By Rachel Robey
Designed by School of Human Ecology student Grace Edwards BSx’25, here’s where to find the (free!) limited-edition stickers on campus.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Department of Computer Sciences (CS), and with it six decades of excellence in research, education, and innovation. To celebrate this major milestone, CS commissioned a commemorative sticker sheet featuring four designs created by UW–Madison student Grace Edwards BSx’25.
With an initial printing of just 2,000 sheets, they’re available (for free!) in two pick-up locations around the CS building: across from the main elevator bank on the first floor of tower three, and in the student lounge in room 6351. Move fast to grab a set for your laptop, water bottle, or journal, and continue reading for the stories behind each sticker.
Designing the 60th anniversary stickers
From a portrait of Sister Mary Kenneth Keller to Grace’s depiction of the time-tested Hello, World! program, these stickers represent pivotal figures, moments, and ideals from the department’s legacy.
Computer Sciences Badger
Inspired by Edwards’ own Badger Doodles series, this sticker depicts the typical computer science student or faculty member working away on a laptop. Naturally, that laptop is covered in stickers: a heart, a university crest, a cursor, and binary code reading “UW.”
“My goal with all of my work is to make people smile. I hope that these stickers, and the stories behind them, spark joy,” says Edwards. “The badger laptop design is a good example of this. You can’t look at him without giggling at least a little bit—he’s very silly.”
It’s a good reminder that all of us are Badgers with the same interest in furthering the advances and influence of computer science.
Sister Mary Kenneth Keller PhD’65
Sister Mary Kenneth Keller was a Catholic nun, computer scientist, and the first person in the nation to receive a PhD in computer science—which she received from UW–Madison. It took her 33 years of college-level courses to earn her PhD. She was 51.
Edwards’ sticker design is modeled after an iconic photo circa 1969 featuring Keller standing next to a Bi-Tran Six, a training computer used to teach students the principles of computer science. A lifelong educator, Keller went on to found the computer science department at Clarke College, a women’s school in Iowa. She pushed tirelessly for accessibility in computing, encouraging her female students to bring children to class, if necessary.
“I loved the idea behind this sticker, as well as the goal of bringing a woman in the field to the forefront of public attention. It gave me a chance to learn about her and the contributions she made to the field,” says Edwards.
In 1973, Keller co-authored the textbook Mathematical Logic and Probability With BASIC Programming, which aimed to instruct students in the principles and study of computer science using the widely accessible BASIC programming language. Edwards added a sticker that reads “BASIC” to the Bi-Tran Six as an homage to this work.
Hello, World!
Few things are universally relatable—among computer scientists, the significance of Hello, World! is one of them.
Originating sometime in the 70s, the Hello, World! program is how most students learn basic syntax. UW–Madison students have used it to get started with Java, Rust, C++, and any number of other programming languages. But it’s not just a Wisconsin tradition—Hello, World! is a global phenomenon.
In fact, it’s so widely applicable that it’s the name of a classroom in the future School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) building. Opening in 2025, the Hello, World! Auditorium will be the largest lecture space in Morgridge Hall. The space was named by Epic Systems, a healthcare software company based in Verona, Wisconsin and founded by UW–Madison Computer Sciences alumna Judy Faulkner.
CS for all!
One of the core tenets of the Department of Computer Sciences at UW–Madison is that computer science is for everyone—in fact, we’re one of the few top-ranked computer science departments in the country to not have an enrollment cap.
As a nod to that guiding principle, this sticker acknowledges computer science’s ability to improve accessibility and transform the world for good. Among students, groups like WACM, ColorStack, and Code for Good show up to create welcoming and inclusive spaces dedicated to improving the field of computer science—and the world more broadly. Together, we pursue this common goal.
About the artist: Grace Edwards
Grace Edwards is pursuing a BS in Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies and a certificate in Studio Art. Graduating in December 2025, her education in the School of Human Ecology (SoHE) has played a big role in the many creative projects, like her now-famous Badger Doodles, she has undertaken while on campus.
“I really can’t say enough positive things about SoHE,” she says. “The most valuable thing is the culture of encouragement that I feel from my professors and peers. I really feel that the people around me want me to thrive, and they give me the space and resources to do so.”
In addition to working with CS, Edwards has collaborated with other campus units to create fun, affordable merch. You can find many of them on her website or at the University Bookstore.
“My goal with all of my work is to make people smile,” she continues. “I hope that these stickers, and the stories behind them, spark joy for the people who see them.”