New Name, Same Mission

Madison, Wis. (July 1, 2025) – Edgewood University proudly raised the new flag above campus for the first time at a brief ceremony this morning.

“In January of this year, we announced that Edgewood College will be renamed Edgewood University. That day has now arrived,” President Manion, said. “The change comes about as we approach our centennial year, and as we continue to expand the reach of our mission as a Catholic institution of higher education in the Dominican tradition.”

The President spoke to an energized group of students, faculty, staff, and several Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa – the sponsoring order of Edgewood University.

Edgewood University has been effectively operating as a university since 1986, when Master of Science and Master of Arts degrees including Business Administration, Education, and Religious Studies were added to the academic portfolio. In 2001, the Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership was added. Since that time, the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and the Doctor of Business Administration have been added. The newest doctoral programs, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia, will welcome their first cohorts of students in Fall 2025.

Institutional partnerships and strategic use of technology are fueling significant enrollment growth. As of 2025, Edgewood University is now home to more than 1,300 graduate students from the U.S. and 37 other countries.

About Edgewood University
Located in Madison, Wis., Edgewood University is a comprehensive, Catholic university in the Dominican tradition. We serve approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Edgewood University offers more than 40 academic and professional programs, including master’s degrees in business, education, and nursing, and doctoral degrees in educational leadership, nursing practice, and business administration. Edgewood University is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the National Collegiate Athletics Association and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. For more information about Edgewood University, please visit www.edgewood.edu, or call Ed Taylor at 608-663-2333.

‘Stretched Thin’: A Brady Nichols Artist Talk/Demo

Carnelian Art Gallery has partnered with its downtown Madison neighbor and restaurant Lucille to bring you an unforgettable night of networking, creativity, and education about the process of relief printing and a local artist who fled a traumatic upbringing in favor of a better life.

From 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, you’ll be able to enjoy lovely refreshments from Lucille, as well as Carnelian Art Gallery’s collection of fine art.

The event is at the gallery, which is located at 221 King St. in Suite 102. Registration is required. There is no cost to attend the affair. You’ll be able to purchase food, beverages, and spirits, courtesy of Lucille.

Starting at 6 p.m., Madison artist and author Brady Nichols will deliver an artist talk regarding his book, “Stretched Thin,” which is a tale about his brother, as well as their respective comeuppances, which were violent. The brothers reflect on the different directions they took in their lives in the wake of profound turmoil.

“It was a very chaotic childhood where I was able to escape and go to college,” said Nichols. “He spent 18 years in prison.”

Nichols, in his talk, will also discuss six of his artworks that will be on display throughout the course of the event, as well as his years as a teacher and his artistic origin story.

He creates his pieces using a method called relief printing, a process where an image is created by cutting away parts of a surface and inking the raised areas, then transferring the ink to paper. Expect intricate, black and white images of birds, landscapes, and other things.

“I have been creating linoleum relief prints the last few years,” Nichols said. “Some of the pieces are illustrations related to my book, Stretched Thin; others are more investigative.

“I have always been invested in exploring such human conditions as isolation, using personal imagery, animals and natural structures as symbols. I enjoy weaving these things together in order to create a rich narrative.”

After the talk, which is set to last about 20 minutes, Nichols will do a live demonstration of the relief printing process, which is set to last until about 7-7:30 p.m. After the demonstration concludes, he will take questions from the audience.

Questions? Email marketing director, Emilie Heidemann, at carnelianartgallerymarketing@gmail.com.

Tee Up for a Cause at the 21st Annual Fore Friends Golf Outing!

Get ready for a fantastic day of golf and giving back! 

Join the Friends of MSCR on Wednesday, July 23, at The Oaks Golf Course for our 21st Annual Fore Friends Golf Outing.

This isn’t just your average day on the green – it’s an opportunity to support vital public recreation programs right here in Madison. Since 2003, Friends of MSCR has raised more than $640,000, funding everything from bringing free arts programs to community centers to a multitude of exciting afterschool clubs for grades K-12.

Grab Foursome and Register!

The scramble format makes it perfect for golfers of every level, from seasoned pros to those just starting out. A foursome includes 4 golfer registration includes: 18 holes, cart, lunch and a golfer gift. Learn more and register! The outing has plenty of fun games on the course.

Become a Valued Sponsor

The annual golf outing wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our local community sponsors. By sponsoring this event, sponsors are not only making a difference in public recreation but also showcasing your company to a great audience. Visit the event page for details on sponsorship levels and their benefits.

For any questions about sponsorships or to contribute gift cards or prizes, please reach out to Martha at mlhutchinson@madison.k12.wi.us or call 608-204-3045. 

Friends of MSCR are making a difference one swing at a time!

Learn more and Register

Friends of MSCR is a non-profit organization, providing financial support to Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) programs and services. MSCR’s proud history of service began in 1926, and Friends of MSCR is committed to ensuring that MSCR public recreation programs remain accessible and affordable.

REAP Food Group’s “Collard Fest” happening July 8

Join us Tuesday, July 8 from 6–9 PM at Olbrich Gardens for Collard Fest—a free community celebration of food, culture, and connection. Enjoy West African and Caribbean cuisine prepared by local chefs, explore a farm stand with fresh veggies from Firm Footing Farm, and experience an evening of storytelling, music, and garden learning.

6:00–8:30 PM
• Food Vendors: Enjoy collard greens and other dishes rooted in African diaspora foodways from Traderoots (Chef Yusuf Bin-Rella & REAP), Rasta Barista, and Woo’s Food to the Soul.
• Farm Stand: Stock up on fresh produce from Firm Footing Farm, a space cultivating equity and experimentation in agriculture.
• Discovery Cart & Companion Plantings: Learn how collards grow alongside celosia and calendula, and see how Olbrich’s Herb Garden is tracking pollinator activity.

6:30–7:00 PM
• Storytelling Pop-Up: Hosted by writer and educator Qwantese Winters, this storytelling session features first memories of collard greens shared by Vivian King and Charles Payne.

7:00–8:30 PM
• Live Music by Sinkane: Experience the genre-bending sounds of Sudanese-American artist Ahmed Gallab, fusing funk, Afro-beat, gospel, and soul in a joyful, high-energy concert.

Collard Fest is a vibrant gathering rooted in community, culture, and the shared nourishment of land and story. Reserve your free ticket at olbrich.org/calendar/collard-fest.

Terrace Chairling plushie Colby Miller makes his debut

The Wisconsin Union team has welcomed its newest Terrace Chairling plushie, the orange, sunglasses-clad Colby Miller, to shelves at Badger Markets at Memorial Union and Union South and to its online store, terracestore.union.wisc.edu. 

Colby features the Union’s trademarked sunburst design on his orange body, soft arms and legs, and a weighted base that allows him to sit upright. His last name, Miller, pays homage to his Allis-Chalmers orange color and the Allis-Chalmers milling equipment manufactured in Wisconsin. 

Colby and his fellow Chairlings first debuted in digital form on Wisconsin Union social media and the Union’s blog TerraceViews.org in 2022. The Union team introduced him as an adventurous character who strives to live in the moment and loves trying new things, such as new food and outdoor activities. 

Colby is the third in the Wisconsin Union’s Chairling plushie line. The first, the green Maple Fields, debuted in November 2024, followed by the yellow Ray Laken in April 2025. 

The plushies are inspired by the Union’s well-known yellow, green and orange full-size, metal sunburst Terrace chairs, which appear seasonally at the team’s lakefront, outdoor dining and entertainment destination, the Memorial Union Terrace. For almost 100 years, the Terrace has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors annually for lakeside dining as well as free and low-cost events. 

The Chairlings’ colors and the color of the Terrace chairs that inspired them reflect Wisconsin’s agricultural heritage and the beauty of Wisconsin’s seasons: John Deere green, Allis-Chalmers orange, and sunshine yellow.

Wisconsin Union Graphic Designer and Production Artist Emily Swanson created the Chairling plushie concept and designed the Chairling plushies as an intern at the Union while studying at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 

 “From his bright orange color to his adorable sunglasses, we hope Chairling plushie Colby Miller brings joy to people’s homes and offices and reminds people of their adventures at the Memorial Union Terrace,” said Shauna Breneman, Wisconsin Union public relations and communications officer. “Terrace joy is ageless and an almost century-long Madison tradition that we are excited to share in plushie form with Terrace lovers around the world.”

Patrons can shop for plushies and other in-house designed Wisconsin Union and Terrace-themed gifts, accessories, and apparel at Badger Markets at Memorial Union and Union South and online. Patrons can also find in-house developed food and beverages at Wisconsin Union dining options, such as the Union’s line of naturally caffeinated, fruit juice-infused sparkling waters, called Sunburst Sparkler, developed in partnership with Madison-based Karben4. 

The Union’s Terrace-themed plushies are the only authorized Terrace-themed plushies in the world. The Wisconsin Union team does not plan to debut any additional Chairling plushie characters at this time. 

Purchases of Wisconsin Union products, such as the Chairling plushies, support the nonprofit Wisconsin Union’s work to provide gathering spaces, events and student leadership opportunities, some of which provide academic stipends up to 80% of students’ in-state tuition. 

For more information about the plushies Colby Miller, Ray Laken and Maple Fields, visit union.wisc.edu/plushie.