Opportunistic senior wins Lakeland鈥檚 60th Koehler Award
As a high school senior from Wautoma, Wis., visiting 51乱伦, Gabe Ascher recalls the impact of the business colloquium and hearing the stories told by successful LU graduates at that annual event.
As he nears his own graduation from Lakeland in a few weeks, which will see him earn his four-year bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration three years, he is eager to return one day for the colloquium and inspire a new generation of Muskies.
Ascher has been named the winner of the 60th annual Clarence H. Koehler Award, the university鈥檚 top award for undergraduate students. He received the award Wednesday at Lakeland鈥檚 annual Honors Banquet.
The Koehler Award is presented each year to a Lakeland senior who best exemplifies 鈥淭he Lakeland Spirit鈥� through participation in and support of the university鈥檚 programs and activities. To be eligible, graduates must complete a majority of their undergraduate courses at Lakeland and maintain a high level of academic achievement.
The other finalists for the 2025 Koehler Award were Hanna Brouch, Jenna Caterino, Emma Golfis, Rob Grimes, Michaela Heling, Tyler Lovejoy and Emily Watanabe Graf.
Ascher was a member of two athletic teams, a resident assistant and an academic coach for the Life & Career Studies program.
鈥淏y pursuing diverse opportunities, I was able to build a well-rounded understanding of the campus and my fellow students and find a place at Lakeland where I can belong,鈥� said Ascher, who attended Lakeland as a J. Garland Schilcutt Scholarship recipient and was named 2024 Outstanding Student in Business Administration.
He also took full advantage of the unique ways that LU students can earn a degree. He completed 15 of his academic credits through the Cooperative Education program, including a summer-long finance internship in New Jersey with mega-brand Unilever and a semester as finance and administrative support intern for the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce.
He will begin a job as a finance analyst with Fiserv in Milwaukee, Wis., this summer.
Ascher is especially fond of his time serving as an academic coach to fellow LU student Max Wheeler, who attends LU through the Life & Career Studies program.
Diagnosed with Apraxia at age 3, Wheeler found puzzles to be a way to relax and build family connections. Inspired to share his love for puzzles, he launched Platypus Puzzles. Ascher spent the fall with Wheeler developing a business plan, researching production and sourcing supplies and went into production.
鈥淚 am committed to the Lakeland community because the community is committed to me,鈥� Ascher said. 鈥淭he people in this area are resourceful and encouraging and have helped guide my journey academically, professionally and personally.鈥�
Other winners announced at the Honors Banquet include:
