UW-La Crosse

  1. Unwrapping chocolate: Students explore the complex, global history of chocolate from Mesoamerica to today

    Photo: Sophomore biology major Andrew Smerz, right, enrolled in History Professor Gita Pai’s chocolate-themed history course for his love of chocolate. But he soon learned chocolate’s story stretches far beyond flavor, linking La Crosse to a much larger global history.

    January 8, 2026

    When you think of chocolate, what comes to mind?  A creamy bite of a Hershey bar? A decadent layered dessert? Perhaps the whimsical world of Willy Wonka?  Those are the kinds of responses History Professor Gita Pai hears on the first day of her World History 110 course — a class built entirely around the history of chocolate. It’s a course […]

  2. Turning challenges into opportunity: UW-La Crosse December grad Adrián Moreno reflects on challenging path that shaped him

    Photo of Adrián Moreno

    December 19, 2025

    Adrián Moreno’s path at UW-La Crosse has not followed a straight line. As he prepares to graduate in December, the challenges he faced — and the people who helped him navigate them — have shaped him far more than any single accomplishment.   A veteran of the Mississippi and Wisconsin National Guards and a double major […]

  3. Work hard, play hard: UWL intramurals help students build community, learn valuable skills

    Photo: Intramural and recreational sports are far more than a way to stay active; they are a powerful engine for belonging, stress relief and personal growth.

    December 15, 2025

    At UW–La Crosse, intramural and recreational sports are far more than a way to stay active; they are a powerful engine for belonging, stress relief and personal growth.   With 86% of students engaging in Rec Sports and more than 353,000 annual visits to the Recreational Eagle Center (REC), the department has become one of the most impactful […]

  4. A work of heart: UWL’s Christy Wopat turns grief and empathy into award-winning books

    Photo of Christy Wopat: A launch party for Christy Wopat’s latest book, “Overruled” will be at 10 a.m. Nov. 15 at Holmen Public Library. Wopat’s award-winning memoir, “Almost a Mother: Love, Loss, and Finding Your People When Your Baby Dies” was published in 2018, followed by three more books about infant loss and grief. Wopat, '08 earned her Master's in Education & Professional Development degree from UWL.

    December 2, 2025

    When Christy Wopat was a middle school teacher, she began every school year with the same promise: “I will love these kids no matter what.”  That pledge meant seeing each student not through preconceived ideas or past reputations, but for who they truly were.   Still, as new students walked through her classroom door, Wopat noticed a familiar trend. One “bad kid” or a […]

  5. The ink in their quill: How a passion for food and family propelled Yia Vang to culinary stardom

    Photo: Yia Vang is the award-winning chef and creative force behind the Minneapolis restaurant Vinai. After countless accolades, Vang still sees himself as a shy kid from rural Wisconsin — one who is still inspired by his parents. Photos from PBS

    November 18, 2025

    When talking with Yia Vang — the widely known Twin Cities chef with a myriad of accolades — he’ll be the first to tell you he’s still just a shy kid from a small town in Wisconsin. Vang, ’10, still gets excited about free snacks on flights — not out of necessity, but nostalgia. “I’m […]

  6. Mycologists on a mission: UWL researchers explore little-known world of truffles, make exciting discovery

    Photo: UW-La Crosse graduate student Mariah Rogers (kneeling) is part of a small team of researchers working to document Wisconsin's population of truffles, a fungi prized for use in luxury cuisine. An exciting discovery this fall brought to light a truffle that was previously unrecognized by science.

    November 13, 2025

    Underground, all across Wisconsin, an entire world of undescribed organisms is waiting to be discovered. And a small team from UW-La Crosse is leading the way. Assistant Professor of Biology Arthur Grupe and graduate student Mariah Rogers have been traveling the state to identify, research and document Wisconsin’s population of truffles, a type of underground fungus sometimes found […]

  7. Leading in Health Professions: UWL health programs see continual growth, top-tier outcomes and direct pipelines to employment

    Photo: One of the fastest growing areas in Health Professions is Radiologic Sciences. From left, UWL student Ally Richarson, Director of Radiologic Sciences Melissa Weege, and UWL students Maddy Benson and Emma Strassburg are using VERT- radiation therapy virtual reality software.

    October 17, 2025

    From Radiologic Science to Physical Therapy, UW-La Crosse is making its mark as a leader in health professions education. UWL’s health programs are expanding, student interest is surging and growing support services on campus are helping future healthcare professionals prepare from day one on campus. Over the past several years, UWL Health Professions Department programs have added new degrees, expanded […]

  8. UWL launches criminology major

    Photo: The newly added criminology major reflects UWL’s commitment to student interests and community partnerships.

    October 10, 2025

    New program blends research, experiential learning to meet critical need UW-La Crosse is introducing a new major designed to meet growing student interest and regional workforce needs.  Criminology will be added as an offered major starting this spring, after the Board of Regents approved the program during its September meeting. The major is a long-requested addition […]

  9. Talent takes flight: Chase Hendricks wins UWL’s Eagle Fest Wings of the Year art contest

    Photo: Senior Chase Hendricks’ vibrant, abstract design — depicting a sunrise over the bluffs — won this year’s Wings of the Year art contest for UWL’s annual Eagle Fest celebration.

    September 30, 2025

    At UW-La Crosse, creativity isn’t confined to the arts programs. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to explore their artistic side.  A prime example is Chase Hendricks, a senior majoring in sport management with a minor in business administration, who won this year’s Wings of the Year art contest for UWL’s annual Eagle Fest celebration on Sept. 5. “Art […]

  10. A molecule with medical promise

    Photo: Roman Domashevsky, a junior majoring in biology with a biomedical concentration, was part of the Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship program this summer. He is pictured working with organic solvents under the fume hood in the Prairie Springs Science Center’s chemistry lab, alongside his faculty mentor, Robin Grote.

    September 17, 2025

    Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship supports life-changing student experience — and potentially, life-saving science When Joe Toce ran a biochemistry company in St. Louis over two decades ago, one elusive molecule stood out. His team had long sought to synthesize it — a small organic compound with big potential to revolutionize blood-thinning medications used to prevent strokes, […]

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