UW Credit Union and the UW-Madison Alumni Band March Together

Madison, WI (Sept. 19, 2026) - In September, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s campus comes alive on Saturdays with college football traditions, including one that brings generations of musicians back together.  

Each year, the UW-Madison Alumni Band returns to Camp Randall to perform during a Wisconsin Badgers football game, giving former band members another chance to reconnect with the school, the music and that special gameday energy. This year’s performance takes place on Sept. 19 when the Badgers take on Eastern Michigan.  

For UW Credit Union, the Alumni Band performance is another example of a relationship with UW-Madison that extends well beyond gameday. Founded on the UW-Madison campus in 1931 by professors and academics, UW Credit Union continues to support students, alumni, employees and cherished traditions that keep Badgers connected long after graduation. 

About 400 former band members take part in the weekend’s camaraderie, says Jeff Wendorf, Vice President of Advancement at the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, who played tuba from 1978-1982 and has helped organize the event since 1986. 

More than half also return to the field, stepping back into the formations and music that made their UW-Madison experience unforgettable. Much of the music comes back quickly, Jeff says, from “On, Wisconsin!” to “Varsity.” 

While the group varies in how much they’ve continued to play their instruments over the years, they all have one thing in common: their Alumni Band t-shirts. 

Since 2018, the Wisconsin Alumni Association has partnered with UW Credit Union to provide Alumni Band t-shirts, giving participants a coordinated look when they take the field at Camp Randall. 

“It’s a great partnership,” says Jeff. “People really look forward to the t-shirts, too.” 

The shirts add value to the whole weekend: They give alumni something meaningful to take home and make the UW Alumni Band stand out among peer alumni band associations across the Big Ten and beyond. The shirts also come in handy when UW Alumni Band groups in Madison and Milwaukee play at other events throughout the year, extending the visibility of the partnership beyond Camp Randall. 

Each year’s shirt has a different design. Last year, the group chose white t-shirts to match the stadium’s whiteout theme. One design honored longtime UW Marching Band director Mike Leckrone, showing how each shirt can celebrate a different piece of Badger band history. 

Jeff says the partnership has been easy and reliable: the Alumni Band develops the design, UW Credit Union helps support the cost, and everyone can focus on making the weekend memorable. 

Whether on the field, in the stands or across campus, the connection between UW Credit Union and UW-Madison continues to show up in meaningful ways. Supporting the UW Alumni Band is one example of how that partnership helps keep Badger traditions moving forward. 

For students, employees, alumni and Badger fans looking for a financial institution connected to campus life, UW Credit Union’s relationship with UW-Madison is part of who we are. From everyday banking to support for university traditions, we’re proud to serve the people who make Madison feel like home.