Wisconsin Achievers Vol. 16, No. 8 March 2016 Senior at Beloit College promotes engagement in hometown About Nadir Carlson called Beloit, the help of Wisconsin Grant When he first started his Wisconsin Grants Wisconsin his home before funding, Nadir has been able studies at Beloit, Nadir became he enrolled in Beloit College to concentrate on his academic, a Student Leadership Advisory The twenty-four private, where he has just started Board member. He researched or independent, nonprofit his senior year. He has kept and planned programming colleges and universities of himself quite busy double opportunities with other Wisconsin operate without majoring in political science student participants, and he taxpayer support, but provide and sociology. wrote the initial draft of the an invaluable public service Student Leadership Advisory to the state, educating nearly During his high school years, Board governing document. He 60,000 students a year. Many of Nadir considered other also was a program assistant Wisconsin’s best and brightest colleges, but decided that for the Beloit College Office of need financial help to attend the Beloit was the best fit for him. Intercultural Affairs, organizing college of their choice. “I chose Beloit because the idea a student-led monthly dialogue of pursuing my education Nadir Carlson is a political science & program. The Wisconsin Tuition Grant, where I am from was really sociology major at Beloit College. now known as Wisconsin Grants, appealing,” he says. “Beloit Last fall, Nadir was invited to was enacted in 1965 to help also creates a welcoming personal and professional join Beloit College President qualified Wisconsin citizens to environment where we can growth by limiting the amount Scott Bierman in a playful, succeed. Each month Wisconsin learn, and, at the same time, of stress related to financing welcoming introduction to Achievers brings you success not take ourselves or those his college education. first-year students at Beloit’s stories of Wisconsinites at around us too seriously.” With continued on page 2 WAICU member campuses for whom Wisconsin Grants have Mount Mary University senior dedicated to helping others made a significant difference. During her four years at she said. “I’m also really Wisconsin Achievers is Mount Mary University, interested in working with published monthly by the Lissandra Lopez, a the Latino community. Wisconsin Association of senior in Mount Mary because there is such great Independent Colleges and University’s School of need there.” Universities (WAICU), 122 W. Health Sciences, has Washington Avenue, Madison, held many campus Mount Mary has proven WI 53703-2723; 608-256-7761; positions, including to be an energetic college. [email protected]. a data entry worker It encourages students to within the Admissions explore the underlying Rolf Wegenke, Ph.D. Operations Office, Lissandra Lopez of Mount Mary is preparing issues of social problems President & CEO research assistant within for a career in trauma counseling. and take action to affect Rebecca Larson the Office of Institutional change. Senior VP for Advocacy Cassandra Krause Research, peer mentor involvement, Lissandra Director of Communications & for first-year students in has developed a passion Lissandra is applying for Marketing, Editor the Peers, Professionalism for helping others through graduate school to study Kathy Dutter and Persistence Program, trauma and is focusing on more about behavioral Assistant to the President and tutor for a behavioral the specific skills that will health and pictures herself Assistant Editor statistics course. help her in the future. “I working in a hospital or want to work with kids, clinic one day, specifically Through her active campus mainly focusing on trauma,” continued on page 2 Wisconsin Achievers Page 2 March 2016 Nadir Carlson continued from page 1 fall convocation. Currently serving as the student civic engagement and voter turnout in the Beloit FACT body president and working as a resident community. assistant, Nadir has considerable experience OF THE collaborating and working with various Nadir recently completed a summer internship personality types. He regularly communicates at Beloit Memorial High School. There, he MONTH with college administrators to increase their helped teach and motivate students in a para- awareness of student concerns and helps professional role. He also served as the lead moderate a weekly meeting to address those producer for a TEDx series hosted by Beloit For the 2014-15 academic concerns. Nadir believes that his work with College. The event featured seven speakers on a year, need-based financial aid from federal, state the college administration and residential life wide range of topics. Nadir managed social media and private sources for WI will prepare him for a position at a nonprofit surrounding the event, communicated with the undergraduates at WAICU organization in education, counseling, or both. TEDx speakers, and coordinated the experience colleges and universities for audience members on the day of the event. fell by $14M compared Throughout his college career, Nadir has to 2013-14. Need-based financial aid for those chaired several meetings to address policies In his final semester, Nadir is looking forward students from the WAICU affecting students, co-facilitated a team to to building upon the relationships he has institutions themselves create programming that furthers intercultural formed at Beloit College and throughout the increased by almost $20 M. understanding, and mentored students to help local community while continuing to work hard them achieve their academic and personal goals. toward a new chapter in his life. Source: Higher Education Aids Board He also has devoted efforts towards increasing Lissandra Lopez continued from page 1 helping children cope with traumatic university community’s support, along campus, find my passion working with events. “Mount Mary has helped me build with the support from fellow students children, teach children in Brookfield my confidence,” she said. “I can teach and my family, has helped me become a elementary school Spanish, or volunteer [children] how to be bold, be leaders, and better person.” at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.” how to do what they want to do in their future.” Because of the Wisconsin Grant, Lissandra is appreciative of the Lissandra can devote her attention to the opportunities she has had in and out of Lissandra, whose hometown is skills needed to pursue her professional the classroom. “I will be graduating in Milwaukee, chose Mount Mary for the passion. “Being able to depend on May of 2016 with two degrees, a minor, community feel and the university’s the money offered by this grant each a certificate, and the pride of being the emphasis on creating strong, bold year has helped me work to my fullest first person in my family to have earned women. “I was empowered as a woman potential, both in and out of school,” she a bachelor’s degree,” she said. “With to take advantage of each and every said. “Without this grant I would not continued funding from Wisconsin, I opportunity that came my way, which I have been able to excel academically, hope to see more women graduate from have,” she said. “Every place I turn there network with individuals on my campus college and pursue careers they are is someone who believes in me. The community through interactions on passionate about.” Wisconsin’s Private Nonprofit Colleges and Universities Alverno College Milwaukee Edgewood College Madison Mount Mary University Milwaukee Bellin College Green Bay Lakeland College Sheboygan Nashotah House Nashotah Beloit College Beloit Lawrence University Appleton Northland College Ashland Cardinal Stritch University Milwaukee Marian University Fond du Lac Ripon College Ripon Carroll University Waukesha Marquette University Milwaukee St. Norbert College De Pere Carthage College Kenosha Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee Silver Lake College Manitowoc Columbia College of Nursing Milwaukee Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Milwaukee Viterbo University La Crosse Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee.