The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is full of students, both past and present, doing amazing and accomplished things both within the university and outside in the community.
One of these people is Paul Victor, who is an Information Studies major at UWM. He has a passion for spotlighting creative people and giving everyone the chance to recognize their favorite things.
“As a college student, I know firsthand that things aren’t always easy, especially when you’re chasing an idea or a dream that feels too big or even impossible,” Paul Victor said. “My advice for other UWM students is to use what you’re learning in class right away instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity. You already have more tools than you think, so build something now, even if it’s small, and let it grow from there.”
World Choice Awards 2026
The World Choice Awards™ is a venture he started in 2022 when he wanted to have something that gives fans a say in giving out awards. The process begins with a nomination period, then nominations are picked and announced before voting begins. Once voting is closed, there is an announcement of the winners.
“Seeing people from completely different countries come together on one platform to celebrate their favorites, while also discovering new ones they never knew about, is one of the many amazing things that keeps me going,” Victor said.
It’s put together by World Entertainment™, which is a platform that recognizes upcoming and rising talents in the indie scene. Victor runs both efforts, as well as founding the Stage and Screen Society at UWM in 2025.
“Stage and Screen Society is not limited to the arts department. If you’re passionate about something and want to share it, whatever that might be, this is the club for it. The goal is to bring like-minded people together, and hopefully spark collaborations that turn into long-lasting, impactful projects,” Victor said.
Rise in Popularity
Victor uses his talents and knowledge as an Informational Studies major to foster social media support and run a website. The World Choice Awards™ has received nearly a total of 75,000 views on its website, and its Instagram account quickly amassed 4,000 followers. Today, its Instagram account has reached nearly 14,000 followers.
The World Choice Awards Instagram profile. Credit: Paul Victor 
These are the viewership statistics of the World Choice Awards website. Credit: Paul Victor 
World Choice Award’s updated Instagram follower count from 8/22/2026. Credit: Paul Victor
“Understanding how to structure information, whether it’s a database or a global fan community, is the core skill, and I get to apply it in real time instead of waiting until after graduation to use what I’m learning,” Victor said.
World Choice Awards 2026 Winners
- Winners announcement video: https://youtu.be/nUxGFSEQSg0
- Full winners list: https://theworldchoiceawards.com/winners/
With the organization’s forward-looking momentum, Victor is looking to expand the awards to feature local Milwaukee artists, creators, places and anything people can vote on as their favorite. Winners in the future will receive a certificate designed by Victor.
Future of World Entertainment
As he works on continuing expansion of the project, Victor appreciates support and extra help to plan live events for World Entertainment™ in the future.
“I’m looking for students who are genuinely passionate about entertainment and fan culture, and who bring either a creative skill like design or video editing, or a knack for connecting with people across different languages and communities,” Victor said.
This was included in MKZine!
“MKZine: Student Lifestyle Guide” – Volume 1, Issue 1 – September 2026
“MKZine: Student Lifestyle Guide” is available for viewing online here: https://uwmpost.com/special-projects/mkzine-uwm-student-lifestyle-guide
