BSU launches $35 million campaign
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Much as the mighty Mississippi spills gently from Lake Itasca, the campaign known as Imagine Tomorrow began with a belief that Bemidji State University should soon begin its first broad-based fundraising campaign. The year was 1995, when leaders started to seriously consider such an undertaking. They concluded the timing wasn’t right, but a vision had taken hold. Just as the river’s narrow stream curls north before turning toward the Gulf of Mexico, interest in a major campaign ran through BSU Foundation planning in 2008 and quickened with a feasibility study commissioned in 2010.
the power to
change lives Bemidji state’s first comprehensive campaign
Finally, in August 2011, the foundation Board of Directors voted unanimously to go forward, committing to secure the future for Bemidji State and its students. After a full 18 years of deliberation, groundwork, strategy and launch, Imagine Tomorrow is two-thirds of the way toward its goal of $35 million and still intensifying, as new donors get involved. “I think it’s human nature for people to want to be part of something successful and impactful,” said Rob Bollinger, executive director of university advancement, who has served in that role since 2006.
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“Future graduates of Bemidji State will lead in every dimension of human endeavor. They will strengthen Minnesota’s economy and our global competitiveness, and they will contribute to the quality of life that keeps Minnesota and this nation strong.” Dr. Steven Rosenstone MINNESOTA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES CHANCELLOR
The university’s annual Honors Gala on Sept. 27 was the occasion for revealing Imagine Tomorrow’s progress to date, which now totals $26.5 million in gifts and commitments to open doors for students, further academic excellence and strengthen all aspects of BSU’s educational mission. Campaign Chair Dave Sorensen ’72 had the honor of announcing the figure to a crowd of 450 in the ballroom of Bemidji’s Sanford Center. He joined with Bollinger and President Richard Hanson in recognizing lead donors who have brought the campaign so far, so fast. Then he led a champagne toast to the continued success of Imagine Tomorrow over the next three years. “We’re here to share and celebrate with all of you – our closest friends, our supporters, our alumni – that we have embarked on a comprehensive campaign to support this great
To get involved To learn more about the Imagine Tomorrow campaign and how you can help as a donor, a volunteer or both, contact Rob Bollinger, executive director for university advancement, at (218) 755-4147 or rbollinger@bemidjistate.edu.
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gem of a university here in northern Minnesota,” Sorensen said. Dr. Steven Rosenstone, who leads the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system as chancellor, used his gala address to vigorously stress how important the campaign is, not only for BSU but also for the entire state. “I’ve been involved in lots of fundraising activities over the years,” Rosenstone said. “But I’ve got to tell you: I have never, ever seen a more inspiring, more powerful, more visionary statement about what we need to accomplish for this university than I’ve seen in this fundraising drive. It’s aligned with the most important core values of what this university is all about. “Future graduates of Bemidji State will lead in every dimension of human endeavor. They will strengthen Minnesota’s economy and our global competitiveness, and they will contribute to the quality of life that keeps Minnesota and this nation strong.” Spanning five years that began on July 1, 2011, Imagine Tomorrow is divided into three major categories of intended investment: $20 million for scholarships, $8 million to foster academic
excellence, and $7 million for annual university support. So far, $12 million has been given or pledged for scholarships; $3.4 million has been designated specifically for academics, $6.1 million is directed toward annual support, and another $5 million has yet to be designated. Taken as a whole, Hanson said, the campaign is about giving Bemidji State what he called the resilience to meet many complex challenges facing public higher education, such as vastly diminished state funding, rising tuition, advancing technology and a turbulent economy. “We have to be resilient as an institution because higher education is changing,” he said. “It’s changing right before our eyes. We have to be resilient because learners are changing, right before our eyes. We have to be resilient because the learning environment is changing, right
before our eyes. The campaign is giving us that resilience.”
and time, but also their ideas and personal connections.”
Woven through the campaign’s priority areas are such goals as fostering greater access for students regardless of their socioeconomic background, increasing opportunities for Native American students, providing a transformative experience in and out of the classroom, maintaining athletic competitiveness, and ensuring that Bemidji State has the technology, talent and resources to deliver a distinctive, world-class education.
