Join local Badgers to celebrate the UW spirit at our 2025 Founders’ Day celebration! We will honor local high school grads with scholarships, hear from UW professor Brad Herrick about his work at the UW Arboretum and the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, and celebrate our Badger of the Year, Steve Nick ’92, JD’95.
The cost is $30 per person or $20 for recent graduates. This price includes a buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres. A cash bar serving wine and beer will be available.
Register by May 1.
About the Program
Enjoy a special presentation:
From Restoration to Innovation: The Lakeshore Nature Preserve and the Future of Sustainable Stewardship
Join Brad Herrick, director of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, for an engaging discussion on the intersection of ecological restoration, community engagement, and sustainable design. With over two decades of experience as a research ecologist—including his leadership at the UW Arboretum—Herrick brings a wealth of knowledge on how restoring and preserving natural spaces can serve as a foundation for broader environmental innovation. Whether you’re interested in conservation, sustainability, or the role of natural spaces in urban environments, this talk will provide a compelling look at how UW–Madison is leading the way in ecological stewardship and innovation.
Event Schedule
Schedule of Events
5:30 p.m. Social hour begins
6:30 p.m. Program begins
7:30 p.m. Event concludes
About the Speaker
Brad Herrick is the director of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve at UW–Madison. Herrick oversees the research, teaching, and outreach mission of the 300-acre natural area. He works collaboratively with preserve staff, the preserve committee, and Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve to support the teaching and research mission of UW–Madison and promote the Wisconsin Idea. Herrick has more than 20 years of experience as a research ecologist. He was most recently the ecologist and research program manager at the UW Arboretum, where he led diverse teams of ecologists, land managers, data analysts, educators, and citizen scientists to advance the science of restoration ecology while communicating to broad audiences. Herrick’s research interests include plant community ecology, invasion biology, and the effects of urbanization on ecosystem health. He is a founding member and codirector of the Healthy Soil Collaborative, a partnership of researchers and outreach specialists from the United States and Canada, conducting ecosystem-scale research on questions related to soil health, invasive species, and sustainability. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Luther College and a master’s degree in ecosystems studies from UW–Green Bay. He is a PhD candidate in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at UW–Madison.
Awards
We are pleased to honor Badger of the Year recipient Steve Nick.
Badger of the Year honorees are selected based on leadership in their professions, service in their communities, and/or contributions to volunteer organizations.
Additional Information
When you register, please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or require accessibility accommodations.
