Newhouse and Rust Head BVU Community Campaign

August 22, 2014

Buena Vista University has announced that Josh Newhouse and Michael Rust will be the co-chairs for its 2014-2015 Community Campaign.

Newhouse is originally from Estherville and earned his bachelor's degree in management from BVU in 2000. He began his career as a gift officer at BVU, and in 2005, he became a financial associate with Thrivent Financial, which is the position he currently holds.

"BVU plays a huge role in bringing visitors to Storm Lake, which is one of several factors that our strong business community depends on," said Newhouse. "From students and parents to conference guests, these visitors are encouraged by our community's engagement with them to shop, dine and stay here. Supporting BVU is an investment in our community."

Newhouse and his wife, Laura, who works as an instructor for the BVU Graduate & Professional Studies program, have one child, Hadley, who was born in 2012. They are expecting another child in October.

Newhouse's community involvement includes being a board member for Buena Vista Regional Healthcare Foundation, past president and treasurer for Storm Lake United, past treasurer and fundraising chair for Star Spangled Spectacular, and past council president and other council positions at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. He also served as a volunteer for the BVU Community Campaign from 2007-12.

Rust, a longtime resident of Storm Lake, grew up in Harlan and graduated from Harlan Community High School in 1978. He briefly attended Northwest Missouri State University and then worked with his brother in Le Mars to further his knowledge of the family business. He moved his family to Storm Lake in 1985 and purchased Hansen Shoe Repair, renaming it Rust's Shoe Repair. After moving the store to Lake Avenue and expanding its inventory, the name was changed to Rust's Western Shed.

"As one of Storm Lake's larger employers, Buena Vista University and its faculty, staff and students positively impact the area's economy," said Rust. "In addition, students help the community through their various civic organizations. Some BVU graduates stay in the area and make a positive contribution as teachers or members of the business community."

Rust's wife, Pam, is a 1999 graduate of BVU and earned a master's degree in technology-based learning from Morningside College. She teaches high school business courses, is the district's data coordinator at East Sac County High School in Lake View and recently taught the Business Methods course at BVU. The couple has two children who both graduated from St. Mary's High School in Storm Lake: Ryan, 31, graduated from Simpson College in 2005 and completed his MBA from Oklahoma City University in 2009; and Madison, 28, graduated from Simpson College in 2008 and completed her master's in criminal justice from Simpson College in 2011.

Rust is engaged in the community as a member of the Knights of Columbus and Storm Lake United, as a city council member on the council of Lakeside, and as a Eucharistic minister at St. Mary's Catholic Church. He was also a BVU Community Campaign volunteer for several recent campaigns.

Buena Vista University is an independent university where the primary income comes from student tuition and fees. Contributions to the Community Campaign help support the University's annual operating expenses, which provide resources for scholarships and development of innovative academic programs, internships and undergraduate research opportunities.

The Community Campaign, which has a goal of $125,000 this year, kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 24, with a Storm Lake United Business After Hours reception at 5.p.m. in the Dows Conference Center of the Harold Walter Siebens Forum on the BVU campus. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

For additional information about BVU's 2014-15 Community Campaign, contact Barbara Aiona, assistant director of annual campaigns, at 712.749.2101 or aionab@bvu.edu.