Erroll B. Davis Alliant Energy Award

Award Overview
The Alliant Energy Foundation endowed the University of Wisconsin System Administration with The Alliant Energy/Erroll B. Davis Achievement Award to honor the outstanding scholarship and community service of undergraduate students from historically underrepresented minority groups, who are pursuing a degree in Business or Engineering at UW-Madison or UW-Platteville. Students attending UW-Madison and enrolled in the College of Engineering should complete this application process in order to self-nominate for the award.

After applications are evaluated, one nominee will be selected by the College of Engineering for final review and approval by UW-System/Alliant Energy Foundation. Please note that attaining the finalist nomination for this award does not necessarily guarantee selection. Students ultimately selected for the award are required to attend an on-campus awarding ceremony on October 26, 2023 from 2 – 4:30pm, at The Pyle Center on the UW-Madison campus with Alliant Energy and UW-System leadership, where they will be publicly recognized for their achievements. The award payment of $5,000 is made directly to the awardee after graduation, and award use is unrestricted.

Eligibility Criteria
To be nominated by the College of Engineering for this award, you must be/have:

  • A continuing undergraduate student majoring in a department in the College of Engineering at UW-Madison
  • Expecting an undergraduate degree by May 31, 2024 (students graduating at the conclusion of the current Spring 2023 term or in Summer 2023 are ineligible to apply)
  • A U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • A member of one of the following underrepresented racial or ethnic groups: African American; Hispanic or Latino; American Indian; Southeast Asian; or another racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the field of Engineering

How to Apply
To apply for nomination consideration, students must log into the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) using their NetID and password. The application opens on February 27, 2023 and closes on March 26, 2023. Awarding decisions will be communicated over the upcoming summer months.

Required Application Materials
1) Brief eligibility acknowledgement questions
2) Resume (2-page limit)
3) Unofficial UW-Madison Academic Transcript
4) Personal statement (3-page limit)
5) Further evidence of successes and accomplishments at UW-Madison, such as a list of honors, awards, or other recognitions earned as an undergraduate (2-page limit)
6) Two letters of support (2-page limit each), from UW-Madison faculty members, academic staff members, or students qualified to comment on the nominee’s academic achievement and leadership capabilities. At least one letter must be from a faculty member or academic staff member.

Selection Criteria
Applicants will be evaluated based on their scholarly and extracurricular activities, demonstrated record of community service and leadership, personal statement, and letters of support. This award intentionally seeks to honor students who are members of underrepresented minority groups.

Award Disbursement Information
An award in the amount of $4,000 is provided directly to the recipient by the UW System Administration. Award payments are made after proof of graduation is provided, and use of funds is unrestricted.

Donor and Honoree Information
Alliant Energy established this award to recognize and honor Erroll B. Davis, Jr., former CEO of Alliant Energy and former Board of Regents member for the University of Wisconsin System. Mr. Davis gave nearly 30 years of service to the utility industry and was the first Black leader of a ‘Business Week 1,000’ company. After retiring from Alliant in 2005, Mr. Davis also served as Chancellor for the University System of Georgia and as interim Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Davis earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1965, and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago in 1967. The award recognizes the importance of scholarship and leadership by underrepresented minority students in the state of Wisconsin.

Award
$5,000
Organizations
College of Engineering, College of Engineering - Diversity Affairs Office
Deadline
03/28/2023
Supplemental Questions
  1. Are you enrolled for Spring 2023 as an undergraduate student with a College of Engineering major?
  2. Do you expect to receive undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering in December 2023 or May 2024?
  3. Please submit a complete resume with your application.
  4. Please upload your most current UW-Madison unofficial transcript as a pdf.
  5. Please write a statement (3-page limit) outlining your career aspirations and how those aspirations have evolved over time; an explanation of how your current studies and involvement in campus and community activities have prepared you to achieve your aspirations; a description of your leadership and service, including the extent and impacts of your participation; and any extenuating circumstances that might have impacted your academic life (e.g. family or financial responsibilities, unique challenges faced, or obstacles overcome).
  6. Please provide additional evidence of academic success and/or outstanding leadership at UW-Madison, such as honors or awards received (recognitions not already listed on the resume).
  7. Please provide the name and email of the first of your two references (fellow student, academic staff member, or faculty member) qualified to comment on your academic achievement and leadership capabilities through a letter of recommendation. *At least one letter must be from a faculty member or academic staff member*.
  8. Please provide the name and email of the second of your two references (fellow student, academic staff member, or faculty member) qualified to comment on your academic achievement and leadership capabilities through a letter of recommendation. *At least one letter must be from a faculty member or academic staff member*.
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