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The ‘W’ connection

Thousands of first-year and transfer students took to Camp Randall Stadium for the ultimate class photo and an intro course on Badger spirit during the W Project.

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Each year, thousands of UW–Madison’s newest students gather on the iconic Motion W painting the 50-yard line of Camp Randall Stadium to pose for the ultimate class photo. The tradition, known as the W Project, continued Monday, Aug. 31, when first-year and transfer students showed up with their Badger spirit to learn some of the university’s most time-honored traditions. Campus leaders, including interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor, got in on the action alongside everyone’s favorite mascot.

A group of UW students wearing Badger red hold up their hands in a W sign from the stands of a football stadium.
Students throw up their own W sign in preparation to make a giant Motion W with thousands of their peers from this year’s incoming class. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison
Two students wearing red and white striped shirts clap for the camera as they enter Camp Randall Stadium for an orientation event.
Excitement is in the air as students filter into Camp Randall Stadium for one of the signature orientation events. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison
Members of the UW Marching band, all wearing smiles and Badger red tee shirts, march in formation holding their instruments in their arms.
An evening filled with Badger tradition isn’t complete without the UW Marching Band. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison
Members of the spirit squad, all wearing bright red uniforms with a W on the front, shake their pom-poms to cheer up the crowd.
Members of the UW Spirit Squad lead students in a cheer ahead of the official program, which ends in the formation of the iconic Motion W. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison
Mascot Bucky Badger raises his hands as he leads enthusiastic UW students in a cheer under the lit-up W Project screen at Camp Randall Stadium.
The ultimate hype man doing what he does best: getting the student section fired up. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison
From behind, hundreds of UW students hold up their hands in an O formation as they learn a football chant.
The new batch of Badgers is passing the football cheering test with flying colors. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison
Pompey, surrounded by UW Marching band members, stands on a platform and leads the crowd in the singing of Varsity.
Bucky Badger, the UW Marching Band and director Corey Pompey lead new students in what might be one of the most time-honored traditions of all — the singing of “Varsity.” Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison
UW students watch from the stands as others start to form a W on the football field at Camp Randall Stadium.
Let the formation begin! Photo: Finn Ricco / UW–Madison
An overhead wide shot of thousands of incoming students wearing red shirts assembled on the field at Camp Randall Stadium to form a massive Motion W logo.
The incoming class forms the Motion W at midfield of Camp Randall Stadium. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison
Mascot Bucky Badger poses with Wilcots, Ressor and two UW Marching Band drum majors in front of a large crowd of students.
Another W Project is in the books! The moment will be forever captured with a free copy of the new W Project poster handed out to students at this year’s New Student Convocation. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

Tags: chancellor, student affairs, student life, wisconsin welcome

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