Posted 10:24 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025
Looking ahead to UWL’s fifth-annual giving day, Oct. 21-22
Join us Oct. 21 and 22 for One Day for UWL, the university’s sixth-annual day of giving.
On One Day, the entire UWL community comes together to make gifts to all areas of campus and celebrate the impact philanthropy has on our students.
With many ways to participate on campus and online, we hope you’ll join us as we Live Maroon and Give Maroon
WHAT: One Day for UWL is our largest philanthropic day of the year, a day of fundraising and celebration
WHEN: Oct. 21 and 22, from 9 a.m. to 9 a.m. — “24 hours to make a difference”
WHERE: On campus and online; learn more at uwlax.edu/go/givingday
WHY: Donors are the reason we can offer scholarships, unique academic programs, undergraduate research opportunities and many other advancement efforts that support student success. One Day for UWL is a tradition celebrating what it means to Live Maroon and Give Maroon!
Make a gift
There are more than 250 areas on campus you can support — from academic programs to sports clubs to scholarships and more. Support your passion on One Day for UWL by visiting uwlax.edu/go/givingday.
Six years = $600K goal
Over the years, One Day for UWL has continued to grow thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends. As we mark six years of One Day for UWL, we are challenging the UWL community to raise $600,000 in 24 hours. Let’s come together and show what it means to be an Eagle!
Celebrate on campus
Join us for on-campus festivities, including:
- Ring in One Day | Oct. 21, 8:45 a.m. | Hoeschler Tower
- Let’s get the celebration started and Ring in One Day for UWL at Hoeschler Tower! Special music with the UWL Screaming Eagles, a guest speaker, free merch and more. Show you’re #UWLPROUD by wearing maroon and gray!
- Lunch on the Lawn | Oct. 21, noon | Wittich Lawn
- Join us for free barbecue sandwiches (while supplies last), yard games and socializing — all while learning more about philanthropy on campus. This lunch is made possible through the generosity of donors.
- Ring out One Day | Oct. 22, 8:45 a.m. | Hoeschler Tower
- After 24 hours of celebrating and fundraising, let’s Ring out One Day together! Enjoy special music, a guest speaker, snacks and more. You also won’t want to miss the initial count of dollars raised on One Day for UWL. We hope you’ll join us!
Ochsenwald supports program that shaped her life
Jamie Ochsenwald was drawn to UW-La Crosse for the strong academics, but it was her decision to try out for the university soccer team that truly changed the course of her life and career.
“This spontaneous choice turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made,” says Ochsenwald, who earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science (2014) and her master’s in human performance (2017), both from UWL. “Becoming part of the team not only led me to change my major but also has provided me with a team I will always be a part of.”
Ochsenwald has used the lessons she learned in the classroom and on the soccer field throughout her time as a collegiate strength and conditioning coach. And she is proud to “Live Maroon and Give Maroon” by supporting the soccer program on One Day for UWL, set to return Oct. 21 and 22.
“It was at UWL that I discovered my career path, met my husband and formed lifelong friendships. The soccer program in particular gave me a sense of purpose on campus and launched my career. Giving back is a way for me to express my gratitude and to support a program that has provided me with so much. By contributing, I hope to help the program grow and create opportunities for future student-athletes, continuing the legacy of excellence and community.”
Jason Murphy, UWL soccer coach, says support from donors like Ochsenwald is critical to the health of the program, which has enjoyed tremendous success in recent years. The team has won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament five times since 2015 and has qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament seven times in the same period.
The team also excels in the classroom, with a cumulative GPA around 3.60.
“One Day for UWL, and philanthropy in general, has changed the experience of playing for UWL soccer,” Murphy says. “I cannot emphasize enough the significant impact our donors have made. The chance to play soccer at UWL has always been meaningful, but with the added resources, we have been able to create an extraordinary experience for our players.”
These experiences include trips abroad and across the United States — Costa Rica, Italy, California and Virginia — for competitive play and sightseeing. A portion of One Day funds also support two endowments used to position the program for future success.
For Ochsenwald, the memories she created as a member of the soccer team are still close to her heart. She remembers the pregame rituals, walking out of the locker room while reciting lines from the movie “Miracle.” And she remembers the difference they made, volunteering at the annual Steppin’ Out in Pink event in support of local breast cancer research and awareness.
Even after finishing her bachelor’s degree, Ochsenwald stayed closely connected to the program, serving as a sports performance coach as a graduate assistant.
These experiences, paired with the educational opportunities that first drew her to UWL, set Ochsenwald on a path to success.
“I am incredibly proud to have earned both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from UWL. And being part of a team in college laid the foundation for my passion for college athletics,” Ochsenwald says. “As a coach, having the opportunities to make similar impacts on the athletes I’ve worked with is a significant accomplishment not only in my career but also in my personal life.”
Why I give on One Day for UWL
Are you a “6” grad?
In honor of the sixth year of One Day for UWL, we are matching the gifts of alumni with a “6” in their grad year, up to $6,000. Whether you are a 1956 grad or a soon-to-be 2026 grad or any other “6” in between, making a gift on One Day will double your impact!
“I give in gratitude for the cherished memories and lifelong friendships made while on the UWL campus.”
— Pat Mertens, '56
“We started two scholarships for incoming freshmen, and it is very satisfying to give back, directly helping new students.”
— Larry Lebiecki, ’62 & Anita Evans
“I give back to UWL to recognize the graduate faculty who are doing innovative work both in and outside the classroom. The opportunities graduate education creates are so important to our collective future.”
— Chris Bakkum, ’76 & ’84
“As a student-athlete, I feel like tuition covered the ‘student part’ of my experience, while charitable giving helps to repay the ‘athlete part.’ ”
— Travis Erickson, ’96
“UWL is a special place that gave me the foundational pieces to develop into the person I am today. I am motivated to give to UWL because I want to assist the university in offering an even better experience than I had for our current and future students.”
— Gene Janke, ’06
“As a first-generation alum, I am honored to give back to students who have a bright future ahead of them, especially those from underrepresented cultures like my own.”
— Nhouchee Yang, ’16