BVU, Estherville Lincoln Central Schools Align Through Strategic Partnership
Through a collaboration with Buena Vista University, Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District broadens educational opportunities for employees and their eligible family members.
Buena Vista University (BVU) and the Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District have bonded as Strategic Partners to help support those who educate students while strengthening their communities and the people they serve.
This partnership allows for employees of Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District, as well as eligible family members of full-time employees, to receive grant funding to lower the overall cost of education while enrolled in classes at BVU’s Storm Lake campus. Partner grant funding also lowers the cost per credit hour for students enrolled in BVU’s convenient online undergraduate programs or the organizational leadership graduate program.
“Anytime we can support our staff in terms of partnerships that will benefit them financially and educationally, that’s a bonus,” says Estherville Lincoln Central High School Principal Brad Leonard. “It’s expensive to go to college right now, and families are having a hard time financially meeting ends meet, so this is a great opportunity to bring some of those costs down.”
“Anytime we can support our staff in terms of partnerships that will benefit them financially and educationally, that’s a bonus.”
Estherville Lincoln Central High School Principal Brad Leonard
The Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District, with a staff numbering about 245 professionals, educates and serves about 1,360 students in grades prekindergarten-12 at its central campus in Estherville where its three attendance centers are based. The school district prides itself on its diverse student population and is dedicated to promoting equal opportunity for a quality public education to its students regardless of background.
“We have a large percentage of multicultural, specifically Hispanic and Latino students, some of which are now second and third generation, but we have some newcomers as well,” says Leonard. “That is a great strength for us, as is our community. We have a very hard working and supportive community, and school has been a central focus of our small town.”
“I chose BVU because it would allow me to work full time and be able to attend classes to further my education,” says Estherville Lincoln Central Paraprofessional Alex Jensen, who anticipates completing his bachelor’s degree in elementary education through BVU’s Online Programs in December 2025.
BVU has long enjoyed strong educational ties in and around Estherville, home to Iowa Lakes Community College, a campus that has collaborated with BVU for decades. Students enrolled in a program through Iowa Lakes can seamlessly transfer their credits toward their bachelor’s degree at BVU. Students receive personalized support including admissions and enrollment counseling and academic advising right in Estherville through BVU’s office on the Iowa Lakes campus.
“Buena Vista University is thrilled to partner with the Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District, which boasts dedicated professionals who strive to prepare students for success,” says BVU Director of Strategic Partnerships Laura Todd. “We look forward to the opportunities this Strategic Partnership will create for Estherville Lincoln Central educators and their family members, which will strengthen the communities we serve.”
For more information about BVU’s Strategic Partnerships and partner opportunities, please visit the BVU website at bvu.edu/strategic-partnerships or contact Strategic Partnerships at StrategicPartnerships@bvu.edu.