Friendship and Spartan spirit inspires gift to benefit veterans
John Maguire (’87, Communication Arts and Sciences and ’96, MBA) and Dave Dutch (’97, MBA) gathered with their families at Spartan Stadium on a perfect September day, hoping for a Spartan victory over powerhouse Notre Dame.
The close game kept them on the edge of their seats and it was heartbreaking to see the Irish slip ahead with a field goal in overtime. When the Spartan’s rallied with an audacious fake field goal thrown in the final seconds, resulting in a thrilling touchdown and win, John and Dave agreed it was the best game of their lives. They capped off the experience with a resolve to do something to help others experience all that MSU has to offer. They decided that night to create a scholarship in the Eli Broad College of Business with a $30,000 pledge. They hoped to pay tribute to their experiences at MSU and especially the MBA program while also honoring Dave’s military service. The John Maguire and Dave Dutch Endowed Scholarship for U.S. Armed Forces will be available to veterans admitted to the Broad School.
Dave and John became friends at East Lansing High School. Dave went on to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, completing 12 years of service in the Navy, including a combat tour in the first Gulf War. John enrolled at MSU, began a business career and returned for his MBA. While considering civilian options, Dave decided to join John at the Eli Broad School based largely on John’s encouragement and many accolades for the program.
“It was a decision that fundamentally changed my life,” said Dave. “Getting the MBA made such a difference in framing my value to the corporate world and it also allowed my wife and me to transition from a military to civilian lifestyle.”
Both John and Dave leveraged their MBAs for successful corporate careers, John as an executive for The Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, Michigan, and Dave as a telecommunications and technology executive; currently an executive vice president for CDS Global, a Hearst company with headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.
John’s wife Andrea (’91, Humanities) and Dave’s wife Michelle (’97, Communication Arts and Sciences) share their husbands’ love of MSU. Each family has four children.
Dave and John credit much of their success to time spent at MSU and they feel strongly about giving back. John is a member of Beaumont Tower Society and Dave is a Hannah Society Member. Both are life members of the MSU Alumni Association.
“I saw firsthand what MSU did for Dave while he transitioned from a military to a civilian career. Given that experience, we both saw a great opportunity to do something for veterans and MSU through a single vehicle. It’s a real pleasure to give back after I have gotten so much from MSU,” said John. “These talented and motivated individuals (veterans) are some of the best this country has to offer and they will add so much to a program and university that has been very good to me, my family and my good friend John,” added Dave.
For more information on making a gift to the Eli Broad College of Business, contact Assistant Director of Development Mary Gray at (517) 432-9472; grayma@bus.msu.edu.
