Two UW–Madison School of Education alumni are among the recipients of the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s (WAA) 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards, which honor individuals for exceptional service, leadership, and impact.
Mary and Ted Kellner
Distinguished Service Award
Mary T. Kellner, who earned a BS in elementary education from the School of Education in 1968, was honored with her husband, Ted Kellner (BBA, 1969), with a Distinguished Service Award.
The Distinguished Service Award acknowledges people who have had an unparalleled impact on UW–Madison. While many have contributed to the university in ways great and small, this award honors those whose influence has been truly transformational. Distinguished Service Award honorees are chosen by the UW–Madison Office of the Chancellor in partnership with the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association.
Mary Kellner, a retired teacher and guidance counselor, and Ted Kellner, founder and former CEO of Fiduciary Management, Inc., have been champions for UW–Madison for decades — expanding academic and athletic programs, investing in scholarships, and supporting educators and students.
In 2024, the Kellners made a $7 million gift to expand the Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center, funding UW–Madison’s groundbreaking Teacher Pledge program — which covers tuition, fees, and licensing costs for students who commit to teaching in Wisconsin — as well as professional development for early-career educators. They were also key leaders in the All Ways Forward campaign, with contributions supporting scholarships, athletics, the School of Education, and facilities across campus.
Their gifts have helped fund Kellner Hall, the Fluno Center, the Kellner Family Distinguished Chair in Urban Education, and other initiatives strengthening student success and campus life. As Mary Kellner puts it: “UW–Madison gave me the chance to build a life I love — and we want others to have that chance, too.”
This year’s Distinguished Achievement Award winners will be recognized during a ceremony on Oct. 16.
Allison Auda Wagner
Luminary Award
Allison Auda Wagner, who earned a BS in elementary education and political science in 2002, was honored with a Luminary Award.
The Luminary Award recognizes alumni who serve as aspirational examples for others through their accomplishments in leadership, discovery, progress, and service. It celebrates extraordinary Badgers who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in their professions and/or service or philanthropy.
As founding executive director of All-In Milwaukee, Wagner leads a nonprofit dedicated to helping limited-income students not only attend college, but also graduate, launch careers, and lead in their communities. Since its 2018 launch with 40 students, the program has grown to serve more than 750 scholars and graduates — 98 percent of whom are students of color and 87 percent first-generation college students.
Wagner’s model combines scholarships, partnerships with universities and employers, and wraparound advising to close equity gaps and expand educational access. With plans to support more than 1,000 students and produce 250 graduates annually by 2029, the organization’s impact will continue to grow — creating ripple effects across Wisconsin.
The 2025 Luminary Award winners will be recognized in a ceremony on Nov. 13.