Campus Connection

If you know marching band enthusiast Lisa Butterfield, ’80, you know about her bucket. For the past eight years she has been shaking a bucket collecting donations to endow a music scholarship in honor of former UWL band director, John Alexander. According to Butterfield, “it’s thanks to the generosity of our many alumni band members for helping us reach our goal. “In addition, with the support of corporate sponsors, funds could be directed to the scholarship fund instead of paying for annual expenses.” Sponsors of the group have included: Quillin’s, CenturyLink, Festival Foods, Earl’s, Pogreba, WebTeam, McHugh Excavating, Trempealeau Hotel, Westview Inn, Stein Haus, City Brewing, Bluffside Tavern and La Crosse Festivals. The alumni band performs at several festivals during the year. During Tremptoberfest in September, Amy Werner, ’98, owner of the Trempealeau Hotel presented a $500 check that put the goal over the top. But for Butterfield, it’s all about the music. “Music is so important to have in our lives. We want to make sure the band survives and stays on campus,” she explains. “It’s an amazing feeling to walk over the bridge during the Maple Leaf parade and see the streets lined with people dancing the polka to our music. It’s so much fun. This scholarship really matters to me.” The scholarship also really matters to the Music department. Professor Tammy Fisher, director of the marching band says reacting to the endowment. “This is very exciting news. Kudos to the Alumni Band for achieving this amazing goal,” says Fisher. “I really appreciate their efforts to support the future of the Screaming Eagles Marching Band. As a result of the Alumni Band’s effort, we can now reward two deserving students for performing in the marching band. It's an honor to carry on the legacy of this wonderful group.” For more information about scholarships at UWL, contact Sara Olson at solson@uwlax.edu.