The Rath Foundation - An Enduring Legacy at UW-Madison

The research assistance position I had as a result of my Rath scholarship connected me with professors with whom I’m still in touch. They guided me toward post-graduation career opportunities and continue to be trusted resources with whom I discuss my career path. I feel grateful to be in a position to make charitable contributions to causes that matter to me. But the way I think about paying it forward from my Rath experience is through mentorship. I’m surrounded by colleagues who attended elite private, primarily Ivy League, colleges and law schools. I try to make myself available to young people considering law school, or law students looking at clerkships and jobs, and share my perspective as someone who attended a public university but had opportunities through my Rath scholarship that enabled me to have access to competitive professional experiences. I had relatively modest student debt after undergrad, but paying off those loans drove my personal and professional choices during that period. By not having student debt after law school, I’ve been able to take opportunities regardless of financial concerns. I was able to complete two clerkships — and my husband was able to move with me to do so — because I didn’t have the burden of student debt.

Anna Collins Peterson JD'18 Madison, Wisconsin

Juris Doctor Summa Cum Laude

Wisconsin Law Review

“I feel grateful to be in a position to make charitable contributions to causes that matter to me.”

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL