Where in the world is... "Admissions Nicole?"

Last UW-Parkside Experience Day this Saturday!

"Tis the season - for CAMPUS VISITS!  Have you visited us yet?  If you are interested in UW-Parkside (especially any majors in the social sciences), this is YOUR DAY!  

You'll get...

- A tour of our beautiful campus including our *NEW* Pike River Suites and Student Center!

- A brief general session about UW-Parkside and the admissions process.

- Q&A session with UW-Parkside students.

- Opportunity to meet faculty/staff from featured majors (social sciences).

- On-site Admissions (call 262.595.2355 for more information).

- ...and you never know, you may get to meet the one and only, Ranger D. Bear

So save the date, visit The Experience Day Website and register to attend by calling 262.595.2355!

WEF @ UWP FRI. OCT 16th!

It's that time of year again, when the Wisconsin Education Fair (a.k.a. WEF) comes to our corner of the state and UW-Parkside will once again be host to the fair! 

What is a WEF?   

WEFS are college fairs held throughout various regions of the state every mid-Sept through mid-October.  They give all students in our state the opportunity to meet with 100+ representatives from 2-year, 4-year, public/private universities and colleges as well as tech schools, military and specialty schools. 

If you are a high school junior or senior (or parent of one) you need to have a post-high school plan in place and this is the best place to learn about the various options available - it's literally a "one stop shop" for your post high school planning!

We will also feature a "College & Career Planning Resource Area" that will feature additional information regarding financial assistance, trade/apprenticeships, etc.

The Wisconsin Education Fair will be held at UW-Parkside this Friday, October 16th from 9a.m. - 11a.m.  Many Kenosha/Racine county high schools will be busing students in but if your school is not sending a bus you are welcome to attend.  This is also a great opportunity for those who are home-schooled and older students who are thinking about returning to college and/or seeking education for a career change.

For more information visit:  The Kenosha WEF Website

See you at the WEF!

~ Nicole

Never forget...

UW-Parkside Students: Welcome home!

Welcome home students!

Parkside is a great place, but we're at our BEST when we have our students here!  WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!

Classes began today, but it's been a busy few days here on-campus!

Move in at UW-P was this past weekend and many UW-P staff and administration including Chancellor Ford were there to meet, greet and welcome our new and returning students (as well as help to carry a box or two)!  The Kenosha News featured an article that covered student's first-impressions as they moved into The Pike River Suites.

The 2 days following move-in was "Ranger Welcome" which is an extended orientation designed to motivate, educate and welcome all of our new freshmen.  This featured our annual Convocation where Chancellor Ford, UW-P Administration, Staff and student leaders formally welcomed our freshman class of 2009.  Following Convocation, the freshman class split into small groups to discuss the book they were all given to read over the summer, Maus II.  This book will be featured and used in many of their various first-year classes.  Ranger Welcome on Monday also featured a motivational speaker from Making It Count! (in regards to surviving and succeeding). Dinner on Monday night was set out for our students at the UWP vs. Robert Morris Soccer game with our Ranger's winning 3-0 (our 2nd shut-out of the season!).

Tuesday kicked off with a favorite annual-highlight - Prof. Joe Martin (see a clip of him below!):

Students also learned about navigating financial matters with another Making It Count! presentation. The Brick (Brickstone Grill) officially opened for the year and the rest of the afternoon featured free ice cream sundaes as well as the students painting "the rock." (A huge boulder in our quad.) Tuesday night our students will be able to watch an outdoor movie "Twilight" underneath the stars.

See you on campus!

~ Nicole

Relay for Life: UW-P Alumni Style!

Last Friday night into Saturday morning was Relay for Life in Kenosha, which is a major fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society.  It was a powerful experience and it was an honor to  participate.  UW-Parkside Alumni had a tent (which came in handy for the rain).  We were complete with our UW-Parkside gear, UW-P flags and green-frosted cupcakes!  The bottles of water were much appreciated as well!  The night began with the survivor's lap in which my mother participated in (right).  Just our luck that it downpoured as soon as the lap began but it did not dampen our spirits!

Pictured at left are my fellow UW-P Alumni Relayers Gina Radandt '90 and Jim Stephens MBA'03.  We were the first to start the evenings laps and took turns. This was my first Relay and I'm already planning on participating next year!  It's a real party!  Many people think that this event is only for those who are "Relayers," but i quickly discovered why this is a great event for the entire community!  Along the track are vendor tents that have fun and clever ways they are raising money for The American Cancer Society.  Most of these cost between $1-$10.00.  They were selling everything from massages, face painting for the kids, balloon animals, pictures w/Santa, AMAZING raffles where you can win Coach purses, Packer tickets, autographed gear, gift and certificates. You won't go hungry at Relay because there are tons of food sales (everything from homemade tamales, chocolate covered strawberries, Italian cookies and even fair trade coffee - to name a few!).  For a small fee you can even send your significant other and/or your kids to "jail" and then for a very very small ransom they can get "bailed out!"  (C'mon, how many times have you wanted to do something like that?!) 

