Connecting Campus and Community through Community-based Service, Learning, and Research
Community engaged service can take many forms, and Morgridge Center for Public Service peer advisors, Ashley Sachs and Malik Boyd, are working with students to figure out what form works the best for them.
The Morgridge Center for Public Service released its annual report highlighting the center’s activities and programs over the past year. The report details how the center lives out its mission of building a thriving democratic society by connecting campus with community through service, community-based learning and research.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison community gathered on Thursday, June 18, 2026 to celebrate an institutional milestone: receiving the Carnegie Elective Community Engagement Classification.
Since the program’s inception in 2008, Badger Volunteers has provided UW-Madison students semester-long volunteer opportunities that pairs them with community organizations to volunteer one to four hours each week at the same organization.
For Karissa Garcia, a fourth-year student studying chemical engineering, Badger Volunteers has been the most impactful way for her to engage with the Madison community beyond classes and campus.
When Melissa Her first stepped onto the UW-Madison campus, the idea of becoming a public health nurse was foreign to her, much less one defined by community engagement and service.
The Morgridge Center for Public Service celebrated its 30th anniversary on Thursday, Oct. 9, hosting an open-house party with keynote speakers, food and community. The celebration brought together students, faculty and staff, alumni and community partners to appreciate the center’s three decades of service.
As the Morgridge Center celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, it rests on the legacy and foundation of the relationships with campus and community partners, as the lived-out vision of the Wisconsin Idea. The 30th anniversary of the Morgridge Center is not just a testament to time, but a reflection of its enduring impact on the thousands of students, faculty and community members who contributed to its legacy.
Registration for Badger Volunteers is now open, offering students the chance to connect with local organizations through meaningful service each week. By joining, you not only give back to the Madison community, but also gain valuable experience, build relationships and explore interests outside the classroom. This is a way to make a tangible impact while developing skills that last well beyond your time on campus.
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.