th Anniversary Open House. Photo by: Jeff Miller

Tim Goers and his daughter Emmy pet mounted patrol horse Rettke as officer Jolene Eck (right) talks with them. Photo by: Bryce Richter

Nora Baker jumps as high as she can as she takes part in the UW Family Fun Fair. Photo by: Bryce Richter

On April 5-7, 2024, thousands of people came to campus for the 175th Anniversary Community Open House, featuring more than 90 events, from science experiments to a scavenger hunt to building tours.

“We’re proud of the legacy of innovation here at UW–Madison — in research, the arts, athletics and more,” said Charles Hoslet, then-vice chancellor for university relations and chair of the 175th Anniversary Steering Committee. “We want everyone to see examples of how an idea can change the world and meet the amazing people who make this happen.”

Creations in honor of the anniversary

Throughout the year, UW faculty and students tackled projects that honored UW’s legacy on its 175th anniversary and the Wisconsin Idea, some with the help of special grants. They ranged from creating a new ice cream — 175 S’more Years — and a new cheese — Cranniverscherry, to building special glass models to help study sea creatures, to a botanical foray in Marinette County to collect specimens for the Wisconsin State Herbarium at UW–Madison.

Wrapping it up

On July 26, 2024, the year of celebration officially came to an end, although stops continued on the 175th Anniversary state tour through the summer and early fall. They year left the UW–Madison community with plenty of inspiration, and dreams of what the university will look like when the 200th anniversary rolls. around.