Brown assists graduate students with scholarship opportunity
A financial assist from well-known Minot State alumnus, Minot native and longtime basketball coach Dale Brown will go to provide a local student with a scholarship for graduate school at MSU. In a classic pay-it-forward response, Brown has provided a graduate school scholarship in memory of James Norton, the Minot businessman who personally financed Brown’s master’s degree.
"What Jim Norton did for Dale Brown five decades ago is truly remarkable," said Marv Semrau, vice president for advancement. "At a time when Brown was unable to find a bank willing to loan him the money to attend graduate school, Norton went out of his way to approach Brown with a personal loan to take care of classes for Brown."
Now Brown is giving back, in the form of a full-tuition scholarship to help a Minot State student achieve their educational goals while a graduate student.
Brown says without the financial aid given by Norton, he doesn’t think he would have earned the college education he was looking for, and in turn may not have ended up being as successful in his career endeavors. Brown is well known for the 25 years he spent as the head basketball coach of the LSU Tigers, where he became the second winningest coach in SEC history. Norton was born and raised in Minot and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from Minot High School in 1947. After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration he worked in Fergus Falls, Minn., Fargo and Williston before returning to Minot in 1955. As a businessman, Norton organized the opening of the First Western State Bank in Minot and later purchased Minot Restaurant Supply before retiring in 1992. He was a strong supporter of Minot athletic events and was active in civic affairs and multiple community organizations. Norton passed away in May 2002.
The Minot State University Graduate School offers advanced degrees in subjects such as education, math, science, music, criminal justice, information systems and management. To be eligible for this scholarship a student needs to apply before the June 1 deadline, be currently or previously from Minot and planning to attend classes on campus as a full or part-time student.
For more information on this scholarship and others available to graduate students, please contact Linda Cresap, dean of the Graduate School, at 858-3316.
04/30/10