Timely scholarship gave Max Schmeling motivation to keep pursuing his degree

Timely scholarship gave Max Schmeling motivation to keep pursuing his degree

For some, receiving a scholarship is a sign to keep going. For Max Schmeling, that sign came at exactly the right time.

After transferring to UW-La Crosse from another UW campus, Schmeling was looking forward to a fresh start and new opportunities. But during the summer before arriving in La Crosse, his mother passed away from stage four metastatic breast cancer.

Moving three hours away from home while grieving the loss of his mother made Schmeling question whether he should continue toward his degree. What ultimately motivated him to take the leap was knowing how much his education mattered to her.

"I was always told that education is the most important thing to accomplish, and I know my mom would want me to finish school," Schmeling says.

The transition to a new campus while carrying that loss was not easy.

"It was a new environment, I had a loaded schedule and I found myself with low motivation," Schmeling, a marketing major, explains. "I knew I couldn't give up on my future. My mom wouldn't want to see me lose myself and not follow my dreams."

Then Schmeling received what felt like a sign to keep going: the Joe Laux Family Scholarship .

Established by Joe Laux, '89 (marketing), the scholarship supports outstanding junior or senior marketing students at UWL. As part of the application process, students submit an essay describing an obstacle or challenge they have overcome.

"When I got the phone call telling me that I received the scholarship, it felt like a massive weight was taken off my back," Schmeling says. "The news gave me another reason to keep pushing."

Now entering his senior year at UWL, Schmeling says the award represents far more than financial support. It is a reminder that others believe in him and the future he has continued working toward, despite personal hardship.

"I have loved my experience at UWL; it has been nothing short of what I wanted my college experience to be like," Schmeling says. "I truly believe my experiences within my extracurriculars have opened a new world to me, and I have met a bunch of amazing people through them."

The scholarship support will allow Schmeling to devote more time to the extracurricular activities he enjoys, including the American Marketing Association (AMA) and Campus Cakes, a homemade bakery delivery service run by AMA student members. He also serves as public relations officer for the Wishmakers on Campus student organization, which partners with Make-A-Wish Wisconsin to grant wishes for local children living with chronic illnesses.

He also credits faculty and classroom experiences with helping him rebuild confidence.

"Two classes that stood out to me would be my business communication class with Aaron Koepke and my media and society class with Terry Smith ," Schmeling says. "The classroom felt more like a social space than a lecture room and, through both of those classes, I became more comfortable with not only my public speaking, but also my one-on-one communication skills with my peers."

Schmeling hopes scholarship donors understand the lasting impact their generosity can have on students, especially those navigating difficult circumstances.

"This award helps students feel seen, and it makes students like me have the motivation to finish their schooling strong," he says. "You gave me hope."

After graduation, Schmeling hopes to pursue a career in sports marketing, ideally working with a team like the Milwaukee Bucks.

"To this day, everything I do, I always think back to my mom and how proud she is of me to be where I am today," Schmeling says. "I know she was celebrating, too, when I received this scholarship."