Congratulations Class of 2012!

The College of Letters & Science celebrated Spring Commencement, May 20 2012 with friends, family, faculty and staff and Bucky Badger.

Send in your own class note and check out our photos from the morning and afternoon receptions, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook.

We asked students to send in their memories and here's what they said:

"My experience in the Study Abroad Program - London was the most amazing adventure of my college career.  I came to truly understand and value the impact of British history and culture, made life-long friends and was able to use London as a jumping off point to fantastic travels throughout Europe. Though I never learned to appreciate soccer or cricket, I was quite taken-up by the international frenzy over the young British royals. I would go back to London in a heartbeat!  Thanks UW for the chance of a lifetime!" - Nancy

"Philosophy of Human-Animal relationships was by far the best class I took in my major.  The professor, Patricia McConnell was extremely helpful and even motivated me to switch my focus from marine biology to studying animal behavior.  Since taking her class I have successfully completed a prestigious internship at the famous Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where I worked with sea turtle rehabilitation.  I would never have applied if it weren't for the incredible effort on the part of Prof. McConnell in convincing me to jump at any opportunity and work with animal behavior." - Alana

"My time spent in the student organization REthink Wisconsin taught me that it is not enough to have the Wisconsin Idea, one must reevaluate that service's intent and effect if sustainability is to be achieved." - Lucas

"Gender and Women's Studies 103 was a life-changing class for me indeed.  There are so many things that young women miss in high school sex education regarding their health, sexuality, gender inequality, and pleasure.  I think that it would be beneficial for all men and women to be able to take this class and I feel very fortunate that I was one of the few people that was able to do so." - Maryclia

"I would like to thank Harry Brighouse of the Philosophy department for being a profound role model in teaching and for making learning one of the most enjoyable activities imaginable." - Megan

"I had a wonderful experience studying in the College of Letters & Science. As a liberal arts student, I am grateful that I was able to have the flexibility to take classes outside of my major. Besides the knowledge I learned in the past four years, I gained a critical mind and an inclusive attitude to see the world, and a free spirit to dream. I am thankful for every experience I had on this campus and I will always be a Badger!" - Yichun

"The best decision I have ever made at this University, or in my life, was to study abroad in Florence, Italy. I participated in the Villa program in Sesto Fiorentino, and it was a life changing semester. Traveling, living, and surviving Europe with some of my new best friends was an experience that I will never forget. Upon graduation, I will continue to operate my company, Cascia Films. What started as a dream and an outlet for creative media my freshman year on campus, has become a successful career. Thanks for "Learning How to Bucky" with me!" - Logan

"When I was a freshman I wanted to challenge myself and try something that many people my age haven't ever tried.  I wanted to study something that would make people say "Wow" "Wait what did you say?" So I enrolled in Chinese 101. I thought it was so neat to learn a language that has such an intricate history. I stuck with it and eventually studied abroad in Tianjin, China, the summer after my freshman year. This was my first time out of the US and it was a mind blowing experience. It still is one of the best summers I have had. I am still friends with many of the people I traveled with. I was introduced to a whole plethora of foods, people and places I have only seen in books. It truly was an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  Learning Chinese through L&S has not only given me a major, but has opened me to cultures, people and experiences I would otherwise would not have had. It has added to my well-rounded education here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison." - Brian

"My linguistics field methods class was truly the most rewarding course that I took at UW. We spent 15 weeks interviewing a young woman from Kyrgyzstan  and became acquainted not only with her native language but also learned a lot about her country and the culture she grew up in. I feel blessed to have been able to have that unique experience." - Katie

"I wanted to thank Professor James Raymo, Department of Sociology, for his guidance and support on my senior honors thesis. Conducting my own thesis is the most amazing experience of my undergraduate career." - Cheng

"The highlight of my College of Letters & Science experience was the spring semester of my sophomore year when I finally knew what I wanted to major in: Human-Computer Interaction, or HCI, otherwise generally known as user experience and interface design. I was taking Bilge Mutlu's introductory HCI course and found the perfect marriage between the three areas of study that I was torn between: Art, Psychology, and Computer Science. The only major challenge was that HCI isn't an established major or program at UW-Madison - so I decided to make it. I worked closely with Bilge Mutlu to construct the highly interdisciplinary and challenging course plan for my individual major application, which comprises of classes from five different departments across campus.

