Accelerate Faculty

What started with 300 backpacks filled with school supplies became something much bigger: an opportunity for families to experience Alverno College.

For the fourth consecutive year, Alverno partnered with Telemundo Wisconsin to help families prepare for back to school. This year’s backpack giveaway brought what Telemundo believed was the event’s largest crowd ever to campus.

Efraín Ortega, a parent who attended the event, told Telemundo, "We saw … that they were going to give out school supplies and said, 'That's great,' because with the economy the way it is right now, this helps us a bit."

And while families came to pick up backpacks and prepare for the school year ahead, many stayed to explore, learn and connect with the Alverno community.

Throughout the event, families participated in hands-on activities led by faculty and staff from across the College. In one very popular activity, STEM faculty guided young visitors through two science experiments, while families toured Alverno’s greenhouse and discovered the many ways learning extends beyond the classroom.

In the nursing Clinical Learning Center, faculty and students introduced children to the tools of the profession, letting them listen to their own hearts and lungs with stethoscopes before comparing those sounds with the heart and lungs of a simulation manikin. Art therapy faculty invited families to create their own art projects, and Global Studies faculty helped children learn about other countries while sampling candies from around the world.

There were plenty of opportunities for fun, too. Families tried their hand at putting with Athletics coaches and staff, played games and won prizes with Event and Space staff, and stopped for photos with Blaze. Apples provided by Elior offered a refreshing snack along the way.

"Supporting the community, especially the Hispanic community, is part of Alverno College's values,” said Vanessa Vázquez, dean of students.

For families considering college, the event also provided an introduction to Alverno itself. Admissions counselors were on hand to answer questions and share information about the College’s academic programs and opportunities.

The event was made possible through an extraordinary collaboration across campus, with multiple departments coming together to welcome the community.

In addition to the Alverno-led activities, families were able to interact with other event sponsors. The law firm PKSD handed out swag and answered simple legal questions, and Mex Avenue handed out free samples of agua fresca and chips and salsa, all while Telemundo broadcast live from the event.

Perhaps the most meaningful measure of the event’s success was what happened after the backpacks were distributed, as families continued exploring campus and participating in activities. One local teacher, who routinely makes campus part of her walking route, stopped to share how events like this make a significant difference in her classroom.

The day was a reminder that community engagement can be about more than giving something away. It can be an invitation to discover, learn and see what is possible—and a chance for Alverno to open its doors and welcome the community.