Two University of Wisconsin-Platteville students were honored yesterday at a ceremony in Madison, Wisconsin, with the Alliant Energy Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Achievement Award. Seniors Favour Butterfield and Marcelo Garay received the award, which recognizes the outstanding academic and community-service efforts of students from traditionally underrepresented minority groups who are pursuing a degree in business or engineering at UW-Madison or UW-Platteville.
Favour Butterfield, a mechanical engineering major from Florence, Wisconsin, is involved in a number of programs and initiatives at UW-Platteville. She is engaged in undergraduate research involving reusing and recycling plastic materials. Butterfield is also a student assistant in the Women in STEM Program, through which she participates in outreach activities for middle and high school girls. She founded and serves as president of the university’s National Society of Black Engineers Club, participates in the Society of Women Engineers and served on the Student Senate.
“Success isn't achieved independently, and I could not have received this award on my own,” said Butterfield. “Success requires a village, and I would not be here today without the support of several people. Through this Alliant Energy Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Achievement Award, I hope to demonstrate to all underrepresented groups that anything is possible. I have the passion and determination to achieve success and become an engineer to help provide a dynamic world for the good of humanity.”
Marcelo Garay, a finance major from Brookfield, Wisconsin, is a member of the Accounting and Finance Club at UW-Platteville, as well as a student-run investment fund, giving him hands-on experience in financial analysis and portfolio management. He hopes to become a financial analyst to help businesses and individuals achieve their financial goals. Garay is also a member of the UW-Platteville Men’s Varsity Soccer Team.
“I am very blessed and grateful to receive the Alliant Energy Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Achievement Award,” said Garay. “It feels incredibly rewarding to be recognized for my engagement and accomplishments at UW-Platteville. Being recognized is not only an individual achievement, but it is a testament to the support, mentorship and collaborative spirit that defines this institution.”
For more information about the Alliant Energy Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Achievement Award, visit Wisconsin.edu/grants-awards/erroll-b-davis-awards/. Also recognized at the ceremony, were recipients of the Alliant Energy James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award, including Gail Hoffman, UW-Platteville professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance.