CCTAP Yearbook
Spring 2026 | Nursing Practice and Population Health
Anna Lonergan, D.N.P.
Sigma Theta Tau
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Student Policy Summit Award Recipient 2024
Outstanding Adult Achievement Award Recipient 2023, 2024, 2025
“As a single parent pursuing my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree while working full-time and raising my daughter, the support I received through OCCFR was invaluable. The childcare grants I received made quality childcare affordable during a time when balancing tuition, living expenses, and childcare costs would have been overwhelming. Without that support, I do not believe I would have been able to complete my doctorate. My daughter attended Inspire Early Childhood, where she was cared for by dedicated educators who helped her learn, grow, and thrive. Knowing she was in a safe, nurturing environment allowed me to focus on coursework, clinical practicums, research, and long hours of studying. The support I received benefited both of us and helped make my educational goals achievable. One of my favorite memories is sharing my educational journey with my daughter. She watched me balance work, parenting, and school for years, and she was always my biggest cheerleader. Being able to walk across the stage and earn my doctorate knowing she had been part of that journey made the accomplishment even more meaningful. My advice to future student parents is to accept support when it is offered and remember that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. Resources like OCCFR make it possible for parents to pursue their goals while providing for their families. I am deeply grateful for the investment OCCFR made in my future and my daughter’s future.”
Spring 2025 | Curriculum and Instruction
Opeoluwa Taiwo, M.A.
“The CCTAP funding is a big relief for me and family. The funding has enabled my family to take good care of our son and enroll him. Thank you for this opportunity.”
Summer 2024 | Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Ayse Okur, Ph.D.
“Thanks to the tuition assistance from CCTAP, I was able to afford quality childcare, which gave me the time and space to complete my PhD as a single mother and international student. Everyone in the office felt like family, always stepping up to help whenever I faced challenges. CCTAP reminded me that I was never alone, and I am incredibly grateful to have been part of such a powerful and unique support system.”
Spring 2024 | Medicine
Dan Schroeder, M.D.
B.K. & Tomina Lovell Memorial Scholarship
“We are so grateful to have found out about the Office of Child Care and Family Resources. CCTAP and CCAMPIS helped us quickly find quality childcare and provided generous funds that significantly reduced the financial strain on our budget. This made it much easier to focus on my studies at the School of Medicine and Public Health and for my wife to continue working as a nurse.”
Fall 2023 | Sports Leadership
Travian Blaylock, M.S.
Summer 2023 | Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology
Molly Willging, Ph.D.
Spring 2023 | English, Composition and Rhetoric
Amanda Pratt, Ph.D.
Ropert F. and Jean E. Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies Mini-Fellowship
Graduate School Fellowship
Center for Culture, History, and Environment Grad Student Research & Travel Award
Department of English Dissertator Fellowship
Department of English Post-Prelim Dissertation Summer Fellowship
Center for Culture, History, and Environment Grad Student Research & Writing Award
Robert F. and Jean E. Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies Top-Up Fellowship for Continuing Graduate Students in Science & Technology Studies
Robert F. and Jean E. Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies Travel Grant for Archival Research at Betsy Gordon Psychoactive Substances Research Collection
“Thank you to the Office of Child Care and Family Resources at UW—Madison, for the resources you provide that make being a student parent so much easier. Thanks also to all the incredible educators at Preschool of the Arts and the Child Development Lab, who have allowed me the peace of mind to complete my PhD, knowing that my child is being nourished and cared for. Emma, Cat, Zoe, Susie, Sarah, Dana, Debbie, Joanna, Isabel, and Emily: thank you for being part of our village.”
Spring 2022 | Nursing
Ofure Okoene, B.S.
Spring 2022 | Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Psychology
Yewon Sung, Ph.D.
Thomas A. Romberg Fellowship
Hartzman International Conference Award
“I delivered my first child after my first year of doctoral study, and I delivered my second child after the third year of my doctoral study. And, I graduated my doctoral program in 5 years of study. This suggests that OCCFR and CCTAP provided a lot of support for my two children. And, balancing between research and family life was very important training for me to become an assistant professor now. I truly believe that UW-Madison provides the best support for young scholars with children.”
Spring 2021 | Medicine
Jonathan Chin, M.D.
