UW-La Crosse receives largest single donation in school history

The largest donation in UW-La Crosse history comes from its former vice chancellor, who just retired this year.

Dr. Bob Hetzel has left his mark on campus in a couple of ways and now his name is on the new fieldhouse he helped to develop before it opened last year.

Also, Hetzel is helping UW-L with a $2.5 million gift for student scholarships and endowments, which is the largest single donation in the school’s history.

UW-L Chancellor, Dr. James Beeby, said Tuesday the financial donation by Hetzel “makes UW-L — which is a very strong, academically excellent institution — it makes it more accessible for students, so that they can get the support they need to keep their costs of attendance down, to help them graduate on time.”

Hetzel retired this summer after 17 years at UW-L, serving as the school’s chief business officer.

Beeby believes the Hetzel gift could inspire others to be generous toward the campus.

“I think it does have a domino effect,” Beeby told WIZM. “I think it shows the investment that people believe that they can make in this campus. We are doing great things here every day.”

The Bob Hetzel General Scholarship Fund and the Bob Hetzel Athletics Endowment will be funded through the gift. Hetzel also was the sponsor of an endowment for a physical therapy scholarship.

Chancellor Beeby will be on La Crosse Talk PM on Dec. 4.