August 30 marked a date on many incoming freshman’s calendars as the first official day of college move in. Milwaukee embraced 4,000 new students, both freshman and transfers, during the first week of move in. United with one common end goal, a college education, each of these students has their own unique reason why they chose Milwaukee to continue their education.
“I chose Milwaukee for its business program and the city life,” Cav Conway, a freshman living in Cambridge hall, said.
Margret, a transfer student from LaCrosse and incoming freshmen, Bree Lamers and Isaiah Groom, said they chose Milwaukee for the city experience.
Downtown is just a short ride from campus on the 30X, 30 and Gold line. Downtown Milwaukee offers students a distinctive college experience with its varied events and experiences. Students can relax and play at Bradford Beach, which was voted the third best urban beach in American by USA Today, and is only a short walk from campus. Students also have the Milwaukee Art Museum to explore and can find themselves saving money if they visit on the free first Friday of every month. The Milwaukee art museum also has diverse monthly events called, The Milwaukee Art Museum After Dark, which students can participate in for a small fee.
Alongside experiencing the city life, many students expressed their enthusiasm around getting to know new people. Freshman, Alexa Kickland, said this is something she is most excited for. Freshman and returning UW-Milwaukee students will have many opportunities to meet their peers this year during the Fall Welcome Events.
One exciting Fall Welcome event, the Panther Street Festival, will start at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9 and students of all grades are encouraged to attend. From 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the UWM Fountain, near the Golda Meir Library, students will experience music provided by a local DJ, henna tattoo artists, caricature artists and lawn games. Students will get the opportunity to try new foods, provided by local Milwaukee restaurants. After the street festival, students will be shuttled to the Summerfest grounds to enjoy a free concert by Bishop Briggs and Jason Derulo in the Marcus Amphitheater.