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Welcome > Your impact

Donors to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse make an impact in the lives of students and the faculty and staff who support them. Gifts from alumni and friends work together to increase opportunities for students and support their success.

 

View another face of philanthropy:

Shirley Ruoff '66

Shirley Ruoff '66

B.S. Elementary Education | La Crosse, WI | Retired teacher
  • I established a scholarship for someone who is student teaching and a parent to school age children.
  • When I was taking a class in Children's Literature, I would take the books home and read them to my two very young children. Enjoyable.
  • Choose a career that gives you joy each day.
Matt Anderson '93

Matt Anderson '93

B.S. Psychology | New Berlin, WI | Owner - Matty's Bar & Grille

  • I have many long term professional and personal relationships from my time at UWL. I love UWL! 

  • The experience of moving into Hutch Hall at 17 years old and the friends I met that first week that have remained lifelong friendships.
  • Work hard on the relationships you've created at UWL. It's a lifelong commitment that pays off ten-fold in the future!
Dave '86 & Kial '86 Rushlow

Dave '86 & Kial '86 Rushlow

Dave: B.S. Biology | Physician * Kial: B.S. Psychology | Homemaker * La Crescent, MN

  • We believe giving back is important!

  • Dave: Winning the national football championship. Kial: great experiences and friendships.
  • Dave: Service to others makes our lives richer. Kial: A life serving others is a life well-lived.
Tim '88 & Joanne Behling

Tim '88 & Joanne Behling

B.S. Business Administration | Menomonee Falls, WI | Director, Stores - Charter Spectrum
  • UWL has played a large role in shaping me as a person and in creating a solid foundation for a successful career. Joanne and I feel fortunate that we are able to share our time, talents and treasures to help the next generation enjoy the UWL experience.
     
  • I have many but playing basketball for Coach Rollo Taylor and the many life long friendships I have made are big highlights for me.
     
  • Remain engaged with UWL throughout your life. Look for opportunities to share your gifts and talents with others, attend events and volunteer where you can to ensure that UWL moves forward and thrives.
Donney KM Moroney '97

Donney KM Moroney '97

B.S. Public Administration | Milwaukee, WI * Student Affairs – Higher Education; Vice President of Student Affairs
  • My time as a student at UWL were the most transformative years of my life. I chose to give so that students can afford to pursue their academic goals with a little less financial burden weighing them (and their families) down.

  • The mentorship, care and guidance I received from the staff in Student Life and Multicultural Student Services - their programming complimented my classes and prepared me for life after college.

  • Cherish the time you have at UWL! Remember to give back when you are in a place to do so, because there are so many of us who thrived at UWL because of the generous spirit of those before us.

Brad '85 & Gail '89 Quarberg

Brad '85 & Gail '89 Quarberg

Brad: B.S. Mass Comm /Poli Sci | Distinguished University Relations Specialist - UWL * Gail: MSEd School Psychology | Retired School Psychologist | La Crosse, WI

  •  We were fortunate to benefit from past donors. It's important to pay back and pay forward. 

  • Brad: Marching with the Marching Chiefs past Big Ben in London playing "Beer Barrel Polka. Gail: Third floor of Graff Main Hall.
  • Take the opportunity to try something new. You never know what you’ll like unless you take a chance! 
Lauren Gruber, '17, '19*McKenna Komro, '16, '19

Lauren Gruber, '17, '19*McKenna Komro, '16, '19

Lauren: B.S. Biology, M.S. Physician Assistant, PA in Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Eau Claire, WI*McKenna: B.S. Biology, M.S. Physician Assistant, PA in Cardiology, Royal Oak, MI
  • McKenna: I give back to UWL because my UWL education was an integral part of my success as a PA. We wanted to honor our grandfathers in the form of a memorial scholarship. Lauren: To support future healthcare providers!
  • McKenna: La Crosse's downtown, bluffs, river, and marsh are beautiful sites to enjoy during every season. Lauren: Celebrations with my PA school classmates and professors. 
  • McKenna: Work hard while taking time to reflect on the opportunity you have to obtain an education from a reputable university like UWL. Lauren: Explore La Crosse and the area while you can. 

