Office of the President

Holidays Offer Time to Renew Traditions and Give Back

“We choose this time because it is a time of all others when want is most keenly felt and abundance rejoices" -- A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens.

This time of year is steeped in tradition.

From watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to visiting Santa to exchanging gifts to cheering the ball drop in Times Square, it is a time for familiar rituals.

Growing up in a large family, Christmas was never a small affair. With 10 siblings and eventually 44 nieces and nephews, our gatherings were so big that we rented out the community center in our hometown to fit everyone. Those celebrations became tradition—complete with our own “family Olympics,” a series of playful competitions and games that resembled “minute-to-win-it” challenges long before they were popular.

Now, with my own family—my husband, our three sons and their spouses, and seven grandchildren—we’ve carried forward a tradition that feels even more meaningful. Each year we perform the nativity story together, complete with costumes, narration, and plenty of laughter.

I’m sure you have your own holiday traditions that you plan to carry on during this festive time of year.

As we enter the home stretch of 2025 and anticipate the possibilities of a new year, I encourage all of you to renew (or begin) the tradition of end-of-year giving.

For some, that’s the opportunity to support a favorite charitable drive or sponsor a local family who is grappling with tough times. Many of us at Minnesota State College Southeast have captured the spirit of the season by supporting the annual Winona Area Toys for Kids toy drive and raising funds for the Goodhue County Christmas Project to help provide a Red Wing family of seven a festive holiday.

Traditions connect us to what matters most. This year, I invite you to start a tradition that changes lives: supporting Minnesota State College Southeast as part of your year-end giving.

Every gift – large or small – makes a difference. Imagine the impact: a student who once wondered if college was out of reach now walks across the stage at graduation because of you.

Michelle Dingwall, our new Executive Director of Foundation and Development at Southeast can help you find the best way to make your gift count.

In leading our Southeast Foundation and development efforts, Michelle can show you how your support can make a student’s college dreams a reality. Whether it’s contributing to a scholarship fund or helping the college procure state-of-the-art equipment that is essential to prepare our students for hands-on careers, Michelle would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate ways your support can have the greatest impact.

Interested in something more tangible? The food pantries on both of our campuses are in high demand, especially at a time when the college only received 35% of its pantry funding request this year. Your donation of food or funds help ensure our students have nourishment when budgets are tight.

Which brings me to one final tradition that feels especially poignant this time of year. A heartfelt thank you to all of you in our community who continue to support Southeast through your engagement and financial backing. Your unwavering support ensures our students achieve their dreams, now, and all year long. Thank you.

Wishing you a happy holiday season and a prosperous new year.

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Please reach out to Michelle Dingwall at michelle.dingwall@southeastmn.edu to learn more about how you can support Minnesota State College Southeast.