MINOT — Minot State University's Giving Day is April 13. All donations given on that day will receive a 50% match from the MSU Development Foundation's pool of funds.
Rick Hedberg, the executive director of the Development Foundation, said the foundation supports students, staff, facility, and many programs. “Basically we’re formed to support all things Minot State,” said Hedberg.
The foundation has raised around $11 million in the last few years, according to Hedberg. A lot of what the foundation works with is scholarship endowments.
Hedberg, who has been with the organization for more than six years, said there has been an increase in need for scholarships.
“It’s obviously well known that the cost of education has risen dramatically over the last decade and the scholarship support we provide really creates a real opportunity for individuals to receive a degree with very little debt, or no debt. That’s key for a young person coming out of college to have that head start in their career, or really life in general,” said Hedberg.
All scholarships require an application process and go through the financial aid office.
“We work with donors to set up the criteria. They can choose the area that they want to support. There’s a lot of general open scholarships, too,” Hedberg said.
The average yearly enrollment at MSU is around 2,800 students, and the foundation typically provides aid to more than 1,000.
“We’re very fortunate to have some very generous and thoughtful folks that want to help others,” Hedberg expressed.
The Foundation is also working on the Summer Theatre Revitalization Project, which is a $2.7 million renovation of the summer amphitheater, which is around 50-years-old and has not had many improvements since it was created.
The renovation is 100% funded by donations, says Hedberg. The renovated ampitheater will include new bathrooms, concessions, ticket operations, and dressing rooms. It will also include a wheelchair lift and more handicap parking, as well as a drive through option, instead of a turn around. “A lot of our patrons that come to the theater are 65 plus,” Hedberg explained.
The estimated finish date is June 17 of this year.
Hedberg says there are 60 separate projects seeking donations this year, covering every department on campus, “Some of it could be music, instruments, some of it might be a field trip for the science club."
Minot State Giving Day starts at 12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13 and ends 24 hours later, at 11:59 p.m. More information and how to donate can be found at give.MinotStateU.edu.