Deserving students

Each year, through the generosity of alumni and friends, the UWL Foundation provides over $1.2 million in student scholarships. See how gifts have given responsibility, encouragement and opportunities for UWL students to grow and achieve their dreams.

Student stories

Troy De Bruin, who graduated in May 2021 with a bachelor's degree in accountancy and finance, is this year's recipient of the Jake and Janet Hoeschler Award for Excellence. The annual award recognizes the top student from the College of Business Administration. Hoeschler Award Posted 10:03 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 Troy De Bruin recognized for academic excellence, community service Read more about Hoeschler Award Michele Thorman, retired director of UWL’s Physical Therapy program, started the Thorman Family Pay It Forward Scholarship supporting PT students who have overcome adversity. Thorman also served on the UWL Foundation Board of Directors for nine years and chaired its scholarship. PT shot in the arm Posted 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 Leaving a Legacy: Family scholarship supports students overcoming adversity Read more about PT shot in the arm Read more → Scholarships awarded Posted 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2020 UWL Foundation allocates more than $1.2 million. Read more about Scholarships awarded Mattie Mae Krause, a biomedical major on the pre-med track, has received the inaugural scholarship from the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership. Krause was named Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest in 2016 and has been active in numerous campus and community organizations. Read more → A scholar leader Posted 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Student earns scholarship from Thompson Center on Public Leadership. Read more about A scholar leader The Applied HRM Service Learning Externship Team with its advisor. The team continues HR management outreach to non-profit organizations this semester. From left: Alexa Thurmes; Advisor Christa Kiersch; Ashley Smits; Kaitlyn Robbeloth; Jenna Lee and Morgan Brzank. The team earned an undergraduate research grant to continue their work during the spring 2020 semester. Read more → Connecting research to practice Posted 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, 2019 Students work on solutions to regional, non-profit human resources management challenges. Read more about Connecting research to practice Ethan Lucas, who plans to major in geography with a concentration in Geographic Information Systems, shares his personal and academic interests is in his scholarship applications, including his love of upper-level geography courses and his excitement about the potential of a GIS career path that will provide opportunities in diverse fields. Read more → UWL celebrates Maroon Tycoons Posted 3:53 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 Group of 53 students earned $10,000 or more during the past year in scholarships. Read more about UWL celebrates Maroon Tycoons Carlos Galvez, Club Rotario Guatemala del Este member, and founder of La Chapina Bonita Stove Project stands with UWL student Kitt Drewiske. Read more → Opening hearts, improving homes Posted 3:54 p.m. Monday, May 6, 2019 Senior leads spring break service trip to Guatemala, receives $2,000 from Rada Award recipient. Read more about Opening hearts, improving homes Read more → Top students Posted 4 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2019 Top seniors named; more than $1 million being awarded in scholarships. Read more about Top students Read more → Macbeth Posted 3:56 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 UWL's actor-collaborated production offers a new take. Read more about Macbeth From left, Michael Szeszol, double major in psychology and English; and Joshua Barbara, biology major with minors in chemistry and psychology, both aim to continue research in graduate school. They prepare for that by conducting undergraduate research. Their project is related to a rare condition that affects how people perceive the world. Read more → Sensory experiment Posted 3:57 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 Undergraduate researchers develop test for rare condition where colors overlap with text, numbers. Read more about Sensory experiment
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Generous donors

Every gift, whether large or small, has an impact on UWL. The power of donors' gifts make it possible to award over 900 students scholarships each spring, support undergraduate research, study abroad opportunities, and other unique campus programs that distinguish UWL. Read, hear and see below why donors have chosen to give and what they gained with their UWL experience.

