Each year, the University of Wisconsin-Madison recognizes the outstanding contributions of its student employees through the Student Employee of the Year award. With nearly 10,000 students working in thousands of roles across campus, this honor highlights the invaluable work completed by students each day, impacting the entire campus community.

This year, we are proud to celebrate Emily Stumpf, a Life Sciences Communications major, who was named one of the Student Employees of the Year for her service and commitment to Extension’s 4-H program.

Stumpf joined the Wisconsin 4-H team as a freshman in 2022 and has made significant contributions to the program. Her involvement in various animal science educational contests – including animal judging, quiz bowls, skill-a-thon contests, and speaking contests – has provided exceptional experiential learning opportunities for youth across the state.

One of Stumpf’s notable achievements was reviving the statewide dairy quiz bowl competition, which had been on hiatus due to staffing resources and the global pandemic. Emily rebuilt the infrastructure from scratch, collaborated with experts to develop questions, recruited volunteers, and reached out to her connections to ensure the contest’s success. Her efforts led to a Wisconsin 4-H team winning the national Dairy Quiz Bowl title in 2024.

Stumpf’s dedication extends beyond her job description. She has provided major administrative support for shooting sports programs and created marketing materials for arts and leadership programs. Her ability to build relationships and improve communication between Wisconsin 4-H, agricultural organizations, and other stakeholders has strengthened the program’s impact on the community.