Hennepin Tech Foundation Honors Liddiard Family Memorial Endowment
Eden Prairie, August 9, 2024
The Hennepin Tech Office of Advancement welcomed members of the Liddiard family to the college’s practical nursing program lab to honor their daughter and sister, Monica Liddiard, and to rededicate the family endowment. The family extended their generous scholarship fund in honor of Monica on the 90th birthday of their mother, Helen.
After working for her entire adult life in retail, both in stores and corporate headquarters, Monica enrolled at Hennepin Tech in 2006 to start a new, in-demand career: practical nursing. She was inspired in part by her experience taking her beloved cats to animal therapy sessions at a long-term care facility. This experience helped convince her that she had the disposition for patient care.
When Monica graduated from Hennepin Tech in 2009, she found herself drawn to help nursing students, and accepted a job working as a college lab assistant at the College. In this role, Monica supported the nursing faculty and students attending open labs. She was also instrumental in helping the program develop a simulation lab. Even after being diagnosed with cancer in 2012, she continued in the role for two more years until she was physically unable to perform the work.
As a beloved member of the nursing team, the faculty provided Monica with assistance and donated sick leave to her when she ran out. In appreciation for this kindness, the family established a scholarship in Monica's name in 2015.
A plaque to honor Monica hangs in the nursing simulation lab at the Eden Prairie campus, acknowledging her dependability, hard work, and the countless contributions she made to the program, faculty, and students. To date, the Monica Liddiard Memorial Endowment fund has awarded eight nursing students with scholarships to help them continue their education at Hennepin Tech.
About Hennepin Technical College
Founded in 1972, Hennepin Technical College is the largest stand-alone technical college in Minnesota. With campuses in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie, the college offers degree and non-degree courses in over 40 programs in the skilled trades and high-demand career fields. Achieving a high job placement rate, Hennepin Tech prepares students for high-paying employment opportunities.
About the Office of Advancement
The Office of Advancement supports Hennepin Tech’s mission by fostering meaningful connections with alumni, friends, industry partners, private foundations and government agencies. In partnership with the Foundation, the Office of Advancement provides stakeholders with positive communications and experiences that lead to pride, advocacy and philanthropic support for the college. The Foundation, is the college’s tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) direct support organization, serving as the recipient and trustee of all charitable donations to Hennepin Tech. Donations to the Hennepin Tech Foundation support student scholarships, student crisis funds, student success initiatives, and academic program enhancements and equipment needs.