The 2009 DAA Honorees

The Wisconsin Alumni Association honored five alumni in 2009 who make a difference in the world by storytelling in their lives and work. A free program at the Wisconsin Union Theater served as tribute to their lives and accomplishments, and attendees also enjoyed a formal reception and dinner.

Please enjoy the following five video segments from this year's awards program. (Note: Video player requires Flash software.)

The first female to lead a U.S. diplomatic mission to an African nation, Jean Wilkowski served as ambassador to Zambia from 1972 to 1979. An expert in the field of international commerce, she also helped negotiate the expansion of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, forerunner to the World Trade Organization.

While in town, Jean spoke to UW-Madison students about her experiences, featured on the Badgers Abroad Blog.

As the author of 18 novels and eight-time recipient of the Bram Stoker Award for horror fiction, Peter Straub is one of America’s leading figures in gothic literature. His titles include Koko and Ghost Story. Susan Straub is the founder of the Read to Me Program, which encourages parents to spend more time reading with their young children.

An expert in real estate law, Peter Weil is a founding partner of the Los Angeles legal firm of Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs & Shapiro LLP. His clients include MGM MIRAGE, which is creating what he calls “the largest environmentally sustainable real estate development in history” in the heart of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Walt Bogdanich is the assistant editor for the investigative desk of the New York Times. He’s worked both in newspapers and television, and his articles often expose corporate malfeasance. He returned to campus as writer-in-residence in 2006.