From page to fort: Helios sparks creative campus life with ‘Station Eleven’

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Helios Program is redefining what a first-year experience can be. Since 2022, Helios has become a cornerstone of academic and community life on campus. Participants engage in a mix of classroom and co-curricular activities, including cultural programs, lectures, social events, project-based learning and independent research. It offers students deeper learning through the humanities and transformative experiences that promote connection, creativity and purpose. And the program is doing it one fort at a time.

"The Helios Program for Liberal Arts is a prestigious offering, similar to programs at Yale, Stanford and Emory, and we're proud to have it here in our corner of the state," said Katie Kalish, interim chair, UW-Platteville Humanities Department. "It enriches student life through events like author visits and the Helios Writing Awards, all while helping students shape a meaningful path through general education."

Designed to help students engage with global issues, Helios blends coursework across disciplines such as English, philosophy, sociology and political science into themed clusters. Students can pursue a Certificate of Integrated Liberal Arts alongside their degree by choosing from pathways that include Law and Conflict Resolution; Global Citizenship; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; the Environment and Sustainability; and Science, Technology and Society.

"The Helios Program was developed in response to widespread challenges in American higher education," said Dr. Amanda Tucker, professor of English and co-director of the Helios program. "Too often, many undergraduate students have a fragmented, and even disjointed academic experience, with little sense of how their courses fit together. General education, in particular, is frequently seen as a series of boxes to check rather than a meaningful foundation for learning."

Tucker explains that Helios seeks to change that by making the general education portion of a student's college experience more balanced and harmonious.

"Helios helps students connect their classes for a more transformative experience, encourages engagement and builds essential skills for the future," shared Tucker. "Helios lives up to its name inspired by the sun god who 'brings joy to mortals.'"

The program begins with a gateway course, either College Writing I or College Writing II, designed to build foundational skills in communication, qualitative analysis and collaboration.

"I was introduced to the Helios program through a presentation by Professor Michael Lambert in my College Writing class," explained senior Ashten Wilson, a history major with an art history minor from Princeton, Illinois. "I was intrigued by how many of the required courses overlapped with my major, so joining the program didn't add any extra time to my degree. I completed the certificate in fall 2024, and it gave me a strong academic focus, a great resume boost and access to valuable resources."

Helios is more than a curriculum. It is a community. Thanks to a speaker grant from The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership, Helios is bringing Emily St. John Mandel, author of "Station Eleven," the award-winning novel and HBO miniseries, to campus. In preparation for her visit at the end of the month, the program has provided copies of her book to all first-year students.

"'Station Eleven' is a powerful novel about rebuilding life after civilization's collapse, combining gripping characters with beautiful prose," notes Tucker. "Its themes of resilience and community resonate strongly with students facing today's challenges such as job uncertainty and loneliness. The book inspires joy and motivation by offering hope through the voice of a brilliant writer."

Inspired by the novel, Helios has launched a campus-wide celebration blending literature with immersive, hands-on experiences. Across campus, students are participating in a unique fort-building project, constructing temporary structures that reflect themes of survival, memory and human connection. This creative endeavor is one part of a broader month-long series that includes a film screening at the Avalon Cinema, and a community discussion hosted by the Platteville Public Library. The month's events will culminate in a campus visit from St. John Mandel, who will speak on Tuesday, September 30, in Velzy Commons. Mandel will read from her work and take part in a moderated discussion and audience Q&A.

"Her visit brings the program's themes to life in a powerful and personal way, connecting students with the larger cultural conversations sparked by her writing," stated Tucker.

From gateway courses to public lectures, Helios offers students a chance to engage deeply with the world around them while exploring their own academic and personal identities.

"In many engineering courses, I do not get to learn about gender disparities even when they directly affect me as a Gender Queer Engineer," said Jak Kielpikowski, who is a senior majoring in civil engineering from Kewaunee, Wisconsin. "It has allowed me to think about writing in entirely different ways and has given me the ability to see other perspectives on infrastructure."

Helios is helping students find not just their place in college but their place in the world. The high quality of faculty mentorship is evident in the guidance provided by professors whose support has played a pivotal role in shaping students' academic and professional paths.

"Working with Professor Amanda Tucker has brought me so much joy in discovering the right path for my majors and future opportunities," said junior Pedro McComish, who is pursuing a degree in computer engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship from Darlington, Wisconsin. "I truly wouldn't be where I am today without Helios and her guidance and support."

By fostering interdisciplinary thinking and creative engagement with real-world issues, the Helios Program reimagines liberal arts education to better prepare students for active, informed participation in a rapidly changing global society.

For more information on upcoming Helios events, visit: Helios September 2025.