Congratulations to CSD senior Norman Canestorp, recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award. The Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award recognizes returning adult undergraduate students whose exceptional determination and perseverance have enabled them to pursue their academic work and to contribute to the community as demonstrated by their leadership and service.
In 2018, Norman Canestorp was laid off from his telecommunications job. Despite a 15-year break since last attending school, he considered a return to school in order to complete a bachelor’s degree. He began at UW–Madison through the Badger Ready program, then was admitted as a transfer student. Managing a full-time job while attending classes, he found time to volunteer through the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association. The focus on traditional students led to challenges with work, scheduling, and navigating available opportunities, but support from instructors and teaching assistants has been indispensable to his efforts and achievements. Norman will be pursuing graduate studies in the future, while continuing rewarding volunteer work with GiGi’s Playhouse, a local Down Syndrome achievement center.
Congratulations Norman!