The Friends of the Waisman Center present seven awards each year to Waisman students, staff, and and family volunteers. The awards acknowledge outstanding achievements by students, exceptional job performance, skills, and accomplishments of staff, and significant contributions by family volunteers. The awards include a plaque and a $500 check.
The awards underscore the importance of Waisman Center students. staff, and family volunteers in furthering the mission of the Waisman Center.
The awards are presented annually at the Friends of the Waisman Center annual meeting and reception.
The Waisman Center also presents several Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships at the Friends meeting. These competitive awards are given to graduate students working with a Waisman principal investigator and supports research, training, and tuition remission for a nine-month academic year.
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowships
Brittany St. John
Nominated by Karla Ausderau, PhD
Brittany is a fifth year doctoral student in Kinesiology: Occupational Science. She was nominated for this award by her mentor, Karla Ausderau. Brittany’s research is focused on two areas: investigating health disparities and factors influencing participation in health promoting activities for individuals with disabilities and their families and understanding family relationships and context to support the development of ecologically valid family interventions targeting parent and child outcomes. Brittany is committed to disseminating the importance of inclusive research methods and the significance of lived experiences of disability in understanding health disparities and barriers to health promotion. She was a Waisman Morse Scholar and LEND trainee.
As Karla states in her nomination, “Brittany exemplifies the Waisman Center’s core mission through her fervent pursuit of inclusive research, promotion of health for people with disabilities, and dedication to interdisciplinary training and collaborations. Her commitment to community partnerships and stakeholder focused dissemination efforts are the embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea. She shows promise as a future scholar and advocate for children’s development and family well being.”
Olivia Surgent
Nominated by Brittany Travers, PhD
Olivia is a fifth year doctoral student in neuroscience. She was nominated by Brittany Travers for her work in her lab. Olivia’s dissertation is focused on the developmental, psychosocial and neurobiological basis of hand grip strength on autism and why it differs in autistic individuals. Her research has the potential to transform how we conceptualize the motor symptoms in ASD as they relate to key neurobiological functions and structures, potentially unveiling novel biomarkers and creating new pathways for clinical interventions.
Brittany states in her nomination letter “Olivia is my first doctoral trainee, and she has proven herself to be incredibly productive and promising young scientist. She is asking important questions about the neurobiological basis of sensory and motor skills in autistic individuals. While most studies use only one neuroimaging modality, Olivia is combining multiple neuroimaging techniques to elucidate what is happening in the brain to lead to motor skill differences in autistic individuals. She is the ideal graduate student: rigorous in her attention to detail, intellectually curious, an excellent communicator, and fiercely committed to science for the benefit of others. Her passion for doing science that helps the autism community is unparalleled, and she has been an exceptional contributor to the mission of our lab and to the mission of the Waisman Center.”
Graduate Student Awards
IDDRC Graduate Student Award
Matt Zammit, PhD
Nominated by Brad Christian, PhD
Matt recently completed his PhD in medical physics. He was nominated for this award by Brad Christian. Matt’s research investigated the time course of neuroimaging biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome. His research involved detailed analysis of PET and MRI neuroimaging data acquired from Christian’s Alzheimer’s Biomarker
Consortium Down Syndrome study.
As Brad states in his nomination letter, “Matt has been a tremendously hard working researcher with an incredibly high level of productivity. His demanding thesis project
necessitated not only a deep understanding of the scientific questions we’re pursuing in a rapidly evolving field, but also required exceptional organizational skills and creativity. These attributes are something that Matt has had to work diligently to develop, as he continues to grow into a talented young scientist. Matt has been an invaluable resource in my lab
with his willingness and patience to not only train and help new students become acclimated to the lab setting, but also in contributing toward a welcoming, inclusive and overall positive lab environment.”
UCEDD Graduate Student Award
Sarah Bubash
Nominated by Leann DaWalt, PhD and Anne Bradford Harris, PhD
Sarah is a third year doctoral student in the special education program in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education. She is also a trainee in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. She was nominated for this award by Leann DaWalt and Anne Bradford Harris. Sarah’s contributions to the LEND program in the last year include a major effort in preparing and launching the “Disability Justice” modular curriculum for other LEND trainees, participating in the pilot of a Transition Consultation interdisciplinary team activity for LEND trainees and faculty to serve families (remotely), co facilitating group learning experiences for 1 st year LEND trainees, and working with the Wisconsin Integrated Transition Pilot Planning project, a one year collaborative effort with communities in Wisconsin to improve transition planning for families who have difficulty accessing services. All of this work has been concurrent and in addition to her doctoral work in special education.
As stated on their nomination, “Sarah is a gifted teacher, a compassionate colleague and advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and an eager and enthusiastic team member. She is a joy to work with and exemplifies the type of student who contributes to the expertise and mission of the Waisman Center UCEDD. We look forward to Sarah’s continued excellent contributions to improving the lives of people with IDD in her future career.”
Staff Awards
University Staff Awards

Dawna Bollig, Megan Eastwood, Roy Emerson, & Maria Perez
Nominated by Jules Panksepp, PhD and Tracy Hagemann, PhD
Dawna, Megan, Roy and Maria were nominated for this award by Jules Panksepp and Tracy Hagemann for their work as animal research technicians (ARTs) in the Waisman Center’s Rodent Model Core. The animal research technicians are essential personnel who worked onsite throughout the pandemic. After the university announced the shut down in March of 2020, there was a scramble to order and store enough supplies to sustain the animals with food, water, bedding, and other materials for an extended period during this uncertain time. The ARTs worked long hours to meet requirements of the shut down and to subsequently maintain irreplaceable research animals for Waisman investigators over the coming months.
As stated in their nomination form, “Megan Eastwood and Roy Emerson have been employed as ARTs at Waisman for 12 years, Dawna Bollig for 10 years and Maria Perez for 3 years. During this time, there have been many changes in the Rodent Model Core, and all of the ARTs have continually taken on new tasks to facilitate research and offer technical support for investigators. There is a constant rapport between the ARTs and research staff to accommodate research needs and maintain regulatory compliance. The University Staff Award would be a meaningful acknowledgement of their dedication and important role in our research programs.”
Academic Staff Award
Clark Kellogg
Nominated by Jody Bleck, MS
Clark was nominated for this award by Jody Bleck for his work with the Waisman Communications team as a media specialist.
As stated in her nomination letter, “Clark’s role on the communication team has continued to expand as he has developed his skills. He showed tremendous initiative when he expanded his skillset and filled a need to broaden our digital presence and audio and video communication systems and capabilities. Clark has become the go to person at Waisman for help with AV, remote meeting/event planning and support services. He shows great patience and provides consistent and exceptional customer service. Clark is generous with his time and effort, ensuring weekend and after hour events are staffed and come off without a problem. His flexibility and willingness to never say “no” when someone needs his help means that he is many times staying late and sacrificing his personal time. He willingly gives of his time after hours and on weekends to successfully carry out the many outreach, community and fundraising events that are coordinated by the Waisman communications team. He always has a positive attitude and high level of professionalism. Clark is a tremendous asset to the communications team and the broader Waisman Center community.”
Family Appreciation Award for Volunteer Efforts
Pam Miller & Giizhik & Mino Klawiter

Nominated by Teresa Palumbo
Pam Miller & Giizhik & Mino Klawiter were nominated for this award by Teresa Palumbo for their ongoing and dedicated efforts to raise funds and awareness about the Waisman Center’s autism research through the sale of notecards designed by Giizhik and his brother Mino.
As stated in her nomination, “Through designing and selling his art as notecards and prints, Giizhik and his family have raised autism awareness and significant funds for autism
research at the Waisman Center. Pam, Giizhik’s mother, has sold thousands of cards at locations throughout their community including grocery stores and shopping centers. At their booth sales, they include Waisman materials and information about autism research and resources to help individuals on the spectrum and their families. Pam and Giizhik are great
community ambassadors in sharing the work of the Waisman Center throughout Sawyer County and directing support to the center’s autism efforts. The family donates 100 percent of the proceeds (more than $11,000 to date!) from their card sales to autism research at center. In sharing their experiences, they hope to increase understanding and respect for individuals with autism and promote the mission of the Waisman Center.”
