|
|||||
 | |||||
|
Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/1/07 |
|
|
In
the News Archive - Year:
October 29, 2003 Area grade-schoolers visit UWGB, glimpse the future By Jose de Jesus “I’m learning what college is going to be,” said Sharkey, a fifth-grader
at Nicolet Elementary School in Green Bay.
Sharkey, 10, was one of about 600 area students who visited the University
of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus Tuesday for the second Phuture Phoenix Day.
The event encouraged students from 10 Green Bay elementary schools —
mostly fifth-graders — and West De Pere Middle School to pursue a college
education.
“Now I know more about college,” Sharkey said. “College is very important
because you get a better job when you get older.”
On a local level, the program’s objective was to boost the percentage
of Northeastern Wisconsin students who continue into college, said Cyndie
Shepard, who led the program.
Shepard, wife of UWGB Chancellor Bruce Shepard, spearheaded the first
Phuture Phoenix Day in April, financing the program with private donations
and federal grants.
Craig Buss, a fifth-grade teacher at Fort Howard Elementary School,
said one of the goals was to make sure students get to experience a college
atmosphere.
“I don’t know how many fifth-graders get to see a setting like this,”
he said.
The students visited classrooms, residence halls, the Cofrin Library,
the Weidner Center and other spots on campus. Some UWGB students like
freshman Renee Wolf helped lead kids on the tour.
“We are at a young age, too, so they can still relate to us instead
of adults leading them around campus,” said Wolf, 18.
Jessica Doyle, wife of Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, spoke to students in
the afternoon while they ate ice cream. Doyle has been promoting the state’s
Community Connections program to link students to their communities.While
the youngsters got some ideas for the future, Tuesday’s activities also
helped UWGB freshman Christina Austin realize what she wants to do after
college.
“I wanted to teach high school, but hanging out with them for the day
it’s like, ‘I want to teach little kids now,’” said Austin, 18. “It seems
like it will be so much fun.”
| |
