Morgridge Center for Public Service
Connecting Campus and Community Through Service and Learning

The Morgridge Center’s 30th Year

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Morgridge Center staff, past and present, gather for a celebration of 30 years of great work connecting UW-Madison's campus and the Madison community. Morgridge Center interns, professional staff and community members attended the gathering to hear from the pillars of the center, including current Faculty Director Travis Wright, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. John Zumbrunnen and the mind behind the center's creation, Mary Rouse (featured in the center chair). The gathering included words of wisdom about the Morgridge Center's ongoing positive impact, new innovative programs being implemented with the hope of furthering community building and the way in which every member of the center is integral to fulfilling its mission.
Morgridge Center staff, past and present, gather for a celebration of 30 years of great work connecting UW-Madison’s campus and the Madison community. Morgridge Center interns, professional staff and community members attended the gathering to hear from the pillars of the center, including current Faculty Director Travis Wright, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. John Zumbrunnen and the mind behind the center’s creation, Mary Rouse (featured in the center chair). The gathering included words of wisdom about the Morgridge Center’s ongoing positive impact, new innovative programs being implemented with the hope of furthering community building and the way in which every member of the center is integral to fulfilling its mission.
Marketing Manager Xai Xiong and his current Marketing and Communications interns, Sammie Garrity (left) and Molly Nichols (right), gather to display the 30th year Impact Report. Containing 80 pages, this thoughtful magazine details the earliest days of the Morgridge Center for Public Service and how it has continued to expand its programs throughout time. Across faculty directors, current and former staff members are crafting the execution of Morgridge Center programs, and this publication provided staff, instructors, and the community the opportunity to see just how much great work has been done since the center's beginning in 1996.
Marketing Manager Xai Xiong and his current marketing and communications interns, Sammie Garrity (left) and Molly Nichols (right), gather to display the 30-Year Impact Report. Containing 80 pages, this thoughtful magazine details the earliest days of the Morgridge Center for Public Service and how it has continued to expand its programs throughout time. Across faculty directors, current and former staff members are crafting the execution of Morgridge Center programs, and this publication provided staff, instructors and the community the opportunity to see just how much great work has been done since the center’s beginning in 1996.
In the spirit of celebrating the Morgridge Center's 30th anniversary and continuing to foster great conversation for community change, the Morgridge Center, alongside the UW South Madison Partnership, hosted an intergenerational panel event featuring prominent members of the community committed to serving the public within their positions. The audience included several Madison residents familiar with the Morgridge Center and its mission, excited to discuss how identity and community engagement intersect.
In the spirit of celebrating the Morgridge Center’s 30th anniversary and continuing to foster great conversation for community change, the center, alongside the UW South Madison Partnership, hosted an intergenerational panel event featuring prominent members of the community committed to serving the public within their positions.
From the same intergenerational panel event, panelist Tamia Fowlkes, former Morgridge Center for Public Service Marketing and Communications intern and current investigative reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, shakes hands with current faculty director Travis Wright. Other panelists included Gery Paredes Vásquez, Executive Director of the YWCA Madison, Emily Auerbach, Executive Director of the UW Odyssey Project, and Tyson Jackson, Director of Family and Youth Community Engagement for the Madison Metropolitan School District.
From the same intergenerational panel event, panelist Tamia Fowlkes, former Morgridge Center intern and current investigative reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, shakes hands with current Faculty Director Travis Wright. Other panelists included Executive Director of the YWCA Madison Gery Paredes Vásquez, Executive Director of the UW Odyssey Project, Emily Auerbach and Director of Family and Youth Community Engagement for the Madison Metropolitan School District Tyson Jackson.
To kick off the school year, our Civic Engagement Intern, Sam Arnold, conducted a Capitol Building Tour, one of the many campus tours taking place at the beginning of the semester, to introduce new students to the rich history and culture existing right in their backyard. These tours educated students on the important operations of the Madison Capitol and allowed them to gain a better understanding of the political system, with the hopes of increasing civic engagement on campus for upcoming elections.
