Homecoming is such a special time of year, when alumni return to campus for football and friendship, and campus becomes a riot of Badger red…and flamingo pink!
Fill the Hill has become a part of the campus tradition during Homecoming. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university support the funds that mean the most to them, and a pink, plastic flamingo is placed on Bascom Hill to signify each gift. It is great fun to experience the energy around the campaign and to see the flamingos spread across Bascom Hill!
If you contributed to the International Student Emergency Assistance Fund during Fill the Hill, I thank you for your generosity. We frequently hear from international students who have had an unanticipated expense, and they do not know where to turn for help. Through this fund, we are able to offer modest support for medical costs, urgent travel, and other unplanned outlays. And if you have not yet contributed to this fund or to one of our others that support students in various ways, there is still time to do so.
Homecoming also means our Board of Visitors members return to campus. These distinguished alumni and friends of the division provide insights into our priorities from their vantage points in corporations and non-profit organizations, and from where they sit in Chicago, Madison, New York City, and Washington, DC. They also play a key role in helping us reach our philanthropic goals and in expanding our connections with federal agencies and foundations. We seek to have a board with diverse viewpoints and experiences, and we welcome self-nominations or nominations of others at dean@international.wisc.edu.
Finally, homecoming offers an opportunity for alumni to engage with students and offer encouragement on their Badger journey. Several board members met with our King-Morgridge Scholars and Wisconsin International Scholars to talk about the careers they have had and the places around the world where they have worked. Their words were informative and inspirational for freshmen as well as for seniors. We were also honored to have John and Tashia Morgridge, two of UW–Madison’s most esteemed alums, attend the celebration for new KM Scholars. At this annual event, freshmen are welcomed, and more advanced scholars provide updates on summer internships and travel and share their plans for coursework and community engagement during the academic year ahead.
Homecoming reminds us of the importance of belonging, of giving back, and of building a campus community that forever feels like home. I hope to see you at Homecoming 2026!