Alumni Notes
UM Celebrates Its 111th Birthday
By Betsy Holmquist
Nestled between this year’s Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras was another fine celebration, UM’s Charter Day, honoring the founding of the University 111 years ago.
Earl Old Person, chief of the Blackfeet Nation and current member of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, spoke on "Fifty Years of Leadership in Indian Country" at the tenth annual Native American Lecture sponsored by the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West.
Nine outstanding University students, faculty, alumni, and friends were honored with awards and a reception on February 18.
The UM Alumni Association presented Pat and Don Simmons with the Montana Alumni Award. Now retired, Don served as a faculty member, chair of the Music Department, and associate dean for the School of Fine Arts during his twenty years at UM. Pat originated Missoula’s Out to Lunch program and was the executive director of the Missoula Downtown Association from 1985 to 1993. Their children, Elizabeth ’78, J.K. “Kim” ’78, and David ’83, and son-in-law, John O’Neill ’78, are all UM grads. Tireless volunteers, the Simmonses helped coordinate Thoughtful Neighbors, an advocacy group of UM district residents, and the fall ice cream social held to celebrate the return of UM students to the University district.
Jacole Douglas, a sophomore from Plymouth, Minnesota, received the ASUM Student Service Award. Jacole was noted for her ability to get students involved and for her work with Habitat for Humanity. The Robert T. Pantzer Award was presented to Roberta D. Evans, professor of educational leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling and former department chair, director and dean of the School of Education. Helena alums John ’47 and Katy Shallenberger ’49 Delano received the Neil S. Bucklew Presidential Service Award. Education Professor Audrey Koehler Peterson ’67, former chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, received the Montana Faculty Service Award. Mathematics Professor Johnny W. Lott received the George and Jane Dennison Faculty Award, and Kristine Csorosz, a groundskeeper III with UM’s facility services, received the George and Jane Dennison Staff Award.
The weekend continued with Griz and Lady Griz basketball victories over the Bobcats, the Montana Repertory Theatre’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire, art exhibits, movies, and recitals. A grand celebration for a grand institution, 111 years strong. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Roberta D. Evans, professor of educational leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling and former department chair, director and dean of the School of Education. Helena alums John ’47 and Katy ’48 Delano received the Neil S. Bucklew Presidential Service Award. Education Professor Audrey Koehler Peterson ’67, former chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, received the Montana Faculty Service Award. Mathematics Professor Johnny W. Lott received the George and Jane Dennison Faculty Award, and Kristine Csorosz, a groundskeeper III with UM’s facility services, received the George and Jane Dennison Staff Award.
The weekend continued with Griz and Lady Griz basketball games against the Bobcats, the Montana Repertory Theatre’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire, art exhibits, movies, and recitals. A grand celebration for a grand institution, 111 years strong. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Roberta D. Evans, professor of educational leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling and former department chair, director and dean of the School of Education. Helena alums John ’47 and Katy ’48 Delano received the Neil S. Bucklew Presidential Service Award. Education Professor Audrey Koehler Peterson ’67, former chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, received the Montana Faculty Service Award. Mathematics Professor Johnny W. Lott received the George and Jane Dennison Faculty Award, and Kristine Csorosz, a groundskeeper III with UM’s facility services, received the George and Jane Dennison Staff Award.
The weekend continued with Griz and Lady Griz basketball games against the Bobcats, the Montana Repertory Theatre’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire, art exhibits, movies, and recitals. A grand celebration for a grand institution, 111 years strong. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Alumni Schedule of Events
April 2004
8 Community Lecture Series, Great Falls
17 16th Annual W. Pennsylvania Alumni
Gathering, Oakmont, PA
22 Community Lecture Series, Great Falls
27 Alumni Gathering, New York City
30-5/8 International Travel, Dordogne River,
France
May 2004
7-20 International Travel, Holland and Germany River Cruise
13-15 Class Reunions (1934, 1944, 1954
and 50+ years), Missoula
15 UM Commencement
June 2004
4-14 International Travel, Aegean Sea Cruise
TBA Alumni Event, Neckargemund, Germany
8-16 International Travel, Dalmatian Coast
12 Montana Picnic, Denver
25,26 UMAA Board of Directors, Missoula
29-7/7 International Travel, Spain
August 2004
18-30 International Travel, British Isles &
Normandy Coast
20 Big Sky Open Golf, Denver
24-9/1 International Travel, Ireland
September 2004
15-23 International Travel, Tuscany
18 Griz vs. Sam Houston State, Football
and Tailgate, Sam Houston State,
Huntsville, TX
For more information on these events, call the UM Alumni Association: 1-877-UM ALUMS or visit our new Web site: www.UMontanaAlumni.org
The Best Show in Town
By Betsy Holmquist
Tuesday nights in the UC Theater are attracting a different crowd these days. A slightly older crowd. No blockbuster movies, popcorn, or soft drinks. Instead, attendees at this year’s sixth annual UM Alumni Association-sponsored community lecture series are drinking in “The New Europe” in six lectures presented by five top UM’s professors.
Gerald Fetz, interim dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, professor of German studies and former dean of the Davidson Honors College, opened the series with “The Idea of Europe.” He was followed by Adjunct Associate Professor Mark Johnson, executive director of the World Affairs Council, who spoke on “The Good,
the Bad and the Ugly: The United States
and Europe: A Policy Overview.” Research Professor Richard Erb spoke on “The European Union, Part 2: Current and Future Challenges.” Joanna Shelton, adjunct faculty member of the Davidson Honors College, spoke on “United States and Europe, Cooperation and Competition: Trade Policy as a Case Study.” History Professor Richard Drake presented “The Soul of Europe.” The final lecture was followed by a European wine tasting.
Great Falls UM and Montana State University alumni sponsored four lectures this spring. UM Research Professor Jerry Bromenshenk spoke on “Bee All that You Can Be: From Nanochips and Bees to
Livestock Management and Security.” He
was followed by two MSU professors: Scott Creel on “African Wild Dogs, Wolves and People” and David Large on “Still Friends After All These Years? German-American Relations Post 9/11.” UM Regents Professor Paul Lauren concluded the Great Falls series with “The Revolution in Internation-al Human Rights.”
The success of University-sponsored community lecture series programs has grown across Montana. As we went to press, alumni in Kalispell and Butte were setting dates and making arrangements for their initial lecture programs. For more information on the series, please contact UMAA at 877.UM.ALUMS or visit our new Web site: www.UMontanaAlumni.org
UMontanaAlumni.org
New Address
Great, New Connection
The long-anticipated new alumni Web site is finally here. “It was a long process,” says UMAA Associate Director Julie Schwartz, “but we wanted to make sure we got all the features and functionality just right before launching.” Pyron Techno-logies, a local alumni-owned firm, designed the new site and programmed all the interactive features. At UMontanaAlumni.org former students can update their pre-loaded profiles, register for free e-mail forwarding, shop for alumni memorabilia, and check out all upcoming events. In addition, alumni can register for events, see who else is attending, and join UMAA, all on-line. The site also contains links to other popular campus sites including athletics, career services and admissions and features photographs by Terry Sweeney.
Transactions are secured with Verisign. “Security and privacy are a major concern to us and our alumni,” says Schwartz. “For that reason, we give everyone the ability to hide specific information they don’t wish to be made public.” Only dues-paying alumni are eligible to perform searches for former classmates. “This is one of the main reasons folks want to participate with their alumni association, to reconnect with old friends,” she says. Dues-paying members also can read and receive the alumni newsletter, “Alumni Activities,” on line.
Alumni are encouraged to log in using their I.D. number, the nine-digit code on their Montanan label, or by inputting their current e-mail address. Once logged in, alumni are asked to create a unique name and password. “We encourage all UM alumni to explore all the features and submit Class Notes and other news," Schwartz adds. Community sites will connect alumni involved in UM groups and organizations while students and alumni returning for their class reunions or other get-togethers. Log on today. Get Connected. Stay Connected with the new alumni Web site.
