Despite chaos at the start of Shadow Day, Friday's event successfully provided minority and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual high school students from around the state with a glimpse of UW-Madison, according to Jennifer Epps, co-coordinator of Shadow Day, diversity committee chair and a UW-Madison junior.
\It was great. Every evaluation we got back from the students was resoundingly very positive,"" Epps said.
Unexpected problems arose when a bus from Milwaukee arrived at UW-Madison two hours late. However, late high school students were still able to participate in most of the day's events, which included speakers who made the college application process less intimidating, according to Ted Koehler, co-coordinator of Shadow Day and a UW-Madison freshman.
Kiersten Kansteiner, a volunteer coordinator for the event and a UW-Madison senior said Shadow Day succeeded in making the prospect of college a reality for high school students.
""I do think some people made that transition from thinking 'college isn't for me' to at least thinking 'well maybe,'"" she said.
Fifty high school students attended Shadow Day, twice the expected amount. Attendants constituted 60 percent minority students at targeted high schools and 20 percent LGBT students, Epps said.
Coordinators said the event's high turnout and overall success mean the event should be repeating next fall and next spring with more high school students.
""I see this program growing to 75 to 100 students next year,"" Epps said. ""We're hoping to do it once in the fall ... for seniors ... and in the spring again for sophomores and juniors.""
Though Shadow Day highlighted the UW-Madison campus and courses, Koehler said it was not a recruiting event.
""The goal of Shadow Day isn't a recruitment or a targeting goal,"" he said. ""It's aimed to have students realize the opportunities that are available to them in any high education system.""
Epps said many high school guidance counselors did not inform students of the event.
