NORTHERN TODAY 20 SPECIAL I SSUE | Summer 2021 REVITAL IZATION OF CAMPUS | A SALUTE TO OUR DONORS THE FOUNDATION provided significant funding for Northern’s Great Plains East and West residence halls, as well as the state-of-the-art Jewett Regional Science Education Center. “The foundation was critical to this,” Jewett said. “It was the central player without question.” The foundation also contributed to the rehabilitation of the Johnson Fine Arts Center and other projects. Jewett is a board member, along with Jack Thompson, Tim Kessler, Mike Evans and Eldon Swingler. Ron Wheeler was also a former board member, as were the late Curt Jones and Vi Stoia. Great Plains Education Foundation grew out of the former Student Loan Finance Corp. After a series of federal regulation changes, the nonprofit SLFC put all assets in a for-profit company, sold it, and changed the name to Great Plains. The foundation decided to invest in new buildings on the NSU campus due to the fact that other South Dakota universities were getting substantial Regents funding for projects, and NSU was not, Jewett said. It had been 50 years since an academic building was built on the NSU campus. “Part of it was a deep dissatisfaction with how Northern was being treated,” he said. Also, now Northern can say that all of its projects were completed using local funds. And, he said, Great Plains decided investing in NSU would be a wonderful use of that money. “It’s a great school, a great education and a great city,” Jewett said. “It’s an enduring commitment to the city of Aberdeen and the people that live here.” Great Plains a catalyst for positive momentum at Northern State University When it comes to moving the NSU campus forward, Great Plains Education Foundation has been one of the greatest catalysts for change. HARVEY C. JEWETT IV Harvey C. Jewett IV, of Aberdeen, has served as chair of the Great Plains Education Foundation Inc. since 1997. He is the president and chief operating officer of the Rivett Group LLC. From 1997 to 2017, Jewett was a member of the S.D. Board of Regents, serving as president from 1999 to 2009. He served as a trustee of the College of St. Benedict for 20 years ending in 2015, when he served as the audit chair. Jewett has also served as chair of former Governor Janklow’s Commission on K-12 Education in South Dakota, and he was inducted to the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2005. He served on many statewide and regional boards of directors. MICHAEL EVANS Michael Evans, of Aberdeen, has served Great Plains Education Foundation Inc. since 2012. He is chairman and CEO of Centennial Management Inc. Evans has served as president of S.D. Manufactured Housing Association and board member of North Central Manufactured Housing Institute. He was elected to the National Manufactured Home Hall of Fame. A Northern State University alumnus, Evans has had various roles on the NSU Foundation Board, including president. MICHAEL EVANS HARVEY C. JEWETT IV CURT JONES TIM KESSLER
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