As the campaign enters its public phase, volunteer and university leaders and fundraising staff are reaching out to prospective donors across BSU’s 40,000 living alumni, as well as to BSU employees, students, retirees and people throughout northern Minnesota who recognize what a difference the university makes.
Hanson said the university’s enrollment and finances are stable. Its campus continues to evolve, including the prospect of Minnesota bond funding money to complete a renovation of 73-year-old Memorial Hall as a cutting-edge home for the business and accounting programs. BSU also has a clear path to an outstanding future, he said, thanks in large part to Imagine Tomorrow. “We are fully committed to preserving the capacity to create these transformational learning environments by sharpening our educational focus, sharpening our support for the students, and being highly innovative in the way we continuously improve our university and our society,” Hanson said. “There can be no higher good than that.” During the campaign’s so-called “quiet phase” over the past two years, Hanson and Bollinger, along with gift officers from the BSU Foundation, have reached out to individual donors in the Bemidji region, in all parts of the United States and around the world to seek major commitments for all funding areas. Said Sorensen, a retired General Mills executive from Minneapolis who leads a 15-member volunteer Campaign Steering Committee, “So many people in the community, at the university and within our existing alumni base have been so supportive, providing not only their resources
“We have a great start, but we’re not celebrating yet,” Bollinger said. “The next three years are going to involve a lot more work traveling and meeting with volunteers than the first two.” Those who have already made the decision to invest in the campaign are setting an example for others, whether they are able to give $500 or $5 million, he said: “The feeling is just as good for both.”
Campaign priorities
Key areas for investment of contributions:
Scholarships – $20 million Access and Opportunity – Endowed and annually funded scholarships for financially challenged and first-generation students increase access and help ensure success. STEM Fields – Support for students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields can help BSU attract students in these fields.
Investing in Potential – Increasing the number of four-year, merit-based scholarships would allow BSU to attract more high-achieving students.
Athletics – Support for endowed scholarships can raise BSU’s level of competition and build its athletic reputation and legacy.
American Indian Success – Tuition assistance, academic preparedness and degree completion are crucial to the success of American Indian students.
Academic Excellence – $8 million American Indian Studies – BSU will attract more faculty, grow as a cultural center and further establish itself as a leader in American Indian Studies.
Signature programs – Accounting, graduate education in business (MBA), entrepreneurship and analytics are among the fields BSU seeks to offer. Visiting Faculty – Endowed funds can help bring some of the brightest minds to Bemidji to benefit students and the community.
International Experiences & Academic Programming Gifts will support exemplary academic programming and international opportunities.
Departmental Endowments – Gifts designated for departmental endowments will provide permanent funding for specific enhancements to academic programs. Nursing – BSU continues to develop one of the premier Breakdown of Giving
Designations by category for $25.4 million received or pledged to the Imagine Tomorrow campaign as of Dec. 31, 2013:
nursing programs in the northern United States. Gifts will build visibility and resources for the program.
Leadership Academy – BSU’s planned leadership academy will teach an interdisciplinary approach to leadership, including significant real-world experiences.
Gifts awaiting designation – 19%
Annual Support – $7 million
Lakeside Fund and all other – 23%
Lakeside Scholarship Program – An annual gift
Academic support – 13%
of $1,000 establishes a Lakeside Scholarship named for the donor, helping attract talented students to BSU.
Scholarships – 45%
BSU Lakeside Fund – Undesignated gifts to the Lakeside Fund provide powerful flexibility to support students, primarily through scholarships. Beaver Athletics – Gifts give coaches tools they need to recruit, provide skill and strength training and bolster the university’s athletic reputation.
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university makes big For nearly 100 years, Bemidji State University
and its students, faculty, staff and graduates have been an integral part of the city of Bemidji and surrounding region. They and the entire institution contribute to the economy and quality of life in ways both direct and indirect, measurable and intangible. “We have a dual mission,” said BSU President Richard Hanson. “We have a laser focus on the success of our students, many of whom remain in the area to live and work. We also place enormous importance on service to Bemidji and nearby communities, as well as to the state, nation and increasingly the world.” For starters, Bemidji State adds an estimated $166 million per year in economic activity to the
surrounding region and is directly responsible for an estimated 2,225 jobs, according to a 2013 study by St. Paul-based Wilder Research.
activities like an electronic waste collection program and an audit of waste produced by Beltrami County offices.
