April 7, 2022 — This week, Schwan’s and the University of Minnesota celebrated eight years of partnership in the Women Invested in Leadership and Learning (WILL) program with a mentor appreciation event.
WILL is a partnership between the University of Minnesota,
Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation and the Schwan’s Company. Its mission is
to empower young women through critical job competencies, customized mentoring
and transformational leadership. The program pairs Schwan’s employees with
female student-athletes to help support the student’s personal development.
During the event at 3M Arena at Mariucci on the U of MN
campus, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Scott
Peterson expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all participants in WILL.
“I commend the students for having the foresight to develop
themselves and build upon their leadership skills,” he said. “I am also very
grateful to our mentors for volunteering their time to help others develop and
grow. You as mentors also have considerable demands on your time, and I know
that you are all doing this out of an inner calling to support the growth of
these student athletes.”
Eighteen Schwan’s employees served as mentors for the
2021-22 school year. They are: Eajin Hwang, Whitney Heber, Lori
Dubbeldee, Dee Dee Loberg, Sarah Hendrickson, Karla Munkel,
Alissa Schultz, Sara Brohl, Marta Leach, Lisa Haen,
Julie Simonson, Patty Alcorn, Abby Collins, Susan
Mainquist, Amy Clarke, Sarah Rohne, Sara Rice and Laurie
Karst.
This year’s program was especially rewarding for both
students and mentors, as it marked the first opportunity to meet face to face
since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Returning to campus and engaging in person allowed student
athletes and mentors to reconnect on a level missed by all. The conversations
and laughter resonated around the arena,” said college relations and
development manager Sarah Rohne.
WILL began in 2014 as a partnership between Schwan’s and 25
members of the university’s soccer team. Today more than 240 female student
athletes representing all 12 women’s programs are paired with Schwan’s and
other community mentors.
According to Sarah, the opportunity to mentor the students is a rewarding opportunity to pass along many of the skills she has learned at Schwan’s.
“I participate in WILL to support a new generation of talented women
leaders and look forward to continued program success ahead,” she said.
