Continuing with our celebration of this year’s CALS Awards recipients, this week we are recognizing Brian Luck, winner of the WALSAA Outstanding Advisor Award.

The members of the Wisconsin Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Association (WALSAA) have been honoring outstanding advisors with this award since 1979. June Roush, WALSAA President, helped Dean Gillaspy present the award.

This year’s recipient is Brian Luck, associate professor and extension specialist in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. Luck’s commitment to advising is evident as he invests time and energy to both individual students and student organizations. He has mentored undergraduates in his lab and field research programs, providing each with personalized guidance and meaningful responsibilities.

Luck’s students praise his open-door policy and willingness to meet when it fits their busy student schedules. He is committed to responding to each student’s needs, from adapting to life on campus to balancing academic and personal responsibilities. 

Luck is also dedicated to ensuring students have valuable professional development opportunities through his commitment to student organizations. For more than a decade, he has served as an advisor for two student organizations. Under his guidance, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Student Branch was named Outstanding Chapter at the Midwest Regional Rally in 2023, a peer-selected honor. The UW–Madison Quarter Scale Tractor Pulling Team has risen from 18th to 6th place overall in recent years under Luck’s direction. He even serves as the team chef.

Luck’s steadfast support and mentorship have significantly contributed to the high performance of BSE students and organizations. His time, expertise and dedication make him an exceptional recipient of the WALSAA Outstanding Advisor Award.