The Associated Students of Madison Diversity Committee is sponsoring the first annual Shadow Day Friday, April 25, to promote the importance of higher education to all high school juniors and seniors, specifically underrepresented racial minorities as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

The student-driven initiative will offer high school students an opportunity to experience a full day of college life by pairing them with current University of Wisconsin students.

Fifty high school students statewide, with high concentrations from Madison and Milwaukee, will be accompanying UW students to classes and to workshops focusing on the college admission process and financial aid issues.

Shadow Day co-coordinator Ted Koehler has worked with this pilot program since its inception and is extremely pleased to finally see it take form.

“Our goal is that by sharing information and resources and connecting high school students with college students, personal communication will be fostered, and high school students will have a clearer picture of their goals,” Koehler said.

He explained that Shadow Day is not structured to be a recruitment program but rather to be an opportunity for shadows to explore their potential through educational options. UW students have been central among those volunteering to help run the program.

“We’ve had close to 100 shadowees and volunteers pledge to give their time,” Koehler said. “Their enthusiasm indicates that diversity is a concern on campus, and the student body is willing to take active steps to change our current situation.”

ASM-Diversity Committee Chair, UW junior chair, Jennifer Epps was among the many people involved in the creation of Shadow Day.

“The reason this program exists is because all students should understand the benefits and opportunities available to them,” Epps said. “This program specifically reaches out and encourages the participation of students of color and LGBT students because these two groups, along with others, face additional barriers to accessing a higher education.”

Epps said this program is a result of the Diversity Committee’s view of what students would like to know when choosing a college.

She confirmed that any Wisconsin junior or senior high school student is able to participate. ASM sent out informational packets to high school guidance counselors throughout the state and also made personal visits to Madison-area schools.

Interested students could have also applied online through ASM’s website. Every student who applied was accepted and matched with an appropriate volunteer.

“In the beginning, I didn’t imagine that we would get 50 students,” Epps said. “Now, I can easily see this number grow to 75 or 100 next time around.”

Dean of Students Luoluo Hong submitted a statement in absentia to convey how proud the Dean of Students’ office is to be an administrative supporter for ASM’s effort.

“This pilot program represents the best of student leadership, and is a reflection of how student creativity, initiative and resourcefulness can result in exciting and innovative educational programs,” Hong said.

She hopes this program will spur similar efforts in the future to invigorate youth and stress the significance of higher learning.