April 29, 2024
On May 10 and 11, UC Madison and the School of Education will celebrate the newest batch of talented graduates at the Spring 2024 Graduation Ceremony. Ahead of this big weekend, we reached out to several alumni to learn more about their accomplishments, their time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and their plans for the future.
Grace Mullen graduated from the Elementary Education program with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a minor in Early Childhood Education. Mullen, who grew up in East Madison, said he always wanted to be a Badger. Not only because of his love for this city, but also because he wants to follow in the footsteps of his father and his three sisters.
“When I was younger, my family and I would always go downtown to go to Memorial Union and walk up and down Bascom Hill,” Mullen says. “Her father graduated from the University of California, Madison, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps and share a similar experience. There are also sisters.
Maren's mother and two older sisters are also educators. University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education Teacher Pledge When the program was created, she jumped at the opportunity and was eager to begin her journey to becoming an educator.
The donor-funded Teacher Pledge pays the equivalent of in-state tuition, fees, exams, and licensing fees for students attending UC Madison's teacher education programs. In exchange, a student commits to teaching at least her four years in a public or private school in Wisconsin or her three years in a high-need subject area or school district.
“Wow, the Teacher Pledge program has had the best possible impact on my experience,” Mullen says. “It's great to know that you can pay off your tuition in three years just by doing what you love. Thanks to the Teacher Pledge, you'll be able to get the best education at UC Madison and save yourself even more student loans in the future.” I felt like I didn't have to worry about paying.”
To learn more about Maren, read below.
What has been your most meaningful experience at UC Madison? I think the most rewarding experience of attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison was being able to attend the School of Education program with one of my best friends since middle school. Anya Jackman and I went to middle school together and graduated high school together. It means more to me than I can explain that we will graduate together again and step into the same career together. There is no one else I would rather graduate with and pursue the same career path with. We learned the same things in the same classes, we had the same discussions even in the same groups, and we were able to see and hear all the experiences we had from labs and student teaching. I am forever grateful for the friendship we formed and for moving on to the next big chapter of our lives together.
What's next? What are your future plans? I am happy to stay in Madison and accept the kindergarten position at Kennedy Elementary School. I am excited to step into the door of my teaching career and meet my future students.
Considering the principle that wisconsin ideashow do you want to use what you learned at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to impact the lives of others and positively impact our world? Thinking about the Wisconsin mindset and what I learned at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and how I want to use it to positively impact the lives of others has inspired me and my students. It continues to motivate me to keep trying and doing my best.
The state of Wisconsin, and the entire state of Wisconsin and Madison, WI, offers numerous scholarships to help students continue their education without having to worry about paying for tuition. I think having these options keeps young people in school, motivated to go to school, and reminds them that schooling is an option. They know that there are options available to students to succeed in the future and grow to become the best people they can be. As an educator, I hope to continue to motivate my students by knowing that they are shining, that they are creating their own futures, and that they can make it happen and pursue their dreams. I think it's important.
