Louis Korenman Badger Volunteers Award
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.
2026: Nathan Sever
2025: Norah Paulsen
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.
Any questions or concerns? Email: jramirez27@wisc.edu
2026 Recipient Nathan Sever
Volunteerism has always been among Nathan’s most deeply held values. When Nathan arrived on campus as a freshman, he immediately found Badger Volunteers as a great way to continue his commitment to service, now benefitting his new community of Madison.
From tutoring at West High School to supporting St. Vincent de Paul’s drive-through food pantry to engaging with adults with disabilities at Neighborhood House to reading with after-school students at Lighthouse Christian School, Nathan has now spent all six of his semesters on campus bringing his enthusiasm and humility to the wider Madison community in an authentic, supportive way.
Each time he volunteers, he seeks to bring the best version of himself, as he is representing himself, Badger Volunteers, and UW-Madison.