Outstanding Alumni Award

Outstanding Alumni Award

Steve Rasmussen receives honor in 2013

Steve Rasmussen was racing motorcycles when he decided he was ready to learn more about diagnosing and repairing motorized vehicles. He looked around and discovered a college that was not only close to his home in Northfield, Minn., but also offered the perfect academic pathway to meet his needs. He enrolled in the Automotive Technician program and went on to earn his A.A.S. degree and ASE Master Technician certification. Steve looks back on his experience as a DCTC student as having a twofold benefit: 1) He increased his knowledge in a field he greatly enjoyed and 2) He formed a bond with the college that has only grown stronger over time.

Fifteen years later, Steve received a flyer in the mail promoting the college’s Exercise and Sport Science program. An inline marathon skater and yoga teacher, he saw another opportunity to expand his skill set. He enrolled in the program and earned his second A.A.S. degree from DCTC.

Steve Rasmussen’s Acceptance Speech

Steve was so inspired by his two positive experiences at the college, experiences defined by his rewarding interactions with faculty and his fellow students, that he founded a scholarship in memory of his sister, Peggy Rasmussen King. Each year since then, through his work with the Weyerhauser Family Foundation, Steve has secured funds to assist single mothers enrolled at DCTC. He makes sure at least one candidate receives a full-ride scholarship with others receiving substantial assistance with tuition and other college expenses. In 2013, an endowment was established, giving the scholarship the means to grow and provide additional resources to DCTC students.

Today, Steve resides on a 12-acre hobby farm near Northfield. He keeps honeybees and bottles maple syrup. He also repairs GMC motorhomes, a hobby that dates back to the early 1970s when his parents put him on a plane to Flint, Mich., with instructions to purchase a new motorhome and drive it back to Minnesota. Anyone who meets Steve is impressed by his humble nature and desire to help others.

DCTC is proud to recognize Steve Rasmussen as the 2013 Alumni of the Year. He continues to go above and beyond the call of duty to champion the college mission and campus community.

For more information about the Outstanding Alumni Award, contact:
  • Tharan Leopold
    Executive Director of DCTC Foundation and Alumni
    651-423-8293

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