Mike Rao Named New Chancellor
The 17-member search committee reviewed 41 applicants, from all over the United States. From these applicants, five finalists were chosen. Each finalist spent 2 days on the campus and met with faculty, staff, administration and community people. The top three candidates were recommended to Dr. Michael Malone, President of the Montana State University system. President Malone made the final decision to offer Dr. Michael Rao (Mike) the position.

Dr. William Daehling remarked that "I am pleased that Dr. Rao has agreed to take my place as Chancellor of MSU-Northern. He will bring a wealth of experience that is in keeping with the needs of Northern and the entire Montana University System. I believe he is the right person for the job and my office will do everything we can to make his transition a smooth one. Dr. Rao represents a bright future for the institution."

Dr. Rao previously served as president of Mission College in Santa Clara, California, a position he held since 1995. He also served as interim president of the institution in 1994-95; and before that, he was Dean of Fine and Applied Arts for two years.

Dr. Rao also has extensive experience as a consultant to higher education institutions. Part of that work began before his service at Mission College, but he also had his own consulting business during his first years at the College. His particular areas of expertise are budgeting and academic planning. He lists work with the California Community College system and colleges in Wyoming, Texas, Washington, New York, British Columbia and Nebraska. During those years, he also worked with state educational agencies in Georgia, Florida, California and Connecticut.

Before his career in California, Dr. Rao served as assistant to the president at the University of Florida in Gainesville. His primary duties included liaison work with the state agencies in charge of higher education in Florida; and "... leadership roles in matters of university governance, university relations, and the formal presentation of university budget and affirmative action goals."

He has a Ph. D. in higher education, with a minor in business administration—organizational behavior, from the University of Florida. His bachelor’s degree is in chemistry, which he received from the University of South Florida.

In discussing his work as president of Mission College, Dr. Rao cited the following accomplishments:
—His institution, located in the Silicon Valley, was designated the State of California Technology Prototype Institution in 1997; and Yahoo! On-line magazine named it the third most-wired college in the United States.
—He led the college in a successful planning effort to reinvent curriculum and integrate expenditures with strategies curriculum, has increased full-time enrollment by 15%. The project was presumably based on Dr. Rao’s "shared master planning process," which he has copyrighted.
—He has developed corporate linkages with Intel, Altera, and National Semiconductor, all neighbors of Mission College in the Silicon Valley.
—He also secured several million dollars in state funds to complete the infrastructure of his campus, which was "physically incomplete for more than twenty years."

Dr. Rao will begin as Chancellor of MSU-Northern on July 15.
 
 

New Football Coach
In May 1998 Walt Currie was announced as the new coach for the recently re-instated MSU-Northern football team. "We received applications from 64 qualified applicants from all over the United States. After a great deal of review we were able to select Currie." explained Dr. Daehling, Chancellor of MSU-Northern. "I am pleased to get someone with Walt’s experience to headup our new football program. Currie will begin his new position around the middle of June. His first responsibility will be to recruit talented players for this Fall’s season."

Currie comes to Northern with an impressive 29 years of coaching experience. He is a four-time nominee for the Montana AA High School Football Coach of the Year Award. Currie currently teaches American government, U.S. and world history and coaches football and wrestling at Great Falls High School. Currie has his master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Montana. 

On Tuesday, February 10th, the official decision was made to re-establish men’s football and start a women’s soccer program at MSU-Northern. Northern was the Frontier Conference Division Champion in 1968. In 1971 Northern was forced to shut down its program due to the nature of state funding. Changes in the funding base have now made it advantageous for Northern to again take the field in football. A limited program will run next year to give staff and students time to get the program developed. Northern will be scheduled for full Frontier Conference play by the fall of 1999.
 
 

Student Excellence Awards
Thirteen outstanding MSU-Northern student were recognized with Student Excellence Awards at this year’s Student Excellence Banquet held on April 24. 

