Photo Left to Right: Kasthuri Udayakumar, DNP, RN; Dr. Jennifer Brown, Provost; Toni Pederson, Director of Finance; Chancellor Kegel; Melanie Skoyen, Managing Director; Diane & Russ Getten, Cherished friends of LaVonne; Jaime Duke, DNP, RN
Havre, MT – This week, a check presentation was held to celebrate the creation of the Walter & LaVonne Norman Endowed Scholarship, which will provide nursing scholarships for MSU-Northern students for generations to come. The gift of over $900,000 represents one of the largest scholarship endowments in MSU-Northern’s history.
Walter and LaVonne Norman built their life together on the family’s homestead near Dodson, where they farmed and ranched for decades. Walter, a Korean War veteran and skilled farmer, was admired for his work ethic and inventive spirit. LaVonne, a polio survivor, was a dedicated homemaker and talented seamstress who also devoted her time to 4-H and her community.
After retiring to Havre in 2000, Walter passed away the following year. LaVonne remained active in her church and community, living courageously and generously until her passing in 2024, just shy of her 90th birthday.
Throughout their lives, the Normans were committed to giving back. Their philanthropy touched many organizations, including the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation in Billings; Phillips County Museum in Malta; and, in Havre, the Boys and Girls Club of the Hi-Line, the Havre Food Bank, Sletten Cancer Center, Salvation Army, Bear Paw Hospice, and the North Central Montana Senior Citizens’ Center.
The Norman Endowed Scholarship now carries forward their legacy of hard work, faith, and generosity by investing in the education of future nurses at MSU-Northern. This scholarship provides crucial support, helping students focus on their education without the weight of financial stress. With nurses in high demand and Northern’s 96% job placement rate, this support directly helps students launch successful careers in nursing.
“This gift is transformational for our students and for healthcare in Montana,” said Chancellor Greg Kegel. “The Normans’ generosity will impact lives for generations, both the students who receive this scholarship and the countless patients they will go on to care for.”