Katy Culver, professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Journalism & Mass Communication

I soon came to call Alec "the unconscious competent." His work is so stellar, so memorable, yet he seems so unaware of his gifts.

Alec's work is remarkable. He has an inherent gift for finding larger themes in routine assignments. When he reviews an array of facts, something in his nature lets him immediately see how the pieces are connected, what theme he can use as a vehicle to tell the story. No working editor could miss how uncommon this is.

Above all things, the kid is stunningly bright. His lack of ego also contributes to his successes, as he never sees himself as bigger than anyone or anything. His work is accurate specifically because he recognizes he doesn't know everything. The blend of these qualities makes him engaging, a delight to work with.

Mike Gendall, editor-in-chief for The Badger Herald

Like his idols Rick Bragg and David Remnick, Alec Luhn combines an effortless, clear writing style with dogged reporting skills to achieve a standard of journalistic excellence beyond his years. His coverage of issues such as increased detox admissions and a proposed bio-defense facility have raised awareness about these topics. His work has also provoked discussion, as evinced by online feedback to his articles. In addition to his writing and reporting ability, Luhn possesses multimedia skills he has used to create audio slideshows for the Badger Herald news blog, which he started and continues to run.

Luhn has received numerous awards for his student work, including a Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, two Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation scholarships and a WNA first place award for investigative reporting. At the professional level, Luhn recently received a first place award for best coverage of a spot news event in the Milwaukee Press Club's Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism competition and a WNA second place award in spot news reporting for his role in the coverage of the Kelly Nolan abduction.

As features editor, Alec decided to do a story on the UW skydiving club’s fall jump, and ended up joining in.  As far as going to great lengths to get a story, I have to admire a reporter who will plunge 12,000 feet.

Source | The Badger Herald
Casey stopped working the streets four days shy of her 18th birthday. The Madison native, now 25, had originally been laid over in Chicago on her way to a modeling gig when an older man enticed her out of the bus station.

Source | The Badger Herald
Elizabeth received a surprise package on her birthday last July: A letter confirming the $4,000 settlement she reached with the Recording Industry Association of America had been successfully paid.

Source | The Wisconsin State Journal
One Saturday afternoon, Madison real estate agent Brent Sainsbury, 29, was called away from an open house for an unexpected meeting. But he couldn't find his car.

Source | The Badger Herald
Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Espresso Royale on lower State Street. The drone of a latte machine and the gentle throb of the indie music mix permeate the cafe.