TYPE
TOPIC
As Interim Chancellor Maria Cuzzo welcomes new students to the University of Wisconsin-Superior through SOAR events this summer, she shares a message shaped by years of experience on campus. Having served as a professor, provost and now interim chancellor, Cuzzo has worked closely with students at every stage of their academic journey and has seen firsthand what helps them succeed. Together, these five points reflect the habits, mindset and determination that can help students make the most of their time at UW-Superior and prepare for success long after graduation.
FIRST — be engaged.
Sit in the front row sometimes. Ask questions — there is no such thing as a dumb question. Get involved. Join organizations. Step into leadership roles. The students who thrive here are the ones who show up — not just physically, but mentally and fully engaged.
SECOND — build relationships.
The people sitting around you may become your closest friends, collaborators and future colleagues. Invest in those connections.
THIRD — embrace challenges.
You will be stretched intellectually. You will face setbacks. That is not failure — it is growth. Growth builds resilience, and resilience matters more than perfection.
FOURTH — take advantage of opportunities.
Internships, research, service, athletics, the arts and competitions — this campus offers more than a degree. It offers experiences that shape who you are and strengthen your résumé.
FINALLY — stay connected to your purpose.
The Universities of Wisconsin emphasize something essential: the pursuit of knowledge, the search for truth and service to the greater good.
Never lose sight of why you started.