Letters to the Editor: Community thanked for its support of MSU-Nothern

Editor:

I'd like to thank the Havre Daily News for your front-page coverage of the many important events going on at Montana State University-Northern this past weekend. I was thrilled to see so many community members come out to support us Saturday and Sunday as we kicked off our capital campaign to build the new Auto-Diesel Technology Center. With $4.9 million pledged by the state legislature and $3.15 million in generous corporate donations, we are well on our way to funding an exciting new facility that will bring vitality to our campus and north-central Montana.

Thank you to everyone who recognized the significance of this kickoff weekend and helped make it a success. In particular, I want to thank the leaders and corporate donors who joined us on the football field Saturday. I also want to thank all of the organizers and sponsors of the extremely successful (and delicious!) community barbecue on Sunday. In particular I would like to thank, Lynn Morrison-Hamilton, Renelle Braaten, Terry Lilletvedt, and Mark Peterson for all of their help in the planning of that event. There were so many other community members and MSU-Northern faculty and staff who were also crucial in making the barbecue a success, thank you to all of you as well. Finally, I want to thank New Media Broadcasters for providing advertising for the diesel technology program and these events. After the community's impressive display of support this weekend, I am confident in our ability to raise the final $1.5 million in private donations needed to meet our goal for the new Auto-Diesel Technology Center. Together we will get it built.

Jim Bennett

Executive Director

MSU-N Alumni Foundation