Scholarship Auction Raises $7,638 
The Northern Alumni Association’s "Touchdown ‘98" Scholarship Social and Auction was a great success. The 18th annual event was held on Saturday, September 26, shortly following Northern’s first football game in 27 years. Approximately 180 excited alumni and friends of Northern gathered in Donaldson Commons to celebrate Northern’s return to football and victory, and to participate in the auction which raised $7,638 for scholarships for Northern students. This is $595 more than the auction’s previous all time high! The auction included approximately 120 items donated by local businesses, alumni and friends of Northern.
 
 

6-Mill Levy Up For Renewal
Dear Friends of Northern:

Once every ten years, since 1948, Montana voters have been asked to approve the six-mill University levy for the support of Higher Education in the State of Montana. That once a decade public choice is again on this November’s ballot as R-113. For the last 50 years, Montana voters have approved this referendum every ten years by wide margins. I would like to encourage your joining us to again approve this referendum in 1998.

As the new Chancellor at MSU-Northern, I have had to study and analyze every facet of the institution, including the major sources of funding for the academic programs offered by Northern. I have discovered that the six-mill levy is a critical source of funding for MSU-Northern. For fiscal 1998, Northern’s share of the six-mill levy provided nearly ten percent of the operating budget for the institution. 

Sometimes, percentages don’t paint the whole picture. For the fiscal year just ended this past June 30, the six-mill levy allocation to Northern was $922,222 out of an operating budget of $9,538,604. When applied to an enrollment number of 1400 full-time students, the six-mill levy revenues are equivalent to $650 per year of student tuition. The six-mill allocation to Northern was equal to the salaries for 29 employees (faculty, professional and classified staff) of the University.

I understand an old saying in Montana to be, "When the University System develops a cold, the smaller units like Northern catch pneumonia." I don’t entirely agree with that analysis. I have found, at Northern, a huge reservoir of support and energy among the faculty, staff, students, community and alumnae that give this institution enormous strength. 

The fact remains, however, that the resources generated by the six-mill levy have enabled Northern to build on those inherent strengths. MSU-Northern has been able to build its applied technology programs, from diesel and auto to water quality, into nationally recognized models of achievement with placement rates upon graduation approaching 95%, 90% placed in good jobs in Montana. The nursing, education, and business programs prepare the dedicated professionals who provide health care, education and business leadership in our isolated, rural communities throughout the region. General education courses distributed throughout the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, science and technology are an integral part of every degree program, building a strong foundation for lifelong learning and performance.

As we conclude this century and begin the next, MSU-Northern is poised for growth and excellence. Re-approval of the six-mill university levy will enable Northern to meet that promise. Please join me in voting for R-113 at the general election, November 3, 1998.

Sincerely,

Mike Rao, Chancellor
 
 

Crofts Visits Northern
Montana Commissioner of Higher Education, Dick Crofts, and several members of his staff made their annual visit to MSU-Northern. "These visits give us a chance to hear people’s concerns and an opportunity to answer any questions they might have about what we are doing for higher education," explained Crofts. Meetings were held throughout the day with various groups from the campus and the community.
 
 

TELECOUNSELING 
Northern will begin a new telecounseling recruitment program for potential students this fall. The goal of the project is to enhance student recruitment techniques and expand the personal touch that distinguishes Northern from so many other educational institutions. In the telecounseling program, people who have expressed an interest in attending Northern will be phoned by specially trained Northern students. They will be able to answer any questions prospective students may have about the University as well as assist them through the admission and registration process. If you know of anyone interested in attending Northern and might benefit from telecounseling please call 265-3704 or 1-800-662-6132.
 
 

From the Director
Dear Friends and Alumni,

It’s been an exciting and important year for Northern. The Northern Alumni Association has been busy working for the students and the University through a wide variety of activities. Commencement took place May 9, 1998 with the Class of ’48 leading the procession. This is always a special moment for the campus as we celebrate the achievements of our students and reflect on the proud heritage of our Golden Grads.

One of the most important and exciting activities in which we participated was the search for our new Chancellor. Precipitated by Dr. Bill Daehling’s retirement, the search was an all-encompassing and effective process that involved many alumni and community members as well as the campus family. Dr. Daehling is now enjoying his grandchildren and fishing, and we wish him and Vicki all the best. 

Dr. Mike Rao began work as our new chancellor in July and has become very involved in all campus activities. We welcome Mike and his wife, Monica, to the Northern family and are enjoying the opportunity to work with him for the advancement and benefit of Northern’s students.

