Order of the Knoll Cardinal and Gold Award



Arend J. "Sandy" Sandbulte

BS '59, Electrical Engineering
Duluth, Minn.

Sandy Sandbulte (’59 electrical engineering) is a committed partner and faithful friend to Iowa State University. He inspires others to give, and those who know him agree that he truly leads by example.

During his term as chair of the ISU Foundation Board of Directors from 1999-2001, Sandbulte oversaw unprecedented growth in giving to the university. Iowa State received what was at that time the eighth largest gift to an American public university in history and completed Campaign Destiny, a fundraising campaign that received $458 million in private support. During his term the ISU Foundation also purchased a new building, amended its articles of incorporation and bylaws, and developed an important new service agreement with the university that helped ensure the future of donor privacy.

Prior to being named board chair, Sandbulte served as vice chair and investment committee chair from 1997-1999. He later chaired the nominating committee from 2001-2003. Sandbulte currently serves as a member of the audit committee. Other ISU committees and boards with which he has been involved include the College of Engineering’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Industrial Advisory Council, the ISU Foundation’s Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee, and the ISU Foundation Donor Intent Task Force.

In addition to his loyal support of his alma mater, Sandbulte is an active leader in his home state of Minnesota and home community of Duluth. He has served as chair of the Duluth Chamber of Commerce, the State of Minnesota Commission on Reform and Efficiency, the College of St. Scholastica Board of Trustees, the Duluth United Way Campaign, the Duluth Industrial Development Task Force, the Lake Superior Center, the City of Duluth’s Post Health Care Employee Benefits Task Force, and the St. Luke’s Hospital Board. He is a trustee of the Duluth YMCA and has also been involved with the Duluth Economic Development Steering Committee and Duluth Jaycees.

He has been a director of the Duluth Growth Company, the Minnesota Safety Council, the Great Lakes Aquarium, and the Duluth 1200 Fund. In 1995, the College of St. Scholastica awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters and established the Sandbulte Chair of Business and Ethics in his honor.

The retired president and chief executive officer of ALLETTE, Inc. (formerly Minnesota Power), Sandbulte has devoted his career to the promotion and advancement of business ethics, philanthropy, and community leadership.

Sandbulte and his wife, Verna, are members of the Order of the Knoll and are annual members of the ISU Alumni Association. They reside in Duluth, Minn.