Campus Connection

Four days out of the year, John Maniaci, ’92, takes his camera and photo equipment from the hospital he works at and into Madison high schools. He volunteers his time and talent to take senior pictures for students who otherwise wouldn’t have them. “Some students can’t afford to pay $1,000 or so for senior pictures,” he says. “These kids will be forgotten. They don’t have to feel like they’re left out.” Maniaci has been doing this since 2007 when he took vacation time to take photos at one school. His new employer, UW Health, gives him paid time off to give back. “My goal is to help 200 students every year,” says Maniaci. “Each of them gets a disc with all the pictures and can print them off as they please.” Maniaci didn’t always know he would end up working in photography. When he enrolled at UWL, he didn’t have a major. He took some mass communications classes then ventured into photography. While taking classes in the late '80s, he learned the basics of film cameras. It was in one of those classes when professor Gary McDonald asked if he wanted to do it for a living. That was the moment Maniaci found his career. Since then he’s worked for a variety of newspapers and now works to tell stories of patients and caregivers at UW Health in Madison. But some of the best stories he tells are of the smiles he pictures on kids faces when they see their professional portraits in their yearbooks. “It’s easy to give back,” says Maniaci. “Put your passions to work. If you’re a chef, cook for people; if you’re a doctor, provide care; if you’re a photographer, capture memorable images.”