Fox Cities News

In February, Jessica Elum, a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh graduate, received queries from her young son Remi about college life. Seeking a firsthand experience, she shared on Facebook her interest in a campus visit for her son.

Jessica, an alumna from 2008, reached out to the UW-Oshkosh online community: "I know they do tours for high school students who are looking to go there," she wrote, "but does anyone know if they ever have any community tour days where you can bring younger kids to see the campus and go inside the buildings?"

Responding to her post, the UWO Admissions team set up a special tour on April 11, guided by human services student and tour guide Maddy Blaser. The visit was tailored specifically for 9-year-old Remi, who explored the campus and its facilities, including the residence halls and the student recreation center. After the tour, Jessica remarked, "Remi has decided he is ready to graduate elementary, skip middle and high school and come right to college."

Blaser expressed joy at the positive response, noting, "I am happy to hear that they both had such a good time at UW-Oshkosh..."

Throughout the day, Remi shared his enthusiasm for the facilities, particularly the dorms and the rec center. He also expressed an interest in paleontology after visiting the dinosaur exhibits: "I want to be a paleontologist, and I really enjoyed seeing the dinosaur and fossils."

Reflecting on their visit, Jessica commented on the importance of fostering her son's interest, adding, "If there’s ever any community or kid-friendly events, we will definitely make an effort to come."

Blaser, inspired by the day, noted, "Giving a tour to Remi helped me realize, if I have a dream or passion, even if it seems small, I should pursue it, and, if it’s meant to be, it will happen."