Another exciting event took place this fall as Lynn Hamilton, former MSU-Northern University Relations Director and Director of Alumni Affairs (and former editor and writer of this newsletter), was appointed by Governor Racicot to the Board of Regents. We congratulate her and wish her well in her awesome responsibilities. 

In search of a school fight song, the alumni have joined forces with University Relations Director, Jim Potter, to develop an appropriate new fight song which reflects our proud heritage. 

We are also working to restore the "Goose" with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Club. She took her "new attitude"—a new body and fresh coat of paint and lettering—on the road in the Festival Days Parade September 19th. You’ll see more of her when the project is completed. 

We celebrated the return of Northern football, Saturday, September 26th, with a great game and a WIN, which was celebrated that evening in the record setting Alumni Scholarship Social and Auction. Who can explain the indescribable excitement of watching the maroon and gold take the field after a 27-year absence? 

As the keeper of traditions, the alumni strive to maintain those valuable and inspiring connections with our past in order to strengthen the future. We look forward to another great year with your support of our efforts to provide opportunity through scholarships for our wonderful Northern students and to keep the alumni involved through alumni activities! 

Judy Bricker, Alumni Director
 
 

Mike Rao Talks About Northern
During a recent trip to the Board of Regents, Aurora Editor, Jim Potter talked with Northern’s new Chancellor Mike Rao about Northern. Here are some of his answers.

Aurora Borealis (A.B.) – How have you found your adjustment to Montana and more specifically, Havre?

Mike Rao (M.R.) "Monica and I love Havre and Montana. Moving is never easy, with all kinds of stresses and complications, but coming to MSU-Northern was right for us. The people here are warm and friendly and have made us feel very welcome. We appreciate the support everyone has offered us and we look forward to spending many years here."

A.B. – What changes do you plan to make to the administration at Northern?

M.R. "When I interviewed for this position, I promised the university community that I would bring a policy of shared governance with me to MSU-Northern. One advantage of an institution our size is that we have the capacity to involve every constituent group on campus in a shared decision making process. This allows the various groups and individuals on our campus to be more active participants in university affairs and to have a greater pride and sense of ownership in the University. We have done this by replacing the chancellor’s cabinet with a university governance council that meets weekly to discuss campus projects, concerns and issues. It has been and will continue to be a challenge, but the policy of shared authority and responsibility has benefited Northern by insisting that we pull together and work as a team in our efforts to improve our school. Specific tasks we are working on right now include creating a new budget model that will report Northern’s financial condition in terms everyone can understand and establishing partnerships with public and private entities throughout northcentral Montana. It is our feeling that by expanding our presence in the region we will be better able to serve our students and communities as northcentral Montana’s premiere regional university.

A.B. – Can you take a minute to explain what you mean by "Northcentral Montana’s Premiere Regional University?

M.R. "Northern is a regional university that draws a majority of its students from a one hundred mile radius of its Havre and Great Falls campuses. Advantages, such as our NorthNet system also insure that our specialized and general programs are accessible to people across the state. This ‘premiere’ delivery system is one of the most advanced interactive television networks in North America and is currently serving over 53 cities and towns in Montana. These facts combine to make a very descriptive slogan for Northern."

A.B. – What plans do you have to encourage enrollment growth?

M.R. "We are presently developing a marketing plan designed to address the needs of Montana students. This plan includes starting a telecounseling program to assist and encourage prospective Northern students, as well as establishing a new image through our graphic pieces that will enhance the perception of Northern as a quality educational institution. Furthermore, we are looking at several new programs that will better meet the needs of our students and continually seeking ways to increase student scholarships and decrease tuition and fee costs. Retaining the students we attract is also a key factor in our efforts."

A.B. – If you could look into your crystal ball, what would you say is the future for MSU-Northern?

M.R. "I think our future lies in our ability to offer niche programs that will meet the needs of our students and of our industries across the Hi-Line and throughout Montana. It will be especially important for us to focus on goals and projects that will provide the kind of education our communities want. The future of MSU-Northern is up to all of us and will depend on our ability to pool our limited resources and work together as a university community, with local industrial partners, to deliver high quality programs and services. Fortunately, we have many dedicated people who are striving to insure that Northern will be a viable institution for many years to come."
 
 

A New Look For Northern!
This year MSU-Northern has created three new brochures featuring a unique look that is designed to enhance Northern’s image as a collegiate, quality academic institution. The new literature includes two smaller brochures known as searchpieces, which are given to people interested in Northern in order to give them a taste of what Northern has to offer. One of the searchpieces targets potential undergraduate students, while the other provides information about our graduate school. The third brochure, a viewbook, expands on the information featured in the searchpieces and further acquaints interested individuals with Northern’s atmosphere and programs. The new look created in these works is also being used on other brochures, displays and posters used by Northern.