These awards have been a tradition at Northern since 1982. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 60 credits of coursework by the end of the semester and maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.75. Nominations may be submitted by anyone, and a committee consisting of faculty, staff, and students makes the final decisions. Bill Lanier, MSU-Northern Director of Student Life, explains, "The intent is to select students who have demonstrated commitment to educational goals through both academic and extracurricular achievements." 

This year’s winners were: 
• Wendy Badgett
• Jody Carlson
• Kevin Creech
• Diego Hammett
• Mark Irvin
• Josh Johnson
• Charlene Noreen
• Terry Peterson
• Curtis Reddoor
• Gene Sampson
• Corey Schmidt
• Rebecca Stutzman
• Stacy Whitaker.
 
 

Nursing Students Talk about Northern’s Nursing Program
"The great thing about this program is that I’m able to get my degree in stages, first the ADN, then the BSN. It makes my goal of becoming a nurse not seem like such an unattainable possibility." - Rachelle Haines

 "Being able to become a nurse will be the greatest accomplishment I have ever achieved, and living in a rural town, Glasgow, the NorthNet makes it possible to get my BSN at home."- Wendy Glaser

 "The teachers make the difference! They strive to allow the students to succeed to their highest abilities. They are always there to answer questions as a friend or as a professor." - Jamie Irvin

 "It’s never too late to achieve a goal. Northern has helped me after raising a family to follow my dream." - Terry Chapman
 
 

Founders Excellence Award Winners
This year’s Founders’ Excellence Award recipients were honored at the Founder’s Excellence/Reunion Banquet held on campus May 9th.

The Founders’ Excellence Awards program began in 1978 and since then has honored 50 outstanding alumni, administrators, faculty, staff and friends of Northern who have made a significant contribution to the development of the University or to their chosen profession. Nominations for the awards are submitted to the Northern Foundation office and a committee makes the final decisions. 

This year’s Founders’ Excellence Award winners are Dr. Don Rathbone, Dr. Martha Anne Dow, and MSU-Northern Chancellor, Dr. William Daehling.

Dr. Don Rathbone
Don Rathbone received an associate degree in pre-engineering from Northern Montana College in 1948. He went on to complete a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University, a master’s degree from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, all in electrical engineering.

He taught at Northwestern University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Idaho before arriving at Kansas State University in 1973. While at Kansas State he served as a professor and as Dean and Paslay Chair of Engineering, and is credited with earning Kansas State’s engineering program the distinction of being one of the best in the nation.

During his 23 year tenure at Kansas State, Dr. Rathbone has been involved with major enrollment increases, increased funding, the establishment of programs for tutoring and minorities, and improved alumni activity within the College of Engineering. In 1996, the engineering building at Kansas State was named Donald E. Rathbone Hall in honor of his service to the institution. He has also been active in several service and professional organizations.

Since his retirement, he has been involved in building his much deserved dream home.

Martha Anne Dow
Graduated from Northern Montana College with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a major in biology. She served as an instructor at Northern from 1961-1976, meanwhile earning her master’s degree in microbiology from Montana State University-Bozeman. From 1976-1990, she served the University as a Professor of Microbiology and as the Director of the Environmental Health: Water Quality Technology Program and earned her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Hawaii. In 1990, she became Northern’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, a position that she held for two years.

Since 1992, Dow has been a Professor of Biology and Provost at the Oregon Institute of Technology, where she has just been appointed their new President, after serving as Interim President since January 1. Her other accomplishments include working for the Environmental Protection Agency as author and director of grant programs for water and wastewater treatment, and serving as director of the Montana Environmental Training Center. 

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and relaxing at her cabin in Essex.

MSU-Northern Chancellor, Dr. William Daehling
Montana State University-Northern Chancellor William Daehling earned his bachelor of science degree in industrial arts education from Stout State College. He worked for six years as a junior high teacher before going on to get his master’s degree in audiovisual communications from the same institution. He then worked as an instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, eventually earning an Ed.D. in instructional technology from the University of Southern California. He later served as professor, Assistant Dean of Learning Resources, and Director of Instructional Development at Weber State College, and Academic Vice President at Lewis-Clark State College before becoming Northern’s Chancellor in 1990.