That impact, measured in 2011, was estimated to be approximately 7 percent of the region’s $2.4 billion economy.
The BSU Sustainability Office also helps present weekly community education programs and engages in such efforts as bringing the Nice Ride bicycle-sharing program to Bemidji and the campus.
BSU’s economic role includes its Optivation program, which provides customized training to area employers, and the 360º Manufacturing and Applied Engineering ATE Regional Center of Excellence, which is based at the university and promotes preparation of students across Minnesota for careers in advanced manufacturing. Many of the university’s students join the local workforce, not only in part-time jobs to help pay the rising cost of higher education, but also as interns and ultimately as graduates. BSU grads help fill the ranks in virtually every profession, and about 12 percent of the university’s 40,000 living alumni reside in the region. Students also provide community service through such campus programs as the Sustainability Office, which encourages them to extend their learning through
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“As a regional sustainability leader, BSU faculty, students and staff share their knowledge and experience to benefit the community,” said sustainability director Erika Bailey-Johnson. Likewise, the university’s cutting-edge American Indian Studies and Ojibwe language programs, anchored by the American Indian Resource Center (AIRC), have made BSU an important hub for northern Minnesota’s native nations and preservation of American Indian culture. Students and staff at the AIRC organize annual pow wows, promote use of the Ojibwe language and host presentations by speakers and artists that are open to the public. “Bemidji State University and its American Indian Resource Center serve as a focal point for teaching the world about the things that make this place truly unique among all other places in the world,” said AIRC Director Anton Treuer. The university’s cultural impact extends across several areas, most notably in presenting the talents of student musical performers and visual artists.
“Having a university of the quality and size of Bemidji
local impact The Department of Music offers dozens of polished choir and instrumental performances throughout the year, all open to the public, and the annual Madrigal Dinner shows have been a Bemidji tradition for 45 years. Work by visual art students is frequently on display in free campus exhibitions. World-famous visiting performers and artists also share their talents and perspective with the greater community.
stewards of the planet than we sometimes think.”
These cultural offerings and the many lectures presented throughout the year by BSU faculty and visiting scholars are all part of the university’s special place in the life of the Bemidji area, said Martin Tadlock, provost and vice president of academic affairs.
Retired faculty and other employees frequently choose to remain as involved members of the community, and many BSU employees serve in important roles with the Bemidji Chamber of Commerce, Greater Bemidji and other nonprofit organizations.
“A university exists to contribute to the intellectual life of the community through creation of new knowledge and through the sharing of information that can help the community address problems and concerns,” Tadlock said.
The Gillett Recreation-Fitness Center provides affordable exercise facilities and classes to the entire community, and the Outdoor Program Center does the same when it comes to enjoying outdoor recreation.
One dimension of growing prominence is the recruitment of international students and development of expanded opportunities for BSU students to study overseas, often for as little as $1,000 more a semester than if they stayed on campus. “International students, as well as visiting scholars, enrich and diversify the campus and community,” Tadlock said. “They allow us to see that we all have more in common as people and
The university’s impact on the region extends many other ways, as well. There is the busy schedule of Beaver Athletics events, including the popular Division I men’s and women’s hockey games at the Sanford Center, and skill-development camps that serve hundreds of youth in the region and beyond.
Summer educational and enrichment programs such as the respected Northwoods Writers conference help make the university a year-round asset. “Virtually wherever you look throughout the greater Bemidji region, you’ll see ways in which Bemidji State University is making a positive difference,” Hanson said. “We’re very proud of that, and we deeply appreciate the community support that helps make it all possible.”
