A sweet thank you for UW employees

“Photo gallery A sweet thank you for UW employees Campus leaders served up dessert — and their thanks — during the annual employee appreciation Ice Cream Social. ​ June 17, 2026 ​ Share this article A rainy forecast didn’t keep University of Wisconsin–Madison employees away from their fill of Babcock Dairy ice cream. Hundreds filtered into Birge Hall to claim their sweet treat, served by interim chancellor Eric Wilcots, provost John Zumbrunnen and other campus leaders. The annual event, which is typically hosted on Bascom Hill but moved inside due to rain, serves as a gesture of thanks for employees’ hard work and dedication during the most recent academic year. Members of the UW Marching Band, along with Bucky Badger, perform for the crowd in Birge Hall. The event moved indoors after a day of almost-summer rain. Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–Madison What’s the scoop? A chalkboard shows the assortment of flavors available to employees. Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–Madison Interim chancellor Eric Wilcots hands out individual cups of ice cream and chats with employees. Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–Madison Members of the UW Marching Band provide a side of music as employees gathered in the Birge Hall lobby. Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–Madison Provost John Zumbrunnen serves up the flavor ‘Babcock Birthday.’ Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–Madison Jason Whitney, assistant chief of UW police, joined the group of campus leaders dishing out dessert. Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–Madison Jordan Goff (left), customer service rep, and Logan Strander (right), parking enforcement officer, both with Transportation Services, sing Varsity with Bucky Badger. Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–Madison

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