South African visitor to address students

Khotso Mokhele, director of the National Research Foundation of South Africa, will be a featured speaker at the closing banquet of the Summer Collegiate Experience, an 8-week “jump start” program for incoming freshman students of color at the university.

Mokhele holds a Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of California-Davis. Mokhele will speak Thursday, Aug. 3, during the 4:30-6:30 p.m. banquet at the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St.

Student performances and poetry readings also will be part of the program, along with an address by Phillip R. Certain, dean of the College of Letters and Science.

A campus tradition since 1985, the program offers academic challenge to freshmen of color from around the country who want an early start on their college careers. Each program participant has been matched with a mentor who may be a UW–Madison student, faculty or staff member. Between June 12-Aug. 3, SCE students took two regular UW–Madison summer session courses. Program participants also met with representatives of campus offices and student organizations, among other activities.