Letters of Thanks Inspire Additional Scholarship Support

Richard Helgason is making students' dreams come true.

Buena Vista University friend and donor, Richard Helgason feels that donating to the BVU scholarship program is a rare opportunity to make a large impact.

Richard, Professor Emeritus of Engineering at Southern Methodist University in Texas, grew up in Storm Lake with a love for music. He had planned to attend BVU, but an historic event changed his course: When Richard was a junior in high school, the Soviets launched Sputnik. Because of this event, in addition to his strong math and science skills, he was encouraged to study science in college. He chose to pursue his education at Iowa State University. On a trip home to Storm Lake, a friend introduced him to his future wife, Janice (Salmonson), who was attending BVU and later graduated in 1963.

When Janice passed away in 2008, Richard endowed the first of two scholarships in Janice's memory. The letters he receives from students who are the recipients of the scholarship have always impressed Richard, and he is thrilled to know the difference he is making in their lives. Seeing the impact the scholarship makes on BVU students inspired Richard to endow a second scholarship in his own name.

There are many ways people can donate to the scholarship program: give to the general scholarship fund, an annual scholarship, or endow a scholarship in their own name or in memory of someone else.

When asked for his advice to anyone thinking of giving to the BVU scholarship program, Richard said, "If anyone is thinking about endowing a scholarship, I encourage them to do it. It is the chance to affect the lives of many young people. We do not often have an opportunity like this that can make such a large impact. It very well could be the difference between a young person being able to attend college or not."

Create a Legacy of Opportunity

Like Richard Helgason, you can ensure more young people get the opportunity to succeed. Give a gift in your estate to support student scholarships at BVU. To learn more, contact Matt Astleford ’02, MBA, CFRE at support@bvu.edu or 712.749.2648.