The University of Wisconsin–Superior is surrounded by beautiful parks, a vibrant community, and the stunning waters of Lake Superior. When combined with active campus life, it’s easy to see why there’s so much to celebrate about the UWS experience.

That sense of pride shines through in the Buzz 75 Challenge.

Created by the Office of Student Involvement, the Buzz 75 is a list of activities given to students during their freshman year. The goal is to help students explore new experiences both on campus and in the surrounding community. Participants document their progress by taking photos of each completed activity. Those who complete at least 75 items from the list earn a grand prize: a pair of exclusive Buzz 75 high-top shoes.

This year, three psychology majors—Taylor Powell, Anabelle Fries and Kyla Smith—successfully completed the challenge. They were honored at the Yellowjacket Student Excellence Awards on April 23.

“As someone who is not originally from here, the Buzz 75 sounded like a good way to try new things and see more of the Twin Ports area,” said Fries. “It encourages you to attend campus events you might not have considered, and it pushes you to explore the area and seek out opportunities. But I also really wanted the shoes.”

Fries and Powell began the challenge during their freshman year and later recruited Smith to join them in completing it before graduation.

“My experience with these two brought us a lot closer,” Smith said. “The list gave us something to talk about and helped us build memories. It’s a great way to engage with the community and discover what’s out there.”

Buzz 75 activities range from creating a gratitude list to studying abroad. The list includes campus-based, community-focused, and at-home options to ensure all students—whether living on or off campus—can participate.

As graduation neared, the group planned a special “Buzz 75 Day” to check off as many remaining items as possible. That day alone, they completed ten activities.

“We visited Fairlawn Mansion, Amnicon Falls, Leif Erikson Park, Hartley Nature Center, Duluth Harbor and the Lakewalk,” Fries recalled. “It was a lot of the local spots we hadn’t gotten to yet.”

Students interested in the challenge can join the Buzz 75 group on Jacket Connect. Each month, the Office of Student Involvement shares a calendar of upcoming activities around campus. Participants also receive milestone prizes at the 5-, 10-, 20-, and 40-activity marks.

By Olivia Fleming, English major and student writer for UWS.