Northern closing in on fundraising goals for stadium

With work underway to erect the first phase of Montana State University-Northern’s athletic complex — a new football stadium on the practice field on the west end of campus — the university announced it has received two more major donations to bring it closer to its $3 million fundraising goal.

See more about the work on the stadium in Sports on Page A6.

Recent gifts of $25,000 from Duchscher Kapperud Insurance in Havre and $100,000 from Ezzies Wholesale in Malta bring the university within $400,000 of its goal, Northern announced in a press release.

“Ezzies has been proudly serving the Hi-Line for over 50 years,” said Bill Myers, president of Ezzies. “Supporting the stadium project is our way of showing our appreciation for this community and our pride in MSU-Northern.”

“We’re so excited to see what this will do for MSU-Northern and for the community,” he added.

MSU-Northern Foundation Executive Director Shantel Cronk said that the construction began this March with the intent to have it game day ready by fall 2020.

“As you can see by these recent gifts from Ezzies & Duschscher Kapperud, we continue to see monthly progress in fundraising, but are asking the community, alumni and Northern supporters to help us get over the $3M mark by August” Cronk said in the release. “This stadium will have a rippling affect around this region and will invigorate the community and the MSU-N campus.”

She said Northern hopes to raise the remaining $400,000 by the start of the football season in August.

Since announcing the campaign plans, Northern has raised record levels of support mostly from alumni and individuals and businesses along the Hi-Line, the release said.

Chancellor Greg Kegel said in the release that sports are an important connector for Northern, bringing together students, alumni, and the community, but this project has never been just about a sport.

“People have rallied around this project because they see what it means for the future of MSU-Northern,” Kegel said. “Better facilities bring more people back to the community to visit, shop and spend. Most importantly, the project will help create more opportunities for students both in and out of the classroom.”

The university plans to in later phases expand the facilities to include a multi-use sports and education complex that could house classrooms, practice space, an events center and more as well as the football stadium.

Already, Northern is seeing increased support of other areas and its academic programs, the release said, and that support must continue to complete phase I of the project.

$400,000 is still needed to ensure Northern is game-ready for the 2020 football season, Cronk said.

“Each gift matters,” Myers said. “I’d encourage everyone, especially area business owners, to consider making a gift to make this happen for MSU-Northern and for this community.”

Anyone who wants to support the Northern stadium project should contact the Northern Foundation at 265-3711 or visit http://www.northernalumnifoundation.org .