I cannot say often enough that the primary goal of everything we do as a university is to prepare our students for meaningful, rewarding lives in their chosen fields. Their success is the measure of our own. This objective motivates and inspires all we do together as administrators, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Bemidji State. Its pursuit and the results that continue to affirm our purpose can be found throughout this edition of the BSU magazine.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the tremendous and gratifying progress we have made together in the Imagine Tomorrow fund-raising campaign. In less than four years, the BSU Foundation has received gifts and pledges totaling more than $31 million. Stop and let that figure sink in for a moment. We’re closing in on our ambitious goal of $35 million, and I have every confidence that we will get there over the next 19 months. The generosity has been staggering, and our students’ increased prospect for success has already been the outcome.

The difference we are making in the lives of our students can be clearly seen in our latest examples of “Students to Watch” – young people who are defining themselves as leaders and laying the groundwork for significant accomplishment in their careers. The benefits of the guidance and motivation provided by our faculty is evident in the achievement of our alumni, including those profiled at length and the many others featured in the Class Notes section. We are so proud of our continued association with our thousands of outstanding alumni, including the remarkable individuals honored during the Homecoming Honors Gala on Oct. 17.

We also make a difference in the world through the work of our students, faculty and staff,
as illustrated in the cover story on community and civic engagement. Transformative
experiences of service and hands-on learning are so important to students, and they also provide enormous benefits to the greater Bemidji region and beyond.

So success begets success. Your support of our students and the university as a whole enables our mission of education and advancement, and for that we are forever grateful.

Best wishes,