Years after traversing the sprawling campus of UW-Madison as students, two Ho-Chunk scholars were recognized for their contributions to their communities and their desire to advance UW–Madison’s positive impact on the world.

     Dozens of UW alumni and their families gathered at the Wisconsin Alumni Association Cooweeja Native and Indigenous Affinity Group’s Summer Alumni Gathering held June 22 at Madison’s Tenney Park.

     “It means a lot to me. The people who received these awards have all done selfless acts of service on behalf of the Teejop Native community, for Wisconsin Native communities, and for their tribes for quite a long time,” said award recipient Adrienne Thunder.

     Thunder, MS’97, is pursuing her PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the UW-Madison School of Education. She is also currently serving as the Language Division Manager for the Ho-Chunk Nation.

     Thunder was the recipient of the Badger of the Year Award. According to Cooweeja treasurer David O’Connor (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), this award is reserved for those who have represented the university positively through success in their profession, community service initiatives, or volunteer activities.

     “Serving as a cross-college advisor, Adrienne Thunder assisted students through their collegiate journey,” O’Connor added. Thunder served in this capacity for twelve years before heading the Nation’s education department and language revitalization efforts.

     Tribal elder and scholar Janice Rice was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Rice, MS’75, has been a long-time Madison resident and a fixture on the UW campus. Rice is credited with helping countless Indigenous students navigate their experience on campus for over 30 years before her retirement in 2013.

     “Janice Rice has held important space as one of our campus elders and as a librarian for our UW-Madison community. She is a keeper of cultural and institutional knowledge and has worked to pass that knowledge on. She has also worked with the Wisconsin Alumni Association to support efforts in designing the Teejop Waterscapes Boat Tours and culturally relevant components to Alumni Park that lift the Ho-Chunk people,” O’Connor said.

     Singing of the Ho-Chunk people echoed through the pavilion as invited drum Little Priest Singers entertained attendees.

     During her acceptance speech, Rice took the time to thank the singers and explain the significance of their involvement.

     “I’m so grateful for everything that has been done here today,” Rice said. “We’re on lands of Indigenous people so we were here first. I’m glad Cooweeja is strengthening the alums and making something to look forward to for the future,” she added.

     “It’s been an honor and a responsibility I think we all feel and hope the next generation will carry on. Plus, it felt really good to be back in the company of so many people we’ve known, cared about, and invested in for so many years,” added Thunder, “we’re like one big family.”

     Among other alumni recognized at the event were Thunder’s husband Dr. J P Leary (Cherokee/Delaware descendent) and Dr. Nicole Soulier (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe).

     According to their website, the Wisconsin Alumni Association: Cooweeja Native and Indigenous Affinity Group strives to use creative, innovative, and community-suggested programs to assist alumni and students in preserving their diverse cultural values. The group aims to advance the mission of the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the university by advocating for Native and Indigenous participation, access, and utilization of resources.

     Following the Wisconsin state motto the group’s name “Cooweeja” translates to “Forward” in Ho-Chunk. UW alumnus Henning Garvin contributed to the development of the name.