MSU President's Newspaper Column
November 14, 2026
Learning the lessons that matter most
Much has been said about the importance of education, leadership, and preparing students for successful careers. These are goals that are central to the mission of higher education. Some of life’s most meaningful lessons cannot be found in a textbook, taught through a lecture, or measured on an exam. They are learned through experience, through relationships, and through witnessing the extraordinary goodness that exists in others. We live in a society where, in many cases, we fail to recognize all that is good. I’m hopeful that my columns can remind us.
At Mayville State University, students arrive from different backgrounds. They all have different dreams and aspirations. They gain knowledge and develop skills in the classroom, and they also learn something equally valuable … what it means to care for others, to serve selflessly, and to contribute positively to the world around them.
These lessons are woven into the culture of Mayville State University. Students see them modeled each day by faculty and staff members who invest their time, energy, and hearts into helping others succeed. They experience them through service opportunities, campus involvement, and the countless moments when people choose compassion over convenience and generosity over self-importance.
Athletics often elevates these opportunities in unique ways. Teams become families, Teammates learn to trust one another, support one another, and celebrate each other’s successes. They learn that commitment extends beyond competition and that character is revealed not only in moments of victory, but also in moments of adversity.
Right now, Mayville State students, especially members of the football team, are watching these lessons unfold in ways they will never forget. After the severe injury suffered by Mayville State quarterback Matt Donovan in September, an outpouring of kindness, compassion, and generosity has stretched from Mayville State to Matt’s hometown of La Crescent, Minn., and all across the country and the world. Students have seen firsthand how people respond when someone is facing an unimaginable challenge. They have watched individuals step forward to offer encouragement, prayers, financial support, and acts of service. They have seen people come together around a common purpose.
A particularly inspiring act of profound generosity unfolded recently when a family recognized that they were in a position to make a meaningful difference for another family facing an incredibly difficult circumstance. Motivated only by genuine concern for others, they used their own blessings, relationships, and resources to help raise significant financial support for the Donovan family. The $12,500 raised is a powerful reminder that true generosity is often expressed quietly. They did what they did simply because it was the right thing to do, to lift others up when they need it most. The lessons learned through this act of kindness are immeasurable.
The impact of this and so many more experiences reaches far beyond the immediate support being provided to the Donovans. Students are learning what humanity at its best looks like. They are seeing the power of empathy in action. They are discovering how something unbelievably devastating can inspire countless others to come together in remarkable ways. Perhaps even more important, these experiences are nurturing the goodness that exists within them.
As students support their teammate, Matt, they are developing qualities that will serve them long after graduation. They are learning how to lead with compassion, how to stand beside others during difficult times, and how to recognize that every act of kindness has the potential to change a life. These are lessons that will shape the kind of spouses, parents, professionals, neighbors, and citizens they become.
Years from now, many of these students may not remember every assignment they completed or the scores or incredible plays from the games they played, but they will remember what they witnessed during this time. They will remember the generosity, the unity, and the unwavering support that surrounded the Donovan family. They will remember that goodness exists all around us.
At Mayville State, education is about more than preparing students for careers. It is about preparing them for life. Through experiences such as these, students learn that success is measured not only by what they accomplish, but also by how they serve, uplift, and care for others. In learning those lessons, they carry forward values that make communities stronger, lives richer, and the future brighter for everyone.