University of Wisconsin–Madison

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Class works to protect Wisconsin lakes in service learning project

The mention of Eurasian water-milfoil and zebra mussels in Dominique Brossard’s strategic communication class last February had students rolling their eyes and swapping puzzled looks. But after a semester of carefully tailoring multimedia campaigns to help a Wisconsin non-profit group get the word out about lake preservation, that initial bewilderment was replaced by an enthusiasm that could help keep state lakes free of invasive species.

Notable graduates: Leann Barden — Research leads to help for dysphagia sufferers

UW-Madison food science graduate Leann Barden made a commitment to the field when she began researching and developing beverages suitable for people diagnosed with dysphagia, a swallowing disorder that affects nearly 18 million adults and children and is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Notable graduates: Brandon Gador — Co-Founder of Powered Green LLC

Brandon Gador, a business student majoring in marketing, didn’t like the prospect of graduating into a stuffy desk job. So, when the opportunity to enroll in Professor Phil Kim’s courses in entrepreneurship and venture creation arose, he jumped at the chance, and throughout the process, developed a feasible idea for a business with a UW-Madison peer.

Notable graduates: Craig Kohn — A passion for agricultural education

In the process of applying for grants to conduct his own environmental research, Craig Kohn was asked to take the lead on implementing an environmental education program through the Wisconsin Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association. Unenthusiastic at first, Kohn soon discovered his passion for education.