May 21, 2018

 

Carl Uleland presents check to MSUB Foundation president Bill Kennedy

 

MSU Billings Yellowstone Building project receives major donation

 

Contacts:

Tiffini Gallant, Alumni/Foundation Marketing Coordinator at MSU Billings Foundation, (406) 657-2252, tiffini.gallant@msubillings.edu

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — A major announcement during the MSU Billings Foundation’s Wine & Food Festival finale left attendees and University staff surprised and delighted. Eastern Montana College alumnus Carl Ueland and his wife, Barbara, announced a sizeable contribution to the Yellowstone Science and Allied Health Building fundraising campaign. The Uelands presented a check for $500,000 to MSU Billings Chancellor Dan Edelman, Foundation President and CEO Bill Kennedy and Board of Trustees Chair Dave Warne, receiving a standing ovation by the crowd.

 

Carl Ueland, who graduated from Eastern Montana College in 1970 with a biology degree, has been a long-time supporter of MSU Billings and its students. He and Barbara have donated nearly $1.5 million over the last 30 years to the Foundation with $150,000 to scholarships for student athletes and science majors, and nearly $1 million toward the Yellowstone Building project. Carl and Barbara reside in Fresno, Calif. where they own and operate Actagro, LLC, a global agriculture technology company.

 

“It’s obvious we need a new science building,” said Carl, reflecting on his own time as a science student in the current structure. “I’ve always been very fond of Billings. I loved my time here when I grew up…this town needs to grow MSUB, and this is one of the ways we can do it.”

 

Today’s pledge marked $4.2 million raised for the Yellowstone building with more than $3 million of that raised in the last 20 months. With only $800,000 left to meet the Montana Legislator’s requirement of $5 million, Bill Kennedy states, “We will be wrapping up the campaign in the next few months and the state of Montana will take it from there. We anticipate a ceremonial groundbreaking this fall.”

 

For more information about the Yellowstone Science and Allied Health Building fundraising campaign, contact Bill Kennedy, President and CEO at MSU Billings Foundation, (406) 657-1622, bill.kennedy@msubillings.edu.