MJ
Michael Judd
  • professional development
  • Class of 2016
  • Frankfort, Ill.

UW-Whitewater's Judd Named WIAC Scholar-Athlete for Outdoor Track and Field

2016 May 11

Michael Judd, a native of Frankfort, IL, and member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's track and field program, has been selected the recipient of the 2016 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is sponsored by Badgerland Financial.

A graduate of St. Laurence High School, Judd is pursing a master's degree in athletic administration with a minor in professional development and maintains a 3.91 grade point average. He received a bachelor's degree in business management. Judd was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team a year ago and is a two-time winner of UW-Whitewater's Chancellor Scholar-Athlete Award. He is a four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-Whitewater's Dean's List numerous semesters.

A three-year team captain, Judd won the 110-meter high hurdles at the 2012 WIAC championship. He finished third in the event this year, second at the 2015 conference meet and fifth in 2014.

Judd has served as coordinator of a clothes donation project for kids' apparel and volunteered with high school track meets, as well as Learn-By-Doing clinics. He acted as principal investigator on an action-based research project involving the over-identification athlete role affecting collegiate student-athletes' social and moral development towards a non-sport career post-graduation.

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Joshua Thorson (Sr., Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata); UW-La Crosse's Luke Sauerman (Sr., Medford, Wis.); UW-Oshkosh's Jordan Carpenter (Gr., Ashwaubenon, Wis.); UW-River Falls' Matthew Pechacek (Sr., Prescott, Wis.); and UW-Stout's Anthony Cass (Sr., Hortonville, Wis.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93. He oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership. Sparger arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach. He served as UW-Stout's athletics director from 1969-71. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, he must be in his last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. Badgerland Financial, headquartered in Prairie du Sac, Wis., is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of agriculture and rural America. Badgerland Financial is one of the region's leading providers of credit, crop insurance, tax and accounting services to farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents. The company is committed to delivering on its vision to cultivate prosperity for agriculture and rural Wisconsin by serving member-owners through offices in 33 southern Wisconsin counties. To learn more, visit badgerlandfinancial.com.