Lighting the path
One Day project helped alumna find her calling
Julia Davis, ’25, gained confidence as a graphic designer while helping promote One Day for UWL as a student. Now, she is a marketing coordinator for Brand House Marketing in Baraboo.
Posted 1:04 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026
Students have always been at the heart of One Day for UWL. While the university’s annual day of giving raises support for scholarships and other student experiences, students also help bring the event to life.
Since 2024, student artists have contributed original designs for One Day merchandise and donor thank-you materials.
Julia Davis, ’25 (marketing), was the first student selected to create artwork for One Day for UWL. Looking back, she sees the opportunity as much more than an art contest: It was a defining moment that helped shape her career path.
Finding her place
When Davis first visited UW-La Crosse, she was looking for a place to discover herself.
During her first tour of campus, out of all things, she noticed a campus light post.
“I stopped to read a sign on a light post just outside Eagle Hall, discovering the campus light posts were designed to cast downlighting, preventing the night sky from being washed out,” Davis says. “I knew then that UWL cares about the little things.”
That literal sign became her figurative sign to commit to UWL.
From the start, Davis immersed herself in campus life through student organizations, volunteer work, campus jobs and coursework. Experiences such as her role with the Campus Activities Board helped her discover a passion for content creation and event planning, while her classes provided the technical design skills she continues to use professionally today.
“When I saw the One Day for UWL student artist opportunity posted on social media, I had a gut feeling,” Davis says. “This was not only a chance to create something that communicates what it felt like to be a UWL student, but also a chance to refine my skills.”
More than an art contest
When Davis was selected as One Day for UWL’s student artist, that gut feeling proved prescient.
“Being chosen as the graphic designer for One Day was the moment I said, ‘That’s it,’” says Davis, whose designs included One Day-themed thank you cards, socks, can koozies, stickers and tote bags. “This was the feeling I was searching for, being recognized for the designs I felt passionate about. Knowing that I successfully encapsulated the feeling of philanthropy and UWL pride into my designs proved to me that I understood how brand design works.”
The project introduced Davis to branding and logo development and helped her envision a future in creative marketing.
It also showed her that creativity can be a meaningful form of giving.
“I wasn’t creating regular graphics, but my artwork was tied to philanthropy and support for UWL students and the campus,” Davis says. “The artwork I created for One Day was my gift back to the university.”
Helping students shine
Today, Davis works with a variety of clients as a marketing coordinator at Brand House Marketing, helping them promote their brands and connect with key audiences. She credits the One Day project with preparing her for the realities of professional creative work.
As an alumna, Davis hopes donors under- stand the lasting impact opportunities like the One Day for UWL art contest can have on students.
“This donor-funded art contest was one of those little things that lets individual students shine, just like UWL’s light posts,” she says. “It helped me discover myself.”
For Davis, One Day for UWL provided more than a chance to create artwork. It offered an opportunity to build confidence, explore a passion and envision a future career.
“When you have that gut feeling, work for it until the success is yours.”
Pledge your support
This year’s One Day for UWL student artist is Magdalene Anderson, a sophomore majoring in business administration and management. Be among the first 100 donors to make a gift of $100 or more on Oct. 20 and receive a pair of socks featuring Anderson’s original design.
