CBA Student Success Fund removes barriers to hands-on learning

CBA Student Success Fund removes barriers to hands-on learning

The Chicago skyline looks a little different from a UW-La Crosse classroom.

For students in the College of Business Administration, a trip to Chicago meant more than a change of scenery. T hanks to support from the CBA Student Success Fund, the trip created an opportunity for students to sit across the table from business professionals, ask questions, make connections and imagine what life after graduation might look like.

The Student Success Fund helps make experiences like these possible by offsetting costs for students participating in conferences, corporate visits, case competitions, networking events and other opportunities outside the classroom.

That was the experience for members of UWL's Women in Business Club , whose visit to HDI Global Insurance gave students the chance to step into a professional environment and see their education in action.

20 students toured the company, heard from business leaders, participated in a panel with early-career professionals and networked with industry representatives.

"I am incredibly appreciative of the CBA supplementing the cost of this trip," says junior Ellie Baudry, a marketing major and current president of Women in Business. "That support allowed me to be fully present at the networking event without having to worry about the expenses that came along with traveling to Chicago."

For Baudry and her classmates, the value extended beyond the day's itinerary. The experience provided a closer look at workplace culture, career paths and the possibilities waiting after graduation.

"Visiting HDI in Chicago with the Women in Business Club was an incredibly impactful experience," says senior Mackenna Kelly, a n accountancy major and the organization's professional relations officer. "Getting to hear professionals across the company share their insights about developing professional skills and advice for life post-graduation was helpful in shaping my professional goals for senior year."

Creating those kinds of opportunities is at the heart of the CBA Student Success Fund.

" CBA alumni understand the value these experiences have on a student's education and career, which is why we started the student success fund," says Jeff Meyer, development officer for the CBA. "Donors want to make an impact, and this fund allows the CBA to support cool and impactful learning experiences outside the traditional classroom . "

Those opportunities look different from one student to the next.

During the 2025-26 academic year, members of UWL's Investment Club traveled to Chicago to visit William Blair's global headquarters and the Chicago Board of Trade, meeting with investment professionals and learning about careers in financial services. American Marketing Association students attended a national collegiate conference, gaining exposure to current industry practices while competing, attending educational sessions and networking with marketing professionals.

Meanwhile, members of the Real Estate Club put classroom knowledge to work in a national case competition, developing and presenting a real estate development proposal. Other students traveled to national conferences to present undergraduate research or explore emerging scholarship in behavioral economics, decision science, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.

For Tim Dale, associate dean of the CBA, these experiences are an important part of preparing students for what comes next.

"The CBA is committed to preparing students for successful careers by supporting opportunities to learn beyond the classroom," Dale says. "Student Success Funds make it possible for students to participate in conferences, corporate visits, case competitions, networking events, and undergraduate research that connect academic learning with professional practice."

The CBA aims to make those opportunities available across its student organizations.

For students, that support can turn an opportunity that once seemed out of reach into a defining part of their college experience.

"I am always grateful for the support the CBA provides to its students, especially the support given to student organizations," Baudry says. "It truly makes us feel supported in our missions and allows us to continue organizing meaningful events and experiences for our members."

Now, the CBA is inviting its community to help create more of those opportunities.

Day for UWL on Oct. 20-21, available matching gift s up to $20,000 will double the impact of gi f ts made to the CBA Student Success Fund. Gifts can help remove financial barriers and give more students the chance to travel, compete, research, network and learn alongside professionals in their fields.