The CALS Senior Awards for Excellence in Academics, Leadership, and Service recognize students for their scholastic performance, leadership, and service. Students who have at least a 3.75 grade point average and are graduating in the 2024 calendar year were invited to apply. In addition to their outstanding academic performance, these students demonstrate remarkable records of both campus and community engagement. Out of 60 applicants, seven students were selected to receive awards. Six receive CALS senior awards and one receives a Ginsberg Family Award. The Ginsberg Family Award is distributed in honor of the late Dean of Students Paul Ginsberg. Paul’s family recognizes his profound impact on the campus community and wants to continue his legacy of transforming the student experience.

2024 CALS Senior Award Recipients:

Hermary Gonzales – Wildlife Ecology, Environmental Studies Certificate
Joshua Jast – Nutritional Sciences, Business Management for Ag and Life Sciences Certificate
Sunshine Lee –Biology, Disability Rights and Services Certificate
Ciboney Reglos – Global Health, Health Policy Certificate
Callie Saric – Biochemistry, Disability Rights and Services Certificate, Promoting Activity for Diverse Abilities Certificate
Shealynn Wegner – Community and Environmental Sociology, Landscape and Urban Studies, Graphic Design Certificate, Food Systems Certificate, Architecture Certificate, Environmental Studies Certificate, Integrative Design of Build and Natural Environments Certificate, Leadership Certificate

2024 CALS Ginsberg Recipient:

Sophia Schoenfeld – Biology, Honors in Research, Health Policy Certificate

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Hermary Gonzales
Hermary Gonzales is a senior majoring in wildlife ecology with a certificate in environmental studies. She is part of the McNair Scholars Program and the Community Environmental Scholars Program. Hermary is passionate about wildlife conservation, which inspired her to join the Peery Lab as an undergraduate research assistant in her sophomore year. In the lab, she assists with barred owl research projects – one of which resulted in her first scientific publication. Currently, Hermary serves as the secretary of WILD-SEEDS, which is the student chapter of the Ecological Society of America. She previously served as the cultural chair of the Filipinx American Student Organization. Outside of campus, Hermary volunteers with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a wildlife surveyor and with Wisconsin Science Olympiad as an event supervisor for the state tournament. She hopes to bring all her experiences back home and work on conserving Hawaii’s biodiversity.

Joshua Jast
Joshua is a senior finishing up his undergraduate degree in nutritional sciences.  He has had the privilege to participate in several clubs and projects, including Badger Cru, Thirst@UW, MIPOD Missions and more. His role in these organizations has prepared him more than he could’ve imagined coming into college. Badger Cru has helped him grow in his faith in Jesus Christ and seek to know God and make Him known to others. CALS has opened the doors to meeting many great people, a few of which helped him start Thirst@UW, a nonprofit through which they were able to drill a well in rural Eswatini, Africa. His recent partnership with a new non-profit, MIPOD Missions, has allowed him to help to drill a water well, serving thousands of locals with clean water and improved sanitation in Kisii, Kenya. He has sought many more opportunities throughout his time in CALS and has been blessed to be a part of this amazing community that creates value and gives back to the world around them. 

Sunshine Lee
Sunshine is attaining a bachelor’s degree in biology and a certificate in disability rights and services. She is a Mercile J. Lee Scholar and served as the Service Chair in the program for three years. She has also worked on research at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research. She has volunteered in several hospitals and the McBurney Disability Resource Center.  She will be attending UW medical school in the fall.  Sunshine is passionate about engaging in community service, advocating for social justice, addressing health disparities and promoting sustainability. Throughout her academic journey at UW–Madison, she has encountered so many supportive advisors, professors, TAs, mentors and peers. She is grateful for all of the encouragement and guidance that she has received. Lastly, she would like to thank her family who always believed in her and saw her potential to achieve great things.

Ciboney Reglos
Hailing from Minneapolis, MN, Ciboney decided to pursue her passions at UW–Madison, where she majors in global health with certificates in health policy and leadership. Since her arrival, she has been involved in a variety of campus activities: serving as a Filipinx American Student Organization (FASO) executive board member, working as an intern in the Office of Inclusion Education, co-leading a health project for Public Humanities Exchange for Undergraduates (HEX-U) and more. With a passion for cultural representation and supporting individuals with minoritized identities, she is excited to fulfill the DEI director position for Senior Class Office. As a proud Filipino American, she aims to imbue the strong community values and inclusivity of Filipino culture into her work. In the future, Ciboney is excited to pursue a Master of Public Health program, where she hopes to provide insight and her own lived experiences to better health outcomes and health inequities for marginalized communities.

Callie Saric
Callie will graduate with a bachelor’s in biochemistry and attend medical school in the fall. In addition to her STEM curriculum, she completed certificates in disability rights and services and promoting activity for diverse abilities. These courses taught her how to advocate for inclusion in both healthcare and social settings. As co-president of UW Best Buddies, she managed an organization with more than 300 members, fostering friendship for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Furthermore, Callie’s work in two scientific research labs contributed to publications reflecting advancements in the fields of vocal health, social epidemiology and rheumatology. She also served as vice president of UW Letters of Love, a pediatric medical assistant, a leader in her Greek Orthodox Byzantine Women’s Chant Group, a shadowing intern for a myriad of specialty physicians, a caregiver for patients with memory disorders and a literacy tutor through Schools of Hope. Callie has immensely enjoyed her time in Madison and is grateful for every impactful opportunity that has shaped her on her journey toward medicine.

Shealynn Wegner
Shealynn is a first–generation senior double majoring in community and environmental sociology as well as landscape and urban studies, with certificates in environmental studies, food systems, and graphic design. In her leadership and service roles, she has been dedicated to fostering community engagement and sustainable practices. As a UniverCity Alliance Scholar, she supported the Village of Cottage Grove in obtaining Bicycle Friendly Community designation. She organized activities for the Wisconsin Undergraduate Planning Association and mentored underclassmen interested in urban planning. Serving as a student representative on the Dane County Regional Housing Advisory Committee, she contributed to long-term housing planning. Additionally, she participated in the Community & Environmental Scholars Program, volunteered at a local school and co-produced a documentary on climate activism.  Her internships with the City of Madison Planning Division, Farm to Facts, and Environmental Politics Lab further developed her research and community engagement skills. As the social media coordinator for the Department of Community and Environmental Sociology, she managed marketing and social media relations. Through volunteering with UW Slow Food and the Dane County Farmers Market, she promoted food justice and community engagement. These experiences have equipped her with the skills and passion to drive positive change and foster sustainable communities.

Sophia Schoenfeld
Sophia Schoenfeld, a third-year senior in CALS, is pursuing degrees in biology and health policy and is an Honors in Research student. Throughout her time on campus, Sophia pursued multiple research projects, exploring areas such as reproductive endocrinology, lactation physiology, maternal mental health and fertility. She aspires to bridge gaps between basic science, healthcare and policy implementation. In addition to research, Sophia has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills as a peer leader for several courses, including the CALS QuickStart program, CALS Honors in Research seminar and an advanced physiology laboratory. She is committed to giving back both nationally and locally, volunteering with the National Institutes of Health as an intern in the Office of Research on Women’s Health and serving as a head college advising fellow for under-served high school students. Sophia has also maintained an outstanding academic record, and she hopes to attend medical school after graduation.