State University is clearly a great asset for our county. While the benefits are numerous, one of the most remarkable to county government is the added capacity to educate not only the people that might end up working for Beltrami County, but to educate the people that can create a path away from public assistance for themselves. … And we very clearly value the huge economic impact that is tied to the salaries and services provided by BSU, along with the talent, leadership and the arts that a university just naturally attracts to a community.” – Kay Mack ‘86 Beltrami County Administrator
“Having a four-year university in our community adds value not only because of the jobs it provides, but also because of the activity it generates in Bemidji and the region. University-sponsored educational, athletic and arts events provide learning, fun and excitement. Students, staff and faculty actively participate in the life of our community as employees, volunteers and donors. The administration and faculty are creative and enthusiastic partners for community initiatives. The city’s relationship with the university has never been stronger or more important.” – Rita Albrecht ‘00 Mayor of Bemidji
“Communities of the future will be in critical need of knowledge and know-how, and to have an institution right in your community gives you a tremendous edge in building where you want to go tomorrow. We’re very fortunate to have the higher ed we have here. It’s just enormously important.” – Jim bensen ‘59 Former BSU President
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Bemidji gala Kicks off drive 450 gather at sanford center With a champagne toast and a shower of green and white streamers, a jubilant crowd of 450 celebrated Bemidji State University’s progress toward a $35 million fundraising goal at the 2013 Honors Gala on Sept. 27. The gala attracted a blend of Bemidji-area residents and alumni from across North America, the largest gathering ever for a BSU dinner event at the Sanford Center. Guests in cocktail and formal attire were greeted with valet parking by BSU athletes and photographed for a souvenir of the evening. Following a social hour, the program included a plated dinner of shrimp and filet mignon, alumni awards, biographic videos, acceptance speeches and individual donor recognition. The evening was a combination of appreciation, nostalgia and humor. Mike Roberge, a 1990 alum and chair of the National Campaign Committee for Imagine Tomorrow, drew a laugh as he reminisced about his journey from BSU student to the presidency of a large Boston-based investment company.
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“I’m living proof that you can spend a significant amount of time at the Corner Bar and succeed in life,” Roberge said. Pamela Hovland, a 1983 alum who is now on the design faculty at Yale University, also drew a connection to her younger self as she accepted the 2013 Outstanding Alumni Award. She described recently being on a plane to Minnesota and overhearing a young woman a couple of rows back talking excitedly about the small college she attended. “I kept thinking, I wonder what East Coast school she is speaking of,” Hovland said. “And a few minutes later, I overheard again that in fact it was Bemidji State University she was speaking of. “I couldn¹t help but think that this BSU student could have been me 30 years ago, flying home from the Big Apple, eager to tell of my journey from the dairy farm in the middle of nowhere in Minnesota to an office on Fifth Avenue and ultimately to a classroom at Yale.”
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3 Clockwise from top left: 1. Rita Albrecht ‘01 and Carri Jones ’03; 2. Rich ‘67 and Joyce ‘68 Siegert, Rob Bollinger; 3. Dave Sorensen ‘72, President Richard Hanson and Rob Bollinger, 4. Gala dinner at the Sanford Center; 5. Margo Curb-Aitken ‘90, Joe Aitken ‘75, Blair and Anton Treuer; 6. Dr. Jeremy Fogelson ‘00, Young Alumni Award recipient.
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How you can get involved Everyone connects with Bemidji State in a unique way, as a student, professor, staff member, intellectual, art lover, music aficionado, sports fan and on and on. Not surprisingly, every contribution – whether it is financial gift, bequest or volunteer efforts – reflects a donor’s perspective, financial situation and time. From a practical standpoint, here is background about giving to inform your decision to be a part of the Imagine Tomorrow campaign:
Cash: Cash gifts are an easy way to give. Gifts of any size make an immediate impact on the Imagine Tomorrow priority area of your choice.
Securities: Gifts of stocks, bonds, treasuries, and mutual funds that have increased in value are a winwin opportunity for you under current tax laws. They provide an immediate benefit to the university, and a current income tax savings for you.
Property: Property and real estate includes homes, cabins, commercial buildings, farmland, and other property, such as works of art and other items of value.
Planned Gifts: These involve giving to the university in the future. Typical types of planned gifts would be a bequest, life income gift, charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder trust, life insurance and a gift of residence with a life interest. The Bemidji State University Legacy Society is a unique organization whose members who have provided for Bemidji State University through a planned gift. Members receive special invitations and other benefits.
Volunteer: One of the most important gifts you can give to BSU is to tell others why the university is vital to you and the community. Attend campus events. Volunteer for committees and events that interest you. You make a difference!
Potential benefits of giving • Make an immediate or future impact on Bemidji State. • Help the department, college or area of your choice. • Potentially increase the impact of your gift with a matching gift. • Make a large gift with a small cash investment. • Save on income tax. • Reduce estate taxes. • Avoid capital gains tax. • Generate lifetime income.
