Visiting campus regularly isn’t out of the ordinary for Jim Costanzo ’84, CEO of Nordic Consulting and current member of the Board of Trustees, and his wife Denise. In fact, they make the four-hour drive (one-way) quite frequently to catch a theatre production their daughter (Stacey ’19) helps put on or watch their son (Anthony ’21) compete on the track and field team. They also spend time with the Raider Racing Team, which competes in the Society of Automotive Engineers Baja Division, where Anthony is a mechanic and driver. And, if that’s not enough, Jim and Denise like to check out the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex, where their youngest daughter Emily will compete in swimming this fall as an incoming freshman. 

While the Costanzos have experienced first-hand the value that facility enhancements, scholarship opportunities, and program enrichment have on an education, it’s their ambition for others to experience it, too.

“We’re hoping some of our gifts help provide an education for students who otherwise couldn’t attend Mount,” Jim said. “We have a personal long-term commitment to education.”

“The whole educational process really does prepare people for life after school and in the working world,” Denise added. “The more kids who can get an education, the more successful people are going to be.”

The Costanzos continue to be avid supporters of the University and want to make a difference in the lives of current and future Purple Raiders.

“Most of our gifts are typically unrestricted because we really do believe in the administration and want to give the University the ability to use our funds in the best way possible,” Jim noted.“The things we have done as an institution have truly set us apart and put us into a different category from other places, and I’m proud of that.”

In addition to their unrestricted Mount Union Fund donations, they recently gave a generous gift to the University to name a fabrication lab in the Engineering and Business Building, as well as establish an endowed scholarship for students studying technical theatre.

Jim and Denise are building a legacy. They strongly believe Mount Union not only provides an outstanding education, but fosters an encouraging learning environment that gives students an opportunity to become part of something bigger.