The Louis Korenman Badger Volunteers Award honors a student who exemplifies the spirit of the Badger Volunteers community and, like Louis, considers volunteering a central part of their college experience. The Louis Korenman Badger Volunteers Award is presented to a Badger Volunteer for whom volunteering was a central part of their college experience and excels in the following areas:
Commitment to Service within a Community: the nominee embraces service as a central part of their UW experience, and recognizes the importance of contributing to the community in a meaningful way that respects the organization while honoring the civic and social issues they aim to work with.
Awareness of Self and Others: the nominee is dedicated to self-reflection to identify strengths and areas of growth to inform ongoing personal development as well as understanding of others. The nominee works to build meaningful mutually beneficial relationships.
Embodiment of the Badger Volunteers Spirit: the nominee exudes the spirit and energy of the Badger Volunteers community and serves as a positive ambassador and model of Badger Volunteers within both campus and the broader community.
Award winners receive a $400 one time scholarship.
2024: Adbulkareem Alshanqiti, Candace May, and Sam Deibert
2023: Sabrina Oh
2022: Emily Merkel
2021: Akshay Kalra
2020: Chandler Krajco
2019: Kimberly Baeb and Grace Swanson
2018: Gabrielle Heytens
2017: Carol Silva
2016: Dean Bowen
2015: Kaitlyn Shaughnessy
2014: Aaron Vogt
2013: Jewel Rose
2012: Andrea Radi
2011: Jessica Boebel
As a student at UW–Madison, Louis dedicated much of his time to helping others, including his friends. Service and caring for his community was central to his way of life. Even while studying abroad in London, he volunteered to provide support to the homeless and to tutor disadvantaged students.
As a Badger Volunteer, Louis spent two years empowering and supporting youth at Madison community centers. Those who worked with him appreciated his patience and dedication to the students. However, perhaps more remarkable, was his sincere commitment to building relationships and demonstrating genuine care for his community. One particular example involved Louis’ childhood Lego collection. After several weeks of volunteering, he asked his family to mail his enormous collection to UW, all the way from New Jersey. Louis then donated them to the center so the kids could enjoy them as much as he had. He took joy in giving joy to others.
The recipient of this award is encouraged to carry on Louis’ goodwill by touching others’ lives in a meaningful way. Louis saw the good qualities of people first, rather than making quick judgments. If people give others a chance, the possibilities for positive change are endless.
> ENGAGED ALUMNI AWARD
> EXCELLENCE IN ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP GRADUATE STUDENT AWARD
> FRED RISSER EXCELLENCE IN ENGAGED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AWARD
> GINSBERG FAMILY AWARD
> LOUIS KORENMAN BADGER VOLUNTEERS AWARD
> NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOWSHIP
> STUDENT ACTIVISM AWARD
Any questions or concerns? Email: jramirez27@wisc.edu.
2025 Recipient Norah Paulsen
Norah has been a Badger Volunteer with the Goodman Community Center for over a year. And has been part of the Badger Volunteers program since spring of 2023.
After her initial semester as a team member, Norah has served as team leader for all other semesters.
Her nominator stated: “Norah jumps right into engaging with participants. She is great at communicating with people of all abilities and making everyone feel valued and welcome…It is volunteers like her that keep our programs running and help them grow.”