When my application was accepted within the College, I also landed an internship with Chomp, a startup in San Francisco (now acquired by Apple), the heartland of high technology and entrepreneurship. For the remainder of my college career, I have had a series of truly meaningful and invaluable opportunities and offers to be the designer for student and research groups and organizations, startups, and bigger companies. This endeavor has now climaxed to the post-graduation promise of a Silicon Valley-based full-time position with Lab126, an Amazon.com company known for developing the Kindle. Talk about transforming." - Nathalie

"Nothing prepares you for a lifetime of continuous learning like a liberal arts and science education. I am proud to be a part of the College of Letters & Science at UW-Madison as it provided me with an open-minded environment rich with opportunities to learn, grow, and demonstrate. The first day at SOAR registration I had decided to take the premed route and pursue a degree in Biochemistry. Thankfully, I also had the opportunity to sample a plethora of interdisciplinary humanities and social science courses along the way, which inspired me to major in Psychology a well. For me, it was like a hungry man standing in line at a scrumptious buffet. I wanted to have a taste of it all. I ended up discovering that I could love the arts, as well as the sciences. Studying at the College of Letters and Science, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to delve into a wide array of courses ranging from Philosophy to Cultural Anthropology, to Psychology. Upon reflecting, I have found these types of courses to be the most helpful in providing me with skills like critical thinking and thoughtful communication for my future success. L&S has also allowed me to cross-fertilize ideas from different fields of study and as a result given me a more well rounded perspective. While such knowledge may not directly help me solve any one specific problem, it will provide me with a mindset and a whole set of skills to address the multitude of problems facing the 21st century, including disease treatment and lack of health care in rural areas." - Shahzad

"I want to thank the University of Wisconsin Madison for being an institution that I felt comfortable with and exhilarated by attending. I will never forget my years here and hope to return as an Alumnus." - Tyrell

"I originally intended to become a business major, but when I did not get in, I decided to choose a different route. Getting accepted to the Journalism program and double majoring with Communication Arts was the perfect combination - writing, creativity, and so many amazing opportunities. I am so happy with my time here. Following graduation, I will be working as an Analyst with Huron Healthcare Consulting Group based out of Chicago, IL. I can't wait to start the next chapter!" - Elyse

"I just want to thank everyone that still believed I could graduate after having my daughter. There were times that I didn't think I could, but they helped prove myself wrong." - Jessica

"I am going on to work for Teach for America in Milwaukee next year.  I cannot wait to aid in improving the achievement gap in our country, but feel even more privileged to do so in the state of Wisconsin that I am so proud to have graduated from." - Richard

"I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain for my entire junior year and it was a truly transformational experience. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done (I was sick for a good part of the first semester), but it was also the most incredible growth experience. Not only did I learn about another culture, but I learned so much about myself and what I am capable of. I found my own apartment and lived with three Spanish women, took classes at the university with other Spaniards, traveled Europe and met very interesting people, and made lifelong friends in Spain. I came back to the States a stronger, more confident and capable young woman. Anything feels possible now. I will be doing City Year, an Americorps program, in Milwaukee next year." - Meghan

"I am very excited to graduate from the College of Letters & Science, and I feel very privileged to have been able to be a journalism student here. I've been able to meet and get to know amazing professors from a wide-range of backgrounds whose time and expertise has been invaluable. But, besides the classes at the UW, the people I've met, the clubs and committees I have been involved in and led have ultimately made my time here the most rewarding. It is a combination of every part of the campus, the buildings, the city, the endless opportunities, and the wonderful people that have made my four years here the most memorable of my life. Thank you, UW." - Gayle

