David P. Dickson Scholarships
Beginning in 2019-20, the Madison West Kiwanis - Dickson Scholarships have been available to students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), UW-Madison, whose major field of study is in the agricultural and food sciences broadly defined. (Agricultural and Applied Economics, Animal & Dairy Sciences, Biological Systems Engineering, Entomology, Food Science, Life Sciences Communications, Nutritional Science & Dietetics, Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences, Plant Pathology, Soil & Environmental Sciences). The scholarships may be awarded to full-time students with demonstrated need, are charged tuition at the in-state rate, in good academic standing, and are in their sophomore, junior or senior year. Until 2018, Dickson scholarships were awarded to high achieving, college bound Dane County 4-H members.
Five scholarships will be awarded at $2,200 each for the 2026-27 academic year. The scholarship awards may change in future years. To qualify, students must submit their scholarship application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) to the UW-Madison Office of Student Financial Aid. Scholarship recipients are chosen by scholarship staff in the CALS Office of Academic Affairs.
These scholarships are in memory of David Dickson whose estate donated funds to the Madison West Kiwanis (MWK) Foundation. David was a member of MWK for more than 30 years; he served as the club’s president in 2000 and was vice president of the Foundation trustees for several years. David was editor of the club’s extensive 50-year history and created its design and layout. Support for children and youth is a core value of both Kiwanis International and Professor Dickson.
David Dickson was a professor of Dairy Science (now Animal & Dairy Sciences) at UW-Madison with responsibilities in extension and instruction from 1966 to 1996 and served as Department Chair from 1984 to 1990. David’s work in extension was focused on dairy youth programs for 4-H and industry organizations. His teaching was honored by both CALS and the American Dairy Science Association. In all realms of his life, David was a creative artist, pianist, poet, and superb communicator.
“Dr. Dave”, as students affectionately called him, was a strong advocate for students. He was the founding advisor of Badger Dairy Club and continued in that role for many years. He served many years as chapter advisor for Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and was an enthusiastic supporter of Association of Women in Agriculture (AWA), agricultural professional-social organizations for men and women students in CALS.
2026 Brandon Boyd Ag Business Management; Agronomy Junior Watertown
2026 Aly Farrar Food Science Junior Cambridge
2026 Kelly Herness Life Sciences Communication; Ag & Applied Economics Senior Trempeleau Co.
2026 Natalee Kraus Dietetics Sophomore Fond du Lac
2025 Brendan Baird Horticulture Senior Ripon
2025 Taylor Eick Ag Business Management; Entrepreneurship Junior Ferryville
2025 Adrian Sieck Soil Science Junior Appleton
2025 Clarissa Ulness Dairy Science; Science Communication; Art Studio Junior Valders
2024 Maezy Beams Horticulture Senior Green Bay
2024 Ella Gonzales Veterinary & Animal Biosciences; History Junior Madison
2024 Ryan Kangas Soil Science Junior Oshkosh
2024 Clarissa Ulness Dairy Science; Science Communication, Art Studio Sophomore Valders
2023 Zoe Atkins Food Science; Fermentation Foods & Beverages Senior Madison
2023 Kylie Konyn Dairy Science; Business Management Junior Escondido, CA
2023 Abigail McGraw Horticulture; Sustainability Senior Germantown
2023 Rianne Wagner Agronomy Sophomore Wilmette, IL
2022 Eliza Endres Agric. Business Management; Development Econ., Entrepreneurship Junior Waunakee
2022 Garrett Lowery Biological Systems Engineering Sophomore Little Suamico
2022 Billy Zeimet Dairy Science; Business Management Senior Cottage Grove
2021 Jenna Broege Dairy Science, Life Sciences Communication Senior Janesville
2021 Nicholas McNamara Biological Systems Engineering; Senior Custer
2021 Lindsey Sarbacker Dairy Science, Life Sciences Communication; Business Management Senior Edgerton
2020 Ben Mrotek Agric. & Applied Econ.; Business Management, Environmental Studies Senior Cedarberg
2020 Emma Olstad Dairy Science, Life Sciences Communication Senior Stoughton
2020 Annalisa Stevenson Soil Science; Environmental Studies Junior Madison