MY GUSTAVUS

MY GUSTAVUS MY GUSTAVUS

Scott Fransen ’86

COMMUNICATION STUDIES, BUSINESS/PSYCHOLOGY MINOR “I GREW UP IN EDEN PRAIRIE WHEN IT WAS A VILLAGE. I RODE MY SNOWMOBILE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL TO REFEREE BASKETBALL GAMES.”

I explored a lot of di erent schools, and what it came down to was the visit. The campus won me over. I was given a tour by a football captain and I thought he was a really nice guy. Plus it was far enough away yet close enough if I needed to get home for something.

I thought I would play two sports—football and basketball. I soon realized that you do have to study! I did play rugby in the spring.

I grew up in a media family and enjoyed what I knew about the business. What Gustavus provided was a well-rounded academic experience in that major. Tucking in psychology with business, I did feel prepared to start my career.

Having grown up in Minnesota, I never want to give up winter. I do notice di erences in winters now in terms of how cold it is and how much snow we get even compared to when I was at Gustavus. I lived in a double-wide trailer in town one year and we were snowed in for three days. I lived on Lake Washington one year and we were snowed in for four days.

Snow doesn’t bother me. I look forward to it. I like to ice fi sh. I like to ski. I love to chase pheasants with my dogs in the snow. I love fi res in the fi replace.

If you want to enjoy winter more, fi nd that activity that you might have some interest in, and then fi nd a mentor to get you going in it. And if you don’t like it, try something else. There are people, organizations, that want to help you have some fun in the winter. And don’t go do it when it’s butt-ass cold and twenty below. Wait until the sun shines and it gets warmer, when you can fi nd joy out there.

IN 2009,

Fransen bought Ron Schara Productions, which produces (among other shows and content) the long-running Minnesota Bound. “As a communication company, we’re storytellers and passionate about the outdoors: individuals, events, and attractions.”