If you know someone who is interested in attending Northern and would benefit from receiving a brochure, please call us at 265-3704 or 1-800-662-6132.
 
 

New Faculty
Montana State University-Northern is pleased to introduce several new additions to Northern’s faculty. 

Joining the Agricultural and Mechanical Technology Department is: Vurn Gagnon, a 1992 Northern alumnus who earned a B.T. in automotive technology. He is an automotive technology instructor. 

New faces in the Education department include:

Barbara Parker, a former high school principal, assistant superintendent, superintendent and school board trustee. She received her BA from the University of Montana in 1973 and her M.Ed., also from UM, in 1982. She is an assistant professor of education at Northern and expects to receive her Ed.D. from UM this year.

Darlene Sellers, a new assistant professor of counselor education, has previously taught at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast, Western Wyoming College and the University of Wyoming. She received her BS degree in secondary business education from the University of Wyoming and her M.Ed. degree in counseling and personal guidance: school counseling, from the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast. Her Ph.D. in educational psychology and counseling: counselor education is from the University of Wyoming.

Curtis Smeby filled a new position as an assistant professor of curriculum/distance learning. He earned a BA in recreation and physical education from Acadia University, a diploma in recreation technology from the Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences and an MS degree in criminal justice and corrections from the University of Oregon. His Ph.D. is from the University of Wyoming in adult education and he has previously worked at Western Wyoming Community College.

The Nursing Department welcomes: Maureen Henehan, a licensed registered nurse who received her MS in mental health and psychiatric nursing from Rush University in 1987. She taught some courses at Northern last year and began as an assistant professor of nursing this fall. 

Jan Leishman-Donohue who received her MS in parent child nursing with a specialty in midwifery in 1982. She will be an assistant professor, replacing Gail Bucko who left a few years of ago. 

Mary Clair McGuire, a Northern alumnus who earned a BS degree in nursing in 1991, will replace Ellen Wirtz as a nursing instructor.

New in the athletic arena are: Walt Currie, who serves as the head football coach as well as being an assistant professor for health and physical education. He received both his BS degree in physical education and his M.Ed. in secondary education from UM. Currie has coached and taught at Great Falls High School, Hermistion High School and Havre High School for the past 29 years.

Robert Weiner, the new head volleyball coach and assistant professor of health and physical fitness, who is also teaching drama and theater in the humanities department. He received an AA degree in English from Los Angeles Pierce Community College, a BA degree in theater from UCLA, and an MFA in theater from the University of California in Irvine. He has been teaching theater and coaching volleyball since 1986, most recently at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.

New in the Business Department is: Lillian Obie, an assistant professor of business education with experience in computers, administration and ergonomics research. She earned her BA in administration management from the University of Northern Iowa, her M.Ed. in business education from Bowling Green State University and her Ph.D. in higher education administration from Illinois State University in Normal.

The Mathematics and Science Department is pleased to have: Zoon Wood, who received his MS degree in biological sciences from UM in 1992 and is now an instructor of science and math at Northern. 
 
 

NEW REGENT!
Lynn Hamilton, former Director of University Relations and Alumni for MSU-Northern, was recently appointed by Governor Marc Racicot to succeed Havre lawyer, Jim Kaze, on the Montana Board of Regents. Hamilton will serve the rest of Kaze’s term, which ends in February, and she may then be named to a full seven-year term on the board. The appointment of Hamilton, a Hi-Line resident, re-affirms Montana’s commitment to higher education programs in northcentral Montana. Hamilton says, "I am excited about being chosen for this position and I think I will bring a unique perspective and understanding of the University System to the regents."

Hamilton attended the University of Montana in Missoula where she received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and speech communication. She is married to accountant Miles Hamilton, and they have two children.
 
 

In Memory of
Warren Barce, an associate professor in Northern’s Business Department for the past five years, died of a heart attack on Friday August 7th. Graveside services were held Friday, August 14th in Kalispell, with a memorial on September 8th in Northern’s Donaldson Commons. A memorial scholarship fund has been started in his name, and donations may be sent to the MSU-Northern Foundation. 
 
