Chanhassen High School receives AED from Shakopee Tribe
Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community today announced that it is providing a $2,000 grant to Chanhassen High School to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) for its sports facility. This grant will cover the total cost for purchasing the AED, which will be located at the main entrance to the Eastern Carver County Athletic Center. Matthew Boyum, Ben Gustafson, and John Morley, junior student athletes from Chanhassen High School, submitted the grant application on behalf of their school.
“I’m very proud of these students for identifying a need at their school and finding a solution,” said Eastern Carver County Schools Superintendent Clint Christopher. “This life-saving device will serve our students for many years to come, and we thank the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for their generosity.”
The SMSC has donated more than 1,000 AEDs to tribes, first response agencies, and governmental agencies through its Mdewakanton LIFE program since 2004. Since the program’s inception, at least 28 people have been saved across the country by law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel using SMSC-donated AEDs, and many more by the SMSC’s first responders using AEDs located around the reservation and tribal enterprises.
“Providing AEDs and other health service support is an important part of our tribe’s commitment to helping our neighbors,” said SMSC Chairman Charles R. Vig. “We are happy to provide this grant to Chanhassen High School and the students who requested it.”
A photo of students Matthew Boyum, Ben Gustafson, and John Morley (from left to right) with the AED is available for download.
About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to Native American tribes and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County.
About Eastern Carver County Schools
Eastern Carver County Schools serves the cities of Carver, Chaska, Chanhassen and Victoria. The suburban school district ranks among the best in Minnesota by a number of independent analyses. Its students consistently perform above state averages on state tests and 84 percent of its graduates go on to two-year, four-year, and elite colleges. District enrollment is 9,600 students. The district operates two traditional high schools, a small, arts-focused high school, three middle schools, seven elementary schools, a Spanish immersion elementary school, and a transition center for young adult special education students.