The best way to really find out what a program is like is to ask those who've attended before you. Below, we've compiled alumni impressions about WAS
The Overall Experience at World Affairs Seminar
“Just a little note to say thank you for a great experience at Whitewater. My son Nick and his friend Cory had a really fun time, made a lot of new friends, and even came home learning… that’s pretty impressive for 17 years olds. Thanks again for a very organized and fun week. It’s something they will always remember”
- Nick’s parent from MA
“My daughter, Alyson, had a very memorable experience. The Seminar truly opened her eyes to the WORLD that she realized she knows very little about. In fact, she really didn’t concern herself with world affairs until the Seminar. It was a complete learning experience and I am thankful that she had the opportunity to be a part of such a great event”
- Kathy from IL
"Filling out this survey has reminded me of how truly fantastic my time at WAS was. I genuinely hope that such an experience is available to students for years to come."
- Rahul from Flint, MI
"Guys, it is the best"
- Enzo from Mottola, Italy
"It is such an awesome week! You meet so many different people from around the world, and you'll make friends for life! Depending on what you put into it, you can quite possible leave with so much more knowledge of the world around you, and a new group of friends to keep the week alive!"
- Heather from Fishers, IN
"It was one of the best experiences I had in high school--I had so much fun meeting so many wonderful young people my age with so much interest and potential and I learned so much about our globe that I had been ignorant of before. I felt so inspired after leaving the seminar."
- Alida from Juneau, AK
"That it will definitely enrich your life, make you life-long friends and change your perspective on the world."
- Bryan from Lisle, IL
Learning at WAS
“Life changing!!! That week gave me a completely different view of things, plus gave me the Residence life experience. Those two things together made my trip unique in my life. Learning of different people from al over the globe and how their reaction was towards the speakers and their topics made my way of thinking expand to an extent that I developed a better open minded view of things."
- Karla from Puerto Rico
"This experience opened my eyes to what's happening in the world around me. When I hear about news around the world, I'm more interested because I have a better understanding of international affairs after WAS."
- Sarah from Newark, DE
"That WAS is an amazing opportunity to learn about the world which we are all apart us. No where else are you going to hear first hand how the rest of the Asian community feels about their neighbor North Korea, sit down and talk to someone from Rio D about what's really going on, and hear the story of one of the few survivors of the Holocaust. All in one event. It's amazing."
- Matthew from St.Croix, Virgin Islands
"Dan Maguire's lecture was my most memorable event. This was by far the most eye-opening lecture... That was a powerful thing."
- Laurel from Bartlett, New Hampshire
"Learning about the violence and terrible conditions in Rio de Janeiro and in North Korea are two things I'll remember for the rest of my life. I had never heard much about those issues, and they greatly moved me. "
- Emily from Toms River, NJ
Other Delegates
"You will meet the most amazing, inspiring, proactive people you have ever seen."
- Joseph from Charlotte, NC
"It is absolutely FABULOUS, and you make a lot of new friends and it is incredible to be able to talk to people who are just as interested in the world as you are"
- Emily from Bridgeport, CT
"WAS LEVEL 5 BOYS!!!!! Represent!!! I hope to have a WAS reunion with a couple of my close new friends, in the mean time, AIM will have to do."
- Kendrick from Cranbury, NJ
"It is an awesome experience that'll really help round you. I mean you meet people from about everywhere. People of all different backgrounds, ideas, and personalities. It's so much fun. You have got to go!!"
- Nathanael from New Hampton, IA
New Cultures
"Your knowledge about different cultures, and areas of the world grows so much, in such a small period of time. I really enjoyed and loved the World Affairs Seminar."
- Alexis from Laredo, TX
Back Home: Sharing What You've Learned
"I talked about everything non stop for the rest of the summer. "
- Emily from Toms River, NJ
"I told my friends about it in VIVID detail, probably to an extent that bored them to tears."
- Heather from Fishers, IN
"When I returned home, I organized a homelessness awareness demonstration in my community. I had talked to someone at the seminar who was on the executive board of an Interact club in Salem, Virginia, and we exchanged ideas, as I am the president of the Interact club here in Juneau, Alaska. So on November 1st, 18 Interact members spent the night in a parking lot in card board boxes--it was 25 degrees Fahrenheit. We made signs with homeless statistics and held them up for traffic to read as they passed. People made donations and pledges for our efforts, and we donated 100% of $2342.oo to our local homeless shelter."
- Alida from Juneau, AK
Most Fun You Could Have This Summer
“I very liked been in the World Affairs Seminar. I hope that the next years I could come again”
- Juan Bautista from Dominican Republic
“I would like to thank everyone at UW-Whitewater for making the W.A.S. such a wonderful and educational experience for me. I had so much fun!!”
- Ana from WI
"My favorite non-seminar activity was not being able to sleep the third night. So, I went down to the lobby of our building hoping to just watch tv or something. Instead, I found 10 girls sitting and talking about everything. So, I joined them and spent entirely too much time that night. Being tired the next day was worth the experience though."
- Katie from Chelsea, MI
"GLOW BOWLING! Time of my life i'll tell ya! Also ordering pizza sure seemed to be QUITE the experience. We shopped, and hung out in our dorms and did lots of walking around and talking!"
- Kayla from Drumheller, AB
"Playing full contact 'spoons' in the dorms was really fun but the best times were the ones spent just chatting outside or maybe the dances. And the talent showed was awesome."
- Luke from Dolores, CO
"The Dance and immediate afterparty, continuing on throughout the last night at WAS. The dance helped bring together all the delegates to bond through gyrations and grooves, while afterwards gathering in the dorm square to reminiscence, chat and exchange info was priceless. I felt like i really got to know my fellow floormates and peers when FLOOR 5 spent the entire night up, buying pizza, chatting goofing around and just enjoying each others company. This was something i will always cherish and remember fondly upon."
- Kendrick from Cranbury, NJ