Introducing Madelyn Loeffler – 2021 Damon Anderson Memorial Scholarship Winner

Madelyn Loeffler (LAW-fler) is an Environmental Geography Major and American Indian Studies Minor at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

Maddie’s stellar accumulative GPA is reason alone for one to notice her in a field of scholarship applicants and she was heralded for her hard work and extremely high grades by faculty. However, she is a true standout when you hear people describe her research skills and ability to serve and lead. She was noted as someone with a rare combination of intellect, hard-work, and service to community that elevates others she works with. Individuals had a lot of great things to say about her so I will share just a few. They indicated that she has great leadership acumen, is driven, organized, energetic, engaged, enthusiastic, thoughtful, inclusive, patient, diplomatic, remarkable, tremendous, and extraordinary.

Maddie is very involved on campus in a number of groups such as the Student Office of Sustainability, UW Divestment Coalition, Chancellor’s Sustainability & Climate Action Task Force, and the Geography & Anthropology Club where she recently served as President. When she completes her schooling Maddie would like to work in environmental policy, protection, and planning. To accomplish this, she will be continuing her education in either graduate or law school. In her scholarship application Maddie indicated a will to work hard to advocate for a better future and to bring people together in doing so and that the Damon Anderson Memorial Scholarship would help her continue on a path to achieve that goal.

I asked Maddie, who is planning to graduate this Spring how her collegiate year is going, and she indicated that her recent semester went well and shared “I’ve been serving as the Director of the Student Office of Sustainability, a commission of Student Senate, at UW-Eau Claire this year. I’ve also been continuing research on community needs in Eau Claire. This semester I will be taking my capstone geography class, as well as a field seminar focused on Hawai’i.” She also plans to attend the WLIA Annual Conference, so be sure to congratulate Maddie Loeffler, one of the winners of the Damon Anderson Memorial Scholarship in 2021.