Norman Asbjornson on philanthropy
From Press conference: Norm Asbjornson's $50 million gift to engineering at Montana State University · · Montana State University
“I think it's an absolute must for everyone to give back to what made them successful. I had a lot of help from MSU and Winifred. I can't repay those who helped me for their gun but I can give to the Next Generation. I think everyone should balance the books and thank those people and institutions who help them and also give to the Next Generation. It's a responsibility we all have.”
On , Norman Asbjornson, Founder & Director at AAON INC, spoke about philanthropy during Press conference: Norm Asbjornson's $50 million gift to engineering at Montana State University on Montana State University.
About Norman Asbjornson
Norman Asbjornson, founder and director of AAON, committed $50 million to Montana State University’s College of Engineering in 2014. At a press conference announcing the gift, Asbjornson said he considered it a responsibility to give back to those who helped him succeed, including MSU and his hometown of Winifred, Montana. He placed stock in escrow to guarantee the donation and encouraged others to contribute to the university’s plans for an innovative, collaborative educational structure. Asbjornson also reflected on his career and personal philosophy. He described being recruited to lead a small Tulsa, Oklahoma company, which he grew into AAON, citing 25 consecutive years of 10.8% compounded growth. He attributed his success to lessons in honesty from his parents, emphasizing the importance of self-honesty and learning from failure. He noted that he considered being born in the United States a privilege and shared his view that those who are most successful have often failed the most.