Two projects involving students and guided by staff from the UW–Madison School of Education have been selected for 2025–26 Wisconsin Idea Fellowships, a public service program administered by the Morgridge Center for Public Service.
This year’s cycle was the most competitive in the program’s history, with 10 projects selected and 23 undergraduate students participating. Each project addresses a community-identified need through partnerships with local or global organizations and includes guidance from a UW–Madison faculty or staff member.
One selected project, “BUILD,” was developed by students Alyssa Nielsen, Lesley Ramirez, and Gabrielle Joe with advising from Morgan Shields, academic program manager in the Department of Kinesiology. The initiative aims to increase physical activity among adolescents of lower socioeconomic status in Madison and surrounding areas, a population that often struggles to meet recommended health guidelines.
The team worked with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, The Odyssey Project, Project Girl, and Glacial Drumlin Middle School to inform and shape their program through community surveys and research. Their approach uses games and interactive sessions to promote heart, muscle, and bone health while building confidence and a sense of community.
Another School of Education-affiliated project, “Domestic Violence: An All Hands on Deck Effort to Empower Survivors,” is led by students Emily Hokanson and Alexis Wergin, with advising from Carrie Welsh, program director of the Center for Ethics and Education in the School of Education’s Wisconsin Center for Educational Research (WCER).
The project is a partnership with Felicia’s Donation Closet, a nonprofit that provides household items and furnishings to survivors of domestic abuse as they transition from shelters to permanent housing. The students are helping expand the organization’s capacity by improving storage space, increasing outreach on campus, and supporting volunteer and donor growth.
Wisconsin Idea Fellowships provide up to $7,000 in funding per project and encourage students to pursue sustained public service efforts in collaboration with communities.
Learn more about the 2025–26 fellowship recipients.