Wisconsin full-time MBA Polar Plunge team sets record

Congratulations to all the Wisconsin MBA students (including real estate!) who participated in this year's Polar Plunge fundraiser for Special Olympics Wisconsin.

According to the Wisconsin School of Business Gazette:

The team consisted of 69 participants who raised $19,012—a record high for them. The team raised the third-highest amount in Dane County.

Click over to the Gazette for photos and video highlights!

A not-so polar plunge for charity

On Saturday, real estate MBA students, along with other Wisconsin MBAs, students, faculty, staff and more, will take "the plunge" into frozen Lake Monona to benefit the Special Olympics of Wisconsin. Temperatures have been unseasonably mild in southern Wisconsin, but it will still be a jump of bravery.

If you'd like to support our students and a great cause, you can pledge here.

Take the plunge!

From our friends in the Business Career Center comes an update on the Polar Plunge:

On February 19th, the Wisconsin School of Business will be taking the plunge – the Polar Plunge, that is – at Olin Turville Park in Madison. The Polar Plunge is one of the biggest fundraising efforts of the Special Olympics of Wisconsin to raise funds for their events, while honoring this good ‘ol Wisconsin tradition.

Teams of hardy Wisconsin students and staff take part in this event--bravely jumping into the freezing waters of Lake Monona--all for a good cause. Check out this post from last year's plunge. "Chickens" are also welcome (and earn their own "I was Too Chicken to Plunge!" t-shirt).

Interested in signing up to "plunge" for the Wisconsin School of Business? Visit the BCC myBiz blog for more information.

UW students to take the plunge to support Special Olympics

The Wisconsin School of Business has a great MBA program which provides a world class education for its students, but there is more to the school than just academics. UW culture places a strong emphasis on community service and a balanced life beyond work or academics. Following this philosophy, more than 50 Wisconsin MBA students and faculty (seen here in a picture from a past plunge) will brave the cold this weekend in order to raise money for the Special Olympics.

These brave souls will be among hundreds of people participating in Wisconsin’s annual Polar Plunge, a charity event where people gather pledges in return for a quick dip into the frigid waters of Lake Monona in Madison. The MBA program has traditionally been among the top fundraisers in the event. Last year the program rose over $10,000 for the Special Olympics, but students this year have been working hard to beat last year’s total.

Students will take the plunge Saturday afternoon February 20th at Olin Turville Park--so come on out to support the Special Olympics!

Money raised from the Polar Plunge will support local Special Olympics programs in Wisconsin, allowing nearly 10,000 athletes with cognitive disabilities to experience the joys of participation in sports and competition with their peers. Visit the Special Olympics website for more information on the Madison Polar Plunge. You can also make a donation to the UW MBA team here.

Jeff Swhier is a first year MBA student in the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the Wisconsin School of Business. He moved back to the Midwest from NYC to take a position in a property management company and plans to return there after completing his degree.