Leadership Certificate awarded to 75 UW-Madison students

At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a certificate program — similar to a minor at other universities — offers a chance for students to show their proficiency in fields beyond their majors.

With thousands of students active in service, extracurricular activities and athletics on and off campus, UW–Madison’s Leadership Certificate encourages students to diversify their involvement throughout the university community — and be able to quantify what they have learned in ways that employers and others can easily see.

Seventy-five students received the Leadership Certificate at the program’s 2016 reception, held on Wednesday, May 4.

“As recipients of the Leadership Certificate, you have demonstrated not only an ability to navigate, but to lead,” said Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf, addressing honorees and guests. “In this day and age, our country, and indeed the world, could use more leaders like yourselves.”

In addition, benefactor Anne Martino presented the Anne Louise Martino Leadership Award to Alexandria Pham. The $5,000 award, intended to foster community and continued support for women with UW–Madison ties engaging in leadership, is intended to encourage and mentor an outstanding graduating senior woman who has distinguished herself as a campus leader.

Created in 2002, the Leadership Certificate program, offered through the Division of Student Life and the Center for Leadership and Involvement (CfLI), reinforces UW–Madison’s commitment to developing student leadership capacity through intentional reflection and engagement in learning, both inside and outside the classroom, for the purpose of meaningful change.

Participants must meet a series of requirements:

• Complete 100 hours divided between the three areas of Civic Engagement, Organizational/Group Leadership, and Trainings and Workshops.
• Pass one academic course with a B or above, either in Leadership Studies or Global and Cultural Competence, from an approved list.
• Complete three of five online modules and write reflection essays for each.
• Write a three-part essay reflecting on personal competencies and developing an action plan for future growth.
• Choose one UW–Madison leadership value as a capstone and reflect on its place in the student’s leadership experience with an essay or presentation.

View the list of students receiving the Leadership Certificate in 2016.