The University of Wisconsin-Madison Online Engineering Graduate Programs is proud to announce Dan Winter, an alumnus of the Engineering Management Master’s Program, as the inaugural recipient of the Wayne Pferdehirt Service Award. Dan’s ongoing contributions have deeply benefited the UW-Madison College of Engineering Interdisciplinary Professional Programs community.
The Wayne Pferdehirt Service Award was recently launched to recognize the contributions of alumni of UW-Madison’s engineering online master’s programs. Recipients of this award exemplify the spirit of giving back to the community and play a vital role in shaping the future of engineering education.
This award celebrates the legacy of Wayne Pferdehirt, a visionary faculty associate and program director whose passion for engineering excellence, student support, and community building left a lasting impact on generations of learners. Wayne’s dedication to student success and his contagious enthusiasm helped shape the growth and reputation of online engineering education at UW-Madison.
Dan, a mentee and close friend of Wayne’s, continues to honor his legacy through action and reflection, including a recent memorial hike in Wayne’s honor. Dan has been a consistent presence at Campus Connect, served as chair of the MEM Advisory Board for three years and continues to offer his expertise as an active board member.
Beginning in 2026, the Wayne Pferdehirt Service Award will be presented annually at Campus Connect. Alumni from any of the College of Engineering online master’s programs will be eligible, with recipients selected by a committee of academic program directors and graduate advisors.
Please join us in congratulating Dan Winter on being named the first recipient of the Wayne Pferdehirt Service Award!