Two gifts, Countless OpportunitiesGet Inspired
Connections are essential in today’s highly competitive job market. More and more, whom you know is just as important as what you know. As alumni, parents, and business owners, Mark ’79 and Debra (Erickson ’80) Bergman understand that the right education and the right connections are crucial to discovering the right career. That’s why they’ve chosen to support students through Campaign Gustavus in the areas of scholarship and mentoring.
The Bergmans, who operate their family business with their Gustie children, Christopher ’05 and Britta ’08, decided to support the campaign pillar of opportunity because they want to help students prepare for the future. And in their opinion, Gustavus is the right place to do it.
“We feel that anything we can do to help students prepare for the real world is beneficial,” says Mark. “It is always a good thing to have students connect with alumni for possible internships and employment opportunities. The mentoring program definitely helps students get to the next level.”
The alumni mentoring program began as a student project in one of Dr. Kathi Tunheim’s economics and management courses and soon became a student-run activity for business majors. Today, the program matches alumni and student mentoring pairs from other areas of study. Mentors and students meet periodically throughout the year to exchange ideas and engage in professional development, which can lead to internships and jobs.
Mark and Debbie see this program as an important step for students to take off campus, but they are also well aware of the great experiences students have access to on the Hill. The Bergmans were actively involved in Greek life, enjoyed watching hockey games, and formed friendships that have lasted to this day. Mark marvels at the strength of their Gustie connections.
“No matter where you go, if you’re wearing Gustie gear, somebody is going to stop you. This place connects you to a whole network of people, whether you’re meeting up with classmates, traveling the world, or looking for a job,” says Mark.
Those experiences and connections wouldn’t have been possible without the opportunity to attend Gustavus. That’s why the Bergmans have designated another portion of their campaign gift to the Irene Jacobson Erickson scholarship.
As it turns out, their connections to Gustavus aren’t just far-reaching, they also run deep. Mark’s parents are Gusties and Debbie comes from a legacy family that started with her great-grandfather, who was among the first class of students to graduate from Gustavus. Her grandmother, father, three sisters, and their husbands are all Gusties as well.
When Debbie was a young girl, her father, the Rev. Peter Erickson ’49, established the scholarship in memory of his mother, who was a music major from the class of 1907. Since 1984 the scholarship has supported music students pursuing a Gustavus education. It’s a legacy Mark and Debbie are proud to perpetuate.
“My dad put all of us through college on a minister’s salary, which wasn’t easy. He knew that college is more than just academics; it’s about the life lessons too. He believed that scholarships are important to give kids that full college experience. We want to keep that belief alive,” Debbie says.
Their gifts do just that. By supporting the Irene Jacobsen Erickson Scholarship, they are respecting the past and helping students cultivate their own unique experiences. By growing the Mentoring program, they are helping young people prepare for their lives after graduation. It’s a combination that’s sure to profoundly impact the College and create countless opportunities for success.