2020 Buckinghams Awards show headline image - Glimpse of Bucky Badger trophy

General News May 13, 2020

Wisconsin recognizes student-athletes at 2020 Buckinghams

12th annual student-athlete showcase of excellence celebrated Wednesday night online

General News May 13, 2020

Wisconsin recognizes student-athletes at 2020 Buckinghams

12th annual student-athlete showcase of excellence celebrated Wednesday night online

MADISON, Wis. — The COVID-19 pandemic has canceled many events around the world, but for Wisconsin Athletics, it wouldn't be spring without celebrating the Buckinghams! The Badgers have moved the 12th annual student-athlete showcase event completely online via youtube and social media on Wednesday, May 13.

We can't be together this year for #UWBuckinghams, but we can still celebrate together!

And there's always so much to celebrate with the #Badgers.

Tune in on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. CT https://t.co/EHovSDZK0L https://t.co/pJZUo8XWUf #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/mGnANREjxC
— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) May 11, 2020

A full list of awards presented at the Buckinghams is available below. This information will be updated with the honorees and awards winners following the live show.

Watch the Buckinghams

Big Ten Medal of Honor

Wisconsin's recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor will be named during the Buckinghams. The conference's most prestigious award, the Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work."

The conference's exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. Only one male and one female student-athlete receive this award per Big Ten institution.

Beata Nelson, Women's Swimming & Diving
Zach Lorbeck, Men's Track & Field

Read the full announcement here.

Student-Athletes of The Year

Each month, team members, coaches, and staff had the opportunity to nominate student-athletes who have obtained an outstanding achievement or recognition in academics, leadership, and the community, while also making a significant contribution to their respective team. At each monthly SAAC meeting, SAAC voting representatives from each team voted to select Student-Athletes of the Month. From these nominees, all student-athletes had the opportunity to submit their vote for Student-Athletes of the Year.

Dana Rettke, Volleyball
Jacob Wenner, Men's Rowing

A middle blocker for Wisconsin volleyball, Dana Rettke is a three-time first-team All-American — only the second three-timer in program history — and aided the Badgers to three-straight NCAA tournament appearances, including a runner-up national finish in 2019. She was recognized as 2019 NCAA Championship all-tournament and the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year. Rettke has also been three-time All-Big Ten honoree, including unanimous selection in 2019. The Riverside, Illinois native was a member of the 2019 U.S. National Team that qualified for the 2020 (now 2021) Tokyo Olympics. She is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was also a 2019 Honda Award finalist.

A senior from Lewis Center, Ohio, Jacob Wenner raced in the varsity eight, UW's top boat, at the 2019 Head of the Charles and Princeton Chase (remainder of competitive season canceled due to COVID-19). He has competed twice at IRA National Championships and is a two-time IRA National Scholar Athlete. Wenner has also been selected as a 2019 and 2020 Athletic Board Scholar, in addition to a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (anticipated third-time this spring) and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.

Eli Stickley BELIeve Award

This special award, which is in its second year, honors Eli Stickley, a NCAA-qualifier & Academic All-American wrestling team member who passed away during the summer of 2018. The award is presented to two student-athletes that exemplify similar characteristics to his legacy, including being disciplined, loving, loyal, passionate and an uplifting, selfless leader.

Julia Stupar, Women's Swimming & Diving
Brad Davison, Men's Basketball

Buckinghams Staff Member of The Year

Each month, teams had the opportunity to nominate Wisconsin athletics staff members who have impacted their experience in a positive way. At each monthly SAAC meeting, SAAC voting representatives from each team vote on the winners of Staff Member of the Month. From these nominees, all student-athletes had the opportunity to submit their vote for Staff Member of the Year.

Adam Davies, Academic Services

Academic Momentum Award

The National Consortium for Academics and Sport (NCAS) seeks to recognize student-athletes who have demonstrated significant academic improvement throughout their collegiate careers and celebrate them for having the ability to balance textbooks with playbooks.

Sam Anderson, Men's Golf
Jack Berry, Men's Hockey
Niya Beverley, Women's Basketball
Jordyn Bloomer, Women's Soccer
Hannah Cooper, Women's Rowing
Jesse DeVito, Women's Hockey
Aleem Ford, Men's Basketball
Courtney Fredrickson, Women's Basketball
Cade Green, Football
Molly Haggerty, Volleyball
Nicole LaMantia, Women's Hockey
Abby Laszewski, Women's Basketball
Jordan McNeese, Women's Soccer
Michael Milinovich, Men's Swimming & Diving
Frank Niziolek, Men's Swimming & Diving
Avalon Schultz, Women's Swimming & Diving
Peyton Sippy, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Alexandra Zeiss, Women's Swimming & Diving
Max Zimmer, Men's Hockey

President's Award

Honoring the SAAC and SAESO Presidents for their Leadership

SAAC - Tess Hackworthy, Women's Golf
SAESO - Suzanne Gilreath, Women's Basketball

Perseverance Award

To honor student-athletes who have overcome great personal, academic, and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics.

Riley Bell, Volleyball
Travian Blaylock, Football
Kaitlyn Menz, Softball

4.0 Recognition Award

Any student with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, 2nd year or above at end of Fall 2019.

Carmen Backes, Women's Basketball
Danielle Bellino, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Duncan Healey, Men's Rowing
Matt Henningsen, Football
Isaac Krahn, Men's Rowing

Small Team Highest Cumulative GPA Award

Highest male and female small team cumulative GPA at the end of Fall 2019

Large Team Highest Cumulative GPA Award

Highest male and female large team cumulative GPA at the end of Fall 2019

Individual Impact Award

To recognize the student-athletes who have used their platform to be of service to others and who represented all of Badger athletics through their hard work and dedication in the community.

Presley Norby, Women's Hockey

Athletic Board Scholars

Highest Cumulative GPA for previous year, above sophomore standing, letterwinner, non-grad student

Maia Cella, Women's Soccer
Britta Curl, Women's Hockey
Brad Davison, Men's Basketball
Cameron Frazier, Men's Golf
Eric Geunes, Men's Swimming & Diving
Margaret Guanci, Women's Swimming & Diving
Olin Hacker, Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Eloise Healey, Women's Golf
Matt Henningsen, Football
Sydney Hilley, Volleyball
Mya Lebakken, Women's Lightweight Rowing
Noah Leibold, Men's Soccer
Alex Luehring, Women's Basketball
Ava Markham, Women's Tennis
Cole Martin, Wrestling
Mick Messner, Men's Hockey
Alicia Monson, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Daniel Nuzhny, Men's Tennis
Elisabet Pietz (LIZ-bet Peetz), Women's Openweight Rowing
Heather Rudnicki, Softball
Jacob Wenner, Men's Rowing

Chi Alpha Sigma

To be inducted into this National Student-Athlete Honor Society, these award winners have lettered and reached junior status with a minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA