Capturing Invisible Stories: Western Students Honor Veterans Through Photography

Western Technical College Digital Media production students recently applied their classroom skills in a real-world project, creating portraits of local women veterans for the national I Am Not Invisible (IANI) campaign. This initiative, conducted in partnership with the La Crosse County Veterans Service Office, aims to recognize and honor women veterans whose contributions often go unnoticed.

Jane Brannan, the La Crosse County Veteran Service Officer, led the local IANI effort. Brannan felt inspired to share La Crosse’s untold stories after attending an IANI exhibit at another Wisconsin college. “Women veterans are often overlooked, and their accomplishments go unrecognized,” she stated. “This event showcased their strength and demonstrated to the community the value of their service.”

The project aligns with Western’s Experiential Learning initiative, which allows students to “learn by doing,” applying their skills in purposeful, community-focused work. Under the guidance of instructor Mike Lieurance, students plan photo sessions, manage logistics, and capture meaningful black-and-white portraits of the veterans.

Students Taylor Baker and Suki Vue helped veterans feel at ease during the shoots by assisting with lighting, composition, and support on the event day. The project encouraged them to adapt quickly to real-world demands. Taylor noted, “It wasn’t just about taking pictures—listening closely to the veterans made the portraits meaningful and helped me become a better communicator.” Suki added, “I learned to handle pressure professionally, and now I appreciate photography’s power to honor people’s stories.”

The portraits, showcasing veterans alongside significant personal items such as uniforms and medals, were revealed at a community reception in La Crosse. For many veterans, it represented their first formal recognition of service. For the students, it illustrated the profound impact their work could achieve.

“This project illustrates how students’ skills directly benefit the community,” said Lieurance. “It’s an experience they will remember long after class ends.”

Western’s Experiential Learning projects continue to provide students with valuable opportunities to develop skills, confidence, and professional experience through impactful projects.