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Honorary Alumnus Award

The Honorary Alumnus Award is presented to non-alumni or non-degreed alumni who have demonstrated great love of and service to UW-Eau Claire or the greater community.

Jane Larson, alumni engagement coordinator, University Advancement

For the past 25 years, Jane Larson has been the face of the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association, executing her job as alumni engagement coordinator since 2001 with skill, dedication and a healthy dose of Blugold spirit, always.

Larson oversees major events like Homecoming and the annual alumni awards and Golden Blugold dinners, along with myriad smaller-scale alumni gatherings across the state, the region, the country and even internationally.

Blugolds scattered near and far can count on Larson to coordinate fun get-togethers for sharing stories, accomplishments and plans. Her attention to detail and stellar communication and organizational skills have built a strong Blugold footprint nationwide that demonstrates what it means to join the Blugold family upon graduation.

Michele Olson, Foundation director of stewardship and planned giving, has worked with Larson for many years and could not imagine a more deserving recipient of the Honorary Alumnus Award.

“There seemed to be no better time than now, after 25 years, to honor Jane in this way. She truly is a Blugold at heart, as shown by her decades of service and dedication to UW-Eau Claire alumni all over the globe,” Olson says.

Kimera Way, Foundation president emerita, who also joined UW-Eau Claire in 2001, marks this occasion with sincere gratitude and appreciation for all that Larson does for campus.

“Working with Jane was one of the best aspects of being with the UW-Eau Claire Foundation,” Way says.

“From day one, she projected a quiet, steady demeanor that was perfect for a job where no two days are ever the same. Jane has been the face and personality of the Alumni Association. Her superpower is her amazing organizational ability and willingness to take on any task or adventure presented to her. She is a Blugold through and through, so now it’s official.”

Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award

The Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes distinguished service to the community, state or nation in a manner that brings credit upon the award recipient and UW-Eau Claire.

James Brandes ’81, bachelor’s degree in chemistry

Dr. James Brandes says that his undergraduate education at UW-Eau Claire ignited a passion for knowledge that propelled him to medical school, residency, a fellowship and ultimately a distinguished career of 35 years in the practice of nephrology. Brandes retired from medical practice in 2018.

“Studying chemistry and mathematics at UW-Eau Claire was one of the best decisions of my life,” Brandes says. “The outstanding faculty fostered my passion for learning, scientific investigation and teaching. They taught me the importance of community responsibility and service.”

Brandes established his private practice, Midwest Nephrology Associates of Milwaukee, and was on the nephrology and teaching staff at multiple hospitals in the greater Milwaukee area. He has often been honored with awards for his teaching of family medicine, internal medicine and nephrology.

“I believe that to be a good doctor you must be a good teacher, equipping patients with the knowledge to understand their disease,” Brandes says. “My passion for teaching, inspired by the UW-Eau Claire community, is a major factor in my being honored over the years as a ‘Best Doctor in Nephrology,’ in the Milwaukee area.”

Brandes and his wife, Debbie, met while both were students at UW-Eau Claire, Debbie in the College of Nursing. They have been married for 45 years and have three children, Katie, John and Elizabeth. The two youngest are also Blugolds, and Brandes says he hopes to convince their two grandsons to follow suit.

When asked what thoughts he cared to share with current UW-Eau Claire students, Brandes focused on a reminder of the big picture takeaways.

“Be confident in the strong foundation of excellence that UW-Eau Claire is providing you, no matter what you choose to explore next,” Brandes says. “This foundation includes vision, relationship building, core competencies, adaptability, mentorship and the value of continuous learning.”

Chelsey Moore ’06, bachelor’s degree in sociology

Dr. Chelsey Moore is an accomplished optometric physician, healthcare leader and advocate whose professional journey, she says, has been grounded in “service, integrity and balance.” After graduating from UW-Eau Claire in 2006 with her bachelor’s degree in sociology, Moore completed her doctor of optometry degree in 2010 at the Indiana University School of Optometry, where she graduated third in her class.

Moore practices optometry at the Prairie Eye Center in Springfield, Illinois, where she specializes in the management of moderate to severe glaucoma.

Drawn to UW-Eau Claire, in part, by the gymnastic program, Moore competed as an Academic All-American and graduated magna cum laude. As a student-athlete, Moore says she developed skills and attributes that she carried into her approaches to medicine and service.

“The lessons I learned in the gym — preparation, accountability, perseverance and teamwork — later proved equally valuable in the clinic and boardroom,” Moore says.

