Blugold Successes and Milestones
A banner year for Wisconsin’s Most Beautiful Campus
The past year garnered UW-Eau Claire three national championships, a one-of-a-kind grant to strengthen the workforce for rural health and wellbeing, student research that’s paving the way for medical innovations, and more through the achievements and talents on display by our community each day.
Blugold National Champions
The Blugolds captured that championship feeling three times in 2021-22. The Blugolds’ women’s volleyball and both the men’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams showed off their talents on the national stage by bringing home NCAA Division III national titles to UW-Eau Claire.
The volleyball team won its first national championship in Missouri in November. The track and field team followed that by winning both the indoor and outdoor national championships, bringing the program’s total to four national titles. The Blugolds were co-champions at the indoor national meet in North Carolina in March and won the outdoor championship in Ohio in May.
The titles bring the Blugolds’ national championship total to 16 in either NCAA or NAIA. UW-Eau Claire is only the second university in the WIAC to capture three national titles in one academic year.
Fans road trip for Blugold volleyball
UW-Eau Claire volleyball fans were out in force at the Final Four at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in November 2021.
On the attack
Senior Makenzie Bachmann made an outside hit against Calvin University in the NCAA Division III national championship match.
Soaking in success
Ava Aldag, left, and Sophia Brown were swimming in confetti on the floor of Washington University as they celebrated their national title.
All smiles with the title
UW-Eau Claire’s first national championship women’s volleyball team let everyone know who was No. 1 after the title match.
Bringing the trophy to UWEC
The NCAA national championship trophy was the centerpiece of the Blugolds’ welcome home celebration at McPhee Physical Education Center.
More celebrations
UW System President Tommy Thompson shared in the celebration as the Blugolds brought the Division III trophy back to Wisconsin.
Recognition from the state of Wisconsin
From left, Clara Olson, Arianna Barrett and Emma Macken show off the plaque the volleyball team received from the state Legislature commemorating the Blugolds’ title.
NCAA Division III champions step off the bus
UW-Eau Claire men’s track and field team members Jordan Lijewski, left, and Mitch Stegeman celebrate their return from the national meet in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with the NCAA Division III indoor national championship trophy.
A warm welcome at UWEC
From left, Jordan Lijewski, Wes Keller and Mitch Stegeman enjoy congratulations from fans acknowledging the men’s indoor track and field program’s third national title.
Sharing in the celebration
Jake Petri and his teammates were able to bring home an indoor track and field title as co-champions after tying Washington University of St. Louis with 35 points each.
Celebrating a win
Sam Verkerke, who won the individual outdoor national championship in the 1,500-meter run, celebrates with members of the Blugold track and field team during the championship meet.
National champion
Blugold Marcus Weaver displays the trophies from his individual outdoor national championships in both the javelin and decathlon.
Blugold hardware
UW-Eau Claire decathletes, from left, Marcus Weaver, Abrahm Schroedl and Mitch Stegeman, pose with Blugold head track and field coach Chip Schneider and the outdoor national championship trophy.
National championship a team effort
UW-Eau Claire’s men’s track and field team won the NCAA Division III national championship at the outdoor meet in Ohio. The women’s team also placed at the national meet, finishing in 22nd place.
Community Health Innovation Grant
UW-Eau Claire is stepping up to bolster rural Wisconsin’s ability to sustain a healthy population and resilient business climate. The $9.4 million Workforce Innovation Grant announced in December 2021 supports UW-Eau Claire in its collaboration with Mayo Clinic Health System-Northwest Wisconsin and other regional partners to address workforce shortages, develop health career pathways, innovate rural health care delivery and support rural businesses.
Collaboration at the heart of UW-Eau Claire’s $9.4 million Workforce Innovation Grant
UW-Eau Claire received a $9.4 million grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. through the agency’s Workforce Innovation Grant program. Gov. Tony Evers announced the award at a press conference Dec. 14 on campus.
