UW-Parkside plays a critical role in southeast Wisconsin by educating thousands of students, supporting the community, and partnering with local businesses.
UW-Parkside Chancellor Lynn Akey and mascot Ranger D. Bear recently highlighted those business connections by visiting seven local businesses as part of the Universities of Wisconsin’s “Mascots on Main” initiative. These visits — documented on video and being shared on social media — demonstrate the mutually beneficial relationships that exist between the university and the community.
“UW-Parkside’s participation in Mascots on Main highlights the vital role our university plays in strengthening the region’s workforce and economy,” said UW-Parkside Chancellor Lynn Akey.
“Our location in the thriving Chicago-Milwaukee corridor provides students with unique access to internships, professional networks, and career-building opportunities. Our partnerships with businesses and organizations are essential to providing real-world learning experiences that prepare students for career success while driving innovation in Southeastern Wisconsin,” said Chancellor Akey. “Mascots on Main is a great opportunity to showcase those connections and celebrate the impact of collaboration between higher education and industry.”
In early February, Chancellor Akey and Ranger visited Haribo, celebrating their collaboration with a meeting between Ranger D. Bear and Goldbear. In addition to sponsoring and supporting athletic endeavors, Haribo supports students in doing project-based sponsored research projects, giving students first-hand real-world experiences.
Subsequently, Chancellor Akey and Ranger toured the Aurora Health Care, highlighting UW-Parkside’s partnership specifically within sports medicine. Aurora supports UW-Parkside and its students by providing care to UW-Parkside student athletes.
In addition to these key partners, Chancellor Akey and Ranger D. Bear also visited five other local businesses, including Jockey, CBC Technologies, Ascension Healthcare, Educators Credit Union, and Vonco to further emphasize the university’s commitment to the business community and highlight the university’s role as a driver of the regional economy.
See these videos as they are released on UW-Parkside’s social media channels:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19JtZZUkED/
In addition to showcasing opportunities for students to gain real-world skills in vital sectors, the Universities of Wisconsin’s “Mascots on Main” initiative emphasizes the value of collaborative relationships for economic development and demonstrates the university’s commitment to the community’s economic and social well-being.