Beyond her busy practice, Moore has assumed numerous local, state and national leadership roles in the field of optometry, including:

• Past president and chair of the board of the Illinois Optometric Association
• Current chair of the Illinois State Board of Optometry
• Professional advisory board member for Women in Optometry

Awards and honors of note include:

• Illinois Optometric Association Optometrist of the Year
• American Optometry Association President’s Award
• Indiana University School of Optometry Early Career Award Winner
• Springfield Business Journal 40 Under 40

Moore and her husband and fellow optometrist, Brian, have two children, Brian and Elise. Balancing family, career, volunteerism and community leadership is a challenge, Moore says, but “balance remains the guiding principle, based on the belief that meaningful careers and strong families grow together.”

Moore has several “words of wisdom” to share with current Blugolds:

“Take chances because growth rarely happens in comfort. Seek balance early and often; you don’t have to choose between professional success and a meaningful personal life. Say yes to experiences that can enrich your life — learning doesn’t end at graduation. And finally, trust that each step shapes who you will become. Lead with integrity, give back generously and stay connected to those who support you.”

Lifetime Excellence Award

The Lifetime Excellence Award is presented to alumni who have demonstrated longtime and successful commitment to their careers and communities. These individuals have made a positive and dramatic impact through their enthusiastic dedication to service and living their lives as a testimony to UW-Eau Claire’s motto, “Excellence.”

Patti Habeck ’92, bachelor’s degree in biology

Patti Habeck is a professional who has had strong business leadership roots in the Fox Valley throughout her career. She currently serves as president and CEO of New North Inc., a regional marketing and economic development organization for the northeast region of Wisconsin.

Prior to this position, Habeck served for 14 years in various leadership roles with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, the last eight of which were as CEO and president of the nonprofit. Under her leadership, the organization reached its strongest-ever financial standing and largest food resource inventory in its history. She also oversaw expansion of the organization in a new 40,000 square-foot facility, along with significantly growing its delivery fleet and staff.

Former industry colleague Suzanne Becker served as director of Eau Claire’s Feed My People Food Bank and nominated Habeck for this honor.

“With 550,000 individuals and a network of 400 food pantries, meal programs and hunger-relief organizations relying on the food bank, Patti set forth a forward-looking and ambitious agenda to address hunger needs head-on with a focus on increasing access to nutritious food for both urban and rural areas of Wisconsin. Thanks to her collaborative efforts, Wisconsin food banks no longer act as silos, but rather work together in support of hunger-relief efforts for the entire state of Wisconsin,” Becker says.

After completing her bachelor’s degree in biology at UW-Eau Claire, Habeck earned a master of education degree from UW-Platteville. She also served in leadership roles with the Building for Kids Children’s Museum and the Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region, both in Appleton.

In 2025, Habeck was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection board, and she is a member of the Council of Trustees for UW-Green Bay.

Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award

The Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award acknowledges the special achievements and great promise of alumni who are within 15 years of their graduation from UW-Eau Claire.

Alex Brown ’16, bachelor’s degree in mathematics

Just one year after graduating with a degree in actuarial science, Alex Brown stepped up in big ways to support future students, and his generosity has only grown from there. To support future Blugolds in pursuing forensics, Brown funded a scholarship to help more students experience what Brown called a formative college experience.

“Forensics is what made me successful after college — before joining, I didn’t know how to speak to people. I knew I wanted to give back to it,” Brown said in a 2022 interview about his Forensics Promise Scholarship and connected Foundation fund. A year later, Brown also established a scholarship fund to support students interested in the Civil Rights Pilgrimage, a long-standing UW-Eau Claire cultural immersion.

“I want to help make it possible for students to come to UW-Eau Claire and be a part of these incredible programs without having to worry too much about finances,” Brown says.

After graduating, Brown began his career doing standard actuarial work for Sentry Insurance, but says he quickly gained a “broader passion for data, analytics and technology.”

“That curiosity led to a transition to consulting with a company called Accenture, where I taught myself modern data languages and coding frameworks,” says Brown, who later moved on to consulting positions with technology firms like Avande, Neudesic and a chief technology officer role with Conclusn in Phoenix, Arizona.

Brown and a fellow Blugold launched a startup in 2025 — Portico Insights, a data and analytics consultancy firm focused on the healthcare industry.

