MDU Resources, North Dakota’s Gateway to Science and the Bismarck Larks honored the 2023 STEM All-Star students during the June 3 baseball game, deemed STEM Night. The students were nominated by their teachers for their love of learning and commitment to using STEM to serve their schools and communities.

The 2023 STEM All-Stars are:

• Temperance Castillo |8th grade | Mandan Middle School
• Charles Dobrzelecki | 8th grade | Horizon Middle School
• Kyle Marcotte | 12th grade |St. Mary’s Central High School (Bismarck)
• Lander Monson |8th grade | East Fairview Elementary School
• Chloe Pierson | 4th grade | Carrington Public School
• Charlee Weinert | 5th grade | Hettinger Public School

STEM grant recipient

The MDU Resources Foundation sponsors a $1,000 STEM grant for one nominating teacher to be used for a STEM project at their school.

The 2023 STEM grant was awarded to Stacy Larson and St. Mary’s Central High School. Ms. Larson plans to use the grant to purchase equipment for the school’s robotics team.

In conjunction with the STEM All-Star recognition, the MDU Resources STEM Expo was held at the ballpark earlier in the day. The expo features hands-on STEM activities hosted by local businesses.

This is the fifth year MDU Resources, the Bismarck Larks and North Dakota’s Gateway to Science have teamed up to showcase STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and honor local STEM All-Stars.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the MDU Resources Foundation. For the past four decades, the foundation has served as the philanthropic arm to share the company’s success with the communities in which its companies operate.

In its 40 years, the MDU Resources Foundation has:

• Donated more than $42.3 million to worthwhile charities and organizations in 42 states.
• Awarded more than $1.09 million in scholarships.
• Sponsored annual scholarships at more than 100 colleges and universities.
• Matched employees’ donations to educational institutions in the amount of $990,537.
• Supported employees’ volunteerism by donating $523,250.

“We’re proud of our record of supporting qualified organizations that enhance the quality of life in our communities,” Cory Fong, president and director of the MDU Resources Foundation, said. “We believe our efforts have had, and will continue to have, a positive impact.”

The foundation considers requests in the following categories:

• Health and human services.
• Education.
• Civic and community activities.
• Culture and arts.
• Environment.

The foundation’s greatest impact is through lower-dollar grants. On average, about 85 percent of the foundation’s annual grants are $10,000 or less.

These lower-dollar grants to smaller charities and organizations — often located in small towns with limited funding sources — have a special place in the heart of Rita O’Neill, manager of the MDU Resources Foundation.

“The smaller organizations are so grateful for the funds,” O’Neill said. “They’re the first to send a thank you note, and they use the money so well.”

Throughout its years, the foundation also has made some large donations, like a $1 million donation to the Oregon State University Construction Safety Lab; $100,000 to the Norm Waite Jr. YMCA in South Sioux City, Nebraska, to increase access to daycare options for families; and $250,000 to the North Dakota Heritage Center, to name a few.

“No matter the dollar amount — big or small — MDU Resources Foundation supports efforts to enhance quality of life,” O’Neill said. “We’ve supported large projects that help increase families’ access to much-needed childcare and have helped bring STEM education to youth in rural communities, as well as smaller projects, like helping a small town upgrade its playground.”

Another highlight for O’Neill is working with MDU Resources’ employees in the field, from administrative assistants to presidents, who give her insight on the charities from their communities that apply for grants.

“If it wasn’t for them, our foundation wouldn’t be what it is,” O’Neill said. “They’re my boots on the ground, and they have the pulse on the community where they live and work. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”

Foundation also supports employees’ charitable and volunteer activities
The MDU Resources Foundation also has programs to encourage and support employees’ charitable and volunteer activities.

It does this through two match programs:

• Employee Match Program for Education
  This program doubles employees’ and corporate directors’ personal contributions to educational institutions (elementary, secondary and higher education) by matching contributions between $50 and $750.
• Employee Match Program for Volunteerism
  This program encourages employees to participate in volunteer activities by giving a grant of $750 to a nonprofit organization at which an employee or employee group volunteers 25 or more hours in one year.

The MDU Resources Foundation, in partnership with Montana-Dakota Utilities, committed $50,000 to Williston Community Builders to help construct an outdoor public pool in Williston, North Dakota.

Residents of Williston have been without an outdoor community pool since 2014. The community’s sole outdoor pool was retired that year due to aging equipment, structural concerns and lack of ADA compliance. Since then, community sentiment has indicated a strong desire to bring a public pool back for outdoor summer recreation and to enhance residents’ quality of life.

Williston Community Builders is the nonprofit leading the fundraising efforts to bring an outdoor pool back to the community. The pool, named Williston Water World, is being funded through support of local donors and community partnerships. After the pool is constructed, the intent is for a partner to take over operations in the future.

A project that will provide increased access to high-quality childcare in the South Sioux City, Nebraska, area got a boost from the MDU Resources Foundation, Jebro, Inc., and Knife River Corporation.

The three entities partnered to donate $100,000 to the Early Learning & Youth Development Center expansion project at Norm Waitt, Sr. YMCA in South Sioux City, Nebraska.

This project is a vital initiative that will allow the YMCA to better serve the needs of the Siouxland area by increasing the capacity of its Early Learning & Youth Development Center.

At the heart of the Y’s mission is the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. The expansion project is a powerful step forward in that mission.

“We are extremely grateful for the generous donation from Jebro, Knife River and MDU Resources Foundation,” said Rhonda Robson, CEO of the Siouxland Y.  “Thanks to this gift, we are one step closer to achieving our goal of an expanded Early Learning and Youth Development Center and providing families with a safe and welcoming environment for their children to learn, grow and thrive.”

“This donation perfectly fits our mission of building strong teams which, in return, builds strong communities for generations to come. We are committed to making a difference in the Siouxland area,” Bob Cheever, president of Jebro, said.

“Initiatives promoting education, youth development, and social responsibility with our youth is very important to our community’s future. I am looking forward to years of success with this new Expansion Project,” Chris Winkle, vice president of Knife River said.

Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage for many kids. Unfortunately, not all kids have access to a bike, or the temptation to be in front of a screen keeps them off the bike they own. According to the Wall Street Journal, only one in four kids will ride a bike this year.

The MDU Resources Foundation partnered with All Kids Bike to bring the Learn-to-Ride program to kindergarten students at Northridge Elementary in Bismarck, North Dakota. The students will learn to ride a bike as part of their physical education curriculum.

By teaching kids to ride a bike in school, All Kids Bike is getting as many kids on bikes as possible, as early as possible. The All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Program boasts an inclusive, proven Learn-To-Ride curriculum that offers every child the opportunity to experience the joy of two wheels.

Through the foundation’s funding, Northridge Elementary received the Learn-to-Ride curriculum, teacher training, a fleet of Strider Balance Bikes, pedal-conversion kits and helmets. All the materials will be used for upcoming kindergarten classes for the next seven to 10 years.

The All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Program was launched at Northridge Elementary Nov. 31 with an exciting bike reveal, an introduction of the Learn-To-Ride Program to students, and a presentation with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Cory Fong, director of MDU Resources Communications and Public Affairs. Northridge Elementary is the first site in Bismarck to offer this program.

Before the bike reveal, 10 employees with MDU Resources, MDU Construction Services Group and Montana-Dakota Utilities assembled 24 Strider bikes.

All Kids Bike is a national movement to place kindergarten PE Learn-To-Ride programs into public schools, using donations from individuals, businesses and organizations. Launched in March 2018, there are already over 700 schools across all 50 states teaching thousands of children how to ride.