Left: Open house attendees were treated to free blood pressure checks from nursing students. Above: Executive Director Paula Sundet Wolf was happy to write, “We made it!” on the board tracking Higher Ed’s endowment fundraising goal.
Cook County Higher Education decided to host an open house on one of the busiest of December days, Saturday, December 3. Higher Ed Executive Director Paula Sundet Wolf knew it was a hectic day. She said that is one of the reasons they decided to open the doors of the Grand Marais campus. “We wanted people to stop by and see us, to take a break and relax at our open house,” Sundet said.
To ensure that community members stopped by, Higher Ed offered some enticements—a tour of the North Shore campus, of course, and the opportunity to see a class underway (Outdoor Emergency Care)—but also free blood pressure screenings, free chair massages and refreshments.
The blood pressure screenings were courtesy of students taking nursing classes through Higher Education. The screenings were a win-win situation. The nursing students were able to fulfill a community service requirement of their training and community members received free blood pressure checks.
In another room, massage therapists Margy Nelson, Christal Stone Kelahan and Natalie Sobanja demonstrated the skills students learn along with kinesiology (movement), human anatomy and physiology and medical ethics as they obtain massage therapist certification.
And in one large classroom there were delicious refreshments provided by Higher Education staff and board members. It was there that Sundet Wolf was able to make the announcement that Cook County Higher Education had reached its goal of raising $25,000 to establish an endowment through the Duluth-Superior Foundation.
Higher Ed board member Beth Kennedy was quick to applaud Mike Carlson of Grand Marais, who made both the initial donation to get the endowment fund drive started and the final donation to top the $25,000 mark. She said thanks also needed to go to Sue Riley who provided a donation to be used to match other contributions.
To everyone in attendance, Sundet Wolf said, “Thank you so much for your help and support of the Higher Ed open house. Especially thanks to all who helped us meet our endowment goal of $25,000. Of course now we need to keep building it, but we have made a great start!”
Anyone who would like to help Cook County Higher Education continue to grow its endowment can still do so. Donations can be dropped off at the North Shore campus at any time or mailed to: Cook County Higher Education, PO Box 57, Grand Marais MN 55604. For more information about Higher Ed, call (218) 387-3411 or visit www.northshorecampus.org.
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