 

Northern Teams Up With Bear Paw Development
Montana State University-Northern has partnered up with Bear Paw Development in the expansion of Northern’s Internet Business Incubation Center (IBIC). IBIC began with a USDA grant designed to set up a center that could conduct research about relational databases and provide assistance to businesses seeking to establish databases and web pages. Northern’s Computer Information Systems professors Roger Stone and Jay Howland spearheaded the project, which eventually began working with Bear Paw Development, a local multi-county, non-profit development organization. 

The partnership between (IBIC) and Havre’s Bear Paw Development has been successful for both groups. IBIC has helped Bear Paw Development incorporate the Internet into their business and in return has received a donation from Bear Paw Development and has secured office space downtown in the Ryan Building. Bear Paw Development’s Dick King comments, "I see this type of alliance between the University and the business community as the future of higher education."

The project of getting Bear Paw Development online and creating their website has provided real world learning opportunities for Northern students, while Bear Paw Development has gained the technology needed to make their business more productive. MSU-Northern professor of computer information science, Roger Stone, explains, "IBIC provides opportunities for our students to learn and be employed on real projects in our community. It has even led some of the local businesses we work with to hire our graduates and keep them in the area, which was part of our goal."

Bear Paw Development has also benefited from the partnership. "In our office of just six people, there was no way we could tackle the issue of technology in a professional manner," explains King. "We knew what we wanted to communicate, but we needed people with first hand knowledge of the technology available to work with us and make it a reality." Due to its new technological resources, Bear Paw Development is now able to communicate more efficiently with clients and other organizations and provide information about their services, such as loan applications, on the Internet.

Anyone interested in finding out more about IBIC can find them on the Internet at or may contact Roger Stone or Jay Howland at 265-3700.
 
 

Great Falls Ground Breaking
In the past, it has been financially difficult for Northern to operate the Great Falls site and provide all of the advantages available at the main campus in Havre. It is expected that this consolidation of campuses and sharing of resources and expenses will make Northern’s Great Falls site a more realistic and successful enterprise. Rao explains, "This is a tremendous opportunity for us to expand our Great Falls offerings and improve the quality and accessibility of our programs there. I see this as a very positive move both for Northern and for the future of higher education in northcentral Montana."
 
 

NBC Television Station at Northern Possible
Jim Rogers, Chairman of the Board of Sunbelt Communications, proposed to locate an NBC affiliate television station on the campus of MSU-Northern. This partnership could represent a major contribution to the growth, economic development and quality of life for Havre and the entire Hi-line.

In recent years, Sunbelt has built stations in smaller cities, including Helena and Pocatello, ID. All Sunbelt stations are either on college campuses or have a direct relationship with the colleges. Mr. Rogers made his lunch presentation to several university representatives including MSU President Mike Malone, Chancellor Mike Rao, Professor Roger Barber, Assistant Professor Mark Seiffert, University Relation Director Jim Potter, Student Representative Kyle Leeds and Student Newspaper Representative Rob Everingham.

Rogers explained, "We are very committed to higher education. We like to locate our stations on campuses so we can help to train students for the broadcasting industry. We are also very community minded, therefore we like to set up stations in communities where television can be a major boost to the economy".

The proposal hinges on the Board of Regents allowing Northern to sign a 50-year lease on a piece of land on the campus. In return, Sunbelt will build a television studio and classroom at no cost to the University or community and will give Northern free television ads and a half hour weekly program.

"I believe this station could represent a major boost to the community of Havre and the entire Hi-line," explained Chancellor Mike Rao. "It would help us as a university to better serve and inform our region of programs and activities on our campus and throughout the Hi-line." Rao and the other university representatives were satisfied with the answers Rogers and his colleagues provided to their preliminary questions. Rao is now aimed at gathering community input before making a decision about locating the station at MSU-Northern.

If everything goes according to plan, they will start building the station in the spring and plan to be fully operational by the end of next summer. The station would be a repeater of the Helena station but would have local news and ads. They plan to hire eight or nine people and use student labor whenever possible.
 
 

Plans for Soccer Postponed
Northern has postponed plans to add women’s soccer to their sports line-up this fall. Athletic Director Ted Spatkowski said the late start in searching for a coach and the difficulty in finding a qualified candidate has put the program on hold until next fall.
 
 

Northern Alumni Awarded
The Havre Laundry and Dry Cleaning Co., owned and managed by Ron Brenna ‘87, was recently named the winner of the 1998 Montana Family Business of the Year Award in the small business category. 

