The Dan Pecarina, HBC Scholarship

In February 2025 the Dan Pecarina, HBC Scholarship was established with the Winona State University Foundation. The scholarship will benefit and encourage students who are majoring in Business Administration, Business Management, Human Resources Management, Management Information Systems, or Marketing.

Criteria

1. Undergraduate
2. Full time = 12 credits per semester
3. Declared major: Business Administration, Business Management, Human Resources Management, Management Information, Systems, or Marketing
4. Class year: Freshman & Sophomore
5. Financial need
6. GPA minimum of 3.0

Background and Motivation
This scholarship is presented in honor of Dan Pecarina and his contributions to the advancement of broadband technology and telecommunications, in the Winona community and throughout southeastern Minnesota.
Dan joined Winona State University in 1987, where he served as Chief Technology Officer. He played a crucial role in merging academic and administrative computing and launching the university’s laptop program. In 1993, he transitioned to lead a broadband initiative called Luminet that eventually evolved into Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC). Dan served as president and CEO for 11 years, guiding the company’s growth and success.
Under Dan’s leadership, HBC grew into a pioneering provider of data, video and voice services, implementing advanced Fiber-to-the-Premise networks in more than 30 Minnesota communities. His contributions over his tenure at HBC reflect his commitment to enhancing connectivity and technology access in small-town America.