During Daehling’s time at Northern, the campus has developed a distance learning system, created new funding programs, and expanded its reputation both nationally and within the community. He has also served as an evaluator for the National Science Foundation and the Northwest Commission on Colleges. 

Upon retirement, Dr. Daehling plans to spend time traveling and spoiling his grandchildren.
 
 

50 Year Golden Anniversary
The 50th Anniversary reunion for the Class of 1948 was held at MSU-Northern May 8-9. Out of 77 original graduates, 11 participants, from all over the nation, came back to Havre to enjoy the festivities. The reunion began Friday morning and the fun continued virtually non-stop through Saturday evening. 

The "Golden Graduates" enjoyed activities such as tours of the campus and Havre Beneath the Streets, a barbecue, and time for socializing. Highlights of the weekend included the Founders Excellence Awards/Reunion Dinner Friday evening where the graduates were introduced and awarded their 50-year pins, and Saturday morning when the 50-year graduates donned their gold caps and gowns and marched in the processional at the 1998 Commencement Ceremony.
 
 

Graduation: A Family Affair
Northern’s 1998 Commencement Ceremony was a special one for the Green family in which both daughter Anna and her mother, Carol Green, Northern education professor, received degrees. Anna earned an associate degree in nursing while her mother completed her Ed.D. in adult community and higher education. Carol’s degree came from MSU-Bozeman, but she was allowed to receive it in Havre. Carol comments, "Chancellor Daehling got permission to make the award here on behalf of Bozeman. Because Anna is graduating, we had family coming, and I had students in education I wanted to see graduate, I would not have gone to Bozeman." The two just realized in December that they would be receiving their degrees at the same time. Anna remarked, "It’s nice because its such a special time for both of us. I think of it as a party for her because a doctoral degree is such a huge thing, and she thinks of it as a party for me because it’s my first time." Carol has taught for three years in the Northern education department and plans to continue, while Anna has been hired as a casual worker at Northern Montana Medical Group and plans to continue pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
 

1948 Graduation Statistics •77 total graduates - 45 men - 32 women

1998 Graduation Statistics •326 total graduates -184 women -142 men •average age: 30 -oldest graduate: 56 years old -youngest graduate: 19 yrs old -61 graduates over 40 yrs of age -8 graduates over 50 yrs of age

Degrees received were: -18 in business administration -15 in education -10 in business and secretarial science -6 in electrical engineering -6 in medical secretaryship -4 in social sciences -3 in pre-med -2 in civil engineering -2 in mechanical engineering -2 in pre-law -2 in arts and sciences -2 in journalism -1 in chemical engineering -1 in pre-optometry -1 in chemistry -1 in pre-theology -1 in psychology

Degrees received include: -92 associate degrees -209 bachelors degrees -67 masters degrees Note: some received two degrees

 

New Volleyball Coach
Northern is pleased to announce that Bob Weiner of St. Paul, MN has been selected as the new head volleyball coach. Weiner is currently the head women’s volleyball coach at Macalester College in St. Paul and an assistant professor of film studies at Normandale Community College. He has a master’s degree in fine arts from the University of California at Irvine and a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA. Weiner has previously served as head volleyball coach at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire, head coach of Team Nike Heartland, and is co-founder Hardrock Volleyball Camps in Minneapolis. He is also expected to share teaching responsibilities in the speech and physical education departments. Dr. Ted Spatkowski, Northern Athletics Director, comments, "The selection committee was very impressed with Bob’s coaching experiences and his knowledge of our program and the Frontier Conference. We are positive Bob will be the perfect fit, for both the campus and the local community."
 
