Dozens of scholarship winners were recognized, as was a longtime contributor to Ely’s community college, during an event held Sept. 26.
The Vermilion Campus Foundation hosted the 2025 Scholarship Banquet at Grand Ely Lodge.
More than 100 awards totaling over $134,000 were doled out to Vermilion students, many of whom attended the banquet.
The foundation also honored Ray Podominick as the winner of the 2025 Vermilion Lifetime Achievement Award.
Podominick, an Ely native, was a 1983 graduate of Vermilion Community College, where he starred on both the school’s baseball and basketball teams.
He went on to play baseball at Bemidji State University and later returned to Vermilion, where he has worked for more than 30 years.
Podominick currently works in Vermilion’s financial aid office and previously managed the campus bookstore and worked in housing.
He also was a mainstay in the school’s athletic department, serving as head baseball coach from 1998 to 2017 and also serving several seasons as the head women’s basketball coach. He also was an assistant football coach at Vermilion.
Also honored at the banquet was Judy Tedrow, who was named winner of the Vermilion Foundation Supporter.
Over 85 people attended the evening event, enjoying a lovely meal and visiting with students, donors, alumni, foundation board, community members, and the Minnesota North College - Vermilion Campus team.
Event sp onsor s i nclud e d: Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital Foundation, Edward Jones and Walker, Giroux and Hahne CPA. In-kind donations were provided by Grand Ely Lodge.
Incorporated in 1979, Vermilion Campus Foundation supports the college in providing exceptional, affordable education to Vermilion students.
The Vermilion Foundation works closely with Vermilion staff and faculty to support academic excellence, professional success, and community involvement.
The Vermilion Foundation awards academic scholarships and facilitates programs designed to help students and keep them on course for degree completion.
ABOUT HALF of the winners at the Vermilion Campus Foundation scholarship banquet posed for a group photo.
Ray Podominick
