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Summer Volunteer Opportunities

Concerts on the Square The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) is seeking volunteers to help with an audience survey project during their 2016 Concerts on the Square season. Volunteers must commit to at least one Wednesday evening performance during the 2016 Concerts on the Square season. For more information, contact Mae Saul atmaesaul@wcoconcerts.org. To learn more, …

For senior Marjorie Kersten, the solution to global malnutrition is tiny

Where most of us see creepy crawlers, UW–Madison senior Marjorie Kersten sees the solution to global malnutrition. We’re talking about eating insects—or “entomophagy” if that word makes the idea easier to stomach. And Kersten, a 2015-16 Wisconsin Idea Fellow with the Morgridge Center for Public Service, believes that insect micro-livestock farming could be a nutrition …

Alex Arriaga brings immigration stories to Wisconsin one conversation at a time

It wasn’t the dry heat of the Arizona sun that Alex Arriaga found surprising. The UW–Madison senior, traveling south from Wisconsin to collect stories of recent immigrants, found a diverse and complex world in communities that sit right on the border. She saw firsthand what makes up the unique fabric of border communities and realized …

Morgridge Center staff honored with pair of awards

Four staff members at the Morgridge Center for Public Service have been honored with a pair of awards for their commitment to students and to administrative excellence. Badger Volunteers Coordinator Kari Temkin was awarded the 2016 SPA Frontline award for her commitment to ensuring that every UW–Madison student in Badger Volunteers thrives. The SPA Frontline …

For Theo Loo, an unintimidated, humble approach to solving global problems

Big problems don’t intimidate UW–Madison senior Theo Loo. And big ideas, it seems, come naturally. One of eight undergraduate Wisconsin Idea Fellows at the Morgridge Center for Public Service this year, Loo is wrapping up the latest stage in his multi-year community-based study on water quality and access in rural South Africa. And when he’s …

2016 Morgridge Center Awards

The Morgridge Center for Public Service is proud to announce its 2016 award winners. These four students, one community partner and one alumni are exceptional examples of civic engagement, public service and the Wisconsin Idea. The Morgridge Center is also pleased to announce a 2016 Newman Civic Fellows Award winner. All winners will be officially …

18th annual Wisconsin Idea Fellowships awarded to nine student projects

The 18th year of the Wisconsin Idea Fellowships will feature nine unique undergraduate projects at home and across the world: The closest within 500 feet of campus. The furthest over 7,700 miles away. The projects, which are all rooted in the concept of addressing needs identified by community partners, range in topic from public health, …

UW-Madison students awarded summer fellowships for community-based projects

Coming to a Wisconsin community near you this summer: New sustainability initiatives. Or perhaps, Shakespeare. All part of the second-annual Wisconsin Open Education Community Fellowships. The WOECF, now in its second year, challenges undergraduate students at UW–Madison to work with community partners outside of the university to develop a community project in a Wisconsin town …

2016 Wisconsin Without Borders Awards honor eight outstanding projects

Eight UW–Madison projects are being honored for their community-engaged focus on global malnutrition, waterborne illness, Wisconsin Native public health, Latina women’s mental health and more. The 2016 Wisconsin Without Borders Awards honor the work of students, faculty, staff and community partners that demonstrates excellence in collaboration between the university and local and global communities. Winners this year …

The life-changing power of service learning

Brian Squire considers himself a lucky man. For the last 20 years, he’s found his passion in working with Madison youth inside and outside of schools, building social and academic skills with a constant focus on how to close the achievement gap. But if not for a service learning class at UW–Madison, his life might …