 

REFERENDUM 113 (6-Mill Levy)
113 reasons why Higher Education is vital to Montana

1 Trains engineers and architects;
2 Provides job counseling and placement services;
3 Provides libraries of a caliber that wouldn’t be available if not for higher education;
4 Develops new types of crops for higher productivity;
5 Educates teachers for K-12 classrooms;
6 Promotes U.S.- Canadian relations important to Montana culturally and economically;
7 Produces research to provide better vaccines;
8 Retrains workers whose jobs become obsolete;
9 Serves as incubator for business development;
10 Provides cultural events for state audiences in the form of music, theater and art;
11 Educates teachers to work with disabled students in elementary and high schools;
12 Supports experts who study the state’s rich and varied history, geography and culture;
13 Provides a home for the Museum of the Rockies;
14 Conducts chemistry research leading to cheaper ways to maintain highways;
15 Educates legal secretaries, agricultural mechanics, electricians and repair personnel;
16 Conducts environmental research at Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake;
17 Provides physical fitness programs encouraging students to maintain health;
18 Conducts atmospheric science research to better understand Montana’s climate;
19 Provides educational opportunities to small Montana Communities;
20 Offers public television;
21 Develops weed control programs to eliminate crop enemies;
22 Provides computer training;
23 Educates teachers to work in rural schools;
24 Provides facilities and staffing for summer camps for everyone from cheerleaders, to the blind, to chamber music lovers;
25 Promotes good range management;
26 Trains nurses and other health professionals;
27 Educates mining experts vital to our resource-based economy;
28 Provides background and training for athletes who go on to coach and teach in Montana schools;
29 Provides disabled students advanced training that allows them to function independently;
30 Develops computer models to help make homes more efficient;
31 Assists businesses in need of expert help;
32 Attracts well-known authors, journalists, politicians, scientists, philosophers and researchers to the state as speakers and teachers;
33 Conducts timber research;
34 Gives students experience in TV technology and production;
35 Conducts soils research to enhance croplands;
36 Educates CPAs, business analysts and entrepreneurs;
37 Encourages married students to return for an education by providing housing and daycare;
38 Educates musicians, actors, artists and writers;
39 Provides Montanans slots at medical schools through the WAMI program;
40 Perpetuates Western heritage and provides entertainment through rodeos;
41 Promotes good local government;
42 Makes public radio available;
43 Conducts hydroelectric research to lessen dependence on foreign oil;
44 Conducts workshops and conferences analyzing the relationship between technology and humanities;
45 Sets up special programs for Native American students;
46 Educates lawmakers and political leaders;
47 Provides special programs for gifted students;
48 Develops better irrigation techniques to conserve water;
49 Conducts general agriculture research which can be refined to meet specific problems;
50 Trains journalists through classroom work, student newspapers and campus radio stations;
51 Provides opportunity for students to socialize and learn to live away from home, especially through dorms and fraternal organizations;
52 Opens doors to foreign study;
53 Conducts public opinion surveys;
54 Conducts research and development which helps revitalize old businesses and attract new ones;
55 Develops new and more efficient breeds of animals;
56 Trains nutritionists;
57 Provides interesting community education classes for personal enrichment;
58 Contributes scholarly legal aid to state institutions;
59 Keeps Montana abreast of new technical, environmental, economic and social developments;
60 Provides facilities, staff, and judges for high school music, sports and speech events;
61 Provides child development research and information;
62 Promotes athletic contests for state’s entertainment;
63 Trains industrial safety and health experts;
64 Guides farm and ranch management into the future;
65 Provides career information;
66 Helps Montana keep up with advances made in other states;
67 Trains industrial arts students who go on to teach in schools;
68 Educates public administrators;
69 Performs meat, game, soil insect and crop analysis for state residents;
70 Conducts rabies testing;
71 Conducts water runoff research to lessen effects of erosion;
72 Offers groups from around the state the opportunity to conduct classes and exchange ideas in a campus setting;
73 Gives high school students a taste of college at organized events;
74 Provides wildlife and fisheries research to preserve state game;
75 Trains foresters;
76 Studies geothermal properties and earthquake activity;
77 Gives Montana a window to the Far East through the Mansfield Center;
78 Educates social workers;
79 Advances affirmative action policies;
80 Helps students explore all sources of financial aid;
81 Makes travel and inter-college exchanges available to Montana students;
82 Provides big-name entertainment;
83 Conducts grizzly bear research;
84 Provides student teachers and aides to schools;
85 Offers facilities to serve as convention centers;
86 Assesses impact of pesticides;
87 Provides employment;
88 Teaches young people the lessons of student government;
89 Provides mental health counseling for students;
90 Helps potato growers keep crops disease-free and profitable;
91 Researches avalanche conditions and aids in prediction and prevention;
92 Trains attorneys;
93 Generates pride in being able to educate Montanans in Montana;
94 Educates botanists;
95 Helps small school administrators;
96 Trains guidance counselors;
97 Places extension agents around the state who offer research-based educational programs, i.e. agriculture, home economics, community and youth development;
98 Studies biological controls to pest problems;
99 Entertains regional audiences through professional acting companies;
100 Publishes Montana Business Quarterly;
101 Encourages interstate and international cultural exchanges;
102 Trains physical therapists;
103 Provides Elder hostels for senior citizens;
104 Sponsors productions of Shakespeare in the Parks;
105 Educates pharmacists;
106 Excavates important archaeological sites; 
107 Trains diesel mechanics;
108 Trains internet technicians;
109 Trains community leaders;
110 Trains water quality and treatment operators;
111 Brings the public broadcasting television station into your home;
112 Trains railroad operators;
113 Provides valuable community service.
 