Contact Call the BSU Foundation at (218) 755-2762, email to foundation@bemidjistate.edu or visit www. bsualumni.org.
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Dear Bemidji community member, Together, Bemidji State University and the Bemidji-area community provide important resources and an unmatched quality of life in northern Minnesota. We have a shared interest in maintaining and growing this strong and enduring partnership. Bemidji State is undertaking its first-ever comprehensive campaign, with a $35 million goal, to secure a bright future for the university by increasing scholarship opportunities and building innovative programs to attract students and benefit the entire region. The Imagine Tomorrow campaign reaches around the world to garner financial support for Bemidji State but naturally also engages the community with which it is so positively linked. How can you, or your business, get involved? It’s easy. Contact the BSU Foundation to speak personally with one of our expert and dedicated development staff members. They are trained to listen and learn how you want your charitable gift to benefit the university and its students and faculty. Whether you are interested in creating an endowed fund through a multi-year pledge, contributing to an existing fund, adding BSU to your estate plans or making a one-time gift, your participation is crucial to the campaign’s success. You may also choose to participate on a volunteer committee, host a donor event or assist with a campus activity. Most importantly, we ask you to share what BSU means to you with friends, neighbors and business associates. Tell them why you are making a gift and encourage them to do the same. Bemidji State students repeatedly comment on the welcoming attitude of this wonderful community they come to call home. Our faculty and staff choose to work here because of this unique and vibrant town. The campus and the community would not be the same, or as healthy, without each other. We recognize and appreciate that Bemidji State’s unique character owes much to its location in such an idyllic, friendly and supportive community. Please contact me with any questions or ideas you have about BSU’s Imagine Tomorrow campaign. With warm regards,
Rob Bollinger University Advancement Executive Director Bemidji State University
Scholarships support students Mark Fenner 2013 graduate: Bemidji High School BSU: Freshman Scholarships: Dr. Lowell “Ted” Gillett Memorial Full-Tuition and Ray and John S. Breen
Major: Biology, with an emphasis in medical sciences and a minor in chemistry
Career aspirations: Medical school
The biggest reason I chose Bemidji State University
Andria Raynbird Graduated: May 2013 Degree: Bachelor’s in nursing, minor in psychology Scholarship: Amelia Dalzotto Memorial Employed: Nurse, Sanford Medical Center, Bemidji
Nursing has always been an interest of mine.
“
I applied to university in Winnipeg when I was in my 20s, but I got turned down for the student loans. I learned that working full-time as a single mother and trying to go to school wasn’t going to work. Not if I wanted to do well. So I did a technical college course and worked in a medical lab for 10 years. “I came to Bemidji State because my mother is a professor here, and that provided me with a tuition waiver. Being able to support myself and my three children and pay for school was always my biggest obstacle. The tuition waiver was a huge help. But there were still other expenses – fees and books – and nursing textbooks are very expensive. The nursing scholarship covered the cost of my books for my entire junior year, a time when I really needed the help. “On the one hand, it seems difficult going to school when you have kids. But having kids is what really motivated me to try so hard. My dream was to be able to comfortably support my family. I’m just really feeling like I made the right choices – moving my family to Bemidji and pursuing my degree. I’m really enjoying nursing and learning tons every day.”
was because I got the Gillett scholarship, but I also toured the college and liked the campus and the “ opportunities here. Curling was a big part of it, too. There’s not a better place for curling than here in Bemidji. I play on a 21-and-younger team, and last year we played in Sochi, Russia. Our goal before graduating is to win the World Juniors.
Dallas Moreno
“The thing that I enjoy most about BSU is the support from faculty. I’m majoring in biology and really want to get into medical school. My adviser, Dr. Kerry Openshaw, has a wealth of knowledge, and he’s really helping me. “The scholarships help tremendously because if I get into medical school, not having student loans – no debt to start – just makes it easier. I work full-time at Bernick’s in the summer, but having scholarships really helps. It allows me to focus more on my studies and curl. I curl every night, about 15-20 hours a week. “I heard that President Gillett was quite the president. The people I’ve talked to say he was their favorite. It means a lot that people have the generosity to give back, and I hope that someday I can do the same.”
