On the left, Betty pictured with her family upon her graduation in 1984: Bob, Betty, Nick, Chet, and Matt. On the right, the building that now bears her name—The Elizabeth Lockwood SMSU Alumni and Visitor Center.
and its annual telethon to raise funds. “She would bring my brothers and me to the call center to get donations. We would compete, vying to see who could get the most donations.” Hope Harbor is one of the many organizations Betty helped during her life, and one that was near and dear to her heart. Hope Harbor is a Christian non-profit organization focused on serving teens and restoring relations between their family members. Betty worked closely with Claudia Stenson, one of the founders of Hope Harbor. “Betty had a strong compassion for promoting women and showing that they were extremely capable of doing anything. She loved her family and friends and everyone she encountered. I am so blessed to have known her and been her friend,” said Stenson. She remembers
Betty being a great mentor, motivator, encourager, “and a whole lot of fun!” Betty was ever the optimist and battled her cancer with a positive mindset and perspective. Although she had many internalized emotions during her cancer struggles, she never let those emotions dampen her passion for life, and the way she lived her life. She is remembered as a woman who advocated for education, women’s rights, and the community of Marshall. “My mother loved welcoming people and having a good time,” said Chet. “She took pride in all her accomplishments and in the work she was doing. Having her name on the alumni building would have meant the world to her. I only hope we are still making her proud.”
Student-Led Mindful Meals Program Fills Hunger Void The Enactus group at Southwest “We found through our research that Minnesota State University is helping there was a need for this,” said Enactus address a food insecurity need in Chief of Staff Carter McLaughlin, Marshall through a program called who graduated in May. “We have four “Mindful Meals.” pillars for the project — Community, The pilot program’s goal was to Outreach, Nutrition, Education, or supply — to families of elementary CONE,” he said. school children who request them — “I love this project. It’s making a a nutritious, healthy Friday evening difference,” said Zimmer. “It relates meal. to the ‘Small Town, Big Community’ Dr. George Taylor, Business theme.” professor and Enactus advisor, said Christensen Farms is a large that meals were prepared on three benefactor. “They gave us $2,500, and separate occasions for participating added $2,500 if it was matched. We had K-1 students and family members. two matches so that was $10,000 out of The first trial on March 25 included 13 the gate,” said McLaughlin. Front row from left: Dr. George Taylor, Enactus Faculty Co-Advisor; Tricia families and 72 meals; the second on Aldi donated a $500 gift card to use Gieseke, Communications Specialist, Christensen Farms (CF); Josh Anderson, April 8 was 24 families, 121 meals; and Public Policy Specialist (CF); Amber Portner, Communications Manager (CF); purchasing groceries, and HyVee has the third on April 22 was 15 families, helped by selling product at cost, and Sarah Strandemo, Enactus Vice President; Valerie Messner, Mindful Meals 85 meals. also donating rescued food items. Co-Leader. Back row from left: Dr. Doug Simon, Sam Walton Fellow and It’s the goal of the program to The idea for the program originated Enactus Faculty Co-Advisor; Grayson Bolstad; Stephen Zimmer, Mindful Meals Co-Leader; and Ashton Ayres. supply families with a Friday evening with SMSU alumnus Aaron Lange, meal, three meals on Saturday and whose soon-to-be father-in-law Greg Sunday, and a breakfast on Monday, said Taylor. “That’s when we go into Pavett is the founder and CEO of Humanity Alliance, based in Victoria. full operation. We will assess and evaluate the data to ensure we do not Humanity Alliance takes food items that otherwise would be discarded exceed our capacity or capabilities.” and uses them to prepare meals delivered to Minnesota families, mostly Next year, Enactus will expand the program to include students and in the west suburbs of the Twin Cities. their families in grades K-5. “There’s a need for this,” said Taylor. “This Lange told former Enactus advisor Dr. Doug Simon about the will help litigate the nutritional gaps and lead to enhanced performance program, and Enactus representatives visited Humanity Alliance to learn among students in the school system.” more. Enactus members discussed what they found, and decided it was a Meals are prepared in the Culinology kitchen at SMSU by Enactus worthwhile project for the entrepreneurial group. members, Culinology and Hospitality Management students, Student “We found through our assessment there was a fundamental need in Hospitality Organization members, and Chef Ronnie Walker. Marshall, whether you can see it or not,” said McLaughlin. “Chef Walker has played a huge part in this,” said project co-manager All agree that nutrition plays a vital role for academic success of Valerie Messner, a senior Accounting and Finance major. Stephen students. “This project addresses those needs, and will hopefully help Zimmer, a junior Political Science major, is the other project co-manager. students fare better academically,” said Messner.
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