Kohlmann To Be Honored As 2022 Badger Of The Year

The Fond du Lac Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association is pleased to announce that the 2022 Badger of the Year has been awarded to Leigh Kohlmann. Kohlmann is a 1987 UW-Madison alumna, graduating with a BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in Science.

Kohlmann currently teaches Science at Rock River Intermediate School in Waupun where she has a passion for teaching her students and inspires them to love learning as much as she does.  Recently, she has also been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, which is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics teaching. 

Kohlmann has remained connected to UW-Madison by taking students to the campus for field trips, including the WI Institute for Discovery and the Geology Museum. She also enjoys collaborating with UW Professors as guest speakers for her classes and has participated in multiple UW-Madison research projects.  She has been a member of the Fond du Lac Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association since 2009 and has been the Scholarship Committee Chairperson since 2011. In her spare time, Kohlmann enjoys taking classes at UW-Madison for watercolor painting and jewelry making, saying “I love to study, I love to learn, I love education.”

In addition to teaching, Kohlmann serves on two WI Department of Public Instruction work groups–the Standards-based Inquiry for Engaged & Equitable Learning workgroup and a workgroup which focuses on the science practice of modeling.  Further, she is a member of many educational organizations, including National Science Teaching Association and the WI Society of Science Teachers. Leigh frequently presents at state and national conventions. Additionally, she has been invited to share her expertise with school districts across the United States, including Brooklyn NY, Eugene OR and recently in Dallas, TX. 

The 2022 Badger of the Year Award will be presented at as part of a pre-game ceremony at the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders vs. Madison Mallards baseball game, during “Wisconsin Night” at Herr Baker Field on Tuesday, July 12^th.  All Fond du Lac area alumni and friends are invited to attend this fun event.  More information and registration can be found at https://uwalumni.com/events/fdl-dock-spiders-mallards-game/.