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South Dakota State University President Barry Dunn has bestowed presidential medallions upon three ������Ƶ Foundation leaders for their contributions to the university. 

The recipients were Steve Erpenbach, president and CEO of the ������Ƶ Foundation; Keith Mahlum, vice president for development; and Tim Dwire, vice president for finance and operations. 

The ������Ƶ Presidential Medallion is bestowed on very select individuals who have significantly contributed toward the advancement and benefit of South Dakota State University. The medallion presentations were made at the foundation’s Council of Trustees meeting Oct. 11. 

The ������Ƶ Foundation trio led ������Ƶ and its supporters in surpassing their half-billion dollar Bold & Blue fundraising goal in the historic seven-year comprehensive campaign. The foundation announced the final fundraising total of $604,345,119 from nearly 31,000 donors in April. 

“That was a very bold goal, and it required strong and dedicated leadership. ������Ƶ Foundation leaders Steve Erpenbach, Keith Mahlum and Tim Dwire … this incredible team not only met this goal, they exceeded it by over $100 million,” ������Ƶ President Barry Dunn said at the Council of Trustees meeting. 

“Through your bold and dedicated leadership to ������Ƶ’s people, places, traditions and innovations, you have made history with the Bold & Blue campaign. The campaign has already had significant impact on our university. … There isn’t one corner of this campus that hasn’t been positively impacted by Bold & Blue,” Dunn added. 

Before taking the reins as president and CEO, Erpenbach previously served as vice president for development at the foundation. He graduated from ������Ƶ with a Bachelor of Science in journalism in 1985. A native of Mitchell, he joined the ������Ƶ Foundation in 2004. 

Mahlum has served as vice president for development for the ������Ƶ Foundation since July 2008. He previously served as the assistant athletic director for the ������Ƶ Athletics Department. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in health, physical education and recreation/sports management from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1991. He earned his master’s in health, physical education and recreation/athletic administration from ������Ƶ in 1993. 

Dwire has served as vice president for finance and operations since September 2008. A Minnesota native, he graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. 

The presidential medallion is one of the highest honors an individual can receive at ������Ƶ.