Battle of the Cent-es to benefit longtime NDSU employee
Aleisha Lokken, director of allied sciences and recruitment and retention, will be the recipient of the proceeds raised during this year’s 15th annual Battle of the Cent-es fundraiser.
The fundraising competition between NDSU student ambassadors from the College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Engineering will run from March 23 to March 27. A kickoff event will be held on Sunday, March 22, at 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union’s Prairie Rose Room.
After being encouraged by a coworker, Lokken scheduled a routine check-up, never imagining that the appointment she had been putting off would lead to life-changing news. Over the past few months, she attended multiple follow-up appointments and underwent additional testing. The results revealed invasive lobular carcinoma, a form of breast cancer.
Lokken underwent surgery on Feb. 26, and final pathology results will determine the next steps in her treatment journey.
"In my family, we share the motto of paying it forward. In my life, lots of people have demonstrated their kindness to me in a multitude of ways. Now, going into my third year of the Battle of the Cents-es, I once again have the opportunity to be a part of an event where the College of Engineering and the College of Health and Human Sciences work together to make a bigger impact than either could make alone,” said Ethan Blesie, an industrial engineering student and vice president of the Engineering Ambassadors.
“Together, we can all get behind a common cause and change the life of a community member in need. In my eyes, there is not a better way for me to pay it forward,” Blesie added.
Cash and coin donations will be accepted. Coins will be counted as positive points toward each college’s total. Dollar bills will act as negative points that will be subtracted from each college’s total.
Donations can be made on campus in the Aldevron Tower, the A. Glenn Hill Center and the Memorial Union. In-person donation times are Monday through Thursday, March 23-26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Friday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to noon. Online donations are also accepted throughout the week.