The NDSU Battle of the Cents-es raised $9,193.46 for a Moorhead High School student with a rare heart defect.

NDSU students collected $9,193.46 during the 12th annual “Battle of the Cents-es” event for a Moorhead High School student with a rare heart defect. The fundraising competition, which pits student ambassadors from the College of Engineering against student ambassadors from the College of Health Professions, was held March 27-31.

The money, including the anonymous donation of a rare gold coin, will benefit Aaron Erickson. Erickson was born with a rare heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. The left side of his heart was underdeveloped, causing the pumping chamber to ineffectively pump blood to the body.

Erickson received a donor heart transplant last year. The funds collected from Battle of the Cents-es will go toward his continued care, including medications and additional heart procedures. His mother, Holly Erickson, previously worked in the College of Engineering as the K-12 outreach coordinator.

Students collected donations at booths in the engineering complex, Aldevron Tower, Memorial Union and online through Venmo. Teams earn positive points for change or Venmo donations. Paper bills are subtracted from each group’s point total.

“Thank you to everyone who showed their support last week for Aaron Erickson and his family,” said Calvin Stepan, president of the College of Engineering Ambassadors. “Raising more than $9,000 for the Erickson family was amazing.”

“We try to pick a recipient that is in need in our NDSU or Fargo-Moorhead community,” said Alyssa Hodges, an NDSU pharmacy student and special events chair of the College of Health Professions Ambassadors. “Battle of the Cents-es raises money for the recipient to use however they may need. We want them to feel supported.”

When all the coins, bills and Venmo donations were counted the totals looked like this:

College of Engineering (4296.85 Points)

• Venmo - $970
• Coins - $1,407.85
• Rare Coins - $2,339
• Cash - $3,139 (negative points for CHP)

College of Health Professions (-2221.39 Points)

• Venmo - $693.50
• Coins - $224.11
• Cash - $420 (negative points for COE)

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