Campus Connection

The UW-La Crosse Student Association won’t award a state education champion this year. The student governance group typically awards a Higher Education Advocate of the Year Award annually to someone who has been a champion of higher education in Wisconsin. The recipient reflects outstanding commitment to higher education and students around the state, particularly at UW-L. Past recipients of the award include:

• 2008-09: La Crosse Tribune Publisher Rusty Cunningham
• 2009-10: Representative (current Senator) Jennifer Shilling
• 2010-11: Former UW Board of Regents member Brent Smith
• 2011-12: Former UW System President Kevin Riley
• 2012-13: Professor Emeritus Joseph Heim
• 2013-14: Representative Jill Billings

In order to preserve the integrity of this award and the past recipients, the Student Association will not award the honor for the 2014-15, says Chris Stackhouse, director of public relations for the Student Association. “The Student Association saw many UW System advocates throughout the budgeting process, but not to the extent that students needed these past few months,” says Stackhouse. “Students needed a champion during this past budget cycle and moving forward, and we look forward to finding that champion of students and higher education in Wisconsin.”