With its roots in the Havre Steam Laundry and Baths, which opened in 1895, the Havre Laundry has been serving the Hi-Line for over 100 years. As one of the first places on the Hi-Line with large quantities of hot water, the Laundry did brisk business with Havre’s early residents, especially the railroad section crews. The company, which the Brenna family has been involved with since 1934, has also survived three major fires, and has become the oldest business on the Hi-Line that still operates in its original location. Karen Vinton, professor of business management at MSU-Bozeman and coordinator of the Montana Family Business awards programs says, "These are businesses which have remained vital over the years through new product development, superior customer service and sweat equity."

Havre Laundry and Dry Cleaning received their award at a seminar/luncheon held September 18 near Bozeman. The award was presented by Bozeman registrar and Northern alum Chuck Nelson ‘70.
 
 

MSUN Football High-Light
On Saturday, September 26 the Northern Lights football team rocked the semi-pro Bozeman Kodiaks 31-2 in their first home game in 27 years. The win at Blue Pony Stadium brings the Lights to a 1-2 record so far this season. Lights head coach, Walt Currie comments, "I was pleased with the solid defense played throughout the game, but I think the team faltered a bit offensively in the second half." Still he acknowledges, "It’s always great to put in a win in front of the home crowd." In fact, Currie was very excited about the large number of fans that turned out for the game. He says, "I thought they were a great indication of the support for Northern’s return to football." 

As the team prepares for their next match-up against the Kodiaks on October 3, Currie says they will work on doing more drop back passing, reducing their penalties and playing a more consistent offense. Curries long-term plans for the future of the Northern Lights football team includes recruiting more players and developing more depth in the team as a whole.
 
 

In Search of "Our Fight Song"
As the Director of University Relations, I often get requests for information about our campus. About five months ago, I received a request for a copy of our fight song. I thought this was a legitimate request, especially since this company was producing a CD of college fight songs. I put on my best PR hat and proceeded to say that I would be more than happy to send them a copy of "our fight song." 

The second I hung up the phone I was gripped with the realization that during my seven month long career at Northern I had never heard "our fight song." Quickly I ran down the hall to the one person with the history and experience needed to sing "our fight song," you guessed it, Judy Bricker. After several attempts to recall the data from her memory banks she quickly ran to a file cabinet and produced an old brittle piece of paper that had not seen the light of day since George Washington crossed the Delaware. My jaw fell to the ground when I realized the fight song was for our old beloved NMC.

I was not going to admit defeat this quickly so I got out my kazoo and trusted pair of drumsticks and started to compose my own fight song. After several howls from the neighborhood dogs and a few from my co-workers, I decided to leave song writing to the professionals. 

Unfortunately, the thought of a university like Northern not having a fight song continued to plague me. I finally went to the Alumni Board to see if they might be interested in helping Northern reestablish this vital part of our heritage and future. They loved the idea and gave me several names of alumni that might be willing to help with this project.

If you know of someone that you think might be able to help us write a new fight song please call (406-265-3727) or e-mail me at (potterj@msun.msun.edu) with their name and phone number. I will be more than happy to give them a call and see if they can help. 

Thanks again – Jim Potter.
 
 

MSU-Northern Receives ABET Accreditation
The Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) recently announced that Montana State University-Northern’s associate degree in Electronics Engineering Technology program and the baccalaureate in Civil Engineering Technology program are fully accredited.

ABET is the sole accreditation agency recognized by the Department of Education in the field of engineering technology. MSU-Northern’s two-year electronics engineering technology program is the only ABET accredited associate program in the state and MSU-Northern and MSU-Bozeman have the only accredited civil engineering technology bachelor’s degree programs in Montana. 

The accreditation process is rigorous, according to Lloyd Stallkamp, chair of MSU-Northern’s Industrial and Engineering Technology Department. "We had literally years of preparation and consultation. We are really proud to be accredited."

"Many big companies, such as Boeing require that their job candidates have degrees from ABET-accredited institutions," says Stallkamp, "so this will open up even more opportunities for our students." He further stresses that this accreditation provides the opportunity for Montana residents to participate in excellent engineering technology programs in their home state, rather than having to pursue an education out of state.

MSU-Northern’s engineering technology faculty work closely with industry in order to continually meet society’s technical needs. "Staying current with technological change is a big part of our job," says Stallkamp.

Electronics engineering technology faculty include Lloyd Stallkamp, Larry Strizich, and Rodney Reitan. James Clinton teaches civil engineering technology and Mike Barber, now of MSU-Billings, was also part of the team applying for accreditation.

More information on the programs and on accreditation can be found on Northern’s web page (www.msun.edu ) or by calling MSU-Northern at 265-3704 or toll free at 1-800-662-6132.
 
