NORTH STAR MUTUAL INSURANCE Gives $3 Million to SMSU School of Business

Southwest Minnesota State University recently announced a partnership with North Star Mutual Insurance Company of Cottonwood, Minnesota that will lead to an investment of $3 million in the SMSU School of Business. The investment will establish the North Star Mutual School of Business and provide funding for academic programming, facilities, and scholarships that will create new opportunities for students.

The $3 million investment will provide funds that will make both an immediate impact for students and establish an endowment to provide ongoing support. The partnership will strengthen the current school of business by enhancing facilities and increasing funding for programs at SMSU. In addition, new scholarship and internship opportunities will be established as part of the North Star Mutual partnership to help support students in their academic endeavors and career development. North Star Mutual will receive naming rights to the business school and maintain a role on a special advisory committee made up of both school faculty and local business representatives.

“We are grateful to North Star Mutual and their leadership team who see the value in further investing in the next generation of SMSU students,” said SMSU President Kumara Jayasuriya. “This partnership will help us expand opportunities for students in southwest Minnesota which is critical to our mission and allows us to continue meeting the workforce needs of our regional employers.”

Southwest Minnesota State University is a public university in Marshall, Minnesota currently offering four-year degrees in liberal arts and professional studies. The North Star Mutual School of Business will house programs in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Business Administration while also supporting programs such as Agribusiness and Hospitality Management. SMSU will also be enhancing the curriculum in Risk Management as part of the new partnership. This investment will make a significant and immediate impact on students at SMSU and create a direct link to the business community in Southwest Minnesota.

“We are very excited to be in a position to support Southwest Minnesota State University in this way,” said Pete Hellie (SMSU Class of ’84), President and CEO of North Star Mutual. “We see it as an investment in the growth and development of future leaders, and ultimately, the communities of southwestern Minnesota and beyond.”

North Star Mutual, a Midwestern property-casualty insurer, has called the area “home” for more than a century and has seen steady growth and financial success over the years. The company, now serving over 375,000 policyholders, recently reached two major milestones, recording over $1 billion in assets and $500 million in annual written premiums. North Star Mutual currently employs a staff of 280 full-time employees: 220 at their home office in Cottonwood and roughly 60 in the field throughout their eight-state operating territory.

“SMSU is a great school and attracts people to our area from all over the Midwest and other parts of the world,” said Hellie. “For us, and many other area businesses, it’s important to contribute to the success of the university and the next generation of people who will be making a difference in our world and in our industries.” North Star Mutual currently employs 55 SMSU graduates, who work in several different capacities including underwriting, claims, accounting, IT, and research and development.

“We are very fortunate and thankful to have a regional partner like North Star Mutual publicly supporting SMSU and affirming the quality of our faculty, staff, and students. We are very excited for what the future holds within the North Star Mutual School of Business and look forward to building upon our partnership,” said Jayasuriya.

The Enactus group at SMSU is in its second year of Mindful Meals, a program designed to meet the food insecurity need among elementary school children in Marshall, Minn.

The goal of the pilot program launched in Spring 2022 was to provide a nutritious Friday evening meal to families of Kindergarten and first-grade students who requested them. The students continued their pilot effort in the fall semester.

In the fall, Enactus continued the pilot program to include a Friday evening meal for students and every member of their families. In their first week, Nov. 4, they dispatched meals to 19 families for a total of 93 meals. They also delivered on Nov. 18 and Dec. 9. The volunteers prepared meals in the Culinology kitchen at SMSU. The team includes Enactus members, Culinology and Hospitality Management students, and Student Hospitality Organization members.

“Important to scaling up is increasing our connections in the community. We have amazing partners such as Christensen Farms. They provide pork products as well as advice on how we can leverage and maximize our supply chain,” said Taylor. “Other partners include Hy-Vee and Aldi grocery stores that help us rescue food that might otherwise go to waste from store surplus,” said Taylor. “Another of our partners has been the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce.”

“In the spirit of our interdisciplinary partnership, we work with our agronomy professor Dr. Adam Alford and his team provided a plot for Enactus to grow our own produce,” said Taylor. “Another major achievement since last year is that we’re now expanding our use of volunteers. We now view this as a university initiative and utilizing student volunteers from all majors.”

“Through efforts like Mindful Meals, we show students that entrepreneurial mindset can apply to everyone,” said Taylor. “The goal of Enactus is to develop projects that can solve a problem in the community and become sustainable in the long term.”

“This fall we made sure that we could successfully deliver the meals, as they are intended to be delivered and we truly fulfill our mission,” said Taylor. “Marshall School District was instrumental in making sure that our messaging reached those who need us most,” said Taylor. “The logistics are complex. The student leaders work with the school to get the word out. They have sign-ups for families and for all of our volunteers.”

Critical to the success of the Mindful Meals program is Valerie Messner, project manager, and Jess Krueger, operations manager. Messner is an accounting and finance major from Hancock, Minn. Krueger is a culinology major from Thurston, Neb.

“I joined Enactus last year. I just really wanted to get more involved on campus,” said Messner. “At that point it was just an idea but we started presenting to external stakeholders and creating relationships with different departments on campus like the food plot we’ve started with Agronomy.”

Krueger brings expertise on best methods for preservation, working with external partners on rescuing food, and managing the kitchen.

“I joined Enactus in my sophomore year. Valerie spoke to one of our culinary classes. I just I fell in love with their message,” said Krueger. “It’s a great way to give to others and make sure that they’re getting nutritious meals.”

“As part of operations, I am involved in recipe development to find meals that will appeal to kids as well as adults,” said Krueger. “I also plan the ingredients we need to prepare meals and oversee the kitchen managers.”

“I joined the Mindful Meals project because I saw food insecurity in my own hometown. I wanted to make a difference and provide opportunities for students to grow and contribute,” said Messner. “I’m learning so much about how to communicate and think critically. I’m always working with a team and that helps me become a better leader.”

“One of the surprising things I’ve learned is the importance of focusing on the customer, the importance of details, and being respectful of the families who are facing this insecurity. Our goal is to serve them with dignity and kindness,” said Messner.

The Mindful Meals team appreciates donations as well as volunteer hours. TO learn more visit www.mindfulmealsmn.com or email mindfulmeals@SMSU.edu. If a local family is in need of meals, request forms are posted on the Mindful Meals website.