| One
of the largest lead gifts of the newly announced "Putting
Students First" scholarship campaign will support critically
needed four-year renewable recruitment and retention scholarships
at Montana State University. |
 |
| Norm
Asbjornson, '60 ME, has established the
Asbjornson University Scholar permanent endowment.
The fund will provide scholarships to cover
tuition and room and board for incoming freshmen
who are graduates of Montana high schools
with a total enrollment of 100 students or
less. Other criteria include SAT or ACT scores,
class rank, extra-curricular participation,
and economic circumstances. The scholarship
is renewable for a maximum of four years. |
|
|
| According
to Ronda Russell, director of MSU's Admissions and New
Student Services, this is exactly the type of scholarship
that has been sorely lacking at MSU. |
| "Scholarships
make a big difference to students. MSU has a great reputation
but we can't expect that the state's best students are
going to automatically show up on our doorstep--not with
the other offers they're likely getting. Norm's generosity
and far-sightedness will go a long way toward maintaining
MSU's high quality of students by making it affordable
and attractive to stay in-state." |
| Asbjornson,
who serves on the MSU Foundation board and the MSU Engineering
Advisory Council is founder, president, and CEO of AAON,
Inc., a Tulsa-based air conditioning manufacturer. The
Winifred native has taken AAON to market leadership in
rooftop air conditioning and heating equipment. The company
had sales of $155 million and 1,150 employees in 2002. |
| "As
my success in this company started happening, I began
reflecting on where I should balance my life out," says
Asbjornson. "I've always believed you should give back
where you were given." |
| The
MSU Foundation President and Executive Director Dave Gibson
recognizes the value of a supporter like Asbjornson. |
|
"This is just one example of how Norm has given back not
just to MSU but to Montana and his community of Winifred,"
says Gibson. "Norm's recognition as an excellence in philanthropy
award winner (see article, this page) underscores his
involvement and indicates the high esteem in which he
is held." |
| To
receive more information about the Putting Students First
Scholarship Campaign or to make a gift, contact the MSU
Foundation at 800-457-1696; 406-994-2053; e-mail: foundation@montana.edu
or visit the Foundation's Web site at www.montana.edu/foundation.
|
| — by
Rick Jackson, MSU Foundation |