2013 graduate: Bemidji High School BSU: Freshman Scholarships: BSU Student Success, BSU University, Deerwood Bank, First National Bank Foundation and Ray and John S. Breen Major: Double major in accounting and business, with an emphasis in finance Career aspirations: Someday start an assisted-living facility in Bemidji
“
I live with my parents to save money for tuition, and we live close to campus, so Bemidji State just made sense. I’m also on a fast track to graduate with two majors in two years. I did 20 college credits in high school and am taking 19-20 credits a semester at BSU. With scholarship money, I’ll be able to go to school all summer. “I’d like to do accounting for a pipeline, just short-term so I can save money and come back to Bemidji and start a business. My grandpa lives at Gold Pine, and I always thought it would be nice to do something like that, open an assisted-living home, just a little smaller than Gold Pine. “My grandpa also helps me with tuition. Before I go to class on Monday nights, I bring dinner to him. It’s good one-on-one time. I love Bemidji, and I like being close to family. “When I opened up the Ray and John S. Breen Scholarship, I got tears in my eyes. I couldn’t believe it – $2,000. I didn’t want to start out life in debt. It’s just great that there are people out there who are willing to give scholarships. I’m so grateful.”
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Why we support BSU
“Building on its strengths, Bemidji State will expand its special experiences to anticipate an ever-changing world. These
Individual Donors Keith and Maria
Johanneson
special experiences are led by highly engaged faculty who understand and truly care about each and every student’s personal and professional growth. Please join me and hundreds of alumni, parents and special friends in showing support for future generations of students.” – Dr. Jon Quistgaard BSU president emeritus
“Making a commitment to BSU is a way for us to tell the university, ‘You’re a part of our community.” Keith Johanneson
johannesons look to future “I support BSU because the university ensures an accessible, quality higher education to our communities, which is one of the most important things we can do for future generations. For many BSU students, they are often the first generation to go to college, and their success is paid forward as the lives of their families are improved.” – Dr. Leah Carpenter ‘85 3M endowed chair of accounting at BSU
“I support the Bemidji State University Imagine Tomorrow campaign because it will ensure continuing opportunity for the growth and development of students and thereby the benefit the entire state of Minnesota. It is all about the future.” – Robert H. “Bob” Peters Retired BSU men’s hockey coach
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Keith Johanneson’s connection to Bemidji State University was forged in his boyhood, growing up on Beltrami Avenue and playing with the likes of Jon Quistgaard, Rich Glas and Tom Sykora.
significant Bemidji employers. “I’m not the guy that you want on this volunteer board or that volunteer board,” Johanneson said. “But if it has anything to do with economic development, then I’m really excited about it.”
It continued in his formative years as a BSU student, and it remains strong today, thanks to his What has him especially excited at the moment belief in the university’s importance to Bemidji and is a vision for BSU to become a key player in the its economy – now and in the future. retailing industry, locally and across the country. “BSU is virtually the backbone of the community,” Johanneson has made a significant pledge to BSU said Johanneson, president and CEO of to support education in retail management that Marketplace Foods. “It’s important that the could improve on the current “school of hard institution thrive and grow.” knocks” that most store managers emerge from. Johanneson and his wife, Maria, have put Bemidji Modern retail management has strong demand for State high on their list for charitable giving, individuals with a mix of managerial, accounting, continuing a family tradition that began with marketing, human resources and leadership skills, his father, John, who established a successful he said. supermarket business here and in Fargo. Students could obtain on-the-job experience at “Making a commitment to BSU is a way for Bemidji-area establishments during their years at us to tell the university, ‘You’re a part of our a BSU, benefiting local businesses and making them community,” Johanneson said. even more marketable, Johanneson said. Through the years, he has worked with university “If I had 10-15 graduates of a four-year retail presidents like Ted Gillett, who he said played an program,” he said, “I can guarantee there’d be important leadership role in keeping and attracting retailers lining up waiting to hire them.”
