'We Love Northern' ball launches fund drive

James Limbaugh, Montana State University-Northern's new chancellor, told a the crowd at the annual We Love Northern Ball Saturday night that he knew he made the right choice when he left Texas to come to Havre.

.As he looked over the crowd

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., from left, talks to former Montana State University-Northern Foundation Director Tom Reynolds and Bear Paw Development Corp. and new Montana Board of Regents member Paul Tuss during the 26th Annual We Love Northern Ball in the Student Union Building Saturday evening.

that jammed the Student Union Building, he said "the commitment you are showing here is an indication that I am in the right place," he said.

Every cent of the money raised at the annual dinner-dance will go toward scholarships at Northern, Limbaugh said.

"We are at the top of the map," he said, and everyone else is below us," he said. "That says to me that I am at the top institution in Montana." he said to the crowd's approval.

He said he was especially pleased to see so many faculty members and alums at the dinner.

The ball marked the official start of Northern's fund drive. Miles Hamilton, president and CEO of Independence Bank, handed Limbaugh a $100,000 check to kick off the drive.

Limbaugh introduced a variety of political, social and educational leaders, including Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.

"We know because we live here what a great institution and a great facility Northern is," said Tester, a Big Sandy resident.

He asked the crowd to spread the word on how valuable Northern is for workforce development and research.