 

Alumni Family Albumn
30’s
Ruth (Shiell) Jacobson,‘36, lives in Plentywood, Montana. She has three grown children; Jule H. Jacobson, a jeweler in Plentywood, Howard, a jeweler in Shelby and Natasha J. Morton, a lawyer in Hardin, Montana. Ruth is retired and spends her winters in Arizona. She taught school for nine years so made good use of her NMC education, she says. 

40’s
Rosemary (Watkins) Teel,‘41, lives in Vancouver, Washington. She has two children and her husband is deceased.
Reinhart Olsen and wife Cathy are living in Pompano Beach, Florida. They have two children, Sandra and Gary.

60’s
Russ Verbael,‘63, lives in Dutton, Montana with his wife Stella. Russ is a retired Lt. Col. of the USMC.
Bonnie (Jenkins) Hanson,‘64, and husband Lonny live in Kalispell, Montana. Their four children are all married and they have five grandchildren. Bonnie taught for 25 years and retired in 1990.
Bill Glass,‘64, and wife Jo live in Lakebay, Washington. Bill is newly retired after selling the House of Hubcaps in Seatac, Washington. 
Joyce Kops,‘64 &’75, lives in Havre, Montana, after retiring this spring after thirty-five years teaching in various schools in Havre.

70’s
Paulette (Fieber) Salo,‘73, and husband Gary live in Colville, Washington, with their two children, Lindsey and Jeffrey. She is the Office Manager for N.E. Tri-County Health District.
Peggy Jean Anderson,‘71, lives in Billings, Montana, and is the General Manager for Country Hearth Inn.
Debbie,’79, and Bruce Evans,‘81, are living in Geyser, Montana, where Debbie works for the Geyser Schools and Bruce owns and operates Evans Repair. They have 2 children.
Steve Gould,‘76, has accepted a position as senior gym instructor at the LeMeridien Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

80’s
Ramona M. Templeman,’82, lives in Artesia, New Mexico with her daughter Stephanie.
Donna (Bylund) Rudolph,‘89, and husband Kyle live in Joplin, Montana, with their two daughters. Donna is now teaching kindergarten after teaching 1st grade for seven years. She and Kyle, who is a farmer in the Joplin area, married in 1994.
Kari L. McLaughlin,‘88, resides in Fresh Meadows, New York, and is employed by Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as a legal assistant. She is "the proud daughter" of Northern alumnae and City Judge, Joyce Perszyk,‘77! She says, "Congrats again, Mom!"
Patricia S. (Trotchie) Ure,‘89, and husband Michael live in Lynden, Washington, with their three children. She says she is using her degree working for architect, Douglas Landsem in Bellingham. She is also a member of (AIA) American Institute of Architects and will be starting her internship with (IDP) Intern Development Program to become a licensed architect in the fall.
Stephen A. Johns,‘84, wife Ruth, and their two children live in Great Falls, Montana. He has completed his 12th year working as a Field Service Specialist with a large medical products company.
Janice (Graff) Fauque,‘88 & ‘90, and husband Jeff live in Cut Bank, Montana, with their son, Mackenzie, who was born March 9, 1998. She has worked at Glacier County Medical Center for six years and has been the operating room supervisor for a year. Her husband is a deputy for Glacier County Sheriff’s Office. 
Johanna L. McNeill,‘85, and husband John reside in Bluewater, New Mexico, with their four children. She works as an emergency room nurse for the IHS at Ace Hospital in San Fidel, NM. John is a utility operator at Plains Electric and they also farm alfalfa.
Amy Lee Trujillo,‘88, lives in St. George, Utah, with her husband Craig. She owns and operates a drafting/design firm called The Drawing Room.
Doug E. Hill,‘82, and wife Robin reside in Glendive, Montana where he is employed by BNSF as an electrician.

