Red Wing/Winona, Minn—Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical received a $5,000 donation from Xcel Energy toward student scholarships at their annual Community Connections Golf and Dining event, held Thursday, May 28 at Mississippi National Links in Red Wing Minnesota. The gift was presented by Pam Gorman, Manager, Community and Local Government Relations to Kent Spaulding, Director of Institutional Advancement on behalf of the college foundation. 

"Xcel Energy is committed to the communities we serve including Red Wing and Winona, where we have a nuclear plant, a refuse derived fuel plant and two service centers," said Pam Gorman, Xcel Energy community relations manager. "We know that having Southeast Tech College in each community makes it a better place to live and work, so I am pleased that we support this valuable scholarship program.”

Director of Institutional Advancement at Southeast Tech, Kent Spaulding appreciates what Xcel Energy does for Southeast Tech students. “We are very proud of our relationship with Xcel Energy. As the college continues its outreach efforts, collaborations with industry and business leaders will be at the forefront of our work. Xcel has been a great benefactor and they are wonderful partners.  Our students, faculty, and staff appreciate all they have done for the college.”   

The annual golf Community Connections Golf and Dinner raised more than $12,000 in support of student scholarships at Southeast Tech. The Xcel Energy scholarship dollars will be awarded to students seeking support in Technology and Trade and Industrial careers college-wide.  Over the last ten years, thanks to generous benefactors like Xcel, the College Foundation has provided scholarships totaling more than $1 million. Rising tuition costs and increased financial burden continue to make the scholarship funding a priority of the college foundation.