Overview
Every third-year CAE student is expected to complete a Capstone Project and present at the Symposium.
Was there a time you failed, had success, or learned to look at the world differently while at UW–Madison? The CAE Capstone Project challenges you to reflect on and make sense of these experiences. Working with CAE staff and your advisor you will create a project to share your story of learning and growth with other CAE students and guests from the campus community.
2026 CAE Capstone Symposium
Wednesday, April 8, 4:00-7:00 pm
Memorial Union
4:00-4:15 pm – First-, second-, and third-year CAE students mingle
4:15-4:30 pm – Welcome & Overview
4:30-5:30 pm – Student poster presentations
5:30 pm – Dinner and mingling
6:00 pm – Raffle and mingling
First-, Second-, and Third-year students are expected to attend/participate in this event. All CAE students are welcome!
Deadlines for 2026 Capstone Presenters
- By October 24, 2025 – Meet with your advisor to discuss the project’s guidelines
- November ’25 through February ’26 – Develop the project
- By March 6 – Meet with your advisor to discuss final edits to the project and to prepare for presenting at Capstone
- By March 6 – Submit Capstone Project via the assignment on Canvas (we will print it for you!)
- Wednesday, April 8 – Attend Capstone Symposium at Memorial Union from 4:00-7:00 pm
First- and Second- Year Expectations
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What should you expect when you arrive?
CAE staff members and peer mentors will be stationed throughout Memorial Union to help direct you to the check-in table. Please be ready to provide your student ID to be scanned. At check-in, you will receive a directory of all student presenters and a passport to complete for a chance to win the raffle at the end of the event. Afterward, you will be directed to the welcome portion, where you will connect with other CAE students and receive an overview of the agenda before heading to the student presentations.
What does the directory include?
The directory will list each student presenter’s name, major or certificates, study abroad experience if applicable, internship or job experience if applicable, and the student organizations they are part of. The directory will be organized alphabetically.
As we receive submissions, we will update the directory so that you may begin planning which presenters you would like to connect with at the event. You can find the directory here.
What is the passport?
The passport is designed to help guide you during the poster presentations and will also serve as your raffle entry during the dinner portion. It includes several boxes with prompts for connecting with different presenters. Examples include: “Talk to a student involved in an organization you are interested in joining,” “Talk to a student with different academic interests from you,” or “Talk to a student who shares a time they failed.”
To enter the raffle, you must have 8 student presenters initial 8 different boxes on your passport.
What else might be helpful for students to know before attending?
Certain portions of the event may be loud, including the welcome, the poster presentations, and the dinner. If you experience sensory issues or need a break at any time, a designated quiet room will be available at Memorial Union. The poster presentations will last one hour, but you are not required to talk to presenters for the full hour. Please take breaks whenever needed.
Information for Presenters
Get Started
Reflect on how your experiences at UW–Madison and beyond are shaping your journey. Think about how you have been developing your self-awareness, interpersonal communication, decision-making, and other Leadership Competencies. Pick two or more of the following questions that resonate with your experience to guide your project.
- What have been the most meaningful or impactful experiences in college?
- What advice would you like to give to your freshman or sophomore self? Or, what are some things that you’ve learned?
- How has CAE been important to your college experience?
- In what ways have you been involved in the UW community?
- In what ways have you been involved in communities outside of UW?
- Describe your journey to choosing your current path/major/career.
- What resources have helped you?
- If you changed your major, how was that experience?
- What are your future aspirations and goals?
Create the Project
Design a digital poster – 36 inches (width) x 24 inches (height) – and present it at the Capstone Symposium. We will print it for you! Be sure to include your name on your poster!
Poster template: 36 x 24 inches template for PowerPoint
Remember, this is a poster, not a slide show! You will only be displaying a single page, so make sure the dimensions are correct. Small posters will be hard to see for guests when you share. Be sure to include your name on your poster!
PowerPoint is sometimes used to create a poster, but there are many programs you can use. The DesignLab provides free digital design help for UW–Madison students. You can even schedule appointments with their consultants to get help with digital projects.
How to talk about your project
All students are expected to present their project at the symposium. Here are some concrete ideas to help you prepare for these conversations:
- Introduction: My name is ______ , I’m a ________ major in my ____ year. I’m interested in a career in _______ upon graduation or I’m interested in the _______ field or I’m interested in going to _______ school.
- Talk about your experience in and out of the classroom using your poster. What experiences (both within and outside of CAE) have been most meaningful to you? How did they contribute to your growth?
- What did you learn about yourself during your college journey? How are these lessons already shaping your present and future?
- Ask the audience if they have any questions about your project.
Below you will see several past Capstone posters to inspire you.