Throughout the night they also have bands and hilarious contests, one of which was "Dude Looks like a  Lady."  Guys were dressed as women and all received purses - they worked the track to get donations and at 10p.m. the "lady" who raised the most money won the "Dude Looks Like a Lady" crown.  My personal favorites were the 2 orthodontists from town who were dressed as "The Tooth Fairies" (left).  They exclaimed, "We've been leaving money under your pillow for years - it's now your turn to give us money for The American Cancer Society! 

I'm already telling my alumni friends about this event for next year - it would be great to have a UW-P Alumni "Reunion at Relay" and have a "sea of green" walking!  Even if you can't commit to the whole night, just walking for an hour or two and having your family there makes for a fun night.  My husband couldn't get enough of the great food and our 3 year old daughter loved all the things to do - she didn't want to go home! 

 A big thanks to our team captain, Amber Engel who organized our group.  Also a personal thank you to all of my donors who got me $100 over my goal!  Kudos the the UW-Parkside Alumni Relay team who raised over $1,500 for ACS!  Our team members were:

Amber Engel (Captain)
Karen Grabher
Peggy Karls
Nicole Leipski
Lori McCullough Curi
Rich Miles
Gina Radandt
James Stephens
Matthew Stephens

For more info on what went on at Relay visit The Kenosha News.

See you on the road!

~ Nicole

A little mid-week inspiration...

I had overheard this story on TV today and had to look into it.  You must watch the whole thing.  Regarding the human condition it speaks volumes, but overall it's truly inspiring.

Click here for some mid-week inspiration that will put a smile on your face! 

See you on the road,

~ Nicole

Remembering an Unforgettable Spirit

"The true measure of a man is not the number of servants he has, but the number of men he serves."
- Arnold Glasgow

Al De Simone was a man immeasurable, as his legacy of service was immense. 

This was a sad week for UW-Parkside as we received news on the loss of a great friend; one of the individuals who helped to establish the University and so much more.

When I thought about all of the lives touched by this place and one of the leaders who helped establish it, I was awed by the grand scale of positive change that one person can make.

Many of our students are first in their families to graduate with a baccalaureate degree, while many other alumni including myself, met their spouses through UW-Parkside.  UW-Parkside also has countless professionals who have a passion for the careers they have established here.  Al had a leading hand in creating this - a special place that has changed the lives of so many.

I had the fortune of first meeting Mr. De Simone when I was a student, just over 10 years ago.  It was the 30th anniversary of the University and various student groups had displays as a part of the celebration.  My friends and I noticed a lovable and energetic grandfather-figure who was circulating among the booths - very much relishing every display, every interaction he had with students.  He was in his element taking in every moment of the event.  With a spring in his step and a firm handshake, he approached and introduced himself.  He asked what I was majoring in and where I was from.  When I said I was from Illinois, he asked if I was attending UW-Parkside on what formerly was called the Illinois Resident Scholar Program (now Nonresident Scholar/Aid Programs).  I replied, "Yes, I wouldn't have been able to attend Parkside without it!"   His face lit up and he told me the story about how the program was established and his involvement in its creation. He then continued sharing great stories about UW-Parkside's early days with several other students circling around us to hear.  It was an honor meeting him and an unforgettable encounter that I'll always treasure.  Years after that introduction, every time I would see Mr. De Simone in the community or on campus, I always thanked him.  If it wasn't for that scholar program, I wouldn't have been able to attend, and would not have my life-long friends, nor my husband, family and career I so love.

There are countless more alumni, as well as current and future students whose Al's legacy will continue to touch.  For now, it's our moment to remember his enormous spirit and say "Thank You."

Al De Simone 1918-2009

A Political Revolution?

Not sure if you guys saw this...  http://blogs.uwp.edu/rangerbear/  (see "My Fellow Americans Video")

This morning I go to take out the dog, and this is on my doorstep (below).  I know Chancellor Keating was retiring and planning to do a bit of consulting on the side, but this is getting ridiculous.

...And that's not it - there's more, much more...

This is somewhere in Chicago along the Kennedy Expressway?! 
Just where does a Bear get funding like this anyway?

 

Then over the weekend, I snapped a picture of this guy on State Street in Madison.
Yes, I said Madison - as in Badger country?! 

Had to Share This...

Dr. Randy Pausch, a Computer Science professor from Carnagie Mellon passed away today.  You may have heard about him over the last year and his legacy, "The Last Lecture."  I couldn't help but repost it here.  . 

This isn't a couple minutes - it's 1 hr and 15 minutes.  That investment of time out of your day will reap you an enormous return... look, listen and be inspired.

NIU, we are thinking of you.