“We could not have secured a more stable future for our son and fulfilled our aspirations without CCTAPs help. Thank you!”
Summer 2026 | Educational Policy Studies
Batuhan Aydagul, Ph.D.
The School of Education Michael W. Apple Fellowship
“OCCFR has been a reliable, trustworthy, and caring partner of our family in navigating 7 years of challenging doctoral work for both my wife and me. We have been grateful for its financial support, which provided much-valued additional support. In addition, the OCCFR provides ample resources to support graduate student parents, and we encourage newcomers to explore these and feel comfortable using them; that’s why these resources are there. As we graduate, Atlas is almost 8, and her older sibling, Gaya, is starting high school, while Lila will be in her sophomore year of college. We’ve grown together in Madison, a city and community that we highly appreciate for taking good care of us. We look forward to another year at UW-Madison of teaching and writing while getting excited about what’s next.”
Fall 2024 | Law
Sarah Grupp, J.D.
Law in Action Scholarship
Gargoyle Scholarship
“I started law school with an 18-month-old, six months pregnant, and on wait-lists for a half-dozen local daycares but no childcare. The ladies of OCCFR were so kind and helpful, and were instrumental in helping me find a daycare where my kiddos thrived and I could focus on my studies, confident my kiddos would be well-cared for and, thanks to CCTAP and CCAMPIS. Funding making it possible to afford the otherwise astronomical cost of having two young children in daycare. From fun events, conferences and resources, friendly faces, and counseling and advice, OCCFR was instrumental in getting me through school and across the finish line—even making it possible to graduate a semester early!”
Summer 2024 | Human Development & Family Studies
Sarah Braaten, Ph.D.
Outstanding Dissertation Award
“Childcare funding support provided by the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program and the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools program made it possible for me to complete my graduate studies. I am immensely grateful.”
Summer 2024 | Chemistry
Edward Pimentel, Ph.D.
William B. Dickinson Annual Fellowship in Organic Chemistry
Graduate Student-Faculty Liaison Committee Mentoring Award
Best Oral Presentation, Young Scientist Symposium
Ciba Travel Award in Green Chemistry
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
Sam C. Slifkin Award in Chemistry
Alternate Awardee, NDSEG Fellowship
Honorable Mention, NSF GRFP
“It’s easy to feel isolated as graduate student parent: the extra stresses and responsibilities of parenting (on top of research and coursework) can make your graduate experience different from your peers and this can make you feel like you don’t belong. The OCCFR created a community of student parents that helped me feel like I belonged here at UW-Madison.”
Spring 2024 | Nursing
Nicole Thomas, Ph.D.
Jonas Scholarship
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the CCTAP program. Without this program, I would not have been able to complete my doctorate. I feel very fortunate to have had the support of CCTAP. Such an amazing program.”
Fall 2023 | Occupational Therapy
Brittany St. John, Ph.D.
Fulbright Future Scholar Postdoctoral Fellowship
“CCTAP was a huge gift during graduate school and allowed me to parent and thrive in my program.”
Summer 2023 | Chemistry
Angela Ablaberieva, M.S.
Pei Wang Fellowship
“I could never have made it to graduation without the OCCFR! Their financial support enabled me to enroll my son in high-quality childcare while I was pursing my master’s degree. The OCCFR has given me confidence that I can succeed as a student parent, and I’m now continuing to pursue a PhD in population health here at UW-Madison while raising my second child. If you are wondering whether UW supports its student parents, here is your answer!”
Spring 2023 | Veterinary Medicine
Kate Palmer, D.V.M.
Spring 2022 | Law
Will Anderson, J.D.
Law in Action Scholarship
Friends of the Remington Center Endowment Award
Catherine Manning Memorial Award
Ray and Ethel Brown Award for Legal Writing
UW Unemployment Appeals Clinic Outstanding Student Advocate Award
Dean’s Academic Achievement Award
“CCTAP was a huge help to me and my family! Returning to school after more than a 10 year gap was scary and stressful enough, but my wife and I also had our first child while I was a full time student. The funds we received from CCTAP allowed me to complete my degree with less stress and made the decision to enter the public sector after graduation much easier. The staff at the Office of Child Care and Family Resources also worked with my providers, who speak primarily Spanish, to make sure they understood the forms and what was happening with the program. They really went above and beyond. Thanks so much!”
