UWL Fund

Donor support paved the way for her business plans

Olivia Steingraber says scholarships — including a large gift from a UWL alum her freshman year — gave her freedom to explore and realize her full potential during college. Steingraber graduated in 2021 and is now a small business owner, working to expand her Wisconsin-based retail company.

“I'm forever thankful to the UWL alum who saw the potential in me,” she says.

The UWL Fund supports not only scholarships for talented students like Olivia, but also a number of other unique opportunities and pressing needs for the university.

Steingraber says scholarships allowed her to do more in college. A marketing major, she created an online retail store in early 2020 while still in college. She built the business with a friend, UW-Madison student Megan Kronsee. Now six years old, the business sells clothing primarily online at shoptwenties.com and locally at Natty West in Onalaska, Wisconsin. They will be expanding to other retail stores this year.

"My business partner and I are looking forward to continuing to dig our roots into the La Crosse area," says Steingraber. "We believe there will be great economic growth in this area, and we want to be a part of that development."

The two love entrepreneurship and are working to develop a business plan for a wedding and corporate event design/planning business as well. 

Steingraber paid her own way through college with scholarships, loans and full-time work. She is excited about the work she is doing now. UWL donors supporting her educational foundation paved the way for her business plan. 

 “The support that I and so many other students receive is incredibly valuable,” she says. “Donor support helps foster us to grow and reach our full potential.”