Congratulations Kayley McColley, recipient of the 2024 Dave Obey Young Adult Civic Engagement Award!

WIPPS is pleased to announce Kayley McColley of Wausau as the recipient of the 2024 Dave Obey Young Adult Civic Engagement Award.

The award is in honor of former Wisconsin Congressman David R. Obey, who served central and northern Wisconsin as a representative from 1969 to 2011. It is awarded to a young person who demonstrates leadership abilities including initiative, integrity and service to others. Also important is a commitment to civic engagement through building relationships throughout the community and working toward positive change.

Kayley is a 2018 graduate of Wausau West high school. She received her associate degree in Human Services at Northcentral Technical College in 2022 and will graduate for UW Stevens Point in 2025 with bachelor’s degrees in social work and sociology.

In 2020, she was involved with organizing the George Floyd March in Wausau, which drew more than 1,500 participants. As a result, she was appointed by Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg to the Wausau Police Task Force. She was also integral to establishing Wausau’s annual Juneteenth celebration, which began in 2021. She is an employee of Northcentral Health Care and has had internships with ECDC, the Wausau refugee resettlement agency, as well as the Child Advocacy Center of Wausau.

Congratulations, Kayley!