90’s
Charity Joy Revere,‘96, joined the Army and lives in Monterey, California. She is studying to become an Arabic Linguist at the Presidio of Monterey. It is "quite a change from computers but I love it!"
Wendy (Badgett) Clark,‘98, is a physical education teacher in Laurel, Montana, where she and husband Jim,’97, live.
Trisha (Gordon) Gruszie,‘97, was recently married to Allen and they live in Chinook, Montana.
Cindy J. Dolson,‘92, is in her sixth year with Blue Cross-Blue Shield in Great Falls, Montana. Son, Kylar Richard, was born on May 6, 1998.
Shana (Rigler),‘97, and Adam Carter,‘96, live in Columbia Falls, Montana. She is employed as an RN at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.
Eleanor (Elly) M. Camp,‘97, lives in Wheatland, Wyoming, where she is employed as the General Manager for High Plains Pizza-Pizza Hut.
Jeanette R. Jones,‘92, resides in Draper, Utah. She is enjoying teaching and supervising elementary education and teaching language arts methods. She says "Northern Montana’s education program is most up-to-date and on track! I enjoyed the opportunity to get my Masters of Elementary Education there! What a solid base for me! Great staff!"
Sharri (Wipf) Vandall,‘98, and husband Lee were married August 1, 1998. They live in Wolf Point, Montana, with their children Daniel and Brittney. Sharri is employed as a 4th grade teacher for Wolf Point Schools.
Rachel (Riley),’98, and husband Paul Mortenson,‘95, live in Dodson, Montana. They have one child and are self-employed.
Tara Stoppa,‘98, is living in Great Falls where she is employed by Great Falls Public Schools as an elementary teacher.
Mavis Alex,‘98, and husband J.R. live in Havre, Montana where she is employed by Golden Triangle Mental Health as a Family Based Services Specialist.
Kathy Shupert,‘98, lives in Havre, Montana, where she is employed as a teacher by Northern Montana Head Start.
Michelle (Shelley) Dukleth,‘98, resides in Helena, Montana, and is employed by TRW Inc. (formerly BDM International Inc.) as an Oracle Developer/Associate Software Engineer. She comments that "TRW’s acquisition with BDM happened November 20, 1997. The official name change took effect on July 1, 1998. The acquisition creates one of the 10 largest IT enterprises in the world."
Lori Armstrong,‘98, lives in Great Falls, Montana, where she is employed by D.A. Davidson & Co. as an Associate of Public Finance.
Randy Stordahl, ‘98, resides in rural Conrad, Montana.
Matthew Usuriello,‘98, lives in Great Falls, Montana and is employed by the Great Falls Water Treatment Plant as Plant Operator.
Mary (Clague) Butori,‘98, and children Dale and Derek live in Dillon, Montana, where she is employed as a registered nurse at Barrett Memorial Hospital.
Ingrid (Lovenguth) Cartwright,‘95 & ‘98, and husband Ron live in Havre, Montana with their two children. She is employed as a social worker by the Area X Agency on Aging.
Bob Casey,‘98, is employed by the City of Glendive as a water plant operator.
Julie (Roush) Sedahl, ‘90 & ‘98 husband Rick and daughter Paige reside in Havre, Montana. She is employed by Northern Montana Hospital as a registered nurse. They are expecting their second child in January.
Scott Ziebarth,‘98, is employed by Semi-Tool in Kalispell, Montana. He lives in Columbia Falls.
Jennifer Davidson,‘98, lives in Froid, Montana and is employed as a laborer for Rick Davidson.
Jayson Weber,‘98 and wife Anne live in Libby, Montana, where the City of Libby employs him as water plant operator.
Amber (Krice) Hewitt,‘98, is employed as a registered nurse with Family Health Care. She is living in Kalispell, Montana, with her husband Joel. 
Marcea Jo Soper,‘98, is employed by Box Elder Public Schools as a special education teacher. She and husband Don live in Havre, Montana.
Dustin Braaten,‘98, lives in Great Falls, Montana, and is employed by Holland Woodcraft as a draftsman/designer.
Barry Wulf,‘97 & ‘98, lives in Helendale, California, and is employed by General Electric Transportation Systems as a technical director.
Frank Peirce,‘98, and wife Lisa reside in Great Falls, Montana, with their children Sabrina and Allyn. He is employed as Computer Operator III for Phoenix Management Inc.
Greg Carbajal ‘98, wife Jill and daughters Ellen and Sadie live in Glendive, Montana, where he is employed by Dawson County High School as a science teacher.
Eric Minneti, ’97 & ‘98, lives in Stanford, Montana, and is employed by the City of Stanford as the City Superintendent.
Sharon,’98, & William Davis,’74, are living in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada where Sharon is a school counselor. They have three children.
Tiffanie Lorensen ‘98,  is a physical education teacher and volleyball coach for Granite School District - Brockbank Jr. High in Taylorsville, Utah. 
Walter Hanson,‘98, and wife Stacie live in Taylorsville, Utah, where he is employed by Gilbert Western Corp./Peter Kiewit & Sons as maintenance engineer. He says "MSU-Northern is a good school. I will recommend it to anyone who asks."
Debbie,‘94 & Mike Kalarchik,‘94, reside in Owings Mills, Maryland, where Debbie is a RN-CCU at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. Mike is a RN-Emergency Dept-Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. Debbie is currently a graduate student at Bowie State University in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program.
Jennifer LaFromboise,‘95, lives in Browning, Montana, with son Ispitaki. She is a language development specialist with Browning Public Schools and is working with kindergarten and 1st grades at K.W. Bergan Elementary School.
Stephanie Konesky,‘94, resides in Gresham, Oregon. She graduated in June, 1998 from Portland State University with a Master of Taxation degree. She plans to attend Lewis and Clark College - Northwestern School of Law this fall.
Kelci Ann (Kulpas),‘94, and Kevin Keller,’94, were recently married and are now residing in Chinook, Montana. She is employed by Waddell and Reed in Havre. Kevin earned a degree in Diesel Technology from MSU-Northern. He ranches in the Harlem area.
Kelly Peters,‘97, wife Wendy and their two children live in Williston, North Dakota, where he is a K-12 counselor for the Tioga Public Schools.
Nyoka McCuin,‘94, resides in Wolf Point, Montana, and is employed by the Wolf Point Federal Credit Union as manager since July 1, 1997.
Neomie (Rapp),‘96 & Steven P. McShane,‘98, live in Dickinson, North Dakota, where Neomie is a RN. Steve is a draftsman for TMT. Their son was born in November 1997.
William Hall,’90 & ‘98, lives in Ulm, Montana, with wife Nancy and four children. He is employed by Cascade County as a planning technician.
Alan Schmidt,‘98, lives in Havre, Montana, and is employed by the Montana Air National Guard.
Ingrid (Lovenguth) Cartwright,’95 & ‘98, husband Ron, and their two children reside in Havre, Montana, where she is employed as a social worker for the Area X Agency on Aging. She received a BA degree in Community Service in August, 1997.
Kathleen M. Grabofsky,’98, and son Evan are living in Malta, Montana, where she is employed as a bookkeeper with First State Bank of Malta.
 

