Forum editorial: Important donation for MSUM
February 25, 2015 | INFORUM
Brick by brick, the Hebron Brick Co. built itself up from humble beginnings in Hebron, N.D., to the Fargo-based multifaceted multistate company that it is today. The company, which is more than 100 years old, does a lot more than brick, but its signature products can be found in buildings large and small throughout North Dakota and the nation, including Fargo’s Fargodome.
The strong and enduring brick is an appropriate symbol for the ability of the company’s chief executive to give an extraordinarily generous gift to Minnesota State University Moorhead. The donation to MSUM from CEO Rodney Paseka and his wife, Carolyn, is a milestone for the university and a tangible expression of support to college students. The $5 million will go primarily for scholarships, but also for research, faculty, and program development at MSUM’s business school, which has been renamed the Paseka School of Business.
A 1971 graduate of MSUM, Rodney Paseka emphasized that his purpose in donating to the school was not his name on the business school. “This is less about me than it is those students,” he said during a Tuesday ceremony on campus. He wants the scholarship money to address one of the knottiest problems students face: keeping out of debt. The Pasekas hope others of means will be inspired by their gift and “pay it forward” by creating scholarships.
The donation is a big deal for MSUM, not only as a boost for the business school but also as a message for students. Paseka himself, as an MSUM alumnus, is an example of what can be done with an education from MSUM. His success speaks for itself. But in addition, the generosity he and his wife have extended to the school is a real-word expression of a business person’s faith in the university. That’s a strong positive message for current and future students.
Our congratulations to the Pasekas and to MSUM.
Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper’s Editorial Board.