Students explored many aspects of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s past during Student Night at the Public History Project on Sept. 29 at the Chazen Museum of Art. The event was an opportunity for them to …
First Wave
Pay it forward: Alumna Alex Hanna creates scholarship to support sociology students supporting LGBTQ+ community
Alex Hanna made it through. But she knows it wasn’t a sure thing. Hanna, who graduated with a PhD from the Department of Sociology in 2016, came out as a transgender woman while she was …
After the Wave: Dequadray White found his voice as a musician and poet in the First Wave program
First Wave helped Dequadray White (’20) not only to earn a degree from UW–Madison but also to find his voice, figuratively and literally.
Watch: UW junior Dawry Ruiz learns he won the Truman Scholarship
UW–Madison junior Dawry Ruiz was surprised by university leadership last week with the news that he had been awarded the prestigious Truman Scholarship.
First Wave junior Dawry Ruiz named 2022 Truman Scholar
Art inspired and empowered Dawry Ruiz as a teenager. Now he hopes to spread its motivating force to other young people.
Line Breaks Festival showcases artists and performers of First Wave’s past and present
The 15th annual Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival brought together First Wave scholars and alumni for an extraordinary series of free performances on April 1 and 2 at the Overture Center.
First Wave students and alums fuse dance, theater and music in Line Breaks Festival
Over the past semester, University of Wisconsin-Madison dance professor Chris Walker worked with freshmen and alumni of First Wave — a scholarship program for hip hop and urban arts — to bring Danez Smith’s poem …
15th annual Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival coming April 1-2 at Overture Center
The annual celebration is a multi-day showcase bridging campus, local, and national leaders in hip-hop, spoken word, and the urban arts.
Line Breaks Festival
The 15th annual Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival on April 1st & 2nd will bring together students and professional artists for a series of performances unlike any other on the UW campus.
Annual ‘Moonshine’ performance and masterclass coming Feb. 25
The free Moonshine event is a celebration of Black History Month, with live music, contemporary theater and dance performances that includes West African, Afro-Caribbean Dancehall, and hip-hop dance forms.
Meet some of the exceptional UW–Madison graduates of winter 2021
This year’s winter graduates are an accomplished bunch — they’ve created new student organizations, toured the world on music stages, undertaken important research, and won major awards. Here’s a look at just a few of …
First Wave alum Zhalarina Sanders wins Chicago Emmy for music video series
UW–Madison alumna Zhalarina Sanders has created an autobiographical music video series entitled “The Light“ with PBS Wisconsin, which she wrote, acted in, and produced. Originally released in May 2020, the series won an Emmy in …
Coming full circle: Chris Walker takes reins as UW Arts director
While reflecting on where he began at UW, Chris Walker talked about how his journey has come full circle from his time leading the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives and First Wave scholarship program.
First Wave alum Jasmine Mans celebrates women of color in first book
National publications ranging from Vogue to TIME to Oprah Magazine all had words of praise for “Black Girl, Call Home,” the latest book of poems from First Wave alum Jasmine Mans (’15).
First Wave Hosts Month-Long Video Poetry Festival
Stages are dark, but UW-Madison’s First Wave Hip Hop and Urban Arts program is bringing poets from across the country together to celebrate National Poetry Month on the virtual stage. Everyday, more than 25 poets …
First Wave alumna awarded major graduate fellowship
Mackenzie Berry, a recent UW–Madison graduate whose work has explored topics ranging from Muhammad Ali’s influence on hip hop to health-care access in Kentucky, has been awarded a top national fellowship to continue her studies. …
Building bridges: Black Arts Matter aims to bring community and campus closer together
BY REID KURKEREWICZ, Isthmus Shasparay Lighteard hit upon the idea for the Black Arts Matter (B.A.M.) Festival after noticing a division between Madison’s black community and UW-Madison. Keeping in mind the vibrant black arts community back in her hometown …
First Wave scholar Jamie Dawson urges graduates to ‘recognize our limitless possibilities’
When the UW–Madison graduating senior class selected Jamie Dawson to deliver the student address at the 2018 Winter Commencement Ceremony, she promised to be very intentional with her platform. “This will not be a squandered …
For student commencement speaker, years of writing and performing lead to Kohl Center stage
As a middle-schooler, Jamie Dawson could be found at the lunch table with the kids who loved words. “We all naturally gravitated toward each other,” she says. “They were all great writers. Someone would start …
Q&A: UW grad Miona Short sees poetry in the stars, possibilities in a startup
If you didn’t know that Miona Grae Short was an astronomer, her Facebook profile photo — a selfie with celebrity astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson — might clue you in. And in May, Short became the first black …