NORTHERN TODAY 9 SPECIAL I SSUE | Summer 2021 “DACOTAH BANK has always been supportive of the university,” said Vice Chairman Joe Senger, a Northern alum. “That history was the beginning of being a major sponsor of the EIC.” NSU and Dacotah Bank are connected on multiple levels, said Bank President and CEO Robert Fouberg. That includes workforce, with Dacotah Bank employing nearly 150 Northern grads in senior management and throughout the ranks of the organization. “They’ve produced a lot of talent that’s really helped Dacotah Bank grow and succeed. We recently entered into a partnership with Northern whereby graduates of the banking and financial services program are guaranteed an interview with Dacotah Bank. We are optimistic the partnership will pay dividends for graduates as well as the bank,” Fouberg said. There’s also an entertainment aspect, as the university provides fine arts events and sporting events, as well as community viability. “Northern provides a number of jobs – good core jobs to families living and working in Aberdeen,” Fouberg said. Over the years, key individuals who have been instrumental in forging a connection between Northern and the community. That includes longtime Dean of Business Harry Jasinski, Senger said. “He was really instrumental in getting the banks to support Northern,” Senger said. Northern is also a center for teacher education in South Dakota, providing numerous educational opportunities for the entire region, said Fouberg. “Education is a big component, both that initial undergraduate education, but a number of master’s programs that are so important to educators today at all levels,” he said. “To have that master’s degree means a great deal in terms of their preparedness in the classroom and their ability to earn a living in their chosen profession.” Contributed to Campaign in Many Ways Dacotah Bank contributed to the Educational Impact Campaign in numerous ways, with support spread across the entire campaign. Many people from Dacotah Bank worked on the campaign, including serving on the committee, said retired chairman and CEO Rod Fouberg. The bank has also actively supported student scholarships for a long time. Senger said several Dacotah Bank campaign contributors chose to support scholarships and endowments for students rather than building projects, with the goal of enhancing Northern as a whole. Stadium Important for NSU, Students The bank’s numerous contributions to the campaign included support of the Regional Sports Complex. They’re happy to be part of a project that means a lot for Northern and its students, said Robert Fouberg. The fact that Northern’s new football facility is named Dacotah Bank Stadium further demonstrates the longtime connection between the two entities. “To me, that stadium is the billboard for the campus; it’s the billboard for the community and just really takes that university to the next level,” Senger said. “It’s really good for us with the roots of Dacotah Bank being here to be part of that.” The facility – the final project of the campaign – also makes the NSU campus stand out, Senger said. “You’re going to have to drive a long way, in my humble opinion, to find another campus once this is all completed that is any more attractive than Northern.” Dacotah Bank has been longtime supporter of Northern State University Dacotah Bank has been one of the biggest supporters of the Northern State University Educational Impact Campaign – but historically, supporting Northern is nothing new for the bank. “Northern provides a number of jobs – good core jobs to families living and working in Aberdeen,” ROBERT FOUBERG REVITAL IZATION OF CAMPUS | A SALUTE TO OUR DONORS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzkyNTY=