In August elections, the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Cambridge and Coon Rapids Foundations elected new members to their respective board of directors: Alfred "Ted" Alliegro and Mark Antonson were elected to the Cambridge Foundation; and Mark Ethen, Joe Knutson, Tom O'Connor, and Ellen Ward were elected to the Coon Rapids Campus Foundation. Individually and collectively the following newly elected board members bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to their new roles. The following new directors on the Cambridge Campus Foundation Board of Directors replaced outgoing directors: Maureen Bartz and John Stocking. Alfred "Ted" Alliegro, a Lindstrom resident, is a self-employed attorney. He has a bachelor's of arts degree from the University of Minnesota and a law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law. Alliegro is currently co-chairperson on the Chisago County Citizens Review Panel. He is married with two daughters. Mark Antonson, a Mora resident, is a principal at Mora High School. He holds an associate's degree from Golden Valley Lutheran College and a bachelor's and master's degree from St. Cloud State University. Antonson is a member of the Substance Abuse Coalition of Kanabec County and both the Minnesota and National Associations of Secondary School Principals. He is married with four daughters. "It is an honor to be selected for this position," says Antonson. "Education is the key to our future." The new directors on the Coon Rapids Campus Foundation Board of Directors replaced outgoing directors: Gary Alberts, Mark Giancola, Cheryl Karpen and Lin Schmidt. According to the Foundation by-laws, directors are elected for a three-year term and are eligible to serve two consecutive three-year terms. Mark Ethen is president of KleinBank: Big Lake, Coon Rapids and Maple Grove. Ethen is currently on the board of directors for: Connexus Energy, Metro North Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Anoka and Central Minnesota Development Co. He is also a member of the Big Lake Transit-Oriented Development Committee. Joe Knutson, a Coon Rapids resident, is president and general manager of Bunker Hills Corp. Knutson received a bachelor's in science degree in Industrial Engineering from Moorhead State University. He has been a member of the Coon Rapids Rotary since 2002 and on the board of directors since 2004. Knutson is married with two young sons. Tom O'Connor, a resident of Inver Grove Heights, is president of Allina-Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. O'Connor received his undergraduate degree in economics and finance from St. Olaf College. He also holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. O'Connor is married with three daughters. Ellen Ward, a resident of Anoka, is a realtor for Coldwell Banker Burnett. Ward is past president and present chairperson of Philolectian. She has also been a member of the Kiwanis, the Anoka County Library Board, the City of Anoka Human Rights Commission and the Sesquicentennial Task Force. She has been honored as Volunteer of the Year by the Minneapolis Board of Realtors. Ward is married with two adult children. "Growing minds and capabilities is critical to the health of our communities," says O'Connor. "It is an honor to be part of this group." The new members of both foundations have committed to the foundations' mission to build friendships and funds to enrich students' lives. Foundation members are charged with promoting awareness and understanding of the college and its educational, cultural and developmental value to the surrounding communities. The Cambridge Campus Foundation provides scholarships to assist students in East Central Minnesota, regardless of financial status, to continue their education at the college. Nearly $66,000 was awarded to students who are attending Anoka-Ramsey Community College Cambridge Campus in 2006-2007. Since its inception, the Coon Rapids Campus Foundation has raised more than $2,790,000 in financial support, provided more than 1,830 scholarships ($1,146,900) and purchased over $516,000 in equipment. The Coon Rapids Foundation annually funds scholarships totaling more than $120,000. "The ARCC Foundation Board of Directors is excited to welcome these four new community and business leaders to the Board," says Director of Institutional Advancement, Evelyn Gedde. "Their wellspring of expertise and experience will be invaluable as the Board builds friendships and funds to enrich students' lives." To learn more about the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus Foundation, please contact the college's Director of Institutional Advancement, Evelyn Gedde at 763-433-1189. For more information about the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Cambridge Campus Foundation, call 763-422-1820.
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