Grainger VIP Impact Report

GRAINGER STAR SCHOLARS

The Strategic Targeted Achievement Recognition (STAR) scholars' community continued to thrive during the academic year. During the third year of the STAR Scholarship Program, students continued to be offered and participated in events and advising designed to support their development as students, leaders, researchers, innovators, and professionals. To continue expanding the offerings available to students, the college created and hired a new position, student success and engagement coordinator, to additionally support the growing community of STAR scholars. A primary goal of the STAR Scholarship Program is to provide students with an immediate network of support upon entering the university. The STAR peer-mentoring program kicked off, which paired each new scholar with a continuing scholar who served as a peer resource to support their transition to the university. Mentors and mentees met monthly to participate in different activities, which included exploring study spots on campus, touring the research lab of a mentor, and meeting over lunch to discuss course enrollment for future semesters. Another new support, STAR Math Study Tables, launched and is an opportunity for new scholars to have regular support and supplemental instruction in their math course. This is facilitated through the Undergraduate Learning Center and offers STAR scholars both academic support and peer connections and community by regularly meeting with other STAR scholars and Leaders in Engineering Excellence and Diversity scholars. We also held social and community opportunities for students to gather for study nights at the Undergraduate Learning Center, as well as a variety of workshops hosted by Wheelhouse Studios. Students were able to decompress with others and express themselves creatively through making woodburning projects, fused glass coasters, mosaic frames, clay vases, and paintings. We continued to partner with local companies to provide students the opportunity for industry visits in the Madison area. Visits were hosted by Findorff, Sub-Zero, GE HealthCare, and Electronic Theatre Controls. Students

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