PEOPLE banquet celebrates accomplishments and future opportunities

For some scholars in the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s PEOPLE (Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence) Program, their senior year of high school represents the culmination of up to 10 years of classes, workshops, internships and family sacrifices. The program’s success has helped increase the number of college-ready students applying to the state’s flagship campus.

On Friday, July 31, PEOPLE recognizes another 159 high school scholars from across Wisconsin for their outstanding accomplishments. PEOPLE’s annual Recognition Banquet begins at 11:30 a.m. in Varsity Hall at Union South, 1308 Dayton St. Speakers include John Hill, director of college and career readiness for Milwaukee Public Schools, and keynote presenter Nikki Wachter, community investments program manager for Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation.

Patrick J. Sims, UW–Madison’s vice provost and chief diversity officer, will also speak. He leads the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Educational Achievement, of which PEOPLE is a part.

“This banquet provides the perfect opportunity for us as a division to come together, break bread, and say thank you to all of those supporters, including parents and other family members, who are contributing to these students’ current and future successes,” says Sims.

PEOPLE’s longitudinal approach to academic support and skills enhancement has demonstrated clear gains. Ninety-four percent of students who complete the pre-college enrichment program enroll in higher education. Ninety-six percent of PEOPLE College Scholars successfully complete their first year of college and return as sophomores. Many PEOPLE scholars are also now enrolled in or have earned advanced degrees from graduate and professional schools within UW–Madison.

This summer, PEOPLE provided college preparation services for more than 1,000 students through summer enrichment programs.

“We are thrilled to share that programs in the division, such as PEOPLE, allow us to address and reduce the opportunity gaps which have historically shown that first-generation college students have lower graduation rates than non-first generation students,” says Sims. “Even though the fiscal climate is tight right now, the division is strong in part because of the contributions we have received from supporters — such as those who will be present to help us celebrate the achievements of our rising PEOPLE high school students.”

This year’s banquet comes on the heels of a major recognition for two PEOPLE scholars. On July 23, Brandon Alvarez-Carrera and Miriam Burgos-Febus, both incoming first-years at UW–Madison, traveled to the White House to take part in First Lady Michelle Obama’s inaugural Beating the Odds Summit. Gail Ford, PEOPLE interim assistant director for pre-college services, joined the students.

“U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has said, ‘Chase your dream, but catch an education. Education may be the door to open your dreams,'” says Ford. “The power of a college education has the ability to change the trajectory of an entire family for not only the current generation, but generations to come. Being able to empower Wisconsin’s most vulnerable populations with the opportunity for a college education helps position Wisconsin’s residents for long-term, lifelong success.”