Wisconsin Alumni Association unveils new ice cream flavor to celebrate 150 years

The Wisconsin Alumni Association unveiled the secret ingredients of Babcock Hall Dairy’s new flavor, Mad Grad Medley, at a birthday party to commemorate its 150th anniversary.

Bucky Badger and football great Ron Dayne delivered the first tastes of Mad Grad Medley — a Door County cherry-infused vanilla ice cream whipped with chocolate chips and topped with chocolate flakes — to the June 23 party on Alumni Pier, just east of the Memorial Union Terrace.

To mark WAA’s founding in 1861, partygoers enjoyed a performance by a Civil War era-themed band as they enjoyed the new flavor.

“Today is a quintessential UW moment as we celebrate our birthday with a new signature Babcock ice-cream flavor, created by and for Badgers,” says Paula Bonner MS’78, WAA’s president and CEO. “Mad Grad Medley is one way alumni can celebrate WAA’s century-and-a-half of service, no matter where they are.”

Mad Grad Medley includes ingredients produced across Wisconsin: milk and cream processed by Babcock Hall Dairy, cherries from Seaquist Orchards in Door County, and dark chocolate from the Masterson Company in Milwaukee.

WAA called on alumni across the world to help concoct a recipe for the commemorative ice cream. Alumni submitted more than 500 recipe ideas and cast 3,000 votes to choose the flavor from the top five selections. WAA member Robert Bell ’64, JD’67 of Fort Atkinson submitted the winning flavor.

“These ingredients are a result of my Wisconsin heritage,” says Bell, inspired by Swiss chocolate makers and summers at a resort on Lake Ripley. “They made their own ice cream from milk and semisweet chocolate, and their own cherry recipes with Bing and Door County cherries.”

Although the flavor was unveiled on campus, alumni can indulge in Mad Grad Medley across the country. The special flavor will be at WAA birthday celebrations hosted by alumni chapters this summer and fall.

Mad Grad Medley can be purchased online here and can be shipped worldwide. Proceeds from sales will benefit WAA programming for alumni and students.

Mad Grad Medley will also be the featured flavor at locations on campus through Homecoming, and will be served at WAA’s Red Tie Gala in October.

Additionally, on Friday, June 24, free scoops of Mad Grad Medley will be available at select UW Credit Union locations in Madison and Milwaukee.

The unveiling of Mad Grad Medley is part of WAA’s yearlong anniversary celebration, including this spring’s Founders’ Day events across the country, the all-new Alumni Weekend held in April, and the upcoming Red Tie Gala, to be held this October during the 100th anniversary of Homecoming.

WAA’s 150th Birthday Party was generously sponsored by the UW Credit Union, American Family Insurance, Capital Lakes, and Swiss Colony. Find more details and learn about alumni history here.