Swenson Foundation’s overall giving surpasses $500,000

Terry Vermillion, associate professor of percussion, leads a percussion session in the Performing Arts Center. Photo by Anna Kurth

The David Swenson Foundation’s total monetary contributions to St. Cloud State surpassed the $500,000 mark in support of the university’s percussion studies recently thanks to a major gift to the St. Cloud State University Foundation.

David Swenson graduated from St. Cloud State in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in music education. He was a percussionist as well as a member of the Marching Band during his time as a student. Swenson passed away in April 1992 and the Foundation was established with a focus on education of percussion students at St. Cloud State.

“It was David Swenson’s dream to help fund the education of generations of young people in the Department of Music whose principal instrument is percussion,” said Terry Vermillion, chairman of the music department and associate professor of percussion. “Students get toe-to-toe time with professional recording artists, performers, teachers and master percussionists; have opportunity to perform on high-quality professional equipment; and have their educational cost burden reduced all through the generous giving of the David Swenson Foundation.”

The Swenson Foundation’s philanthropy provides for five to eight competitive scholarships, which are awarded to students majoring in music and whose principal instrument is percussion. Funding has also been provided by the Swenson Foundation for new percussion equipment, as well as for the David Swenson Foundation Guest Artist Series, which brings professional performers for residency at St. Cloud State.

“It is phenomenal to see the impact of the Swenson Foundation’s generosity toward our percussion department,” said Matt Andrew, vice president for University Advancement. “David Swenson’s passion for helping music students achieve their dreams will have a lasting legacy at St. Cloud State.”