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DETROIT LAKES — In the same year Zachary Sweere, now a graduating senior at Detroit Lakes High School, published his novel, “The Seven Stages,” former Associated Press reporter and 1976 Minnesota State University Moorhead graduate Jeffrey Baenen announced the creation of a scholarship — one that Sweere would receive three years later.
When Baenen’s mother died in 2022, he wanted to put the money he inherited toward something meaningful. Having spent just over 40 years with the AP, most recently in the Minneapolis bureau, he wanted to support students who were once in his shoes at MSUM.
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“I want to keep broadcasting going,” Baenen said. “I’d like people to be able to get out in the field and get a good story, and then have all the tools at their command and know how to use them to promote a story, edit it in the final shape, to verify it … I hope more people go into broadcasting.”
Since the creation of the Jeffrey Baenen Broadcast Scholarship, there have been four recipients. Sweere, who also earned scholarships from Leighton Broadcasting’s KDLM, the Detroit Lakes Noon Rotary Club and the Ralph Anderson Memorial Scholarship, is the fourth.
When Sweere learned he was one of the recipients of Baenen’s scholarship, he said he was “super surprised.”
“It just really means a lot,” Sweere said. “I’m really appreciative of the generosity of all of the scholarships I’ve received, especially the one from Mr. Baenen. It’s really great to see him being so generous and helping out future college graduates like me.”
While touring a handful of colleges, Sweere said he was “sold” on attending MSUM after seeing the school’s newsroom — the hub of campus news for students. Knowing himself to be a creative person, he felt a career in broadcast journalism would be fulfilling, especially as a storyteller.
“When I was thinking about what I wanted to do, I knew I just really wanted to be creative,” Sweere said. “I wanted to make something — make something that other people could look at or enjoy or maybe learn from.”
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Having played baseball for most of his life, Sweere said he has a particular interest in sports commentary. He also hopes to pursue professional wrestling one day, specifically after college. He recalled watching wrestling with his father growing up, saying it’s always been one of their favorite shared activities.
“If I could have any job in the world, it would be pro wrestling,” Sweere said. “I think broadcasting might be a good road to go down. If I really do like sports commentary, I can maybe be a commentator for wrestling.”
Last semester, Sweere secured an internship with Leighton Broadcasting, which helped affirm his interest in broadcast media. One project he especially enjoyed was at the Becker County Museum, where he filmed sound bites and footage that later aired on the radio.
“It was weird — I’m not a big fan of my voice,” Sweere said with a laugh. “It was really fun, though, to be able to take a little sound bite here and there and just edit it up and create a story out of it. It was just a lot of fun.”
Sweere said he looks forward to learning from MSUM adjunct professors who are working professionals — anchors, reporters and others in the broadcast field. While he hasn’t yet settled on a specific path, he said he’d love to work with WDAY.
“I don’t know how many younger people tune into the news or listen to the radio,” Sweere said. “So if we could have, I guess, more young people doing it, then maybe younger people would also tune in, listen or watch.”
In Baenen’s 42 years with the AP, there never seemed to be a dull moment. From covering musician Bobby Vee’s decision to release an album after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis , to capturing the video of GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich being hit with glitter by a protester , Baenen said he got to live his dream — working with the AP was a dream in itself. He hopes journalism students today are empowered to do the same.
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“You can be whatever you want to be, you can write about whatever you want to write about, and it’s important to have dreams and not let them wither and die,” Baenen said. “I wish someone had taken me aside at (MSUM) 45, 50 years ago and just said, ‘You’re going to go places, and don’t stop believing.’”
Baenen retired from the AP in 2020 and created the scholarship in 2022 with money he inherited from his mother after her death. The goal of his scholarship is to help offset the cost of college and encourage more students to pursue careers in journalism.
“It does make a difference not having to worry about money, so that’s why I’m giving scholarships — in fact, I wish I had more to give,” Baenen said. “If I had it my way, I would do nothing but give away money to deserving people.”
To help keep the scholarship going, Baenen said there is a GoFundMe page for donations supporting aspiring student journalists. For young journalists, he encourages them to stay curious and follow their passions. And to Sweere, he says this:
“Just never give up,” Baenen said. “Read as much as you can, do as much as you can, write as much as you can.”
Steve Sjoberg, MSUM Foundation director of marketing and communications, said scholarships are made possible through the “generosity of donors who believe in the power of education.”
“For those inspired by Zach’s story and who wish to support students like him, you can make a direct impact by visiting mnstate.edu/give ,” Sjoberg said in an email. “Your generosity can transform lives, fuel passions, foster intellectual growth and create opportunities for future Dragons.”
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