Safer — and More Connected — at Home

Nurse Amber Statz ’16, who helps save COVID-19 patients at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital, was featured in an “It’s What Badgers Do” video. Courtesy of Amber Statz

In April, the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) solicited photos of Badgers around the world who are doing their part to help during the pandemic. The result, “#ItsWhatBadgersDo,” was featured on social media, in the weekly Flamingle, and in other newsletters. You can continue to find shout-outs on social media that recognize other Badger helpers, as well as short videos about individual alumni and pandemic initiatives.

It’s just one of the ways that WFAA is reaching Badgers remotely as traditional in-person events are canceled due to the pandemic.

You can also share alumni photos and stories for a “Wish You Were Here” scrapbook that celebrates Badger nostalgia. So far, the scrapbooks have highlighted commencement photos and stories; favorite Terrace photos and memories; Homecoming; and top nature spots on campus.

Week in Review, an overview of some of the UW’s top stories that are highlighted on the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s Instagram and Facebook pages each Friday, directs viewers to uwalumni.com for more in-depth coverage. It’s a way to help alumni and friends stay informed about the UW at a time when they may be feeling both isolated and busier than ever before.

If you’re nostalgic for the Terrace — or you’re missing the sight of Bascom Hill — WFAA has the next best thing: Badger backgrounds that bring the campus to you. Download a UW screensaver or video-call background. So far, the site has logged nearly 22,500 downloads.

And The UW Now livestream panels with university experts have continued to update viewers on topics related to the coronavirus, the UW Marching Band, campus traditions, and other issues.

Even during quarantine, the opportunity to reconnect with some of the best times of your life — and to stay informed, inspired, and involved — is just a few clicks away.

Published in the Fall 2020 issue