MITCHELL, S.D. (KELO) — As the school year kicks off tomorrow, students from kindergarten all the way to senior year will notice some big and impactful changes thanks to the Musick family.
A gift that totals $33 million will go towards the Mitchell School District and Dakota Wesleyan University.
“I’ve been on the Dakota Wesleyan board for about 20 years and a graduate of Mitchell High School, and they’ve worked together very well for the last decade or two,” said Roger Musick, who made the donation along with his wife. “And I just want to make sure we continue to work together and improve education in Mitchell.”
At a press conference this morning, the Mitchell schools’ superintendent and DWU’s president expressed their gratitude and excitement for the changes that will come with the donation.
“From our first conversations with Roger, it was clear that this commitment was more than about dollars. He asked hard questions, sought clear outcomes and stay focused on one central goal: improving education for young people,” said DWU president Dan Kittle.
The Musick family’s gift will help fund a pre-kindergarten program, free after-school care, college classes for high school students and better programs for aspiring teachers.
“With the gift amount that we’ve seen from the Musick Foundation, the gift of $33 million will allow us to start these programs and run them forever,” said Joe Childs, superintendent of the Mitchell School District. “So, what we’re talking about is something that changes the way Mitchell looks, and it’ll change it tomorrow.”
So as students fill the hallways on Wednesday, they can rest assured their future education is in good hands.