Vender pays it forward with $15,000 gift to Northern

Press release

Montana State University-Northern recently received a gift of $15,000 from Carl Vender of Shepherd.

Vender, an alum of Northern from the class of 1968, has been a generous supporter of his alma mater and was also a 1989 Founder’s Excellence Award Winner. His most recent contribution is a legacy gift he set up with the MSU-Northern Foundation creating The Carl Vender Family Endowment.

An endowment is a donation to the MSU-Northern Foundation that is invested with resulting investment income used for the designated purpose of the donor. Endowments last in perpetuity, meaning they give every year and last forever.

Many donors choose to use their endowment’s investment income to fund yearly student scholarships. And that is the case with Vender.

Vender’s gift to Northern is an opportunity for him to pay it forward. Financial assistance helped him during his time as student in higher education and he said appreciated the support.

“During my sophomore year in the (Northern Montana College) industrial arts program where I was specializing in drafting and surveying, I was informed I would not continue receiving national defense loans to complete my teaching degree.” Vender said. “Luckily, I was able to adjust my schedule and receive my drafting certificate.  Hopefully, this scholarship will help students meet their goals.”

This new endowment will fund The Carl Vender Civil Engineering Endowed Scholarship, which will give $500 every year to Northern students in the civil engineering program.

“My entire career has been in civil engineering and surveying,” Vender said. “Licensed as a professional surveyor for over 40 years, I have given many presentations at state, national, and international surveying meeting.”

Northern administration expressed appreciation for Vender’s generosity.

“Our civil engineering technology program is an area we really would like to grow and this gift will help that happen,” Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel said. “We are always grateful for endowments that ensure ongoing support for Northern and our students.”

“Carl’s continued support of Northern is very personal,“ Northern Foundation Executive Director Shantel Cronk said. “His passion to give back is so sincere. He wants to support the Civil Engineering students and we will definitely honor his wishes to make that happen.”

Carl Vender and his wife, Roberta, both widows from prior marriages, have a combined family of six children, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

MSU-Northern’s Foundation is a 501(c)3 with the mission is to engage alumni and friends of the University, enrich student experiences and provide ethical stewardship while supporting the University’s strategic goals.