MTI honors supporters at Donor Recognition Event

• MTI awards

As Mitchell Technical Institute President Greg Von Wald looks on as Kathy Hofer accepts the Individual Donor of the Year award on behalf of her husband Mark and herself during a Donor Recognition Event held Wednesday at MTI. In 2008, the Hofers established a $500 scholarship for one student in the Power Line Construction and Maintenance program and the Wind Turbine Technology program. (Ross Dolan/Republic)

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During a Donor Recognition Event on Wednesday at the Campus Center, Mitchell Technical Institute thanked the numerous individuals and companies who have consistently supported MTI, its programs and the MTI Foundation.

Especially recognized were:

• Individual Donors of the Year Award: Mark and Kathy Hofer.

• Donor Legacy Award: Dick and Darlene Muth, Muth Electric.

• Corporate Donor of the Year Award: Raven Industries, represented by CEO Dan Rykhus.

• Volunteerism and Service Award: Kelly Odens, for her work on behalf of the MTI Alumni Association.

• Industry of the Year Award: Power sports industry, students in the Power Sports curriculum and the numerous local and statewide companies that support the program.

MTI President Greg Von Wald emceed the brief event in the spacious commons area of the new Campus Center building, and he reeled off the names of numerous corporate donors who have given time, money and expensive technical gear for student use.

Former MTI graduates, like Muth Electric owner Dick Muth, have given back to MTI and its programs, VonWald said. Muth Electric has assisted with donations totaling nearly $50,000 in materials, professional assistance and scholarships for electrical students.

Raven Industries, which produces GPS-based products and data management tools for agricultural production, gave MTI’s new land lab about $29,000 worth of precision ag components, he said.

Von Wald joked about the “red versus green” tractor rivalries, but he said support from implement dealerships like Scott Supply, Ellefson Implement, Noteboom Implement and Mettler Implement is appreciated by students in MTI’s ag programs.

Dick Muth was among the many present who recognized that industry support of MTI and its programs is mutually beneficial.

“We can’t do anything without people,” he said, “and we can’t get enough good people.”

Von Wald noted that over the years, Muth Electric has employed 100 MTI graduates in positions ranging from senior corporate officers to apprentice electricians.

“Thank you for your continued support of MTI,” Von Wald told the crowd. “Everything good that has happened has happened because of supporters like you.”

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