Spring 2022 | French Literature
Heidi Biancat, Ph.D.
Mary Josephine Walker Memorial Award
Alfred and Isabella Panzini Galpin French Scholarship
“Without this funding, I would never have been able to finish my graduate program. I am very grateful for the possibility to have high quality day care for my three children. Thank you so much! Merci beaucoup!”
Spring 2021 | Computer sciences
Rogers Jeffery Leo-John, Ph.D.
Spring 2025 | Curriculum and Instruction
Linda Orie, M.S.
Education Graduate Research Scholars Fellowship
Wisconsin Center for Education Research Graduate Research Scholarship
“Thanks again for your help and encouragement over the years; I don’t know what I would’ve done without OCCFR and CCTAP support!”
Fall 2024 | Wildlife Ecology
Barceló Gonzalo, Ph.D.
Fulbright Fellowship
ANID Becas Chile Doctoral Scholarship
McCabe Keith Award
“The Office of Child Care and Family Resources, CCTAP, and CCAMPIS allowed me to chase my dreams of pursuing a PhD and being a mom. I’m forever grateful for their support!”
Summer 2024 | Cellular and Molecular pathology
Anna Hoefges, Ph.D.
Student Research Grants Competition Travel Award
CMP Travel Award
AAI Trainee Abstract Award for Immunology
“OCCFR and CCTAP have helped me tremendously during my studies. Barb always had an ear to listen and is always looking for ways she can improve the services of the OCCFR. Receiving CCTAP meant that we could afford a better childcare center for our children and that I could stay a graduate student while knowing my children received the best care instead of dropping out and caring for my children full time as quality childcare for 2 children in the Madison area is definitely more expensive than a graduate student salary. My kids really enjoyed the summer party and other offerings through OCCFR, especially Yoga with Megan. We will be sad to no longer be a part of the student parent community!”
Spring 2024 | Spanish
Caitlin Beduhn, Ph.D.
“The care and resources offered thought OCCFR allowed me the time and peace of mind to successfully complete my degree by helping to navigate child care options and costs. Thank you!”
Fall 2023 | Nursing
Nisreen Alnuaimi, Ph.D.
Signe Skott Writing Award
Conger Family Dissertation Award
“I applied for CCTAP in my last year of the program! The support provided through this year have helped me to stay on track, write my dissertation and graduate as of May 2023!”
Summer 2023 | Communication Arts
Maureen Mauk, Ph.D.
Summer 2023 | Communication Arts
Kelly Jensen, Ph.D.
Spring 2023 | Human Ecology
Valentina Flores, M.S.
“The CCTAP through the OCCFR was of tremendous help. Without it, it would not have been possible for me to pursue a PhD degree in the US while my wife was also doing a Master’s. Thanks to the CCTAP and the incredible teachers at Eagle Wings Child Care, we were sure that our two kids were in good hands while we were studying.”
Summer 2022 | Food Science, Microbiology
Shenwei Zhang, Ph.D.
Robert H. and Carol L. Deibel Distinguished Graduated Fellowship in Probiotic Research
Elmer H. Marth Graduate Student Scholarship in Microbiology
“We’d like to express our gratitude to the CCTAP program. I and my husband are both graduate students at UW-Madison. It is CCTAP’s financial support that allows us to send our son Albert to the daycare and make both of us smoothly complete our Ph.D. degree! Hope CCTAP can help more students like us in the future!”
Spring 2022 | Neuroscience, Medicine
Michael Rigby, Ph.D., M.D.
American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology
Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Medical Society
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
Lora L. Marshall Scholarship for Academic Excellence
Dr. Otto Mortensen Scholarship for Excellence in Gross Anatomy
“My family is forever thankful for the CCTAP funding we received to help pay for Eliana’s childcare. This assistance definitely alleviated some stress when looking at our budget, and we are so glad programs like this exist for parents completing advanced degrees at UW-Madison. The CCTAP staff was also always warm and welcoming, making the process even easier! Thank you!”
Fall 2021 | Art History
Holly Rubalcava, Ph.D.
Chancellor’s Fellowship
Mellon-Wisconsin Dissertation Writing Fellowship
Metropolitan Center for Far Eastern Art Studies, Dissertation Research Travel Grant
Joan Mirviss Fund for Japanese Art for Dissertation Research in Japan
Charles C. Killin Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship
“The OCCFR and CCTAP/CCAMPIS have been such a huge part of my journey through the PhD while being a mom of two young children. I am so very thankful for all of the office’s help in finding quality childcare, offering financial support, and organizing classes to learn more about child raising and parenting. Thank you so much.”
Fall 2024 | Human Development & Family Studies
Roxanne Etta, Ph.D.
Millennium Scholar: Society for Research in Child Development
Top Paper Award: International Communication Association
Honor Scholar: Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
Summer 2024 | Physician Assistant Studies
Brianna Matundulo, M.P.A.
“CCTAP and CCAMPIS have allowed me to continue my full-time academic studies without interruption. I have been able to afford quality childcare close to my home, which has allowed me to have more flexibility in scheduling my clinical rotations and more time to study. I am able to graduate without accruing additional debt to pay for childcare costs.“
Spring 2024 | Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Joseph Romero-Reyes, Ph.D.
“I’d like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Office of Child Care and Family Resources, in particular the CCTAP and CCAMPIS grants, which were instrumental in finding and funding childcare services. I also want to give a special shoutout to Ms. Barb Douglas, Ms. Jaime Kenowski, and everyone affiliated with the OCCFR office. Thank you for everything you do behind the scenes.”
Fall 2023 | Dairy Science
Natalia Hincapie, M.S.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Office of Child Care and Family Resources for their programs that assist families in achieving all of our aspirations. This program provides significant support and encourages the academic and professional development of parents while also offering childcare services. Thank you!”
Summer 2023 | Soil Science
Jaimie West, Ph.D.
Spring 2023 | Chemistry
Emily Walker, B.S.
Spring 2023 | Rehabilitation Psychology
Jesus Garza-Noriega, B.S.
“As a first-generation college student, navigating campus resources and understanding academic processes have been very challenging, so much that I contemplated withdrawing myself from the academic circle once my wife and I had children. After talking this over with my academic advisor, she told me about the support and care that the Office of Campus Child Care and Family Resources (OCCFR) provides. As soon as I reached out to OCCFR, I was carefully and kindly guided through the process of obtaining the correct resources for me and my family. Because of OCCFR, I can pursue my academic career while knowing my family was being cared for at the same time. Furthermore, due to their support, I have been able to participate in my studies at a higher capacity, one that has allowed me to make the Dean’s list each semester since my time at UW-Madison! This support was also critical in my becoming a Ronald E. McNair scholar. My family and I are very appreciative of OCCFR!”
Spring 2022 | Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health
Rachel Chenoweth, D.N.P.
DNP Excellence Award
“The Office of Child Care and Family Resources along with CCTAP allowed me to send my child to an incredible daycare. Instead of having to work more hours as a nurse on weekends to ensure that our family could afford childcare during the week, I instead was able to spend my weekends focused on studying and ensuring that we were able to spend quality time together as a family. Simply saying thank you does not feel adequate!”
Spring 2022 | Neuroscience
Maeghan Murie-Mazariegos, Ph.D.
Advanced Opportunity Fellowship
Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship
Biology of Aging and Age-Related Diseases Trainee
Ford Fellowship Honorable Mention
HHMI Fellowship Finalist
“My husband and I moved to Wisconsin in order to pursue my educational goals without any outside support. With the arrival of our daughter, juggling my education and finding credible childcare that we could afford became a challenge, especially during the onset of the pandemic. Without the support of the Office of Child Care and Family Resources through CCTAP and CCAMPIS, I would not have been able to complete my studies and graduate with my PhD. The funding and community has been a tremendous help and we are so grateful for everything that they do.”
Spring 2021 | Physician Assistant Studies
Christina Chin, M.S.
“We could not have secured a more stable future for our son and fulfilled our aspirations without CCTAPs help. Thank you!”
Invest in Student Families. Invest in Wisconsin.
When child care is within reach, student parents thrive — and so do their kids. CCTAP makes that possible, one family at a time.