Community Corner

Community Spotlight: Swenson Wants to Leave the World a Better Place

Eagan resident Scott Swenson's list of contributions to the community is nearly endless.

Some volunteers are so interwoven into the fabric of Eagan that they seem omnipresent, an integral part of nearly every organization or community initiative.

Eagan resident Scott Swenson is one of those people.

The list of local organizations that Scott Swenson has volunteered for is nearly endless, which is why Patch chose to recognize this longtime Eagan resident with a Community Spotlight profile.

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Swenson's enthusiasm for volunteer work goes back to his college days, when he was a member of a service fraternity.

"I didn’t realize it right away, but I kind of figured out that we could make a difference and have fun at the same time," Swenson said.

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Since then, Swenson has taken on significant leadership roles at All Saints Lutheran Church, Eagan Rotary and the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce. But he's also played a part in the Eagan Athletic Association, Eagan Citizens Crime Prevention Association and other groups.

It was his work with the Rotary Club—and his decision to organize a student volunteering club at Eagan High School—that earned him a nomination from Karen Kitchel, founder of local nonprofit Cheerful Givers.

"I’d like to nominate him for his tremendous dedication to supporting local nonprofits with his time and talents," Kitchel wrote in her nomination. "I believe Scott is a great role model in our community."

Swenson, for his part, downplays his contributions.

"At the end of the day, most volunteer organizations are just dying for help," Swenson said. "You don’t have to beat out candidates, you just have to be the one to take it on."

Swenson said setting a positive example for his three daughters helps fuel his drive to contribute. But his faith—and his desire to inspire others to volunteer—also serve as motivation.

"I truly want the world to be a better place when I leave it than when I came. There are a ton of ways to do that, and it doesn’t have to be glamorous," said Swenson.

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