Previous Award Winners
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
- 1999
- 1998
- 1997
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Brianna Piro-Gambetti — nominated by Sigan Hartley
- Sarah Furnier — nominated by Maureen Durkin
IDDRC Graduate Student
- Keegan Schoeller — nominated by Xinyu Zhao
UCEDD Graduate Student
- Kiley McLean — nominated by Anne Bradford Harris & Lauren Bishop
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Keegan Schoeller — nominated by Xinyu Zhao
University Staff Awards
- Lisa Fisher & Manda Ratcliff — nominated by Amy Whitehead
Academic Staff Awards
- Carrie Arneson — nominated by Leann DaWalt & Anita Bhattacharyya
- Elizabeth Hecht — nominated by Amy Whitehead
Family Appreciation Award
- Sharon, Steve & James Manlick — nominated by Audra Sterling
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Michael Rigby nominated by Luigi Puglielli
- Sahar Javadi nominated by Xinyu Zhao
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Phu Duong nominated by John Svaren
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Emily Wilson nominated by Anne Bradford Harris
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Oskar Zarzycki nominated by Brittany Travers
UCEDD Undergraduate Student Award
- Shira Forester nominated by Joan Ershler
University Staff Awards
- James Mulder nominated by Julie Schears
Family Appreciation Award
- Lynn & David Renner nominated by Katie Hustad
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Desia Bacon nominated by Jenny Saffran
- Emily Lorang nominated by Audra Sterling
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Katherine Sarkisian nominated by Hill Goldsmith
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Laura Lins nominated by Anne Bradford Harris & Gail Chodron
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Jason Kim nominated by Qiang Chang
UCEDD Undergraduate Student Award
- Camryn Burge nominated by Joan Ershler
University Staff Awards
- Sonja Oetzel nominated by Julie Schears
Academic Staff Awards
- Yina Xing nominated by Xinyu Zhao
Family Appreciation Award
- Elise Gold & Jenna Hughes nominated by Katie Hustad
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Arezoo Movaghar nominated by Marsha Mailick
- Rista Plate nominated by Seth Pollak
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Hanna Sawher nominated by Anne Bradford Harris
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Michael Stockton nominated by Xinyu Zhao
University Staff Awards
- Jan Torkildson & Zoe Blair nominated by Jody Bleck
Academic Staff Awards
- Amy Whitehead nominated by Bill MacLean
Family Appreciation Award
- Regina Nance & Tre’Von Byrd nominated by Katie Hustad
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Camila Lopez-Anido nominated by John Svaren
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Jeff Jones nominated by Su-Chun Zhang
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Alex Puk nominated by Anne Bradford Harris & Gail Chodron
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Kristine McLaughlin nominated by Andy Alexander & Brittany Travers
University Staff Awards
- Ruth Munz nominated by Joan Ershler
Academic Staff Awards
- Denice Springman nominated by Tracy Hagemann
Family Appreciation Award
- The Monson Family nominated by Barb Roeber
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Lindsay Dubois nominated by Maureen Durkin
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Iulia Mihaila nominated by Anne Bradford Harris
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Alyssa Wild nominated by Houri Vorperian
University Staff Awards
- Mike Ales nominated by Jody Bleck & Amy Whitehead
Academic Staff Awards
- Paul White nominated by Bill MacLean
Family Appreciation Award
- Lorraine & Kiana Narváez nominated by Teresa Palumbo
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Joseph Ma nominated by John Svaren
- Robert Bradley nominated by Su-Chun Zhang
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Cynthia Chow nominated by Sam Gubbels
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Collette Fischer nominated by Anne Bradford Harris
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Ellie Fisher nominated by Houri Vorperian
- Eric Polich nominated by Xinyu Zhao
University Staff Awards
- Pao Lee nominated by Jody Bleck
Academic Staff Awards
- Anne Bradford Harris nominated by Dan Bier
Family Appreciation Award
- Bob & Angie Tramburg nominated by Marlena Holden
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Natalie Patzlaff nominated by Xinyu Zhao
- Samuel Hurley nominated by Andy Alexander
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Brianna McMillan nominated by Jenny Saffran
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Michelle Johnson nominated by Josh Lapin
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Enio Perez nominated by David Gamm & Joe Phillips
University Staff Awards
- Susan Ellmaurer & Choutae Yang nominated by Terri Peck
Academic Staff Awards
- Shelly Godar nominated by Ruth Litovsky
- Barb Roeber nominated by Seth Pollak
Family Appreciation Award
- Kris, Todd, Shanna & Kayla Wiegand nominated by Barb Roeber
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Hongda Li nominated by Qiang Chang
- Kristen Allison nominated by Katie Hustad
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Rebecca Shalev nominated by Leann Smith
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Elliot “Max” Wilson nominated by Casey Reiser & Walt Schalick
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Tatiana Campbell nominated by Kristin Shutts
UCEDD Undergraduate Student Award
- Caitlin Zablotney nominated by Anne Harris & Kristin Aasen-Gowen
University Staff Awards
- Eric Schafer nominated by Marsha Mailick
Academic Staff Awards
- Karla Knobel nominated by John Svaren
Family Appreciation Award
- Andrea Wipperfurth & Max & Zoe Goldstein nominated by Barb Wagner
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Emily McFadd nominated by Katie Hustad
- Holly Hung nominated by John Svaren
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Ronghui Li nominated by Qiang Chang
