NDSU’s eighth annual “Battle of the Cents-es” will benefit a former NDSU student battling cancer. The fundraising competition, which pits student ambassadors from the College of Engineering and the College of Health Professions against each other, is scheduled for Feb. 11-16.

Students will collect donations at booths in the Memorial Union, Sudro Hall and the engineering complex. As part of the student competition, all change collected counts positively toward each student group’s total. Paper bills are subtracted from each group’s total.

The fundraiser will benefit Tyler Robertson, a 2016 graduate of West Fargo High School who came to NDSU to study mechanical engineering. Following a routine eye exam, doctors discovered a tumor in his brain. Specialists at Mayo Clinic removed the tumor and diagnosed him with treatable, but not curable, Glioblastoma.

“By choosing a recipient from the NDSU community, those taking part can make a connection with Ty and see how their donation makes a difference,” said Engineering Ambassadors president Charles Olson, a junior from Lindstrom, Minnesota, who is majoring in mechanical engineering. “I especially like how this fundraiser gives the colleges an opportunity to work together in a clever way that motivates people to donate and helps people in the community who are going through hard times.”

Nursing student Madison Brenamen, who is president of the Health Professions Ambassadors and a junior from Moorhead, said, “This competition is important because it helps us realize just how precious our lives are and to use our abilities to help someone who is going through a tough time. The competition between the two colleges brings the community together to focus on the importance of helping others. With a little friendly competition, we hope to raise a lot of money for Tyler to help in his fight against cancer.”

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