If I could choose just two words to describe this past month, they would be “gratitude” and “pride.”
During Day of the Badger, students, staff, faculty, community partners, alumni, and friends from around the world came together in support of our international students by contributing to the International Student Emergency Assistance Fund. This fund provides critical relief in times of crisis, supporting needs such as books, rent, food, or emergency travel home.
The fund received 80 gifts, which will result in direct support to students and will help ensure that unexpected challenges do not derail their academic journeys. Thanks to the generosity of our Board of Visitors, these gifts unlocked an additional $10,000, bringing the total raised to more than $15,000.
This is deeply meaningful engagement. These gifts send a powerful message: Our international students are valued, supported, and recognized for their important academic contributions. I am grateful to all who made Day of the Badger 2026 a success.
We also received welcome news this month that UW–Madison is ranked No. 1 among Peace Corps’ top volunteer-producing universities. We are No. 2 since the Peace Corps began in 1961, and we continue to build on that legacy with each new cohort of volunteers. This top ranking reflects the dedication, resilience, and service-minded spirit of our Badgers. Their work around the world provides critical support for communities around the world and exemplifies the Wisconsin Idea on a global scale.
I invite you to join me in celebrating our international engagement and in taking pride in the many ways it strengthens UW–Madison and the world beyond.