Madison Reporter

University of Wisconsin–Madison has announced the winners of the 2025 Theodore Herfurth and Teddy Kubly Awards for Comprehensive Undergraduate Excellence. This year's recipients are graduating seniors Raines Lucas and Jenna Seidl.

The awards are given annually to two seniors who have utilized their time at UW–Madison most effectively. "The awards, among the oldest and most prestigious on campus, are given annually to two seniors who have made the most effective use of their time at UW–Madison," an official statement noted. Each winner receives a $4,000 prize. Established in 1928, these awards are funded by the families of Theodore Herfurth and Teddy Kubly.

The selection criteria for winners include academic excellence, communication skills, extracurricular leadership, and financial self-support. "Winners are selected based on high academic achievement, effective communication skills, leadership in extra-curricular activities and financial self-support," the statement added. Students must be nominated by faculty or academic staff and are invited to apply. This year, 284 students were nominated, and 12 finalists were selected for a dinner with the selection committee. The finalists presented two speeches each before Lucas and Seidl were chosen as winners.

Raines Lucas, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, will graduate with a degree in mathematics and economics. His work focuses on climate research and mathematical modeling, with passions that include agricultural land use, sustainable energy transitions, and climate policy. Beyond academics, he is active in the music scene, participating in a student radio station and performing with his band, she’s green. "After graduation, Lucas will continue touring North America and Europe and will apply to PhD programs in economics," the release stated.

Jenna Seidl, hailing from Hazelhurst, Wisconsin, will graduate with a degree in neurobiology and certificates in health and the humanities, and in disability rights and services. Seidl was involved in various campus initiatives, from leading Wisconsin Admissions Volunteers to working as a university GUTS tutor. "Following graduation, Seidl will be applying to medical school while continuing to work in emergency medical services and volunteering in the community," the announcement revealed.

Other finalists included students from diverse fields such as English, political science, nursing, physics, and computer science: Sophie Boes, Kiko Carbonell, Aiden Culver, Lauren Fitzsimmons, Amanda Grant, Shelby Jantz, Jakob Mills, Tanay Nagar, Norah Paulsen, and Catriona Treacy.