Montana State University-Northern

News Release
26-Jan-2012

Montana State University-Northern
Receives Grant for Community Service
Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation funds students' good works

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Montana State University-Northern for an addition to the Havre Food Bank.

The approximate 14'0 x 18'0 addition will provide numerous benefits. The addition will allow for easier unloading and provide a storage area for inventory before the products are displayed in the main food bank area. The addition will allow for donated food to be delivered to the Havre Food Bank in all weather conditions. Additionally, it will be used as a temporary storage area and storage space will no longer be a problem. MSU-Northern is partnering with the local SkillsUSA Chapter at Havre High School and YouthBuild of North Central Montana. Students will build the addition and complete this building project by June, 2012.

"The grant in Havre represents Lowe's commitment to career and technical education," said Marshall Croom, chairman of Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "By supporting schools like Montana State University-Northern, we believe we are contributing to a cause that's important to our customers and employees by helping provide improved learning environments and build stronger communities."

Three pillars of SkillsUSA are service, leadership, and skills. Service is a very important aspect of individual clubs. "We strive to do at least one community minded activity each semester, and we at MSU-Northern's SkillsUSA chapter are looking forward to helping the Havre Food Bank achieve this goal of modernizing their facility and making it more efficient" said Lorren Schlotfedlt, Instructor of Plumbing Technology and SkillsUSA advisor. "MSU-Northern SkillsUSA Chapter members were involved in determining the community service project. Students shared past community service projects, brainstormed a list of potential community service projects, and discussed how they would like to use their skills to make a difference in the Havre community. Dominic Spado, a MSU-Northern freshman student and SkillsUSA Chapter member, volunteers at the local Boys and Girls Club in Havre, Montana, and he has seen firsthand the need for additional food and clothing that is required by the children and youth who attend the Boys & Girls Club. He has volunteered at the food bank by assisting in the collection of food and being an active participant in local food drives. It was by Dominic's suggestion that the Havre Food Bank project be chosen by the SkillsUSA Chapter members."

"YouthBuild of North Central Montana is pleased to be a partner with SkillsUSA and the Lowes grant," said Bob Andersson, Director of Youth Build Central Montana. " Our program looks forward to the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile community project. The addition to the Havre Food Bank will provide the YouthBuild students with practical experience in carpentry skills of framing and renovation as well as learning to be a part of their community by helping others."

"A guiding principle of SkillsUSA is to promote academic learning through student service in the surrounding community" said Barbara Zuck, Assistant Professor of Business. "Service learning combines meeting community needs with conscious educational growth. I am grateful to Lowe's and SkillsUSA for their generous support. We had a vision for the Havre Food Bank and ways we could make it better. Because of the grant we will be able to turn that vision into a reality. Civic engagement strengthens our community. I look forward to being part of a team that focuses on student champions serving others."

About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA helps high school and college students enrolled in career and technical education programs to excel by teaching employability skills such as communication, problem solving and leadership in conjunction with their trade, technical and service occupations skills. The association's annual membership exceeds 300,000 students and instructors in more than 3,800 schools and colleges in every state, three territories and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.skillsusa.org.

About Lowe's
Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company's signature education grant program, Lowe's Toolbox for Education®, has donated nearly $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2006. Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross. In 2010, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.

MSU-Northern Home
News Center Important Dates in the Northern Academic Year MSUN News Contact For more information about this release, contact: MSU-Northern Contact: Greg Kegel (406) 265-4157 Lowe's Contact: Lowe's of Helena SkillsUSA Contact: Jane DeShong Short 703-737-0612 JShort@skillsusa.org
	News Release 26-Jan-2012 Montana State University-Northern Receives Grant for Community Service Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation funds students' good works MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Montana State University-Northern for an addition to the Havre Food Bank. The approximate 14'0 x 18'0 addition will provide numerous benefits. The addition will allow for easier unloading and provide a storage area for inventory before the products are displayed in the main food bank area. The addition will allow for donated food to be delivered to the Havre Food Bank in all weather conditions. Additionally, it will be used as a temporary storage area and storage space will no longer be a problem. MSU-Northern is partnering with the local SkillsUSA Chapter at Havre High School and YouthBuild of North Central Montana. Students will build the addition and complete this building project by June, 2012. "The grant in Havre represents Lowe's commitment to career and technical education," said Marshall Croom, chairman of Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "By supporting schools like Montana State University-Northern, we believe we are contributing to a cause that's important to our customers and employees by helping provide improved learning environments and build stronger communities." Three pillars of SkillsUSA are service, leadership, and skills. Service is a very important aspect of individual clubs. "We strive to do at least one community minded activity each semester, and we at MSU-Northern's SkillsUSA chapter are looking forward to helping the Havre Food Bank achieve this goal of modernizing their facility and making it more efficient" said Lorren Schlotfedlt, Instructor of Plumbing Technology and SkillsUSA advisor. "MSU-Northern SkillsUSA Chapter members were involved in determining the community service project. Students shared past community service projects, brainstormed a list of potential community service projects, and discussed how they would like to use their skills to make a difference in the Havre community. Dominic Spado, a MSU-Northern freshman student and SkillsUSA Chapter member, volunteers at the local Boys and Girls Club in Havre, Montana, and he has seen firsthand the need for additional food and clothing that is required by the children and youth who attend the Boys & Girls Club. He has volunteered at the food bank by assisting in the collection of food and being an active participant in local food drives. It was by Dominic's suggestion that the Havre Food Bank project be chosen by the SkillsUSA Chapter members." "YouthBuild of North Central Montana is pleased to be a partner with SkillsUSA and the Lowes grant," said Bob Andersson, Director of Youth Build Central Montana. " Our program looks forward to the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile community project. The addition to the Havre Food Bank will provide the YouthBuild students with practical experience in carpentry skills of framing and renovation as well as learning to be a part of their community by helping others." "A guiding principle of SkillsUSA is to promote academic learning through student service in the surrounding community" said Barbara Zuck, Assistant Professor of Business. "Service learning combines meeting community needs with conscious educational growth. I am grateful to Lowe's and SkillsUSA for their generous support. We had a vision for the Havre Food Bank and ways we could make it better. Because of the grant we will be able to turn that vision into a reality. Civic engagement strengthens our community. I look forward to being part of a team that focuses on student champions serving others." About SkillsUSA SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA helps high school and college students enrolled in career and technical education programs to excel by teaching employability skills such as communication, problem solving and leadership in conjunction with their trade, technical and service occupations skills. The association's annual membership exceeds 300,000 students and instructors in more than 3,800 schools and colleges in every state, three territories and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.skillsusa.org. About Lowe's Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company's signature education grant program, Lowe's Toolbox for Education®, has donated nearly $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2006. Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross. In 2010, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.