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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin women's hockey team has a culture of on-ice success, one defined by four national titles and 11 appearances in the NCAA Frozen Four dating back to 2006.
Less conspicuous, but just as impressive, is an enduring commitment to civic work by its members.
Seven UW players ranked among the top 50 in volunteer impact in 2017-18, according to Jackie Davenport, the director of community relations for Wisconsin Athletics.
Davenport coordinates and monitors UW student-athlete involvement in the Badgers Give Back program.
Two of the top three volunteers in terms of impact come from women's hockey: seniors Lauren Williams was first and Annie Pankowski was third.
Lily Hansen, a senior with the women's rowing team, was second.
Williams said the volunteer culture in women's hockey was nurtured by UW coach Mark Johnson and his staff and willing teammates like Molly Doner, Mikayla Johnson and Baylee Wellhausen.
"It really is one of those things that when you see other people doing stuff, you want to do it, too," said Williams, from Windsor, Ontario. "We've always had such a good group of people on our team where volunteering and donating your time has always made sense."
In addition to Williams and Pankowski, sophomore Maddie Rowe, freshman Caitlin Schneider, freshman Delaney Drake, freshman Grace Bowlby and freshman Maddie Posick all actively participated in Badgers Give Back.
UW student-athletes can volunteer in a variety of ways, most notably visits to American Family Children's Hospital, but Williams and Pankowski took a unique route.
They work with Occupaws, an organization that trains guide dogs for the visually impaired in Wisconsin and bordering states.
The two began periodically puppy-sitting for more experienced trainers who are going on vacation or needing a break.
Williams and Pankowski now oversee dogs — approximately 20 in all, mainly labs — for periods ranging from a couple weeks to several months.
"The longer it is that you have them," Williams said, "the harder it is to say good bye."
The whole volunteering culture at UW is one Williams has come to appreciate.
"It's just an enriching experience overall," she said. "When you come here and you're doing school and practicing every day, you kind of get lost in the fact that Madison is a bubble and you are very separate from the rest of the world.
"Volunteering is just a great way to remind yourself that there are other people out there doing different things and living their own life."
