Community service advocate will speak at commencement

If John Morgridge had an official title at UW–Madison, it might well be “dean of service learning.”

Morgridge and his wife, Tashia, both UW alumni, are the driving force behind the university’s Morgridge Center for Public Service, a central clearinghouse for those wishing to volunteer their time an expertise in the community, and to a broad array of organizations seeking volunteers.

Morgridge will speak at commencement ceremonies on Sunday, Dec. 18, in the Kohl Center. The Morgridge Center will celebrate a decade of service next year, and has been instrumental in making UW–Madison one of the nation’s premier institutions in the area of service learning. In more than 85 UW–Madison classes, community involvement is an integral component of the academic curriculum. This last year saw almost 300 people use the Morgridge Center for volunteer opportunities.

Morgridge is chair of the board at Cisco Systems, a leading supplier of networking equipment and network management for the Internet. With $18 billon in annual sales, the company does 90 percent of its transactions on the Web. Morgridge also serves on the boards of a number of nonprofit organizations, including the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), the Nature Conservancy, the technical advisory board for the Milwaukee Public Schools, Business Executives for National Security and more. UW–Madison, Lesley College, Northern Illinois University-Richmond, the American International University-London and Carleton University all have bestowed honorary degrees on Morgridge. In 2004 he and his wife were awarded a Wisconsin Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, the first time the honor was given to a couple.

During this month’s commencement ceremonies, about 1,600 students will be eligible for degrees. The registrar’s office compiles that actual number on a day-by-day basis. Two ceremonies in the Kohl Center on Dayton Street will mark the winter commencement, Dec. 18:

• All Ph.D., M.F.A., master’s and professional degree candidates, and bachelor’s degree candidates in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences; and the Schools of Education, Human Ecology, Medicine and Public Health, and Nursing will participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony.
• Bachelor’s degree candidates in the Colleges of Engineering, and Letters and Science and the Business School will celebrate their graduation at 2 p.m.

Morgridge will speak at both ceremonies.

No tickets are required.

Candidates and guests should arrive 20 minutes before the start of their ceremony to ensure they are seated at the appointed time. Parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on city streets and in university ramps and lots. Complementary shuttle service will be available from lots adjacent to Camp Randall. No alcoholic beverages are allowed.