Seniors Begin Tower Project Research

University School of Milwaukee Upper School students are hard at work on the research and discovery phase of their Tower Projects, in which they spend the entire year pursuing their own interests and taking their learning beyond the boundaries of the classroom. 

Students recently visited the Golda Meir Library at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where they worked on creating essential questions and utilized the library’s resource materials. While there, they met with USM alumnus Djdade Denson ’14, owner of Coffee Makes You Black, who shared his experience at USM and Marquette University, and his career trajectory that led him to where he is today.    

Fourth grade students are also in the beginning stages of their Tower Projects, which includes selecting a project topic and getting paired with their adult and 8th grade mentors. Eighth grade students will begin their Tower Projects in the second semester.
 
As a result of their Tower Project work, students gain academic skills such as research, writing (both academic and reflective), critical thinking, analysis and synthesis, and project creation. They also gain confidence and abilities in public speaking, problem solving, time management, relationship building, risk taking and more, all in a supportive and encouraging environment. 

This school year marks the 10th year of the program, an exciting milestone that speaks to Tower Project’s value and popularity. Tower Project teachers in all divisions are planning an anniversary celebration on April 16, 2025, to coincide with students’ presentations on that same day. More details will be shared with the community in the coming months.   

Many thanks to Upper School faculty Laura Klein, Drew Mullen, and Tom Lewandowski, as well as Matthew Gagnier, PK–8 academic technology coordinator, and 4th grade teachers Laura Blanchet, Leann Erickson, Kelley Sovol, and Jill Stephanie, who serve as Tower Project program directors.