Over a year ago, English Department Chair Dr. Jan Stirm announced three new $1,000 scholarships for students with a declared English major or minor upon admission. The Magliocco Scholarship is named to honor the generosity of its donors John and Jill Magliocco and is renewable for a second year. The Maglioccos are the parents of two University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire graduates. One of whom completed a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in English as a Blugold.
The award provides a unique opportunity to encourage first-year English students through financial support and advisement. The scholarship, funded through admissions, targets students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds and assists recipients through a cohort structure. The Magliocco Scholars cohort advisor, Dr. Sarita Mizin, sought to create an experience that allows students to build networks across campus and find opportunities to pursue both during and after their undergraduate academic career. To Dr. Mizin, the scholarship program addresses a glaring need to promote inclusivity in the English department.
"The addition of the cohort aspect of the scholarship allowed us to give students more. Especially when you're entering your undergrad from an underrepresented background, higher education can be a difficult space to navigate. The cohort meetings gave us an opportunity to support these students in building a foundation."
During monthly cohort meetings, Dr. Mizin introduced the Magilocco scholars to campus spaces, staff, faculty, and the network of scholarship resources on the UWEC campus. From a department tour, guest speakers such as professor B.J. Hollars and Dr. Jonathan Rylander, and surveys of different English graduate career paths, Magliocco scholars gained a greater understanding of the rigorous, intentional, and experiential learning experience the university seeks to provide. Through individual advisement meetings, students receive one-on-one time with their program advisor and can inform cohort meeting content based on their particular academic and professional interests.
Thanks to the charitable gifts of John and Jill Magliocco, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire English department can welcome first-year English majors and minors to campus and share the rich experiences Eau Claire has to offer.
If you are interested in helping fund the scholarship for a third year, please contact English Department Chair Dr. Jan Stirm.