“Alex is selfless and understands that by giving back we make a difference bigger than ourselves. He is humble, poised, professional and kind-hearted, with a huge heart and passion to help students without the same resources and privileges he had,” says Emily Wermund, a development office with the UW-Eau Claire Foundation.

Brown offers a few tips to current and future Blugolds looking to accelerate their future careers.

“The biggest opportunities in my career came from stepping into unfamiliar territory,” Brown says. “Growth rarely comes from staying within the job description you started. Be willing to learn something new, take on a challenge you aren’t fully prepared for yet. Take every opportunity to present your work to others — advocate for yourself, because nobody will do it as well as you can.”

Leslie Peterson ’19, bachelor’s degree in communication

When she was selected to give one of the student addresses at her 2019 commencement ceremony at UW-Eau Claire, Leslie Peterson centered her speech on the notion of “living your dash,” or the hyphen between the year of birth and the year of death.

“For me, that expression was about making the most of the time and opportunities we’re given,” Peterson says. “From that moment at commencement, I promised myself I would embrace risk, growth and possibility.”

It was a personal pledge that Peterson has lived up to.

Since making a move to New York City in 2022, having no real connections or job prospects, Peterson says she has “relentlessly networked” and eventually broke through in the media industry. She is now in her “dream job” at NBC Universal Studios’ Ad Sales Center of Excellence where she began as a sales coordinator and now serves as a manager.

At NBCU, Peterson was invited to join the guest experience team for the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special. She says her main roles for the event were managing advertiser clients on the red carpet, overseeing general communications and safety, and later being a seat filler during the live broadcast.

“It was an unforgettable experience that had me sitting beside icons like Meryl Streep, Tina Fey and Pete Davidson,” Peterson says.

Peterson has “lived the dash” in myriad ways, with the following accomplishments topping her points of pride list:

• April 2023 NYU Yellowbrick’s 40 Under 40 list
• Recipient of NBCU’s Five Going the Extra Mile award
• NYU Stern & Tisch Entertainment Business Association X NBCU Workshop guest speaker
• Completion of three marathons so far, with more to come in 2026

Daniela Diaz-Arbelaez, director of the Center of Excellence at NBC Universal, applauds Peterson as a “trusted and indispensable resource” for the division, and notes a certain initiative that she says exemplifies Peterson’s ability and initiative.

“One of Leslie’s most impactful contributions has been leading our Going for Gold program, created to help 2,000 employees navigate a time of significant change and reorganization in the company,” Diaz-Arbelaez says.

“Leslie’s mentorship has been instrumental in shaping the careers of countless individuals, many of whom credit her with helping them find their footing and their voice in a fast-paced industry.”

President’s Award

The President’s Award recognizes outstanding professional and personal achievements and service to UW-Eau Claire.

Daniel Wenzel ’82, bachelor’s degree in accounting

Dan Wenzel is the vice president of global tax for Driscoll’s Inc., the world’s largest berry company, with more than 6,000 employees across six continents.

After completing his degree in accounting at UW-Eau Claire, Wenzel went on to UW Law School, graduating cum laude in 1985. He practiced law at the Madison firm of Axley Brynelson until 1988, when he moved to S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., beginning his journey as an international tax lawyer.

Wenzel progressed in various roles until 2009 when he became the global tax leader for S.C. Johnson. In 2012, Wenzel moved to Levi Strauss & Co in San Francisco, California, as vice president of global tax. He played an important role in Levi’s 2019 initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

“My career has been a mixture of accounting and law in international and U.S. tax,” Wenzel says. “This requires building layers of technical knowledge and business experiences. The strong work ethic, principles and standards embedded in the culture of excellence at UW-Eau Claire resonated with me. It set me up long term to succeed with each new professional challenge.”

As Wenzel progressed and became a leader in corporate tax departments, he traveled to work in more than 60 countries.

“I was fortunate to be with companies with clearly defined missions — a solid balance between profits and contributing to society,” Wenzel says. “These principles merged with my foundation from UW-Eau Claire to create a consistent and cohesive approach in developing each of the individuals on my tax teams.”

Wenzel met his wife, Martha, at UW-Eau Claire. They have three children and three grandsons. In 2023, they moved to Monterey, California, for his role at Driscoll’s.

When asked if he has advice for current or future Blugolds, Wenzel replied, “Practice humility — always be open to hear from anyone, in every circumstance. Know your strengths and maximize them. Hold yourself accountable to deliver your best, knowing you will have to make sacrifices to do that.”