| A campus is as big or as small as you make it. This is the philosophy that recent UW-Madison graduate Alison Bowman adopted when she enrolled in a school with over 40,000 students after being raised in a northern Wisconsin town of under 1,000 people. It was intimidating, but this Chancellor Scholar refused to be swallowed up by a large school and instead made a name for herself in the UW-Madison community. On May 20th, Bowman graduated -- earning a degree in journalism -- and proved that the college experience is what a student makes of it. Raised in both Shawano and Gresham, Wisconsin, Bowman grew up in a very small, tight-knit community. Her mother was a teacher on the Menominee reservation and her father was a logger. As American Indians (Mohican), Bowman's family were members of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. She balks a little when asked how her life was different growing up on a reservation. "I never really know how to answer that question," she said. "It's just like any other small Wisconsin town." Bowman's father was a tribal council member and as she describes him, "a big storyteller." He owned a logging company and a small bar. What she admires most about him is his hard work to support his family and community. "My dad is very hardworking and very ambitious," Bowman said. "He inspired me to never stop." Bowman's mother taught her the value of compassion. "My mom is the most compassionate and patient person I know," she said. When it was time to decide where to go to college, Bowman knew she wanted to go to a good school. While large compared to her community, UW-Madison was her first choice. She knew, however, that she would have to find a niche at the school to feel comfortable. "I really believe in the saying that a campus is as big or as small as youmake it," she said. "I wouldn't have made it without my smaller connections." As a Chancellor Scholar, Bowman received a full scholarship to UW-Madison and was part of a small group of students who met frequently for group activities and support. The Chancellor's Scholarship Program was established in 1984 to increase educational opportunities for underrepresented minority groups. Administered by Vice Provost Mercile Lee, the program consistently draws students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Bowman also became involved in the American Indian student group Wunk Sheek during her freshman year. In the fall of 2006, UW-Madison's American Indian student population was 0.6 percent (252 students.) Wunk Sheek works to unite these students and provide a "base from which work can be done for the advancement of American Indian peoples." The group plans a multitude of events and activities including retreats, Native Heritage Month events, and the annual Spring Pow-wow. Bowman's involvement in Wunk Sheek evolved from simply being a member to becoming the group's Media and Outreach Coordinator last year. Under this guise, she was responsible for creating advertisements, flyers, press releases, and seeking coverage from local and campus newspapers. She also provided outreach to American Indian elders, native students, and the community. While schoolwork is enough to keep many students busy, Bowman consistently reached above and beyond to serve her culture, campus, and community. And she's not done yet. Bowman has been accepted as a graduate student at UW-Madison's La Follette School of Public Affairs where she will pursue a master's degree in administration and public policy. She's not entirely sure where she will end up, but her dreams are lofty. Her dream job would land her working with the National Congress of American Indians or in a higher education community. Whatever she does, she's started out on the right foot. |
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| A Wunk Sheek Graduate at the University of Wisconsin Alison Bowman: Pride of the tribe By Laura Salinger |
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