Campus Connection

May grad Breielle Thompson found confidence and community at UWL

From the moment she stepped onto campus, Breielle Thompson felt it: UW-La Crosse was the place where she could grow. 

“When looking for colleges, UWL caught my eye right away. I wanted to go to a college that had a great sense of community and care for their students,” Thompson says. “When I toured the campus, I was thrilled to see the natural beauty as well as the famous bluffs in the distance. I could feel the emphasis on community and support that I was looking for.” 

 As she prepares to graduate with a major in art education and a minor in art history, Thompson says her instincts paid off. After arriving on campus, her path quickly came into focus. 

“I knew before coming to La Crosse that I wanted to major in an art-related field. While I was a bit conflicted at first, choosing art education was 100% the right move for me,” she says. “My art history minor was something that was added later when I took an entry-level art history class and fell in love with the complexity and challenge that came with those classes.”

But for Thompson, college wasn’t just about finding the right major, it was about saying “yes.”  

Yes to leadership, yes to community and yes to opportunities that pushed her beyond her comfort zone. As a resident assistant, a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council for the School of Education and a participant in hands-on learning, she built a college experience defined by connection. 

“The experiences I’ve had here hold a very special place in my heart,” Thompson says. “I would have never met most of the friends I have now if I didn’t become as involved on campus as I did. The connections and experiences I had will make me a stronger, more compassionate educator and artist.” 

In the art education program, those connections became the foundation of her experience. 

“Even though we will all be going our separate ways soon, I know I can depend on the friendships I’ve made at UWL for the rest of my life,” Thompson says. “One of my favorite memories is definitely the annual Art Department bowling event where the whole department, students as well as professors, get together to bowl and give out awards that the sculpture class makes.” 

Her art history minor offered a different kind of impact, blending academic challenge with hands-on work.

“I loved the challenge that came with my art history classes and the amount of historical and self-reflection it provided me.” 

One standout moment came through a cataloguing project with Sierra Rooney, associate professor of art. Even while balancing an 18-credit course load and her responsibilities as an RA, Thompson found a way to be involved, thanks to the flexibility and support of those around her. 

Beyond connection with peers, faculty mentorship also helped shape her path as both an artist and educator. 

“My professors were always willing and eager to support me through my collegiate journey,” Thompson says. “The professors that have been especially great mentors to me are Lisa Lenarz, Zachary Stensen and Sierra Rooney.” 

She says each mentor shaped her in different ways, modeling the relationship-building, confidence-building and care she hopes to carry into her own classroom. 

“These professors are great examples of what an educator should be,” Thompson says. “I will forever be grateful for my time with them and all I’ve learned at UWL.”