With the end of the 2022-23 academic year, UW-Madison has recognized how a few notable graduates made their mark on campus – and beyond. Two History graduates have received recognition for their outstanding work from the University.
Robert Hall received an Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award from UW-Madison. This weekend, Robert will graduate with majors in History and Genetics & Genomics, as well as a certificate in Environmental Studies and honors in History. Robert received his honors in History by writing his senior thesis titled, “Information Wants to Be Free: How Public Universities Contributed to Mass Incarceration.” In addition to completing his degree, Robert has created a program called Liberated Intellects, which aims to benefit formerly incarcerated individuals by reducing recidivism through increasing educational access and improving their work prospects. Robert received funding through a 2022-2023 Wisconsin Idea Fellowship to build the program. This fall, Robert will attend graduate school at Stanford University as a PhD student, and hopes to study evolutionary biology and genetics, ultimately to influence animal conservation and become a professor.
Cole Roecker received the Theodore Herfurth and Teddy Kubly Awards for Comprehensive Undergraduate Excellence, which is among the oldest and most prestigious honors on campus. These awards are given annually to two seniors who have made the most effective use of their time at UW-Madison. Cole is graduating this weekend with majors in History, English and French, with a certificate in European studies and honors in History. He completed a senior thesis titled, “The Illusion of Ecological Restoration: A History of Horicon Marsh Wildlife Refuge and the Trouble with ‘Restoring’ Land.” Cole received the 2022 Davis/Gerstein Undergraduate Research Award from the Department of History to fund his thesis research. After graduation, Cole will teach English in France working with underserved students at the high school level. He intends to pursue a doctorate in history or literature upon completion of his teaching post.
Congratulations to Robert and Cole for their outstanding work during their time here at UW-Madison!
