As the community comes together on this annual day of giving, we are spotlighting the transformative power of the OS Enrichment Fund through the stories of students like Maddison Linker. All gifts to OS will directly support the resources and opportunities that define our small program.
A current senior double-majoring in Organizational Studies and Psychology, Maddison Linker's journey exemplifies how donor support can support students’ academic and professional success. Hailing from Auburn, Indiana as a first-generation college student, Maddison joined OS class of 2026 in the beginning of her junior year. Maddison hopes to combine her studies to pursue a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology and ultimately become a Psychology professor. She is specifically interested in researching the dynamics of child development influenced by parenting behaviors and school systems. "I joined the Organizational Studies community to learn more about individual and institutional behavior within organizations that can facilitate systematic change for future generations of children to come," Maddison shares. This commitment to an interdisciplinary approach for addressing societal issues is a common thread among OS students with a broad spectrum of academic and professional interests.
The OS Academic Enrichment Fund, which serves to support student resources and experiences, has been specifically instrumental in Maddison's academic journey. Maddison has honed her leadership skills and built a supportive network of peers as President of the OS Women in Leadership club. "Being the President of OS Women in Leadership has helped me develop extensive leadership skills that will be utilized in my future career as a Professor," she says.
"Being the President of OS Women in Leadership has helped me develop extensive leadership skills that will be utilized in my future career as a Professor."
In addition to clubs, the academic enrichment fund supports the OS Malkin Shadowing Program which connects current students with alumni for an exclusive shadowing trip. Through this program, Maddison shadowed an OS alum at the U-M Erb Institute. "I was able to connect with an OS alum that is trained in program management... and learn more about programs at the University of Michigan, specifically at the graduate level," Maddison explains. Immersive Malkin Shadowing experiences are highly sought after in the OS program, as they equip students for future professional endeavors and cover travel costs.
"I was able to connect with an OS alum that is trained in program management... and learn more about programs at the University of Michigan..."
Maddison is also a recipient of both the OS Opportunity Scholarship and the OS Internship Scholarship, and she emphasizes the logistical support these funds provided. "The[se] scholarships allowed for me to remain a student and work through my internships with financial security as a first-generation student that pays entirely for my living expenses. Without these scholarship opportunities, I would not have been able to participate in such amazing research programs that have advanced my academic career," she says.Â
For Maddison and her fellow OSers, these opportunities are only the start of their journeys. Maddison highlights that these resources and experiences offer "developing individuals possibilities to grow that would be impossible without the assistance of the OS Academic Enrichment Fund."
"Without these scholarship opportunities, I would not have been able to participate in such amazing research programs that have advanced my academic career."
As you donate to a U-M cause today, consider the profound impact your contribution can have on OS students. Your support directly empowers OSers to follow their passions, overcome financial obstacles, and contribute to a brighter future. Join us in creating a lasting difference in the lives of current and future OSers.