"I am absolutely honored to be part of such an amazing University. Congratulations to the class of 2012, you are all remarkable people and I wish you all the best in the future! Remember, once a badger always a badger!" - Linda

"Studying abroad in Paris, France and Coimbra, Portugal was the best part of my college career. It helped me discover that I want to work and live abroad, and the importance of language. I hope to use these experiences as I further my research on genocide studies and as I move to France next year to teach!" - Tatiana

"Every experience I had at Madison was amazing.  All of the faculty in the Music Department were so helpful and always kind, with such passion and wanting to teach and continue learning.  My particular teacher, Mimmi Fulmer, became family to me.  We went through a lot together during my undergrad years, including my mom getting cancer and passing away the year after.  And with that, it was incredible to watch the entire music school come together and help me through that difficult time, even from different instrumental faculty.  It really showed how caring everyone is and how people can really pull together.  Everything I experienced and everything that happened, I will always remember, and I will always be grateful to the Music Department for everything they taught me, and especially to Mimmi, who will always remain mentor, friend, and family to me." - Megan

"At the end of my sophomore year at UW, I decided to go on a path which would likely make most advisors cringe: I changed from a single major in Psychology to a double major in Legal Studies and Religious Studies. Right in the middle of my college education. Just like that. 

I'll admit that even I was wondering what I could possibly have been thinking when I first started taking courses in fields completely different than my previous two years, but after the first few weeks, I knew I had made the correct decision. Not only did I absolutely love the coursework, but the professors I had the privilege of learning from were truly inspiring.  Among the many knowledgeable instructors I've had since then, two stand out to me the most: Professor Karl Shoemaker and Professor Mitra Sharafi. Both individuals are among the most intelligent people I have ever known, but they are at the same time willing to engage with students and (once the intimidation factor wears off) friendly. Professor Shoemaker and Professor Sharafi were instrumental in assuring me that changing my major had been the correct decision, and for that I will never be able to thank them enough." - Sonia

"Richard Davis is the best professor on this campus and he will forever be a part of my life." - Clintel

"It was grrrrreat!" - Jacob

"I took a class with Professor Suri. It was amazing how he turned a 400 person lecture into a discussion-like setting, and even more so how he remembered everyone's name. This was a double edged sword though as if you missed a class and tried to sit somewhere else next time so he wouldn't know, he would be sure to ask how your night went the other night and let you know that they missed seeing you the next morning!" - Alexander

"I would like to thank Prof. Kelly.  My freshman year I took her Econ 101 class and because of her great teaching and interesting class I decided to be an economics major." - Alex

"The Journalism and Mass Communication program had a profound impact on my education. The classes were interesting and dynamic, and I met some of my best friends." - Alexa

"One of the most educationally beneficial experiences provided by the UW has been the wide & diverse array of students. Whether in class or simply walking there, working on a project outside of the classroom, or while in the library, you are constantly surrounded by a variety of people from such varying backgrounds that it's nearly impossible to communicate with them and not learn from their experiences. This diversity also fosters a fantastic learning environment because it encourages the sharing of different viewpoints in the classroom and beyond." - Blake

"I have had a fantastic college experience! My study abroad experience really shaped me into the person I am today, and once I started classes towards my major, class was really interesting. I wish I took more classes that were remotely related to my major because those were the most interesting. Thanks, UW, for such a great college experience!" - Kathryn

"I had a great experience studying abroad in Bonn, Germany.  I met many people from around the world and made memories that will last a lifetime!" - Kaitlyn

"I had an amazing experience with my field placement. I learned a lot that I will be able to take with me into future placements and job sites. I got into the Master's of Social Work program here at UW-Madison for the academic year 2012-2013. I'm excited to have my Master's degree before I turn 24!" - Danielle

