Glacier Bank President Bob Nystuen has received Flathead Valley Community College’s prestigious 2016 Eagle Award for his contributions to the college over many years.

The award presentation was made Tuesday during the college’s annual President’s Dinner.

Nystuen served on the FVCC Board of Trustees for 13 years, including eight years as board chairman. He was appointed to the Montana Board of Regents last year by Gov. Steve Bullock and is chairman of the Regents’ two-year education and community college committee.

“Bob’s desire to help individuals improve and make organizations better have been key in helping to transform FVCC into a remarkable community college,” FVCC President Jane Karas said.

 A community banker for 40 years, Nystuen has championed the importance of partnerships between community colleges and business. Under his leadership, FVCC created several new health-care and advanced manufacturing programs in response to workforce needs.

“Bob’s interest and determination in improving the role and image of community colleges on the local, state and national levels has been extraordinary,” Karas said.

 Always keeping students at the center of his decision-making, Nystuen was instrumental in FVCC establishing a tuition waiver for eligible high school students to earn up to six free college credits through the Running Start program. He also supported the board’s decision to build student housing on campus.

 Nystuen has served on multiple boards across Montana. His involvement includes the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Glacier National Park Conservancy, Flathead Food Bank, Montana West Economic Development, Montana Commission on Community Service and Montana Ambassadors.

His banking career has included positions with First Bank System in North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. He joined Glacier Bank in 1996 as senior vice president for sales and marketing and was elected president in 2004. Nystuen has a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from North Dakota State University and in 1982 graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.

He and his wife, Kim, live in Lakeside.