 

United Nations
MSU-Northern History Club Wins High Honors at United Nations Conference

The Montana State University-Northern History Club recently returned from Buena Park, California, and the West Model United Nations VI Conference. The nine-member delegation joined 59 other delegations from 29 universities, including those from a dozen branches of the University of California system. MSU-Northern’s delegation was recognized as the best of the conference, winning the "Distinguished Delegation Award" for excellence in preparedness and skill in role-playing, caucusing, and speaking during the four-day conference. Over the six-year life of the conference, the award has been won by California State University at Dominguez Hills and at San Marcos.

Angela Berg, President of the History Club and Chair of the Conference World Health Organization, has been chosen Secretary General of West MUN VII, a singular honor that carries tremendous responsibility. She is the first Secretary General from outside of California, and is responsible for the academic organization and operation of the conference, scheduled for April of 1999 in Buena Park.

Laurel Sward, a freshman from Kalispell majoring in Chemistry, represented Morocco in the World Health Organization and was chosen best delegate. History Club Advisor Dr. Stephen Sylvester comments, "We did not expect to bring home one award, much less two of them. That is not what we were there for. This is simply recognition of the excellent performance."

Northern’s Kevin Shellenberger, a senior majoring in history and science and who presided over the conference’s General Assembly and the Fourth Committee, explains that, "...Most of the colleges participating in the conference are larger schools that offer courses on international relations, diplomacy, and the United Nations. We are members of a club; our participation is voluntary and we earn no course credit. University of California schools have always won before, so we’re pretty proud that we managed to achieve that status."

The conference is run just like a session of the United Nations. Each delegation represents a member or observer state with delegates considering resolutions on such issues as world health, the world-wide ban on land mines, the status of Western Sahara, etc., in model United Nations committees. Resolutions passed by committees and adopted by the General Assembly or Security Council are forwarded to the United Nations Secretary General in New York. On three occasions, resolutions created by students in model U.N. exercises have been adopted.

Karen Plaggemeyer, a freshman history major from Big Timber and Jack Snare, a senior history major from Peerless, joined Laurel Sward in representing Morocco. Tim Leeds, senior English major, Bill Blake, junior business major, and Darcy Bronec, senior English major-all graduates of Havre High-represented Kenya. Rebecca Berg, sophomore business major, was head delegate.

Angela Berg, Shellenberger, Sward, and Leeds also represented Kenya at the Great Plains Regional Model United Nations, sponsored by the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg April 29 through May 3.
 
 

New Degree Offerings
This fall the MSU-Northern Department of Agricultural and Mechanical Technology will begin offering a new Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Operations Technology. The four year program consists of courses in traditional agricultural subjects along with technical components, that will be combined with a strong technological focus. Some classes will be electronically delivered from MSU-Bozeman through Northern’s distance learning program, NorthNet. The degree also features three emphases designed to allow students to concentrate in agricultural production, agribusiness or agricultural mechanics. 