"I thought about what I wanted to share here for awhile, and I realized that I really can't pinpoint just one transformative experience. My time at UW-Madison has transformed me from the wide-eyed, naive, 18-year-old I started out as into a confident, self-sufficient, intelligent woman. I've made friends I'll never lose, seen places in the world I never thought I'd see, and been happier that I thought was possible. I've been taught by some of the best people in the world and done cutting edge research before even reaching my 20's. I learned how to keep my self esteem up after a setback (I'm talking about you, terrible O-Chem  grades) and to work hard for what I wanted. After thinking about everything that has shaped me into who I am, all I can say is that my entire time as a student was the transformative experience. I see now why Badger alumni keep coming back- what you learned here doesn't just stay here (that's what the Wisconsin Idea is all about!) So in the end, I would just like to say thank you to all of the incredible staff members who worked so hard to cultivate my knowledge and push my thinking outside its boundaries, and to my fellow students for making the experience so much fun and helping me grow in ways I never expected. On Wisconsin!" - Katie

"Sociology 220 (Ethnic Movements in the U.S. with Professor Pamela Oliver) is a life altering class for me. I'm a science major and I used to think social issues are not as interesting or important as science technology is. I learned so much about racial issues in the U.S., and this class changed not only the way I think about different ethnic groups in the U.S., but also the way I view the world and life. This class changed goal of my life and I'm deeply thankful to Professor Oliver." - Suzy

"My study abroad experience in Madrid, Spain for the 2010-2011 academic year was completely life changing. I gained cultural awareness that could not have been achieved otherwise and, corny as it may sound, it helped me along in the process of finding myself." - Blair

"Literally all the professors in the Geography Department have inspired me in many ways - I hope someday to have accomplished a lot of what many of the faculty members have done, and to be as passionate as they are about what they research, study, and teach." - Vanessa

"I had an amazing experience at UW-Madison." - Alexander

"My truly transforming experience came the spring semester of my Junior year. I had just declared my major the previous semester as Chemistry and was taking courses in that field. I needed research credits as one of my requirements and that is when I met Jim Keck and began research in his lab. Before this I was just taking math and science classes (mainly chemistry) because I was did well in those classes, but after I met Jim and started research I realized I was very interested in the biochemistry/ Molecular biology field. The next fall I began taking biochemistry courses and picked up the biochemistry major and never looked back. It was the time I spent doing research and being challenged to think critically about issues that transformed me from a 'memorizing' type of student into a 'learning' type of student. I learned how to be a better student and found out my passion all in the same semester. During this same semester I had Tony Stretton as one of the professors in my intro bio 152 course. Anyone who has had Tony as a professor absolutely loves the man. He makes learning fun through his stories that help you remember parts of the subject material or through implementing his "phone goes off, you have to sing" policy. I can still remember the lyrics and loved him soo much that I took neurobiology 523 just so I could have him as a professor again. He makes you want to learn and just be a better person overall. I always left his class with a smile on my face." - Austin

"Thanks to all the teachers and staff at the UW who have made my time here so enjoyable; I don't want to leave!" - Rachel

"I will graduate with a Legal Studies degree, but have been accepted to a Master's of Perfusion program-a complete 180 in terms of subjects.  I got a well rounded education from UW-Madison which allowed me to pursue my goals and be competitive in graduate school.  I will soon be in an operating room monitoring patients during open heart surgery." - Jessica

"I think just in general the professors here at the UW are so understanding. In such a big University it's hard to build some sort of bond or have the professor even know who you are, but I found that if you make a little effort the professors will do all they can to help you reach whatever goal you have. I came from a small town of 30,000 and that extra time and effort each professor gave to me, especially during my times of need was a blessing. I am so thankful. They were all so patient, understanding, and gave their all to not only me, but to each and every student in their class." - Crystal

"I will be continuing my education this fall at Chicago-Kent College of Law.  My dreams are to become a criminal prosecutor, and I will be interning this summer at the Cook County Prosecutor's Office working in the gang prosecution unit.  I am so thankful for the education I have received at UW and I know I will bleed Badger Red for life!" - Rebecca

