Alicia Abercrombie

Hometown:
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Degree:
BA '11, Journalism, Legal Studies

Employment:
Reporter, Reedsburg Times Press

UW Credit Union Great People Scholar Alicia Abercrombie graduated in May 2011 with a double major in journalism and legal studies. After “growing up all around the country,” she had offers from many colleges and chose the UW-Madison because “the Journalism School is so prestigious.”

“The UW Credit Union Great People Scholarship meant that instead of working so many hours, I could concentrate on my studies,” Abercrombie said. “I have always worked at least two jobs.”

During the spring semester, she was the webmaster for the Greater University Tutoring service, did some Web services for the Memorial Union and worked ID Check for Memorial Library. “This scholarship allowed me to cut down on my hours so I could be involved with extracurriculars and finish my senior year strong,” she said.

In her college years, Abercrombie reported on the campus beat for The Badger Herald student newspaper, reported and hosted a talk show for WSUM-FM, and was involved with the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference 2010.

“Alicia embodies the best of what I hope the Great People program can support,” said journalism faculty member Katy Culver. “She is inquisitive, energetic and engaged. She takes every intellectual opportunity and maximizes it. She's exactly what we want to encourage at Wisconsin.”

Abercrombie appreciates the opportunity her Great People Scholarship has offered. “I want to thank the donors, because this scholarship has been incredibly helpful to me to be able to focus on school and my job search,” she said in the spring of 2011. Abercrombie since has gotten a job as a reporter with the Reedsburg Times Press.