A former University of Wisconsin-River Falls two-sport athlete who has been an engaged and generous supporter of the university for more than four decades has established the largest individual-funded program endowment in UWRF history.
Paul Dykstra, who was a four-year letter winner in golf and hockey and a key member of the Falcons’ 1983 NAIA national hockey championship team, will donate $1 million to establish the Falcon Athletics Endowment for Excellence. The transformational contribution, one of the largest gifts in UWRF history, will provide critical resources to support initiatives focused on enhancing student-athletes’ experiences.
“I’m hoping that this endowment will help attract and retain student-athletes, and by doing so, improve the experience of all Falcons moving forward,” Dykstra said. “UWRF was a tremendous place for me, both academically and athletically. I look forward to seeing UWRF continue to do great things.”
UWRF 1983 NAIA national champion men’s ice hockey team.
UWRF Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth described Dykstra’s commitment to Falcon Athletics as a significant university milestone.
“We deeply appreciate Paul’s extraordinary generosity,” Chenoweth said. “His decision to establish this endowment sends such a strong and positive signal of support to our campus, alumni and donor communities.”
As a result of Dykstra’s historic contribution, the Falcon Athletics offices will be named in his honor.
Dykstra, already one of the most generous donors in UWRF history, has long supported Falcon Athletics and UWRF academic initiatives, including the men’s and women’s hockey programs, the Falcon Center, the Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech), the Falcon Scholars Scholarship program, the Paul B. Dykstra Academic Excellence Scholarship and the Dr. Robert “Doc” Bailey International Studies Fund. In 2007, Dykstra and his father, Robert, also a UWRF graduate, established the Robert and Paul B. Dykstra Faculty Excellence Award.
“I would like to sincerely thank Paul for his ongoing support for Falcon Athletics,” said UWRF Director of Athletics Crystal Lanning. “His generous contributions, particularly to the men’s and women’s hockey programs, have played a key role in our consistent success.”
Dykstra, who earned his UWRF bachelor’s degree in accounting and his MBA from the University of St. Thomas, is the past chair, president and chief executive officer of Phoenix-based Viad Corp., formerly a publicly traded company with domestic and international operations in marketing, event, travel and recreation services.
Paul Dykstra poses for a photo as a member of the 1983 UWRF men’s ice hockey team.
Dykstra, who along with his 1983 hockey teammates is a member of the UWRF Athletics Hall of Fame, served multiple terms on the UWRF Foundation Board of Directors, where he chaired the investment committee, implementing strategies that solidified the Foundation’s future. For nearly a decade, Dykstra served on the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix Board of Directors, his final three years as treasurer. He spent more than five years on the Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation Board of Directors, serving two years as chair. Dykstra received the 2022 UWRF Distinguished Alumni Award, an honor previously earned by his father in 1998.
“My family has very strong ties to the university, going back to my father and grandparents, who were all UWRF alumni,” Dykstra said. “I’ve also remained close to my hockey teammates over the years. I’m proud to be a Falcon and honored to establish this endowment that’s focused on student-athlete success.”
According to UWRF Assistant Chancellor for University Advancement Rick Foy, funds from the new endowment will be invested in programs and projects that foster and promote a championship environment that attracts and retains talented student-athletes who succeed in competition and in the classroom and become engaged and visible leaders on campus and in the community.
“It’s been a privilege collaborating with Paul and his wife Karen over the years,” Foy said. “They have been true ambassadors for UWRF, fully supportive of so many of our priorities. On behalf of all of us in the Falcon family, I extend deep appreciation to the Dykstras for this generous and meaningful investment in UWRF’s future.”
Foy said the Dykstras welcome additional contributions to the new Falcon Athletics Endowment for Excellence. For more information, visit uwrf.edu/university-advancement/giving or contact Foy at richard.foy@uwrf.com or 715-425-4291.
Written by UW-River Falls
Link to original story: https://www.uwrf.edu/newsroom/2026/06/falcon-alum-establishes-1-million-endowment-for-uw-river-falls-athletics