"I would like to thank my family for always supporting me, especially my husband and our two kids Zawadi and Zion.  I would also like to thank Professor Emily Auerbach, Delaine Martine, and Abike Sanyaolu for having a profound impact my education.  They were each supportive in their own unique way. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their insightful guidance which helped me get to where I am today." - Josephine

"I have been very happy with how rigorous the course work has been.  Although it has been very challenging, I have learned a tremendous amount and have been very well prepared for dental school which I will be starting in the fall.  My favorite professor has been Andrew Lokuta, professor of Physiology 435 and 335.  He cared greatly about each of his students, was very passionate about his teaching, and took time to get to know his students.  He was also very humorous so it was always a pleasure to attend both lecture and the lab which he taught." - Matthew

"I would like to thank Professor Mike Leckrone for the best experience in my college career: the University of Wisconsin Marching Band.  I may not have been in it all four years, but I completely treasure the time I had in it.  I would not be the person I am right now without the band, and I am deeply grateful for all the opportunities I had while under his direction.  Eat a Rock, and On Wisconsin!" - Bridget

"Thank you to the entire School of Journalism & Mass Communication. I have had such a wonderful learning experience. I have never been more excited about the industry and I can't wait to see what the class of 2012  can do!" - Ashley

"I loved Freiburg and will go back. It was the best experience of my college life, and I plan on returning there to do my Graduate work. Thank you Wisconsin for giving me the opportunity to study there, and as always....ON WISCONSIN!!" - Kelly

"The most transforming experience I had during my time as an undergraduate was during my study abroad experience in London during the summer of 2011. I was able to work at a bilingual newspaper in London and advance my reporting and editorial skills in an international environment. My time in London really introduced me to my love of travel and how it can impact my writing in the future. " - Cailly

"I would like to thank Prof. Schleicher and all of my Yoruba T.A.s over the years: Akin, Clement, Dipo, Doyin, Gabriel, Kehinde, Segun, and Yinka. They inspired my interest in the Yoruba language. They made my experience abroad in Nigeria possible. My college experience would not have been the same without them." - Kelly

"Freshman year I took Anthropology 105 with John Hawks. This course made me want to be an anthropology major. I loved how it made the biology more applicable to my interest in people. From here I have been able to take an evolutionary view of medicine and public health." - Ariel

"George Loginov was my TA in Economics 301 and he worked almost nightly with me privately to help me to grasp the material.  He went above and beyond for me and is a great teacher that has my gratitude." - Zachary

"I adored Professor Gray's teaching style and class content. It was always interesting and applicable to media we interact with daily.  While studying abroad in Prague, by chance, I ran into Professor Conway who came to examine the program.  She is so kind and wants all her students to explore topics that interest them, allowing class discussion and paper topics to flow naturally rather than forcing boundaries on her students.  And I also really enjoyed having Josh Jackson as my Comm Arts 351 teacher; he is hilarious and really made some generic information tolerable and engaging.  He did these great youtube assignments at the end that were quite funny." - Rachel

"Becoming a woman of sigma lambda gamma national sorority inc. was the greatest component of my collegiate career. My sisters guided me, loved me, and cared for me for all of these years. As a Posse foundation scholar, coming here with people I care about and sharing this experience with them was truly a gift." - Brittany

"I think living on the MLC-Multicultural Learning Community my freshman year really set the stage for what my undergraduate experience would be.  The people and connections that you make your freshman year are what lead you to make great accomplishments in the future.  I was blessed to have such a wonderful group of students around me and really have the opportunity to get into the cultural opportunities available at the University." - Miranda

"I came to the UW determined to join the Business school.  After being able to explore the diverse fields of economics and philosophy in the L&S along with spending the best 5 months of my life in London, I can't imagine being any more content if I had followed through and accepted a place in Grainger." - Kevin

