By Stella Dolan
Published 4:00 pm on December 12, 2024
Bemidji State University hosted the inaugural Federated Day on campus last month, offering a range of opportunities for students to connect with successful alumni, engage in mock interviews and explore potential career pathways in the insurance industry.
The BSU Alumni & Foundation and the School of Business joined forces with Federated Insurance to put on the Nov. 15 event.
“It was a fantastic day spent on campus with students, alumni and faculty,” said Jordy Christian, Federated’s regional marketing manager. “Bemidji State embodies everything we look for at Federated, and this day highlighted what makes our partnership successful – especially the time we spent helping and meeting with students. I look forward to many more events on campus.”
Federated Insurance, headquartered in Owatonna, has a strong history of hiring Bemidji State graduates and supporting the university’s mission to prepare career-ready professionals. At least 80 BSU alumni currently work at Federated.
They were a natural collaborator for an industry event of this scope and helped make the maiden voyage a success.
The day was packed with activities designed to highlight the partnership’s impact. Students participated in networking sessions and mentorship opportunities, benefiting from personalized guidance during mock interviews with Federated Insurance professionals.
Federated’s relationship with the university was also honored uniquely through Bemidji State athletic events. Federated employees were recognized as the honorary captains at the BSU football game against Augustana, and the company’s contributions were also highlighted during the men’s hockey game against Minnesota.
“I am so thankful to be part of the relationship with Federated and Bemidji State,” said Adrian Dunn, the foundation's director of development. “The shared values of BSU and Federated are what make working together so effortless with events like this.”
Federated Day’s success highlighted the impact of university-industry partnerships budding at Bemidji State. It not only celebrated a shared commitment to encouraging student success but also set the stage for additional business partnerships in the future.
The promising response was particularly inspiring for Abby Randall, the foundation’s director of corporate relations and giving and the one who headed the foundation’s efforts to put on the event.
“I am continually inspired by industry partners like Federated Insurance who genuinely care about the well-being of their employees and extend that same commitment to our students,” Randall said. “Their unwavering support through financial contributions, mentorship, and the creation of pathways to career opportunities is invaluable to our mission of cultivating a career-focused ecosystem on campus. This partnership empowers our students with the resources and opportunities they need to pursue meaningful and successful careers, and for that, we are deeply grateful.”
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