Student's Day in the Capitol grows civic engagement

WAICU Students' Day gives participants the opportunity to meet with legislators and state their support for Wisconsin Grants

Hundreds of Wisconsin students from 20 private nonprofit colleges and universities are expected in the Capitol to meet with their hometown legislators about the importance of the Wisconsin Grant on March 29.

WAICU Students' Day will begin with a civic engagement training session at the Monona Terrace in Madison, followed by lunch (free of charge) and legislative visits at the capitol arranged by WAICU.

Tentative agenda:

Departure time to be determined

• 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Registration and continental breakfast/networking
• 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Welcome, Dr. Rolf Wegenke, president, WAICU
• 10:45 - 11:15 a.m. Legislator Presentations
  • State Senator Sheila Harsdorf, Chair, Senate Universities and Technical Colleges Committee
  • State Representative Beth Meyers, Northland Cllege Alumnae and Wisconsin Grant recipient
• 11:15 - 11:45 a.m. Advocacy Overview - Budget Process and what to expect during your advocacy experience, Rebecca Larson, senior vice president for advocacy, WAICU
• 11:45 - 12:00 p.m. Capitol Visit Preparation -- Demonstration on an effective legislative visit
• 12:00 - 12:45 pm Working lunch
• 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Student and supporter appointments with legislators at the State Capitol
• 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Students return evaluation sheets to Monona Terrace and meet for transportation

A bus to and from the event will be provided for participants.

Participants are also encouraged to contact their legislators through an online form. Messages will be sent to the legislators based on hometown. There are preset messages or custom message options.

Sophomore Catalina Gonzalez has received a Wisconsin Grant for the past two academic years. Without the Wisconsin Grant, she would be unable to devote as much time to her studies and her job - both of which are on the top of her priorities.

"Everyone here at Mount Mary is very helping and supportive, especially the faculty," she said. "Math is my least-favorite subject, so I reached out to tutors, which has really helped." Whether she is persevering through the challenge of mathematics or asking professors to critique her resume as she applies for internships, Catalina has set her sights on success.

Read more about how the Wisconsin Grant has helped Catalina.

Thank you for believing in me, and for the mission that I am proud to represent.

Catalina Gonzalez, Biology `19

On receiving support from the Wisconsin Grant