Campus Connection

Student’s winning design celebrates Eagle Fest and an iconic local landmark

It isn’t hard to find the source of inspiration behind this year’s Eagle Fest Wings of the Year.

You just need to look up.

UW-La Crosse junior Ellie Baudry incorporated one of the area's most recognizable landmarks, Grandad Bluff, into her winning design, selected from a pool of student submissions to serve as the logo for the sixth annual Eagle Fest celebration.

This year’s event — featuring food, games, booths, activities and live music — will run from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at the Badger Street Mall.

For Baudry, the challenge was creating a design that celebrated not only Eagle Fest's vibrant atmosphere, but also the campus and community that have shaped her college experience.

“I love creating meaningful things and finding ways to use my skills to give back to the community that has given me so much to me,” says Baudry, a marketing major. “Seeing this design used across campus feels like a really meaningful way to do that.”

In approaching the project, Baudry sought to highlight the features of UWL and the broader community that have instilled in her a sense of belonging.

“UWL has really come to feel like home to me, not only because of its close-knit campus community, but also because of the beauty and peacefulness of the surrounding area,” says Baudry, who has a particular fondness for Grandad Bluff. “It felt like a natural symbol of both La Crosse and the sense of peace, reflection and connection to the place that has made UWL feel like home to me."

With the bluff as her focal point, Baudry used Adobe software to create a watercolor-inspired effect, combining the realism of photography with the texture and artistry of painting.

She says the project drew on the skills and experience she has developed as a student, through both her courses and her work as a graphic designer for The COVE.

While she is accustomed to her designs being used across campus, Baudry says it’s particularly gratifying to see her work featured as part of a beloved campus tradition — one that has been so meaningful to her own experience as a student.

“What I love most about Eagle Fest is the sense of togetherness it brings to campus,” Baudry says. “It feels like one big campus block party and celebration. When I came to UWL as a freshman ... it gave me a place to make connections, learn more about campus and immediately feel involved.

“I have such a strong sense of pride and gratitude for this community, so having my design selected and seeing it used across campus is truly an honor. It is incredibly special to know that something I created will become part of an event that means so much to the UWL community.”