A new Bachelor of Applied Science degree will begin this fall at MSU-Northern both in Havre and Great Falls. It is a combined offering from the departments of business, industrial and engineering technology, and science and math. Each of these departments represents a concentration within the major, and students will choose one of these areas to focus on. This major is designed primarily for students who are transferring in to the college and have previously earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from any of Montana’s Colleges of Technology, community, or tribal colleges.

MSU-Northern is also offering a new Bachelor of Science degree in Health Promotion. This degree is designed to combine fitness and wellness training with business skills and focuses on situations in the corporate setting rather than the educational arena. Courses will be taken from both the physical education and business departments. This alliance of health knowledge and business savvy will prepare graduates from this program for careers with health care companies, HMO’s and as corporate consultants.
 
 

EDS Gives to MSU-Northern
In April, the Montana State University-Northern automotive department along with their chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) received donations from Electronic Data Systems (EDS). A mutually beneficial relationship, EDS has hired more than fifty Northern graduates in the past ten years. Northern instructor and SAE advisor, Wane Boysun, says, "EDS has long recognized the quality of Northern students and thus is willing to invest in our programs."

The most recent investments of this kind include a $1000 donation to the automotive department and a $500 donation to SAE. This is the third year EDS has made such a donation to SAE who uses the money to cover their transportation costs to the national SAE Congress and Exposition held every February in Detroit. The money received by the automotive program itself will likely be used for recruiting purposes and educational materials.
 
 

Diesel Program Receives Truck
The Diesel program is pleased with the recent donation of an 8300 International truck with a N14 Cummins engine. Diesel instructor Greg Clouse states, "This contribution represents an important addition to both our 2 and 4 year diesel programs." 

The truck was donated by Gary Ljungren of CarQuest Billings and Bill Flannick of Ryder truck rental, also in Billings. Both Ljungren and Flannick are alumni of Northern who have continued to support the Diesel program and have served as judges for the state VICA competitions hosted by Northern. 

The donation is a result of cooperation between Ryder, one of the largest truck leasing companies in the nation, and CarQuest, and is an example of how successful companies invest in the education and training of people in their field. Local CarQuest manager, Gary Cady, first notified Clouse that Ljungren might have a truck he would be willing to donate to the program. Several phone calls later the arrangements were completed and the school was able to receive the donation.
 
 

America Reads at MSU-Northern
Montana State University-Northern is responding to the national America Reads Challenge by providing free, high quality tutoring for children in grades K-3.

On August 27, 1997, President Clinton announced the America Reads Challenge, an initiative whose goal is to "ensure that every child can read independently and well by the third grade." The Education Department at Montana State University-Northern has joined the effort by establishing the After School Adventure Program (A.S.A.P.). The purpose of this program, as stated by coordinator Dr. Carol Green, is to "meet the needs of children in early primary grades who need supplementary reading assistance."

A.S.A.P. is funded by a grant from the national AmeriCorps organization, with matching donations by the local Rotary Club, the Soroptomist’s Club, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on the Rocky Boy Reservation. The program staff consists of two local AmeriCorps tutor coordinators, Heidi Collingwood and Dena Rudio, and ten volunteer tutors. The tutors are college students majoring in Education, along with trained community members, supervised by a faculty member from the Education department. 

The first session of A.S.A.P. ran from February 16 through March 12 and was a great success. Twenty-five children participated in the initial session, and the Education department has received much positive feedback from both the children and their parents. In fact, as Green explains, "The response was so great, we had to expand." Consequently, the second session of A.S.A.P which recently ended, featured two sections. Each section ran for one hour, four days a week.
 
 

Winners Circle
NAIA National Wrestling Champions!
The Northern Lights shone brightly at this year’s NAIA National Wrestling tournament in Las Vegas bringing home the national title, placing eight wrestlers, including four individual titles, and tying for the all time points record with 162.5 total points. Northern coach David Ray was named NAIA wrestling coach of the year and 142 pound champion Glenn Garrison was recognized as the tournament’s outstanding wrestler.

