Blugold Beginnings News
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Developing his inner leader by sharing his experiences: Kehinde Olu Famule
For some students, the road to commencement takes some unexpected turns. For Olu Famule, those turns opened his mind to sides of himself and inner passions he didn't even know he had, and he couldn't be happier with where he landed.
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Dr. Demetrius Smith enjoying new EDISA role
After his first six months as UW-Eau Claire’s first special assistant to the vice chancellor for equity, diversity, inclusion and student affairs, Dr. Demetrius Smith is more excited than ever about the university’s many EDI initiatives.
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Virtual Civil Rights Pilgrimage set for Jan. 11-15
Refusing to let another CRP trip go the way of 2020 cancellations, students have created an entirely online version of the pilgrimage, free to current Blugolds and affordable to alumni and community members.
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Blugold fulfills football dreams by coaching Eau Claire-area youth teams
Terrell Kopping is still in college, but the UW-Eau Claire senior already is well on his way to making his football dreams come true. Starting quarterback for the Blugolds? Nope. Volunteer football coach for Chippewa Valley youth football programs.
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Gen 2 Blugold Beginnings: Cousins join the program
When brothers Adrian and Juan Wilson attended UW-Eau Claire as math and science campers in the 1990s, then later as undergrads, they had no idea that someday their own children might also find a home in UWEC programs and classrooms.
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Blugold works to build cultural competence, understanding of white privilege
During his years as a Blugold, Alex Hintz worked to build his understanding of diverse populations so he could be a stronger ally for people of color and better meet the needs of his future students.
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Blugold Beginnings coding camp goes virtual this summer
This week, middle and high school students from three states are learning how to code thanks to a popular UW-Eau Claire summer camp that has moved to a virtual format because of COVID-19.
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Blugold Beginnings Learning Community seeks faculty/staff mentors
The Blugold Beginnings program seeks faculty and staff to serve as college coaches to the incoming class of Blugold Beginnings Learning Community students.
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Blugold Beginnings to offer virtual summer camps
UW-Eau Claire’s Blugold Beginnings will again offer a series of summer camps for youth in the Chippewa Valley and beyond. Given COVID-19, camps this summer will be offered virtually instead of in the traditional face-to-face format.
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Grit and determination: No stopping Kristie Ash, Class of 2020
Her chosen career field might be IT consulting, but Kristie Ash will take into any field an established and powerful background in cultural identity advocacy work, a proven experience helping organizations value intersectionality and inclusion.
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Blugold is marching to the beat of his own drum
When Kehinde Olu Famule is drumming, he’s doing more than entertaining those around him. The UW-Eau Claire junior is connecting with his West African heritage while also sharing an important part of his culture with the campus and Eau Claire communities.
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Chemistry major helping area youth see value in Blugold Beginnings, higher education
As an intern in the Blugold Beginnings office, Mai Yer Yang is planning a tour day for area eighth graders, an event that she hopes will inspire the young students to make the most of what the program offers and to consider pursuing a college degree.
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‘One Read Eau Claire’ continues March 7 with book on Hmong experience
The discussion series, based around helping the community become more inclusive of difference, will feature 12 books over 12 months, on topics of importance in Eau Claire, as nominated by citizens at the 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.
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Blugolds lean on each other to overcome challenges, thrive in college
FranChesca Riley, Julianna Tavale and Natalie Hanson came to UW-Eau Claire because of its strong academic programs and beautiful campus. They stayed at UW-Eau Claire because they found each other.
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Student veteran to run half-marathon for Badger Honor Flight
Blugold education major Ricky Schiff will run the Madison Half Marathon to raise funds for the Badger Honor Flight, a foundation that escorts ailing Wisconsin veterans to the military memorials, museums and cemeteries in Washington, D.C.
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New grant to support Blugold Beginnings youth programs
UW-Eau Claire’s Blugold Beginnings program has received a nearly $200,000 grant from Service Wisconsin to support its 2019-20 programming.
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Two-time alumnus earns prestigious AmeriCorps award
Khong Meng Her will earn his second Blugold degree May 25, a master's degree in history. He then will receive the AmeriCorps Alumni of the Year Award from Gov. Tony Evers June 6 for his work with Blugold Beginnings and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
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Blugold mentors prepare area youth to compete in robotics competition
Chippewa Valley area middle school students and their UW-Eau Claire Blugold Beginning mentors will compete in a robotics competition and participate in a first-of-its-kind STEAM Demo Day this month.
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China immersion allows Blugolds to connect with Hmong history, identity
During Winterim, several Blugolds were part of an immersion where they learned about and experienced the rich history and culture of Hmong people and other minorities living in Southwest China.
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Advocate, mentor for UW-Eau Claire students of color to receive Regents Diversity Award
Dennis Beale, assistant director of UW-Eau Claire's Blugold Beginnings program, will be recognized Feb. 8 with a UW System Board of Regents 2019 Diversity Award.
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Blugold Spotlight features Jodi Thesing-Ritter
Whether it’s leading a group of UW-Eau Claire students and community members to learn about the nation's civil rights history, or coordinating coding and robotics camps aimed at girls with STEM-related interests, Jodi Thesing-Ritter has one goal in mind.
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Embracing opportunities prepares Blugold for future success
Chantal Bougie has an impressive resume after embracing the many opportunities she found at UW-Eau Claire. She will graduate this month with a degree in kinesiology.
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First Blugold Beginnings robotics competition set for Saturday
UW-Eau Claire's Blugold Beginnings program will partner with area schools to offer its first robotics competition Dec. 1. The initiative aims to decrease the opportunity gap in STEM fields.
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Blugold Spotlight features Dennis Beale
Dennis Beale, assistant director of Blugold Beginnings, is a two-time Blugold alumnus, graduating in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and in 2015 with a master's degree in higher education professional development.