Why we support BSU
Individual Donors
“We recognize and truly appreciate the enormous
Janice and Joe
Lueken
importance of Bemidji State to the entire Bemidji region. The university is a valuable community partner and a source of talented
They shop at the stores, buy cars, pay rent, contribute taxes, use the medical services and on and on.
graduates who make great employees and contribute to the quality of life we all enjoy.” – John Baer Security Bank
Joe Lueken
Luekens see the big picture From the very beginning of his nearly five decades as a Bemidji grocer, Joe Lueken recognized the connection between the strength of the community and its university. Like any successful businessman, Lueken can do the math. “The first thing, is the 5,000 students,” he said. “With that many students, plus all the faculty and staff, it can’t help but be good for the town. They shop at the stores, buy cars, pay rent, contribute taxes, use the medical services and on and on.
Imagine Tomorrow with a multi-year pledge. They are members of the BSU Visionaries Society by virtue of their giving level.
“BSU has greatly impacted our lives for many years.
Then-President Jim Bensen invited Lueken to serve on the BSU Foundation Board of Directors in 1999 and continues serve in a lifetime appointment, playing a significant role in the university’s decision to launch its first-ever comprehensive fund-raising campaign.
We are proud to be one of the donors who are
Lueken saw his BSU connection come full circle in 2011 when Dr. Jeremy Fogelson, a BSU alum “Even more importantly, they remain and strengthen who had received a Lueken-funded scholarship, performed brain surgery on him at the Mayo Clinic the community.” to treat his Parkinson’s Disease. With support from his wife, Janice, Lueken’s contribution to BSU grew along with his business, As a member of the Imagine Tomorrow Campaign Lueken’s Village Foods, and so did his involvement Steering Committee, he confidently predicts that the effort will exceed its $35 million goal over the with the university. next three years. At BSU, the Luekens have funded and endowed numerous full-tuition scholarships and been major He sees a bright future ahead for Bemidji State and would like to see it grow to 6,000 or 7,000 supporters of both the Music Department and students – while still retaining its unique character. Beaver Athletics. “With that lake view, I think it’s one of the most The Joseph and Janice Lueken Family Foundation beautiful campuses in the United States,” Lueken has made a $1 million annual commitment to said, “even when it’s 40 below.”
It was a privilege to serve the many outstanding students and work with dedicated faculty and staff. helping BSU to be an outstanding higher education institution.” – Delphine ‘63 and Jack Jacobsen ‘64 Retired BSU employees
“Education is the greatest equalizer. It raises people out of poverty, and now because of this great educational opportunity, women and minorities are given an opportunity to enter diverse professions and make significant contributions to society. This has been very apparent in my lifetime. We are fortunate to have BSU, as it is a widely respected institute of higher learning.” – Beverly Henriques Retired elementary school teacher
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Why WE support BSU “I believe our community and region knows the excellent educational and cultural assets Bemidji State University generates. It is one of the brightest stars in the Northland. We should be and are proud that BSU is in our community and region. I sincerely hope there are many contributors to the foundation, providing opportunities and scholarships for the next generation.” – Rich Seigert ‘67 The Edgewater Group
“Paul Bunyan Communications has a long history of supporting education and economic development in northern Minnesota. We can think of no better example of this than our partnership with Bemidji State University. BSU provides high-quality education for thousands of students each year; it is a major employer in our region; many of our workforce are BSU graduates; and, together, BSU employees and students make a significant impact on the local economy. The effect that BSU has both directly and indirectly on our cooperative and our membership is substantial.” – Gary Johnson Paul Bunyan Communications
“The city of Bemidji grows each year along with the Bemidji State University. I support Bemidji State and the Imagine Tomorrow campaign because they will help maintain this growth in the future.” – Bill Howe ‘52 Retired, Northern National Bank
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IMAGINE TOMORROW
From left: Paul Welle, Tom Welle, Ryan Welle and Hugh Welle in the loby of First National Bank-Bemidji
Bank invests in education From the very beginning, when Bemidji State University was founded in 1919 as Bemidji State Normal School, First National Bank-Bemidji played an active role in its development. Rudy Welle saw to that, say his three great nephews, Tom, Hugh and Paul Welle, first cousins who continue in leadership roles at the bank. That connection was still strong when their grandfather, N.A. “Nick” Welle, acquired majority ownership of First National in 1945, and it remains so today. “Our bank and our family have strong ties to the Bemidji community, and obviously that includes Bemidji State as it has grown over the years,” said Tom Welle, the bank president, who attended BSU and is a member of the Imagine Tomorrow Campaign Steering Committee. “The university is so intertwined with what is happening in Bemidji – educationally, economically, culturally. It plays such a major part in the community, and that’s also what our bank does.” For many decades, the Welle family and First National Bank have been among BSU’s most
generous supporters, providing funding for special events, athletics and annual and endowed scholarships. In 1976, the N.A. Welle Scholarship endowment was created to support students in economics. Now the Welle family and First National Bank have made an additional combined gift of $500,000 to Imagine Tomorrow that will endow up to 16 scholarships each year. Preference will be given to students from the Upper Midwest who display high achievement, community involvement and leadership and maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average. “We hope that allows students to be able to afford an education at BSU,” Tom Welle said. “We’re hopeful that they end up not only as good students but good leaders.” First National believes in the quality of a Bemidji State education and has a number of BSU graduates on its staff, he said, including his son, Ryan, who graduated in 2003 and is now a commercial and investment loan officer, and Nikki Brink, the bank’s human resources manager, who graduated in 2004.
