Convocation welcomes new students to UW-Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin will welcome new students to university at the Chancellor’s Convocation for New Students.

The event will be held at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 1, at the Kohl Center. As a bookend to commencement, the convocation inaugurates students into the campus community as they begin their studies. Traditionally, some 5,000 students attend the event.

The chancellor will offer advice for success and detail some characteristics about the campus that she loved when she was a student here.

As is tradition, a UW–Madison student serves as keynote speaker at the event.

Katherine Ann Cary, a sophomore from Maple Grove, Minn., studying political science and economics, was selected from some 50 applicants. The applicants wrote essays answering the question: What would you tell a new student about life at UW–Madison?

She will advise her fellow students to enjoy all that Madison offers, study hard, to become a leader and to be open to new people and experiences.

“The friends you make here will be your ultimate source of fun. Open your door to them, invite them into your world, and don’t be surprised when you discover that you’re more than friends — you’re family,” writes Cary.

Madison’s mayor, Dave Cieslewicz, will also address the students as he welcomes them to the Madison community.

At the convocation the students will also receive a copy of the book selected for this year’s common reading program, Go Big Read. The book is “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot.

More information on the event, including advice to students about making the most out of the first year at UW–Madison is available at on the Web.