Roger and Vicki Musick present $33 million gift to support education in Mitchell
MITCHELL, S.D.— A transformative $33 million donation has been made in the Mitchell community with the explicit goal of elevating local education and making Mitchell an exceptional place to raise a family. The funds are earmarked as two $15 million endowments, one for Mitchell Public Schools (MPS) and one for Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU), launching a new era of opportunity for all MPS students, educators and administrators. The remaining $3 million is being presented to the institutions as immediate seed money to launch these programs without delay.
Each of the endowments is expected to generate approximately $750,000 in annual support in perpetuity, creating a lasting and sustainable impact for generations to come.
According to Roger Musick, “The donation is based on the belief that nothing is more important than great educators. These funds are intended to provide comprehensive scholarships for all educators and administrators in MPS to pursue master's degrees and professional development from DWU. It will also establish scholarships for graduates of Mitchell Public Schools. In addition, scholarships will be provided for high school juniors and seniors who receive free or reduced lunch to take DWU courses, creating a vital and affordable pathway to higher education.”
The Musicks have been long-time supporters of a variety of Mitchell endeavors. According to a profile in the Mitchell Republic in January 2025, recent donations from the Musick Family Foundation have included Mitchell Public Schools, Dakota Wesleyan, Mitchell United Way, CASA, Big Friend, Little Friend, the Mitchell Food Pantry among others. The couple previously gifted start-up funds for the Begindergarten and KERNELS After School programs.
Roger is a graduate of Mitchell High School and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He had a long career in technology, first at Martin Group, and then and went on to found Innovative Systems in Mitchell. He is a current member of the DWU Board of Trustees, has been inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame and most recently was named the Mitchell Republic’s 2024 Person of the Year.
From his Hall of Fame biography: “Roger has served multiple terms on various community and state boards such as DWU, MTC, Methodist Hospital, Avera Queen of Peace, Mitchell Area Development, South Dakota State Chamber of Commerce, and the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors. He has also served on numerous Computer Science advisory committees for South Dakota universities and the SD REACH Committee. Roger was very active on the Vision 2000 and Vision 2020 planning organizations for Mitchell, and he was a part of the committee that worked on the presentation when Mitchell was named one of the top 7 Intelligent Communities in the world.
Roger received the Harold Hagen Award for entrepreneurship in 2004, an honorary doctorate of business administration from DWU in 2007, the Spirit of Enterprise Award for Entrepreneurship at the Innovation Expo in 2012 and DWU Athletic Hall of Fame as Contributor in 2013.”
Roger and Vicki have close ties to the community, having raised a family of three children who all graduated from Mitchell High School—Kelly and spouse Ryan Tupper; Kyle and spouse Lacey; and Kody and fiancée Taylor Mohr. The couple has five grandchildren.
The DWU endowment, managed directly by Dakota Wesleyan, will strengthen and expand the university’s education department. Specific goals include increasing the number of MPS graduates who attend DWU, specifically students interested in majoring in education. A second goal is to help improve the outcomes of MPS students. Finally, the funds will help enhance the DWU Department of Education, making it and partner MPS the best in South Dakota and well-known throughout the region.
In a unique arrangement, DWU students majoring in education will have unparalleled access to MPS classrooms, providing them with hands-on, real-world teaching experiences from the start of their university careers. This synergy between the two institutions will create a feedback loop of innovation and excellence, benefiting both aspiring teachers and the students they serve.
Projects will be implemented with an emphasis on faculty development, student scholarships, curriculum innovation, educator preparation programs and tutoring and academic support services. As part of this initiative, DWU and MPS will collaborate to align their efforts and creatively enhance the educational experience from kindergarten through college, delivering long-term benefits to students and educators throughout the community.
This is the single largest gift to Dakota Wesleyan in the university’s 140-year history.
DWU president Dan Kittle was overwhelmed by the news. “When Roger and I began the discussion about how he and Vicki wished to support our efforts in educating teachers, I was excited. When we learned the size of the gift and continued our discussion about what these funds will do for current and future educators, I was quite literally speechless. The Musick family has been stalwart in its support of DWU. To think about the generations of impact this gift will have is truly awe inspiring. We are beyond grateful for their gift and pledge to be excellent stewards of these funds.”
The MPS endowment, managed through a newly created Mitchell Public Schools Foundation for Academic Excellence, will be used to implement and sustain a Begindergarten program, a robust after-school program at all three grade schools, provide additional tutors and teachers’ aides and enrichment programs at MPS. These funds are intended to supplement— not replace—federal, state or local funding.
Childs enthusiastically expressed gratitude to the Musicks. "This gift will transform the opportunities we can offer our Mitchell Public School students, both now and for generations to come. Roger and Vicki’s generosity is a powerful expression of faith in our schools, and in the young people, families and educators who make this community strong. Their vision recognizes that when we invest in early learning, grow after-school opportunities and help our teachers reach their fullest potential, we are setting the stage for lifelong success. This is more than a donation. This is the beginning of a brighter future for all of Mitchell."
“This donation is a powerful investment in the future of Mitchell, giving every student the opportunity to succeed," said Roger. "But this is just the beginning. The lasting success of this vision depends on a community-wide commitment to our children and their families. It provides the resources to build a legacy of educational excellence. By working together, the people of Mitchell can ensure the city becomes a beacon for young families and a place where every child can thrive.”
The Musicks’ vision extends beyond the financial contribution, outlining a call to action for the entire community:
- Businesses are encouraged to create more paid internships for high school and college students to develop a strong local workforce.
- The community is challenged to increase the availability of high-quality, low-cost childcare.
- Parents and students are urged to take advantage of this opportunity by prioritizing attendance, a key factor in academic achievement.
- Parents are called on to increase their involvement in their children's education and school activities.
- The community should work to improve the quality of life for young families, making Mitchell an even more attractive place to live and grow.
Those who can are invited to join the effort by contributing funds to Mitchell Public School Foundation for Academic Excellence and to Dakota Wesleyan University.
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NOTE: Head shots available upon request.
About DWU
DWU is a private, liberal arts university associated with the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church, that is rooted in four values: lifelong learning, leadership development, faith exploration and genuine service to others. For more information about Dakota Wesleyan University, go to www.dwu.edu.
About Mitchell Public Schools
The Mitchell School District 17-2 was founded in 1880. The district has an enrollment of more than 2,700 students in 13 grades (kindergarten through 12th grade) housed in three elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, a Career & Technical Academy and two colony schools. Nearly 200 teachers deliver all levels of education, with the help of an active administrative and support staff.