"Thank you to all of the awesome faculty and students at St. Paul's University Catholic Center! I would not have been able to succeed at Madison without your constant support and friendship. I will keep all of you and UW-Madison in my prayers as I go on to be a FOCUS (Fellowship Of Catholic University Students) missionary for the next two years. God bless!" - Ryan

"Going to Kenya last summer with Araceli Alonso was a transforming experience. Araceli is an inspiring professor and working with her in Kenya made me realize that it is possible to change the world. " - Lisa

"I really can't choose a truly transforming experience during my time in the College of Letters & Science. I thank the College of Letters & Science for the doors it has opened in term of experiences and networking. Furthermore, for being the largest college on campus, I feel like I am always welcomed when I have questions or need advice. Although I don't have a job (yet) and I graduate in three weeks, I feel confident that once I exit the Kohl Center on Sunday, May 20th I will be able to take the real world by storm because of everything the College of Letters & Science has taught me and offered me." - Caroline

"My study abroad year in Madrid, Spain was a life changing experience for me. I learned so much about myself and am grateful for everyone who helped me get there and the study abroad office for answering all my questions." - Morgan

"The most transforming experience I had was taking my first class in the Global Health Certificate. I never really knew much about Public Health let alone Global Health, but through this class I was able to see where my future lies. I had always wanted to be a doctor, but I was struggling to figure out what type of doctor to be, especially since I always wished that people wouldn't get sick in the first place. After looking at the MPH route, I finally found where I would like to focus my studies and I found great after college experiences such as AmeriCorps Healthcorps that will help me with my future studies. Through the UW-Madison and the Global Health Certificate, I was able to set the background to my future studies and, hopefully, to my success!" - Laura

"I loved my level 3 Psych classes. They showed me more detail about what is available in the field and I learned about juvenile delinquency as well as psychopathy from the best of the best in each respective field." - Lauren

"I studied abroad in Bonn, Germany.  If possible, I think all students should have the opportunity to go to another country and have the same experience I did.  Also, my first semester I participated in a FIG.  I highly recommend this to all incoming freshmen!  Not only did I make many friends, but I was so influenced by that experience that I decided to follow my FIG's topic as my course of study." - Amanda

"Math 490 was an incredibly inspiring class, opening up the world of mathematical research before me. I do greatly appreciate the work David Brown did to help forward an understanding of that class." - Anthony

"My experience studying abroad in the UK is something I will never forget.  It transformed me both as a student and as a person.  The ability to study abroad is priceless, and I have met people I intend to keep close to me for the rest of my life." - Virginia

"L&S gave me a truly global education. From studying abroad in Spain to studying WikiLeaks for my thesis, these have been the four most transformative and educational years of my life. " - James

"I am truly grateful to have been able to work with political science professor Ken Goldstein, helping him with research for his television show "Office Hours". I learned invaluable lessons from Ken, many of which will help me to succeed both in law school next fall, as well as in my professional career. I am so lucky to have found such a terrific mentor during my time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison." - Allyson

"After graduation, I will be attending Florida State University for the Master's Program in Speech Language Pathology. I was also awarded a grant called Project TIES, where I will get the opportunity to work with children of culturally diverse backgrounds who have severe disabilities." - Sarah

"I really appreciated the L&S advising during my freshman and sophomore years." - Alexandra

"Coming into this semester I wondered how my Environmental Studies capstone class would be able to encapsulate and further all the concepts I have learned during my tenure at this great university.  Not only did I think that one class could not summarize my diverse education, but how was an intriguing professor that spent 17 years not talking and 23 years not riding in cars going to do that? Well, I would have never have guessed that walking west through Ohio would bring together what I have been learning not only at UW-Madison but my whole life.  Simply being here and present is sometimes the most important miracle in life.  Moreover, here, UW-Madison, is exactly where I want to be." - Casey

