NORTHERN TODAY 19 SPECIAL I SSUE | Summer 2021 REVITAL IZATION OF CAMPUS | A SALUTE TO OUR DONORS Schwan Financial Group supports Educational Impact Campaign For John and Laurie Schwan, there are many reasons to support Northern State University – on a personal, professional and community level. THAT’S WHY the Schwans, owners of Schwan Financial Group, have chosen to pledge $250,000 to the Educational Impact Campaign. John Schwan said NSU is achieving excellence in all avenues. “I believe Northern is critical to our region from a standpoint of what it provides economically,” Schwan said. “Students, employees, professors – what it supports is vital and it’ll keep this community vital for a long time.” The Educational Impact Campaign is a collaborative effort between Northern and the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The campaign involves three projects: the new SDSBVI facility; the Athletic and Recreation Fields and Pavilion; and the NSU Regional Sports Complex, which includes Dacotah Bank Stadium and Koehler Hall of Fame Softball Field. Supported Family-Owned Business Schwan said NSU has supported their familyowned business. On a personal level, three of the Schwans’ children graduated from NSU: Kyle Schwan, who played basketball for the late coach Don Meyer; Katie Schwan; and Kory Schwan. All of them said the education at Northern was outstanding, Schwan said. NSU has also provided venues for numerous community events over the years. Growing up, his daughter’s dance studio recitals were held in the Johnson Fine Arts Center. “So it’s entertained us and been a great resource to the whole community,” he said. For all of those reasons, Schwan encourages others to support the campaign as well. “Too often residents take the university and all that it provides for granted. It’s vital for the community and it helps offer other services as well,” he said. Looking to the Future Schwan said he’s excited for the projects, but especially excited for what the improvements mean for the next 25 years. “It solidifies Northern to be here. It gives us a chance to be competitive,” he said. “If you don’t invest and keep investing and reinvesting, you lose your competitiveness. You have to have a place that attracts people.” The projects have been talked about for a long time, and Schwan said he’s glad it’s now turned to action. “And I’m excited about the business people here in town getting behind it and supporting it,” he said. “I think it makes a powerful statement.” “I believe Northern is critical to our region from a standpoint of what it provides economically.” JOHN SCHWAN Courtesy of the Schwan Family
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