The Brother Bear Endowment Fund was established in memory of the life, work, and adventurous spirit of Bjorn Norgaard ’10. Opportunities to serve and learn outside the classroom enriched his Northland College experience. It is the donors’ wish that this fund will give other students some of the same opportunities.
Annually, the Brother Bear Fund supports the entry fee for two Northland College students (one male and one female) to ski the American Birkebeiner 50K Skate or 53K Classic ski races, as well as a $50 cash stipend to cover other race costs. The Norgaard family hosts the skiers for the weekend, providing a Friday evening spaghetti dinner, lodging, breakfast, and a ride to the race start. They also host a party on Saturday evening after the race, including a “luge” run down to the lake and a bonfire.