UW-Whitewater will celebrate its 144th anniversary at this year’s annual Founders Day.

“Founders Day is an opportunity for the campus to come together to celebrate our rich history,” Assistant Director of Marketing and Media Relations Jeff Angileri said.

Angileri said distinguished alumni and students would be recognized for their recent achievements. The students receiving awards will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Former chancellor H. Gaylon Greenhill and his wife Hannah will be given the S.A. White Award for their many contributions to the university. They’ve continually supported UW-Whitewater athletics and funded the creation of the Greenhill Center of the Arts.

The Outstanding Junior Award will be presented to a student from each of the four UW–Whitewater colleges with junior standing. The applicants have all maintained high GPAs and are deeply involved with different organizations and volunteer work.

Founders Day will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Old Main Ballroom in the University Center. It is open to the public with a reservation.

Name:Jocelyn Sveum

Major: Elementary Education, College of Education and Professional Studies

Activities: Sveum has volunteered in her church’s nursery for five years and volunteered at a vacation Bible school program. She is also a summer school aide at her former elementary school and volunteers in elementary school classrooms.

“I was really excited when I won the scholarship because I like getting all the help I can … I’m grateful I got the award,” Sveum said.

Name: Valerie Jach

Major: Accounting, College of Business & Economics

Activities: Jach is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, a UW-Whitewater soccer player, and a member of Habitat for Humanity.

“I was really surprised,” Jach said. “I wasn’t really expecting to win because I thought there were a lot of people applying.”

Name: Samantha Pratt

Major(s): History and Spanish, College of Letters & Sciences

Activies: Pratt is a member of Tri-Sigma Sorority, a member of Omega, a Greek honors society, a member of Student Wisconsin Education Association and a tour guide on campus.

“I was stunned,” Pratt said. “I could not have won this award if it weren’t for the help of my professors.”

Name: Megan Kell

Major: Choral Music Education, College of Arts and Communication

Activities: Kell was in The Threepenny Opera’s “The Coronation of Poppea,” is the treasurer for the Collegiate National Association for Music Education and is a member of the Student National Association of Teachers of Singing. She was recently accepted into an opera program in Italy.

“I was very surprised,” Kell said. “I kind of applied on a whim. I thought my resume was pretty decent, but I thought there were a lot of applicants they would have chosen before me. I feel very fortunate.”