Groundbreaking biomedical research
Blugold Biomedical Innovator Scholars are making a difference with their real-world medical research into developing an injectable biologic foam to protect healthy tissues in cancer patients who are receiving treatment. Student researchers, in collaboration with UW-Eau Claire faculty and a physician from Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, shared their work at a prestigious research event in Washington, D.C., in April.
Sharing research with a national audience
A team of undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will share their research with a national audience this spring during the prestigious Posters on the Hill event in Washington, D.C. Just 60 projects were selected for the event.
It takes a village
The generosity of Blugolds and friends is behind each of the noteworthy accomplishments of the university and its individuals’ achievements. To support your favorite program or opportunity at UW-Eau Claire like an athletics team, innovation in supporting rural communities, or research in the health sciences, give now or email foundation@uwec.edu to learn more about the opportunities to support a program that fits your passions.
Excellence in action
UW-Eau Claire students and alumni aspire to make a difference in their respective communities and around the globe. High-achieving Blugolds leave their mark wherever they go thanks to a world-class education and high-impact practices that are an important part of their time on campus.
For more stories about Blugold students, faculty and alumni visit: https://www.uwec.edu/news/
Stories from our Archive
22 years to the top
When Adam Duquaine was named chief information officer at Menards in May 2021, he thought back to being a Blugold when he took his first job in their distribution center. The 2001 management information systems graduate is a proven leader and innovator.
Going for gold
Like many people, Marcus Weaver will watch the 2021 summer Olympics and dream of one day competing in the games. Weaver — a UW-Eau Claire junior and two-time national track and field champion — is working to turn his dream into reality.
Celebrating women composers
Dr. Chia-Yu Hsu, associate professor of music-composition at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, is the winner of a prestigious international competition that celebrates women composers.
'Paying it forward'
“Pay it forward” has become a popular saying, but it’s long been a way of life for Alexis Lappe, a UW-Eau Claire senior who will graduate in December with a major in computer science-software engineering and a minor in communication studies.
Making a difference in area communities
Earlier this month, a team of Blugolds — including future speech-language pathologists and Spanish interpreters — worked together to give hearing screenings to children in Arcadia, where more than 86% of students in the elementary school speak Spanish.
Research leads to new opportunities
Avi Devy Mohan transferred to UW-Eau Claire because of its undergraduate research program. Still, the Blugold — now a senior computer science and applied mathematics major — never imagined just how much research would shape her future plans.
Making the most of every opportunity
Taylor Johnson was helping to care for her ailing uncle when she saw the impact that nurses have on their patients and their loved ones. She knew then that she wanted to be a nurse so she could make that kind of positive difference in the lives of others.
Embracing internships
What’s the best thing about an internship? Everything, says Kristina Tlusty, a recent UW-Eau Claire graduate who is using the knowledge and connections she’s gained from a series of internships to launch her career in the field of graphic communications.
Immersed in Latin American history, culture
Fifteen Blugolds were part of the 2022 “Guatemala: Social and Environmental Justice Winterim Immersion Program” during UW-Eau Claire's Winterim session. They learned about Latin American history, as well as social and environmental justice.
Building understanding, empathy
When UW-Eau Claire students return from immersion trips they bring all sorts of things home with them, be it a new appreciation for other cultures or keepsakes made by local artisans. You can now add stray dogs to the list.
International immersion close to home
The "Understanding the Refugee Experience in Western Wisconsin" immersion took Blugolds to Fort McCoy to spend time with Afghans who are living at the base as they relocate to the U.S. The program gave students an international experience close to home.
Wisconsin pride
UW-Eau Claire marketing major Ethan Van Grunsven's love for his home state of Wisconsin inspired him to launch his own apparel business, the Sconny Co. Sconnyco apparel is a way for people to show their pride in and love for Wisconsin.
Send us a class note
Do you have a success story or milestone of your own to celebrate? Let us know by submitting a class note! Class notes are updated as time permits on the Alumni Association website.