To kick off the school year, our Civic Engagement Intern Sam Arnold, conducted a Capitol Building Tour to introduce new students to the rich history and culture existing right in their backyard. These tours educated students on the important operations of the Madison Capitol and allowed them to gain a better understanding of the political system, with the hopes of increasing civic engagement on campus.
In the spirit of exposing new students to the possibilities of Madison, Community-based Learning Intern Preet Talwar led a Community Walking Tour throughout the Greenbush neighborhood and near the west side of Madison, explaining to students the history of popular landmarks, including the early days of Camp Randall Stadium. Other notable stops included the Neighborhood House, a community center for Madison's youth, and the Greenbush Bakery, a community favorite for baked goods on game day!
In the spirit of exposing new students to the possibilities of Madison, Community-based Learning Intern Preet Talwar led a Community Walking Tour throughout the Greenbush neighborhood and near the west side of Madison, explaining to students the history of popular landmarks, including the early days of Camp Randall Stadium. Other notable stops included the Neighborhood House, a community center for Madison’s youth, and the Greenbush Bakery, a community favorite for baked goods on game day!
Another fall semester means another Red Gym Chili Cook-off, an annual tradition hosted by the Morgridge Center for Public Service, open for all Red Gym staff and students to participate in. Assistant Director of Administration Dean Ladwig originally brought the cook off to the Red Gym back in 2014 from his previous position at the School of Education, and ever since, students and staff have loved the friendly competition and welcomed the opportunity to learn more about their peers over a hot meal.
Another fall semester means another Red Gym Chili Cook-off, an annual tradition hosted by the Morgridge Center, open for all Red Gym staff and students to participate in. Assistant Director of Administration Dean Ladwig originally brought the cook-off to the Red Gym back in 2014 from his previous position at the School of Education, and ever since, students and staff have loved the friendly competition and welcomed the opportunity to learn more about their peers over a hot meal.
Morgridge Center interns love the annual Chili Cook-Off and the opportunity to taste-test staff's best homemade chili and cornbread recipes and vote for their favorite! Tenured interns, such as Shannon Abolins (left), Ella Santoro (middle), and Sammie Garrity (right), look forward to the gathering every year and the chance to spend quality time with fellow interns.
Morgridge Center interns love the annual Chili Cook-Off and the opportunity to taste-test staff’s best homemade chili and cornbread recipes and vote for their favorite! Tenured interns, such as Shannon Abolins (left), Ella Santoro (middle) and Sammie Garrity (right), look forward to the gathering every year and the chance to spend quality time with fellow interns.
Never missing a chance to see the great work that they support, the Morgridge family, John Morgridge (left), his wife, Tashia Morgridge (middle), their son John Jr. (middle), and his wife Carrie Morgridge stopped by the center for a short visit. During this time, they were able to learn more about the opportunities granted through the center's strong internship program, hear about the great work done for the community by Badger Volunteers, and comb through the 30th anniversary Impact Report, recalling great memories and beginnings for the center.
Never missing a chance to see the great work that they support, the Morgridge family, John Morgridge (left), his wife, Tashia Morgridge (middle), their son John Jr. (middle), and his wife Carrie Morgridge stopped by the center for a short visit. During this time, they were able to learn more about the opportunities granted through the center’s strong internship program, hear about the great work done for the community by Badger Volunteers and comb through the 30-Year Impact Report, recalling great memories and beginnings for the center.
Students in Art 338- Service Learning in Art, with Community-based Learning, instructor Angela Johnson, spent the semester learning and discussing the ways that art engages communities as they worked alongside Madison residents to see these effects in motion.
Students in Art 338: Service Learning in Art, with Community-based Learning instructor Angela Johnson, spent the semester learning and discussing the ways that art engages communities as they worked alongside Madison communities to see these effects in motion.
Another semester brought bittersweet goodbyes for graduating Morgridge Center interns, such as IT Operations Intern Ella Santoro, as she heads into her next chapter as a full-time Software Engineer with Entegral starting this month in Madison. Ella has been at the Morgridge Center since her sophomore year and has loved the opportunity to workshop her IT skills while also moderating the technical side of all Morgridge Center programs. We are grateful for Ella's time at the center, and look forward to seeing her soon!
Another semester brought bittersweet goodbyes for graduating Morgridge Center IT Operations Intern Ella Santoro, as she heads into her next chapter as a full-time software engineer with Entegral starting January in Madison. Santoro has been at the Morgridge Center since her sophomore year and has loved the opportunity to workshop her IT skills while also moderating the technical side of all Morgridge Center programs. We are grateful for Santoro’s time at the center and look forward to seeing her soon!

By Molly Nichols