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Kim Leibhart nominated by Anne Harris
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- George Bonadurer nominated by Anita Bhattacharyya
University Staff Awards
- Heather Asplund nominated by Douglas Swiggum
Academic Staff Awards
- Lynda Wright nominated by David Gamm
Family Appreciation Award
- Claudia, Isabella, & Paula Prolla nominated by Barb Wagner
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Cindy Huang nominated by Su-Chun Zhang
- Emily Cunningham nominated by Qiang Chang
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Matthew Maenner nominated by Maureen Durkin
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Katie Weir nominated by Josh Lapin
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Daniel Brunner nominated by Sam Gubbels
UCEDD Undergraduate Student Award
- Leah Zimmerman nominated by Erik Carter & Beth Swedeen
University Staff Awards
- Michelle Justice nominated by Mary Fendry
Academic Staff Awards
- Nicole Schmidt nominated by Hill Goldsmith
Family Appreciation Award
- Justine Mays Family nominated by Seth Pollak & Barb Roeber
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Erin Jones nominated by John Svaren
- Lynn Sisco nominated by Erik Carter
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Courtney Karasinski nominated by Susan Ellis Weismer
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Jessica Valadez Spruyt nominated by Anne Heintzelman & Barb Wagner
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Jacob Zimbric nominated by Anita Bhattacharyya
UCEDD Undergraduate Student Award
- Jenna Evans nominated by Angela Radloff
University Staff Awards
- Harrison Wiley nominated by Carole Maddox
Academic Staff Awards
- David Wargowski nominated by Larry Kaplan
Family Appreciation Award
- Peggy Nied & Family nominated by Barb Wagner
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Paige Jany nominated by Albee Messing
- Sara T. Kover nominated by Len Abbeduto
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Jimin Lee nominated by Katie Hustad
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Nasuh Malas nominated by Anne Harris
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Matthew Pesko nominated by Erik Carter, Beth Swedeen, & Colleen Moss
UCEDD Undergraduate Student Award
- Anne Eichmeyer nominated by Susan Prodell
University Staff Awards
- Mary Fendry nominated by Teresa Egan
Academic Staff Awards
- Renee Makuch nominated by Marsha Mailick & Jan Greenberg
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
Brendon Nacewicz nominated by Richie Davidson
2007—Renee Pierpont nominated by Susan Ellis Weismer & Mark Seidenberg
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Elizabeth Roos nominated by Susan Ellis Weismer
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Nicole Ditchman nominated by Erik Carter
IDDRC Undergraduate Students Awards
- Lindsay Johnson nominated by Susan Riesch & Karen Kedrowski
UCEDD Undergraduate Student Award
- Andrea Hayes nominated by Joan Ershler
University Staff Awards
- Peggy Johnson nominated by April Meiller & Jon Wolff
Academic Staff Awards
- Teresa Palumbo nominated by Pat Mitchell
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Alison B. Wismer Fries nominated by Seth Pollak
- Sandra Klein nominated by Clive Svendsen
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Robert Krencik nominated by Su-Chun Zhang
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Alison Conniff nominated by Linda Tuchman-Ginsberg
University Staff Awards
- Lori Vavrus nominated by Donna Cole
Academic Staff Awards
- Julie Gamradt nominated by Dan Bier
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Heather Geye nominated by Susan Ellis Weismer & Morton Gernsbacher
- Woosung Cho nominated by Albee Messing
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Amy Jo Miller Schwichtenberg nominated by Julie Poehlmann
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Daniel Miner-Nordstrom nominated by Rita Hohlstein
University Staff Awards
- Mary Rasmussen nominated by April Meiller & Jon Wolff
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Aimee Arnoldussen nominated by Mark Seidenberg
- Oleg Broytman nominated by Jim Malter
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Katharine Graf Estes nominated by Jenny Saffran & Julia Evans
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Teresa Rommelfanger nominated by Susan Heighway & Rita Hohlstein
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Erica Kesin Richmond nominated by Len Abbeduto
- Hyun-Jung Kim nominated by Clive Svendsen
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Allison B. Wismer Fries nominated by Seth Pollak
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Norah Kutz nominated by Amy Fruchtman
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Matthew Pankratz nominated by Su-Chun Zhang
- Melissa Pavetto nominated by Len Abbeduto
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Hyun-Jung Kim nominated by Clive Svendsen
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Brianne Patchell nominated by Amy Fruchtman
- Amy White nominated by Richard Pauli
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
- Paul Shattuck nominated by Marsha Mailick
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Erik Thiessen nominated by Jenny Saffran & Fred Wightman
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Charles Degeneffe nominated by Rita Hohlstein
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Paul Shattuck nominated by Marsha Mailick
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Aaron Bishop nominated by Rita Hohlstein
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Sally Miles nominated by Robin Chapman
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Kirsten Beach nominated by Rita Hohlstein
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Steve Nanda nominated by Kenneth Mack
IDDRC Graduate Student Awards
- Yvette Pettee nominated by Marsha Mailick
UCEDD Graduate Student Awards
- Melanie Gillingham nominated by Rita Hohlstein