Donor stories

UW-La Crosse retired faculty member Joyce Grill will join former colleagues and students to perform some of her compositions, as well as songs from Broadway shows she accompanied. The gala is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, in Annett Recital Hall, Center for the Arts. A virtual viewing is also available. Details at: https://www.uwlax.edu/alumni/events/music-gala/ Piano performance Posted 8:19 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021 UWL faculty emeritus returns for scholarship benefit Read more about Piano performance Alums Kristine Mason (left) and her partner, Jane Schley, during a bike ride in the 1990s. After Mason died in 2001 at age 50, Schley established a scholarship fund in her honor, supporting School of Education students with a financial need. A love of learning lives on Posted 10:04 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 Kristine A. Mason Scholarship Fund supports SOE students with a financial need Read more about A love of learning lives on Second cousins Lauren Gruber, ’17 (left), and McKenna Gruber, ’16 (right), have created a scholarship to honor their late grandfathers. The Nodz and Peewee Gruber Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a UWL sophomore, junior or senior planning to pursue a career in healthcare. Grateful for their grandfathers Posted 10:06 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2021 Alums honor grandfathers with new healthcare scholarship Read more about Grateful for their grandfathers From noon on Dec. 1 until noon on Dec. 2, 1,407 donors united to raise $228,348 to transform lives at UWL, supporting funds for more than 50 causes — including scholarships, research, academic programming, athletics and more. Surpassing the goal Posted 12:38 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 Inaugural Giving Day raises more than $228,000 Read more about Surpassing the goal Bob and Janet Roth, longtime supporters of UW-La Crosse, have agreed to match up to $5,000 in donations to the Music Department on UWL's inaugural Giving Day. Leading the way on Giving Day Posted 12:52 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 Donors share reasons behind supporting UWL Read more about Leading the way on Giving Day Rollo Taylor, '56, was a longtime physical education professor and assistant men's basketball coach at UWL. To honor his memory, Taylor's family created the Rollo Taylor Endowment Fund for Men's Basketball — one of many funds and causes people can support during UWL's inaugural Giving Day Tuesday, Dec. 1. Honoring a beloved teacher, coach Posted 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020 UWL Giving Day offers many ways to give back Read more about Honoring a beloved teacher, coach Michele Thorman, retired director of UWL’s Physical Therapy program, started the Thorman Family Pay It Forward Scholarship supporting PT students who have overcome adversity. Thorman also served on the UWL Foundation Board of Directors for nine years and chaired its scholarship. PT shot in the arm Posted 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 Leaving a Legacy: Family scholarship supports students overcoming adversity Read more about PT shot in the arm UWL alums Jerrilyn (Jerri) and Bruce Brewer are retired educators from Western Technical College and the Bangor School District, respectively. Their gift to the UWL Foundation supports their value of education. Bruce earned a Bachelor of Science in 1978 and a Master of Education in Professional Development in 1990. Jerrilyn earned a Bachelor of Education in 1970 and a Master of Science in Reading in 1986 and a Doctorate in Education in 1995. Read more → Apprentice awarded Posted 3:08 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, 2020 Leaving a Legacy: Gift supports student dreams, recruitment of top students Read more about Apprentice awarded Mary Hamman, an associate professor in the UW-La Crosse Economics Department, has been named the first UWL College of Business Administration Swenson Baier Engaged Faculty Fellow. The fellowship, funded by 1985 CBA graduate Scott Swenson and his spouse, Cynthia Baier, is UWL’s first philanthropically-funded faculty fellowship supporting the vision and recognition of business faculty who are industry-engaged. Read more → Faculty fellow Posted 4:08 p.m. Saturday, July 11, 2020 College of Business Administration names Hamman first campus fellow. Read more about Faculty fellow Read more → UWL Cares Posted 4 p.m. Monday, June 29, 2020 Alumni, faculty, staff and community support students through campaign. Read more about UWL Cares
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Every gift to UWL
no matter how large or small
is important.

Many small gifts, when combined, can provide a scholarship, support a program, or fund an undergraduate research experience.

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Leaving their legacy

There are many ways to create a scholarship fund to help future generations of UWL students. Read more about how UWL alumni and friends are leaving their legacy by clicking the links below.

  • https://issuu.com/uw-lacrosse/docs/uwl_lantern_summer_2018-web
  • https://issuu.com/uw-lacrosse/docs/uwl_lantern_winter_2017-18-web
  • https://issuu.com/uw-lacrosse/docs/uwl_lantern_summer_2017-web
  • https://issuu.com/uw-lacrosse/docs/uwl_lantern_winter_2016-17_web
  • https://issuu.com/uw-lacrosse/docs/lantern_winter_2015-16-web
  • https://issuu.com/uw-lacrosse/docs/lantern_summer_2015_web