With the year coming to a close, the Morgridge Center is grateful to look back on 30 great years of community engagement. Through pillar programs such as Badger Volunteers, impactful Community-based Learning courses, and the annual Wisconsin Idea Fellowship only continuing to grow, the Morgridge Center looks forward to the next 30 years to come.
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The Trifecta of Impact: Wisconsin Idea Fellowship Connects Students, Faculty and Communities
The Wisconsin Idea Fellowship (WIF) program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in long-term, community-based projects that explore diverse approaches to public service and research.
When the Whispers of UW-Madison Speak, Who Do We Hear?
Join us on the GridgeFridge for a spooky walking tour through UW–Madison’s haunted history, from Science Hall’s rumored “cadaver chute” to the ghosts buried beneath Bascom Hill. These chilling tales demonstrate how tragedy and rumor shape campus memory, prompting us to ask whose stories are preserved — and whose fade away over time.
Community Engagement Means Continuous Learning with Jenna Harb
Jenna Harb’s passion for community engagement only deepened through her discovery of one-on-one, hands-on community work during her time as the Student Organization Partnership Program intern. Harb’s time at the Morgridge Center set the tone for the rest of her career, fostering empathy and emphasizing the power of connection—values she continues to carry into every community that she serves.
A Fulfilling Summer for Badger Volunteers
And that’s a wrap to Summer Badger Volunteers 2025. Check out what some of our volunteers were up to at Vera Court, the Social Justice Center, Doors of Hope and more.
‘It’s Just a Dance’—But So Much More: A Badger Volunteers Reflection
Caitlin Proffitt, a three-year participant in the Badger Volunteers program and now a Morgridge Center Badger Volunteers intern, has always had a passion for community engagement. Her time spent with the residents of the Central Wisconsin Center has been nothing short of transformative, as she has developed personal relationships with several of their members along the way, just one of the many experiences that demonstrate Badger Volunteers’ lasting impact.
Emma Gleed Returns as Morgridge Center’s Educational Programs Manager
The Morgridge Center is excited to welcome back Emma Gleed as the new educational programs manager. Emma is a returning member of the center, having formerly served as both an intern and Americorps Achievement Connections Coordinator. She looks forward to bringing her extensive community engagement skills into this new position.
Cultivating Connections: A Wisconsin Idea Fellowship Mentorship Venture
Over the course of the past year, a team of three UW-Madison students worked to create a mentorship venture by pairing with other Asian American students at Madison West High School.
Threads of Change: Jordyn Czyzewski and the Rise of ReWear It Wisco
Jordyn Czyzewski found her passion for sustainability on campus at ReWear It Wisco, a student group promoting conscious clothing swaps and environmental justice. From helping students to clear their closets to making a campus-wide impact, ReWear It Wisco is helping students rethink fashion—and their role in sustainability with the help of the Morgridge Center and their Student Organizations Partnership Program (SOPP).
Danielle Wendricks ‘21 Journey of Community, Leadership and Purpose
Danielle Wendricks ’21, a former Badger Volunteer, peer advisor, and CBL intern, continues her work in community engagement by helping students discover their own future personal and professional aspirations.