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The University of Wisconsin-Madison community has continued to honour students who passed away during recent academic years, recognising their lives and the lasting connections they formed across the campus.

Among the university’s remembrance traditions is In Memoriam: Remembering Our Badgers, an annual gathering that brings together students, faculty members, staff, families and friends to remember members of the university community who have died.

One such ceremony was announced on April 29, 2025, when UW-Madison shared details of a memorial for students lost during the 2024–2025 academic year. The university reported that eight students had died during that period and invited the campus community to gather on May 2 at the Carillon Bell Tower.

The announcement reflected the university’s recognition that every student was an important part of the Badger community and that their absence would be felt by the people who knew, supported and cared about them.

UW-Madison Community Comes Together to Remember Its Badgers

The May 2, 2025, memorial ceremony was organised to give classmates, faculty members and university staff an opportunity to honour students who had died during the academic year.

The gathering took place at the Carillon Bell Tower, a familiar landmark on the Madison campus. It provided an opportunity for people affected by the losses to come together, reflect and remember the students as individuals.

The university’s announcement described each student as valued and recognised that everyone had contributed something unique to the campus community.

Seven names appeared in the published announcement:

• Aylen Bain

• Kaedyn Bolin

• Nicolas Castaneda

• Nicholas Chmielewski

• Natnael Shiferaw

• Madilyn Vang

• Roan Vaughan

Although the university stated that eight students had died during the academic year, its published memorial announcement listed seven names. The available information does not establish the identity of an eighth student, so no additional name should be assumed.

Remembering the Students Behind the Names

Each name included in the university’s memorial announcement represents an individual whose life was connected to the UW-Madison community.

Students build relationships through classrooms, campus organisations, shared accommodation, extracurricular activities and everyday experiences. Their presence can become an important part of university life for friends, classmates and educators.

The memorial tradition recognises that students are more than enrolment records or academic achievements. They are individuals with personal histories, relationships and aspirations.

One of the students named in the 2025 announcement was Kaedyn Bolin. His published funeral obituary identified him as a University of Wisconsin student studying computer science who was preparing to begin his junior year. His inclusion in the university’s remembrance reflects the personal stories behind the names honoured during the ceremony.

The university’s message, “Once a Badger, always a Badger,” expressed its commitment to keeping the memories of former students connected to the wider campus community.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Provides Support Following Student Deaths

The impact of a student death can extend well beyond the immediate family. Friends, roommates, classmates, faculty members and other students may experience grief and emotional distress after losing someone from their community.

UW-Madison’s Office of Student Assistance and Support provides assistance to families following a student’s death and can help affected members of the campus community access appropriate support.

University Health Services also offers mental health assistance for students experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety or other emotional difficulties.

These services are important because people respond to loss differently. Some may need professional counselling, while others may benefit from speaking with a trusted university representative or receiving assistance with academic and personal responsibilities.

Important University Support Contacts

Students and members of the UW-Madison community seeking assistance can contact:

Students experiencing an immediate crisis are encouraged to contact the university’s crisis support service rather than face the situation alone.

UW-Madison Continues Its Annual Memorial Tradition

The May 2025 ceremony was part of a continuing university tradition of remembering students who have died.

UW-Madison also announced a separate memorial gathering for May 1, 2026, at the Carillon Tower. That ceremony recognised students lost during the 2025–2026 academic year and provided another opportunity for families, friends and university representatives to come together.

These annual gatherings acknowledge the importance of remembering members of the university community while offering families and friends a shared space for reflection.

The university’s memorial programme also demonstrates that remembrance is not limited to a single ceremony. Support for grieving students and families remains an important part of the institution’s response to loss.

Remembering the Lives and Legacies of UW-Madison Students

For the families and friends of students who have died, knowing that their loved ones are remembered by their university community can carry special meaning.

The students honoured through UW-Madison’s memorial tradition each had their own experiences, relationships and personal stories. Their time at the university formed part of their lives, and their absence continues to matter to those who knew them.

The annual gathering gives the Badger community an opportunity to acknowledge those losses while encouraging compassion, understanding and support for people experiencing grief.

As UW-Madison continues its remembrance tradition, its message remains one of connection: students, families, faculty members and friends are encouraged to look after one another and remember the individuals who helped shape their community.

UW-Madison Student Memorial Details

Information Disclaimer

This article covers UW-Madison’s published memorial announcement for students who died during the 2024–2025 academic year. The university reported eight student deaths but listed seven names in the announcement. No eighth name has been added because it has not been established in the available information. The article does not suggest that these memorials represent a newly reported death in November 2026. Individual causes of death and personal circumstances have not been established here. Families and authorised representatives retain the right to release personal and memorial information. Readers are encouraged to respect their privacy and rely on official university announcements for further details.

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