Lake Area Tech Archway complex named Dana J. Dykhouse Business Center of Learning
Lake Area Technical College's new building has been named the Dana J. Dykhouse Business Center of Learning in honor of the project's largest donor and the man who helped make it happen.
During the groundbreaking ceremony on campus Tuesday, Dana Dykhouse, CEO of Sioux-Falls based First PREMIER Bank, took time to address the impact Lake Area has on the state and the future of Watertown.
"I often visit with students as they graduate from technical college. I remind students that today you may be a welder, a cosmetologist or an auto mechanic, but in the future, you will be the entrepreneurs, the business leaders and business owners that are the backbone of South Dakota's economy," he said.
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Dykhouse played an important role in advancing technical education in the state and has been a strong voice for legislative support and funding, according to a news release from Lake Area. He is the current chairman of the South Dakota Board of Technical Education and heads the Build Dakota Scholarship Board of Directors.
"More than 400 business partners across the state, businesses that are both large and small, have invested in students, and those students will then graduate debt-free and commit three years of their life at LATC to learn and produce," said Dykhouse, referring to the scholarship program during the ceremony.
Gifts from First PREMIER, state total $15.5 million
This building is part of a $40 million campaign to build the Archway Complex on the Lake Area campus. The donations and fundraising efforts of individuals, businesses and the state legislature have helped to cover building expenses for the Dana J. Dykhouse Business Center of Learning. First PREMIER and PREMIER Bankcard have provided an $8 million gift, and Gov. Kristi Noem allocated one-time funding of $7.5 million to assist with the project.
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During the groundbreaking celebration, Lake Area Technical College President Mike Cartney said, "This building is being built without any burden on current or future students at Lake Area Tech, and that is something that can be applauded."
The center will house the school's business, financial services and general education programs. The Archway will be 50,000 square feet and will have the room needed to educate an additional 250 students. A skywalk will tie the campus together across Arrow Avenue.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Lake Area Archway Complex in Watertown will honor Dana Dykhouse