ALUMNI PASSINGS
 F. Vivian (Green) Anderson ‘40, passed away Saturday, Sept. 5, 1998 in Havre. Vivian was one of three women and thirty students enrolled in Etchart Flying School (government ground school) during WWII. She was a longtime Havre resident and is survived by her husband, Joe, ‘38, son Robert, daughters Patricia and Jean, and brother Laurence Green of Gildford.

Mike Taft,‘86, died May 2, 1998, in a one vehicle roll over.

Esther Oehring, Professor of Education at Northern during the 50’s, passed away at Laguna Hills, CA, on April 14, 1998. Arlie Lane sent the information having heard from Wanda (Glass) Bartholow who was Dean of Women during those years.
 
 

MSU-Northern’s Welding Program Makes S.E.N.S.E.
Montana State University-Northern has recently become a member of the American Welding Society’s Schools Excelling through National Skills Education (S.E.N.S.E.) program. 

Educational institutions, such as Northern, who belong to the S.E.N.S.E. program have agreed to provide instruction in accordance with the national welding skills standards created by the American Welding Society (AWS). MSU-Northern is currently the only Montana organization involved with the S.E.N.S.E. program and provides training in AWS Entry Level skills. Other skill levels recognized by the AWS include Advanced and Expert Levels. "We believe that being involved in this program will make our students more attractive to employers," says Northern Professor of Manufacturing and Metals Technology, Virgil Hawkinson. "Teaching to a national skills standard allows employers to be confident that Northern graduates will have the proper knowledge and abilities to successfully do the job."

The S.E.N.S.E. program began two years ago and now includes nearly 400 participating organizations. The AWS explains that the program was initiated when the Department of Labor and Education funded 22 national skills standards projects in an effort to develop national, industry based standards for various skills-based occupations. These occupations currently employ more than 40% of the American workforce.
 
 

Planned Gift Giving
The MSU-Northern Foundation has received notification that three planned gifts have been received for scholarships for MSU-Northern students. 

Marian Elmslie, a longtime area educator and friend of education, has established three endowed scholarships for Northern students in her estate. They are the James M. Elmslie, Sr. Scholarship, the Alpha Mu Chapter Scholarship, and the A.A.U.W. (American Association of University Women) Scholarship.

Family and friends of Ron Martin have established the Ron Martin Memorial Scholarship in recognition of his long-time interest in education. Ron, a Past President of the MSU-Northern Foundation Board, passed away this summer.

Ben Stromberg and the Stromberg family have donated oil and gas leases for the establishment of the Elaine Stromberg Memorial Scholarship for Northern students.