University of Wisconsin senior class officers launched a new scholarship based on service for incoming freshmen and transfer students at an event hosted Wednesday night.
The Wisconsin Idea Scholarship, which is also the senior class gift, was founded by the senior class officers in coordination with the UW Student Foundation, UW Foundation and the Wisconsin Alumni Association.
According to Senior Class President Steven Olikara, the scholarship will be funded by the donations of UW students and alumni. Senior officers did not know specifics of the scholarship, such as the number of recipients or amounts, because the fund will be based off graduating UW student donations.
“The Wisconsin Idea Scholarship is a service scholarship meant to inspire young leaders coming to UW and emphasize that service is an important component of academics here,” Olikara said.
Olikara also said the scholarship launch is well-timed because UW is currently celebrating the Year of the Wisconsin Idea. He added the senior class wanted to start a scholarship that reflected the ideals of the Wisconsin Idea.
He said the scholarship allows UW to articulate what is special about the campus, particularly in emphasizing service to the community.
Jake Blatnik, a UW sophomore who is involved in Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross, agreed the scholarship will have positive effects on both the scholarship recipient and other UW students.
“The student [receiver of the scholarship] will be given the opportunity to come to a world-class university,” Blatnik said. “It will inspire the peers of the receiver; and then who knows how it will impact the world? It’s going to be big.”
Olikara said the Wisconsin Idea Scholarship fills a need for UW to become a better competitor in recruiting top students through scholarships.
He said it will provide an opportunity to inspire the next generations of Badgers to live the Wisconsin Idea.
This opportunity is fulfilled by the scholarship, according to Olikara, because it allows applicants to discover the Wisconsin Idea before coming to UW and inspires them to continue being top students and service leaders.
Olikara said he was excited about the scholarship as an accomplishment because of its originality and innovation.
“This is the first-ever student-created endowment at the university, and this is the largest student gift back to campus in university history,” Olikara said. “That is something to be proud of.”
The Wisconsin Idea Scholarship is also the first scholarship made available to transfer students coming from abroad, an achievement Olikara said directly relates to how the 21st century Wisconsin Idea has a bigger focus on global impact.
Dean of Students Lori Berquam pointed out the remarkable effects the development of this scholarship will have on future UW students.
“The Wisconsin Idea is about going out and changing the world and making a difference,” Berquam said. “You are paving the way for students after you to do just that. The idea of contributing to those who will come after you is in and of itself profound.”