"SOC 210 (Intro to LGBT) and GWS 103 (Womens' bodies and diseases) really changed my understanding of my surroundings and taught me to be more sensitive to the existing cultural differences. Cultural Psychology helped me accept my biracial background and diffuse the identity conflict that I have been experiencing for years." - Anna Joy

"My first Gender and Women's Studies course, 103, was an amazing experience for me and is what spurred me to make Gender and Women’s studies my major.  Without this course I would not have transformed into the person I am today because the courses I have taken to fulfill my graduation requirements for my major have truly changed the way that I view the world and has opened my mind to thinking of things from a multiple perspectives rather than just my own." - Danielle

"The experience was good altogether but what stands out was the time the Distinguished Lecture Series brought out People Magazine's "Sexiest Astrophysicist" Neil Degrasse Tyson, himself (of who I am friend with on Facebook. The man is a brilliant speaker and man and talked about his "The Pluto Files" and we took in his very spirit. He was clever, hilarious, and unmistakably brilliant. Tyson is a revelation. And I ended that night with a picture of him with my friends and a trip to Taco Bell. It's the way all great stories end, I think" - Pater

"I fell in love with Italian because of my 101 TA Daniela Busciglio and I fell in love with Danish because of Nete Schmidt.  Both are amazing teachers and I am forever grateful for what they have given me, a passion for languages." - Monica

"Professor Wilcots from the astronomy department taught some amazing astronomy courses.  Every lecture I was engaged with the material and excited to go to class." - Joseph

"Thanks to the integrative and rigorous nature of the Biocore program and its strong emphasis on research, scientific writing, and critical thinking, I am now on track for a successful career as a physician scientist!  I will begin a postbaccalaureate research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD next year and then I will begin a joint MD/PhD program." - Alex

"Tess Arenas trained me to recognize how the dynamics of a situation determine its outcome. She has influenced my ability to organize and advocate on behalf of social justice issues. She lives each day passionately, and encourages me to do the same. She inspired my decision to peruse law school by articulating injustice in it's most basic terms." - Jordan

"I took J475 - Hyper-local reporting with Professor Friedland, and it was one of the best classes I took during my undergraduate.  The class gave straight-up in-the-field journalism experience, and we were treated as if we were actually reporters in a real newsroom (we basically were, considering we were writing for the Madison Commons.)  J475 changed the way I thought about journalism, and changed the way I believed it would be done in future.  Now, more than ever, people need to be informed about the world around them, and it is vital that smaller cities and towns are receiving equal coverage with national and world news." - Collin

"Hakki Ogelman was my mentor until he passed away in Fall 2011. I was an inconventional student, and he took me under his wing and taught me what I needed to know. He also reminded me that my biggest hurdle was maintaining my self-confidence in the face of adversity. I wish he was here to see me graduate." - Michelle

"Studying history broadened my mind and opened my eyes to the realities of our shared experience on this Earth so far.  That shift in perspective allowed me to better understand what is important in life and how I want to continue leading my own.  I'm looking forward to the upcoming years of serving with both AmeriCorps and PeaceCorps, and even farther into my future of chasing social justice (I'll catch it one day!)  I couldn't have asked for a better college experience and owe my gratitude to everyone involved in making this amazing town what it is.  Go Badgers!" - Nathaniel

"Starting my own diversity student organization called Multico, the Multicultural Theater Company. We created sketches on relating to hot button issues to promote cultural and social awareness. Our largest performance was in front of 600 people at the Annual Suicide Prevention Walk." - Sheldon

"As a transfer student, I have only spent two years at Madison, but the experience here is beyond amazing. I would particularly like to thank Professor Edward Friedman from the Political Science department. I am inspired not only by his knowledge but also by his passion for teaching. It is because of him that I become more resolute about what I believe in and determine to do. I will be pursuing in Ph.D degree in Political Science at MIT, hoping to become an inspiring professor just like him." - Ketian

"I have had so many awesome professors that have inspired me. I would like to thank Irene Katele, Carolyn Lesch, and Donald Downs." - Sarah