Elaine Griffin Leads Panel Discussion at UCC Event

The United Community Center (UCC) hosted its 2025 College Prep Rally on Tuesday, Aug. 19, and members of the University School of Milwaukee community were on hand to participate and provide support. The event highlighted UCC’s precollege program, which serves more than 640 students across 35 area high schools annually and an additional 150 in college through UCC’s College Network. The program seeks to increase high school graduation rates, postsecondary enrollment, and career readiness for Hispanics in Milwaukee to ultimately create a stronger community.

During the event, Elaine Griffin, head of Middle School at USM and a UCC board member, moderated a panel of students who have participated in UCC’s precollege program. Griffin asked students about their experience with the program, how it helped them, and how they plan to use the skills they have developed in college and beyond. One of the panelists, Madelyn Hernandez ’25, is a USM graduate and current freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a HAMP Foundation scholar. 

After the event, Griffin shared, “Hearing the students reflect upon how the program helped them find their voice and foster leadership skills shows the tremendous impact the precollege program has on its participants.”

In addition to the panel discussion, attendees were also treated to a performance by the Latino Arts Strings Program student orchestra, of which several musicians are current USM students. Several USM faculty and staff also attended the event.