Andrea Bukacek Honored With Hy Popuch Award

Former women's tennis player Andrea Bukacek (Bus Ad '07) has been selected the recipient of the 2025 Hy Popuch Award, presented by the M Club, and will be officially recognized at the men's basketball game against Providence on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. CT.

In 1954, the M Club began to present an award annually to someone who has demonstrated loyal and dedicated service to Marquette athletics over a long period of time.

"Andrea embodies what the Hy Popuch Award is all about – dedication and service to Marquette athletics," M Club President Jim Packee said. "Andrea has built upon her time as a Marquette student-athlete to become an industry leader and trailblazer and has dedicated herself to making a positive impact on the Marquette community and beyond, including serving as an M Club board member.

"Like Hy Popuch, Andrea is a true servant leader - on behalf of the entire M-Club, I would like to congratulate her on this well-deserved honor," Packee added.

A four-year letterwinner (2004-07) on the tennis team, Bukacek (Boo-ka-check) is the CEO and first female owner of Bukacek Construction Group in Racine. Bukacek Construction is a regional construction manager and general contractor that prides itself on excellence, including highly responsive service, flexibility and value optimization. Similar to Marquette's mission, their company culture is based on four core values: commitment, character, competence and collaboration.

She has remained engaged with the tennis program and athletics department, serving on the M Club Board of directors.

ABOUT THE HY POPUCH AWARD
The award is named for Hy Popuch, a former M Club president and recipient of the M Club Man of the Year Award in 1974. The award name changed from "Man of the Year" to the "Hy Popuch Award" to honor Popuch, who died at the age of 73 on March 16, 1984 of a stroke. The First recipient of the Hy Popuch Award was former Marquette University Athletics Director, Hank Raymonds, who received the award in 1987.

He graduated from Marquette in 1943 after having earned varsity letters in tennis and football. In addition to his activities for Marquette, Popuch was inducted into the Jewish Community Center's Athletic Wall of Fame in 1968 for his many community services. He was also named 'man of the year' by the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association for his sponsorship of youth athletic teams and banquets that he spearheaded over many years.

Popuch also received the Marquette Metropolitan Area Award, the Jerry Lewis Award for work against Muscular Dystrophy and the Certificate of Achievement Award from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department.

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