Why WE support BSU “One of the main reasons we have been so supportive of BSU and the Foundation is that we feel BSU adds a tremen-
Business & Organization Donors
dous amount to our community and makes Bemidji as better place to live. Whether through athletic teams ,academic programs or employment opportunities, BSU helps elevate Bemidji above other similar-sized cities. ” – Tim Dondelinger, ‘XX Dondelinger GM in Bemidji
BSU student Amber Wendorff of Bagley was a Neilson Foundation intern at Sanford Medical Center.
Neilson Foundation is active The philanthropic generosity of George W. Neilson and the intense community pride of his daughter, Katharine Neilson Cram, continue to connect the George W. Neilson Foundation to Bemidji State University. Neilson established the foundation in 1962. Cram, who served as its executive director until her death in 2000, guided the foundation to focus its work solely on the Bemidji area. In recent years, the foundation has supported the university in a number of different ways: In 2002, a $1 million gift, the largest the university had ever received at the time, established the George W. Neilson Chair in Wetlands Ecology in the university’s Biology Department. For the past five years and for at least another five years, the George W. Neilson Foundation Scholarship is providing $1,000 in assistance to 25 students, helping BSU with its efforts to recruit outstanding students. Gifts to help the university build the American Indian Resource Center, serving American Indian students and helping preserve native language and culture.
The Dr. Lowell (Ted) Gillett Memorial Full Tuition Scholarship, which areawareded annually to four students from Bemidji High School or Bemidji charter schools pursuing a degree in one of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Gillett served as a director on the board of the Neilson Foundation during his years as president of BSU. For the past two years, and again in 2014, grant support to help Bemidji-area employers hire students from BSU and Northwest Technical College as interns through the Intern Bemidji program. This year, the foundation is funding half of the hourly compensation for up to 15 internships, up to $2,500 per internship. Current chair of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, Paul Welle, said the philosophy of Katharine Cram – to minimize overhead costs and do as much as possible to benefit the community – continues to guide its work today. “We are proud to have played a part in the tremendous strides Bemidji has made in the past 10 years,” he said, “and we look forward to continuing to play an active role in its future.”
“If you sell real estate, insurance, groceries, gas, cash registers, office supplies or if you are a dentist, doctor, attorney, restaurant, hotel or any retail business, then BSU positively impacts your business in one way or another. The positive impact that BSU has on our community is why North Country Business Products supports and promotes the Imagine Tomorrow Campaign.” – Dean Crotty Northwoods Business Products
“I support the university to assist young people in achieving their educational goals, to help them succeed and make their own contributions. I wanted to give back to the community that gave so much to me.” – Ron Batchelder Retired, Bemidji Woolen Mills
IMAGINE TOMORROW
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BSU Lakeside Luncheon
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Thursday, March 20 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sanford Center Ballroom Please join us for a complimentary luncheon and program to learn about the Imagine Tomorrow Campaign and how it will change Bemidji State University. As part of the program, you will have an opportunity to be part of this historic campaign that will impact not only BSU, but the greater community as well. RSVP to Amanda Kerkoff at the BSU Foundation: 755-2294 or akerkhoff@bemidjistate.edu
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IMAGINE TOMORROW
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FUND BSU Annual Giving