The Minot Sertoma Club donated $36,000 on Wednesday to the Minot State University Development Foundation.
"With this $20,000 gift, we are pleased to enhance the Minot Sertoma Scholarship fund that is dedicated to assisting students advancing their education towards speech and hearing careers," said Minot Sertoma Club president Connie Feist. "This contribution brings the endowment to over $90,000 from which annual scholarships are awarded. We are also proud to announce an an additional $16,000 gift, which will be used to purchase voice lab equipment used within the communication disorders department. This will upgrade equipment that is used as learning tools and benefits the entire speech-and-hearing community."
In 1989, the Minot Sertoma Club established the Minot Sertoma Club Scholarship to assist MSU communication disorders students. Twenty years ago, the local service club purchased voice lab evaluation equipment for the department. State-of-the art technology then was analog; today, it is digital. The Sertoma Club has donated approximately $175,000 to Minot State over the years.
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Andrea Johnson/MDN
Connie Feist, left, Minot Sertoma Club president, presents a check for $36,000 to Minot State University’s communication disorders program on Wednesday. Accepting the check are Leisa Harmon, communication disorders department chair and MSU president David Fuller.
The Sertoma Club raised the money through various fundraisers. Its primary fundraisers are the Norsk Hostfest car raffle, Beer Fest and Christmas in the Park, an annual light display in Oak Park. The Sertoma Club also supports speech and hearing projects, youth-related projects and national heritage efforts.
"The digital equipment donated by the Minot Sertoma Club offers MSU students high-quality, advanced technology for comprehensive vocal assessment," said Lisa Roteliuk, communication disorders instructor. "The equipment offers a recording system which will enhance clinical efficiency and reporting of findings. The equipment will be utilized for student learning, in-clinic patient assessments and research purposes."
MSU President David Fuller, communication disorders department chair Leisa Harmon, and several graduate students also thanked the Sertoma Club for the donation.