Carson Dinger CLASS OF '10

Junior

Hometown: Wahpeton, North Dakota

Majors: Psychology and Sociology

On the University Program Council, junior Carson Dinger’s title is Social Awareness Coordinator. Rainmaker would be just as appropriate: He organizes creative—and effective—fundraisers for Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children’s hospitals around the country.

In Bash for Cash, for instance, students make a $5 donation for the chance to take a sledgehammer to a car donated for this purpose. In Jail Bail, UPC constructs a “jail” on campus; volunteers stay behind bars until they raise bail from passing friends and colleagues. Carson’s events have raised an average of $28,000 the last few years; his goal for this year is $40,000.

How did he get involved with CMN? “My freshman year, some of my fraternity brothers were going to the State-a-Thon (the annual CMN dance marathon),” recalls Carson. “They convinced me to go with them, but I expected it to be pretty dumb. It turned out to be the best day ever. It changed my life; I’ve been involved ever since.”