Student Shadow Day slated for April 23

High school students from around the state will get their first taste of UW–Madison on Friday, April 23, as part of the second annual Student Shadow Day.

The daylong event is a collaboration of the Associated Students of Madison (ASM), the Offices of the Dean of Students and the Madison community. The program is designed as to provide information and firsthand experiences of campus life for high school students of color; and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, as well as any other students interested in learning more about the university.

Dean of Students Luoluo Hong and several faculty members will speak at a welcome session at 8:30 a.m.

Shadow Day participants will be paired one-on-one with current UW–Madison students and will attend classes, meet with key faculty and staff, receive scholarship and financial information, and get help filling out their college applications.

Last year, more than 35 students participated. This year, 50 are expected from high schools in Janesville, Milwaukee and Beloit, as well as the Chicago area.

Hong says her office, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the College of Letters and Sciences, the Campus Writing Center and the Office of Financial Aid have provided funding or logistical support for the program.

“Higher education offers personal and societal benefits; it is the key to upward mobility and creates more socially conscious and engaged citizens,” Hong says. “I think anything that we can do to help increase interest in and aspirations for higher education also serves the state of Wisconsin and ensures its future.”

“Our goal is that by sharing information and resources, and connecting high school students with college students, personal communication will be fostered, high school students will have a clearer picture of their goals, and will have an incentive to achieve them,” adds Ted Koehler of the ASM Diversity Committee.

Spots are still open for high school or UW–Madison students who would still like to participate in this year’s Shadow Day. Those interested should contact Koehler at jtkoehler@wisc.edu.