Northern celebrating 90th anniversary with gala event

The Montana State University-Northern Alumni Foundation has invited people to attend the university's 90th Celebration Gala, an annual fundraiser formerly known as the "We Love Northern Ball."

The 90th anniversary celebration is set for Saturday, Feb. 15, in Montana State University-Northern's Diesel Technology Center.

"This year, a few things that we are switching up is we relocated the party over to our new Diesel Technology Center," Northern Alumni Foundation Executive Director Shantel Cronk said. "We felt like it's our 90th year, it gives us an opportunity to celebrate the past, the present and the future of Northern."

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails and appetizers followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Food featured will be a flaming shrimp appetizer station followed by salad then beef and pork tenderloin with brussel sprouts and a mac and cheese bar, then ending with dessert of a flaming caramel sauce over ice cream, Cronk said.

She said Vic's Place will be hosting a bar along with former Havreite Meredith Hanson providing wine from her winery in Kalispell, Tailing Loop Winery.

The event will also have games, raffles, a silent auction, live music and more.

Local businesses have donated prizes for the silent auction, the games and raffles. Some of those prizes include gift cards, a fishing excursion on Flathead Lake, items from the surrounding area's businesses and more.

"One of our major things is that we are going to have this giant board where you can sign up to pledge different dollar values and BNSF Railway has agreed to match whatever you pledge that night up to $10,000," she said. "It is for the Montana Access Scholarship. It's a great opportunity to make some quick giving and really give back to the scholarships here."

She added that the main amount collected from fundraising will go toward the "We Love Northern" scholarship which is awarded to students based on their GPA and the criteria of the scholarship.

Tickets are $65 per person, $120 for two or $500 for a group of eight.

People can purchase tickets at the foundation office in Cowan Hall on campus, calling the foundation office at 265-3711, it's Facebook page, the foundation's website at https://www.northernalumnifoundation.org or at Vic's Place at 335 First St.

Cronk said the event is not only for alumni of Northern, but for the entire community.