Jim Lukaszewski, 81st Metro Graduate Describes Metropolitan State as "Minnesota's Most Magical Univ

Jim Lukaszewski is the 81^st graduate from Metropolitan State University, April 16, 1974. He has an interesting roster of "students firsts" at Metro: the first student member of the Metro State Foundation Board; first elected student head of the Metro State University Alumni Association (MSUAA), second graduate to address a Metro State commencement (2000); Alumnus of the Year (2009); he and wife, Barbara, were Donors of the Year (2009); he has worked with every president of the University since its founding (1971); and has been a student member of several past presidents' "kitchen cabinets."

In 1986, Jim and his wife, Barbara, moved their business to New York (and stayed for 25 years). He remained connected to Metro State throughout his time in New York. He helped arrange Manhattan meetings with graduates living in the BOSNEWA (Boston-New York-Washington DC) corridor with various Metro State presidents; he continued to serve on the Alumni Board and do special projects and informally advise every president and interim.

In the fall of 2016, he was selected the Founding Chair of the College of Management's new Community Advisory Committee to the MBA program. He remains an advisor to that program. In 2021, he was appointed to the College of Business Dean's Advisory Committee to work specifically on developing endowed scholarships for Business School students.

In 2011, Jim and wife Barbara, U of M Dental Hygiene class of '64, and their two grown sons, Charles and James, began to sponsor the Lukaszewski Family Professional Development Fund which provides, through the Foundation, grants to undergraduate and graduate students to engage in professional level activities within their chosen profession before and after graduation.

Jim and Barbara have allocated a large portion of their estate to ensure the future of Metropolitan State University by establishing a special fund for the Office of the President to use for exigent purposes on behalf of the University.

"My biggest surprise when I came to Metro was this magical transformation that every Metro student experiences, but never really expects. My family's and my Metro State activities are an effort to fund as well as repay the priceless transformation in my life and help many other Metro students in many walks of life. The truth is that this debt is too large and too beautiful to actually repay but I am working on it and will continue to as long as I can."

Jim has been recognized in many ways by many organizations throughout his post-Metro career yet, it's Metro's interests and future that matter the most to him.

Jim's motto with Metro is always, "I can do more," and so can you. How do you repay a debt that virtually every Metro U graduate experiences from this magical institution? The answer is in many ways, but most importantly, ways that perpetuate this amazing institution, hopefully because your legacy is a part of that remembrance.

The story of your success and transformation are a part of the University's permanent legacy. Your financial support of the University in ways that fit your circumstances are among the best ways to prolong the legacy. The time to start building your legacy at Metro State University is now, today, this very minute.

The lesson from Jim is find a way today to explore how you can start building your legacy and assuring Metro's future tomorrow. Please contact Rachel Hughes at [email protected] or 612-499-8754 to start exploring how you can make an impact.

Note: Barbara died in August of 2019. She and Jim met in high school and were married for 56 amazing years.