Kary S. Paulson, chairman of the Board of NSB Bank in Northwood and Mason City, has a strong commitment to NIACC, a school which he believes is a magnificent resource for North Iowa. Paulson and NSB Bank have shown their level of commitment through the through the establishment of an endowed scholarship.
“NIACC gives all students a chance,” Paulson said. “Many students from Northwood have received a college education because of NIACC.”
Paulson himself is a 1967 graduate of Mason City Junior College (NIACC’s predecessor) and a 1969 graduate of Mankato State University. He served on the NIACC Alumni Advisory Board, the NIACC Foundation Board of Directors and the Keeping NIACC First Campaign Executive Committee.
The NSB Bank Scholarship is an annual award for a graduate of Northwood-Kensett, Mason City or Newman Catholic High School who is enrolled in the business or information technology programs at NIACC.
Paulson said he selected those fields of study for the scholarship because graduates could immediately be employable by NSB Bank or other area banks. He hopes to assist NIACC students that may be interested in entering a banking career upon graduation.
NSB Bank was organized in 1933 during the Depression by local investors, and Paulson’s father and grandfather purchased the bank in 1954. Kary joined the bank, representing the fourth generation of the Paulson family affiliated with NSB Bank.
Since 1991, the bank has experienced significant growth with the purchase of deposits from two other banks and two new branch locations. Today NSB Bank has branches in Northwood and Mason City.