A reporter and anchor at La Crosse TV station, WKBT-TV, is the first to receive the recently established Boyd Huppert Education Debt Assistance Grant.
Allyson Fergot is one of ten who applied for the student debt relief grant set up and funded by supporters of legendary broadcast journalist Boyd Huppert.
“Allyson’s dedication is unparalleled,” wrote WKBT-TV News Director Jason Walker. “As a young journalist, she produces work that has not only garnered the respect of her colleagues, but also recognition from both local and regional outlets.”
Fergot joined her hometown station, WKBT-TV, straight from attending college at UW-Madison. She started as a producer and moved into an MMJ role, shooting and writing her own stories.
“The transition into reporting has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made,” Fergot wrote. “I have had the privilege to cover the Coulee Region’s most pressing issues, like the childcare crisis and education funding, and the area’s most attention-grabbing stories, like the UWL Chancellor scandal.”
She was named the WBA Young Professional of the Month in October 2024 and served as a panelist for the WBA Foundation U.S. Senate debate last fall.
“Allyson embodies the values that the Boyd Huppert Education Debt Assistance Grant seeks to support: A deep commitment to the field of broadcast journalism, a dedication to lifelong learning, and a genuine desire to serve the community,” Walker wrote.
“From our ever-changing political landscape to our hard-working farmers, to the dedicated educators who are making a difference every day, I’m excited to continue telling the stories of the Coulee Region and developing my skills as a journalist,” Fergot wrote.
Fergot will be presented with the $2,000 grant on June 19 at the WBA Summer Conference during the business breakfast and WBA update. Huppert will be on hand to present the check.
Anyone interested in applying for the grant can find more information here. To support the grant, contributions can be made here.
Applications for the next round will be accepted in 2026.