WILS Alumni Association
About WILS Alumni Association
The WILS Alumni Association promotes and supports the goals and purposes of Wisconsin Leadership Seminars, which include providing continuing educational and leadership opportunities for WILS alumni. The Alumni Association provides ongoing development and networking opportunities with other student and civic leaders. Being an active member of the Alumni Association is the best way for student leaders to stay in touch with friends from the seminar and to meet other WILSers from past seminars. There is no cost to join the Alumni Association, and you are a member for life.
The Alumni sponsors several OUTSTANDING events during the year at various sites across the state, including:
Alumni Reunions – The Alumni hold two weekend reunions annually at various locations in Wisconsin. Each reunion features a community service event, a speaker, a tour of a local business, various recreational events, and tons of fun!
Seminar Committees – There are five WILS committees that are critical to preparing for seminar that alumni can volunteer for: Seminar Planning Committee, Recruitment Committee, Registration Committee, Social Media Committee, and Staffing Committee.
Seminar Staff- WILS alumni are critical to the success of the WILS Seminar. Over 80 alumni return each year to volunteer on staff at our annual seminar!
Service and Fundraising Events – Throughout the year our alumni volunteer at events throughout the state to fundraise for WILS or support other organizations. Events include visits to nursing homes, volunteering with other nonprofit organizations, gardening/land beautification, car washes, corn roasts, brat fries, and/or concession stand.
Alumni Association Board of Directors
President: Gavin Almlie
Heyyy! My name is Gavin Almlie and I am the President this year. I went to Seminar in 2022, and I am from Osceola, WI. I keep going back to Seminar year after year because nowhere else is there a place that encapsulates the essence and atmosphere of WILS. It’s a place where you can laugh and cry, inspire and be inspired, and grow while watching those around you embrace their own, personal growth. To me, it’s a constant reminder of where I started, where I am, and where I am going, but what’s even better is creating a community to experience this with. If I were a Bubbl’r, I’d be a Twisted Elix’r: A classic that can still pack a punch!
Vice President: Sarah Bendorf
Hey all! My name is Sarah Bendorf and I am the Vice President this year! I went to Seminar in 2023 and am from Hortonville, Wisconsin. Back when I was selected to attend WILS, never did I think that it would become anything. Instead, I expected to just spend a weekend here and then never return, but that all changed so quickly. The people that come here are so supportive and dedicated to what they do. That passion just overflows to everyone around them, and I am able to meet people from all over the state, making amazing friends in the process. It’s these people that make me keep coming back to this amazing organization. My favorite Bubblr’ flavor is definitely the Cranberry Grapefruit one!
Treasurer: Brennan Martin
Hello! My name is Brennan Martin and I am this year’s AA treasurer. I am from Ripon, WI, and I attended seminar in 2023. WILS has had such a large impact in my life. When I first went to seminar, I was extremely introverted and skeptical about the entire experience. As the weekend went on, though, I saw the true value behind every activity we did. WILS has inspired me to be so much more than I ever thought I could amount to, and I want to do everything in my power to perpetuate that life changing experience for others. If I’m going to be drinking a Bubblr’, it’s got to be the superior pomegranate acai refresher.
Secretary: Tyler Poker
Hey, Y’all! I am Tyler Poker, a 22er from Baraboo, WI. Currently, I live in Lake Forest, IL while attending school at Lake Forest College. I am in my third year as a board member, and I am once again serving this year as the secretary. I could give tons of reasons as to why I come back year after year to WILS, but if I were to pick one, it would be because of the people. I met some of my greatest friends, and quite frankly some of the greatest people I have ever met through WILS, for which I am so grateful. If I were a BUBBL’R flavor, I would say that I am a tropical dream’r.
Public Relations Director: Nevaeh Clayton
Hello, my name is Nevaeh Clayton. I am thrilled to be your Public Relations Coordinator for this year! I attended seminar in 2023, I am from Green Bay/Ashwaubenon Wisconsin. I come back to WILS to give back everything it gave to me. WILS has helped shape me into the person I am today and has impacted me in such a powerful way. Seminar/Reunions have given me life long friendships and irreplaceable experiences. I hope to give back to people the same experience I had so they are able to enjoy it as much as I did/do. My guilty pleasure is definitely a cold Bublr’. So if I was a Bublr’ it would have to be the Dark Orange one, Blood Orange Mango Mingl’r. It’s just so fun and unique.
Media Coordinator: Piper Ryan
Hi everyone! My name is Piper Ryan and I am this year’s Media Coordinator! I am from Deerfield, WI, and attended Seminar as a 23’er! Seminar captured my heart from the very beginning and I can’t wait to continue being an active part of our incredible community! My hope as MC is to not only capture memories, but to also help future student leaders find the same sense of home I found in my first year! If you’re an incoming WILSer, nerves, excitement, and confusion are completely normal, embrace it! Also, if I were to be a Bubblr’, I would definitely be the Pomegranate Acai Refresh’r – always a crowd pleaser!
Member at Large: Sarah Hopp
Hello! My name is Sarah Hopp and I am one of two Co-Members at large this year on the WILSAA board. I’m a ‘22er from Stevens Point, Wisconsin but am currently residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts where I attend MIT. I came back to WILS because WILS gave me a place to truly be myself and to grow in my identity as a leader. I actually don’t have a favorite bublr flavor because if I am drinking a bublr it’s usually out of desperation because I hate coffee (see me drinking bublr to stay awake on the way home from summer reunion), but Nevaeh informed me that I would be the blue bublr.
Member at large : Caiden Poupore
Hello, I am Caiden Poupore. I attended a seminar in 2024 and I am from Cedarburg, Wisconsin. I come back to WILS every year because there is no place like it, where you can make new connections with people you would never approach normally. You don’t get a lot of opportunities like WILS, a place where you can explore things that you wouldn’t normally explore, and so I believe that WILS holds infinite value to all of the student leaders by giving them all a chance to explore themselves. I don’t often drink Bubbl’r, but when I do, you can’t go wrong with a twisted elix’r.
First Year Liaison: Adam capatske
Bonjour, I’m Adam Capatske from Ellsworth and I’m obviously a 24er. Being a part of WILS was the beginning of an era for me and I can’t wait to put my best foot forward. Me and Jamal are ready to take on the world. If I were a Bubblr flavor, I would say I’m like the Triple Berry Breezer because I’m everybody’s favorite, but nobody can explain why.