Other Northern champions were Chad Edgar at 134 pounds, Turk Lords at 190 pounds, and heavyweight Mike Leinwand. Mitch Overlie placed second at 134 pounds, Travis Rollins at 118 pounds and Fred Leavy at 142 pounds were third, and Ryan Henry at 158 pounds was fifth. 
 
 

Decade of Dominance
The Northern Skylights won their tenth straight Frontier Conference title at home on March 6th, beating the Rocky Mountain Lady Bears 66-59. Under the leadership of coach Ray Peters and co-captains Heather Wirt and Charlene Noreen the girls played a close game, but their consistently strong defense eventually prevailed. Freshman standout Dani Davidson remarked, "They say defense wins championships and I think tonight proved that." Davidson, who scored 13 points, joined the two other Skylights in double figures: Kristine Noel, who also scored 13 points, and Noreen, who led the Skylights with 15 points.

The Skylights went on to make a good show at the women’s NAIA Division I tournament in Jackson, Tennessee, where they posted a 65-62 win over Southwestern Oklahoma in the first round, before falling to top ranked Union of Tennessee 76-63 in the second round.

Several Skylights also received All-Conference honors including Dani Davidson and Charlene Noreen who were named to the first team, and Heather Wirt and Kristine Noel who received honorable mentions. Skylight coach Ray Peters was recognized as the Frontier Conference women’s basketball coach of the year.
 
 

Lights Receive Conference Honors
Northern players receiving Frontier All-Conference honors included Steve Helm who was named to the first team and recognized as co-player of the year, Kevin Owens and Donnie Parisian who were named to the second team, and Toby Stack who received honorable mention. Northern coach Tim Walker was also named Frontier Conference men’s basketball coach of the year.

The Northern Lights overcame their March 7th Frontier Conference Championship loss to Montana Tech, upsetting the 13th ranked Houston Baptist Huskies 83-67 in the first round of the men’s NAIA Division I tournament on March 18th in Tulsa. Steve Helm led the Lights in this game, contributing 19 points. Unfortunately, they eventually succumbed to Georgetown, Kentucky in the second round, losing 78-85.
 
 

Rodeo Returns to Northern
This spring the MSU-Northern Rodeo team hosted their first home rodeo in 14 years. The event, held at the Great Northern Fairgrounds, lasted from April 23-24 and was attended by six visiting teams from Montana and Wyoming. Betty Clark, Northern’s Rodeo coach, called the event a great success and commented, "I was pleased at the response we received from the athletes and their coaches. Everyone seemed quite impressed with the rodeo’s organization." 

The Rodeo team went on to finish their normal season by competing in the Big Sky Regional Finals held at Western Montana College. During the finals Northern’s Wendy Badgett won the short-go with a 3.3 to tie for first in the average with a 7.7. Both she and Northern saddle bronc rider Kevin Keller also qualified for the National College Rodeo Finals to be held June 13-20 in Rapid City, SD.
 
 

Alumni Family Album
30’s
Lois E. James ‘36, lives in Billings, Montana. Her husband Harold died this February in Yuma, Arizona. She has three grown children.
Irene (Ruyle) Baker ‘34, writes that she has been spending her winters in Arizona. There have no other changes in her status.

40’s
Jack Reeves ‘40, is living in Lewistown, Montana. He has spent the past ten winters in Arizona. He has been retired from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture for 20 years. He then spent ten years as Office Manager for a construction firm.
Alden Beller ‘42, and wife Beth reside in Kalispell, Montana. They have three grown children.

50’s
Joanna (Kezar) Mangels ‘56, is living in Littleton, Colorado, where she is employed as an administrative assistant for Lockheed Martin Corporation. She has lived in Littleton for 25 years and is involved with the Northern Alumni Association contacting Denver area alumni about a Montana University System picnic.
William W. Thackeray, Jr. ‘59, resides in Havre, Montana. He is on the faculty at MSU-Northern and says "Now that I’ve paid off my student loans I can begin to plan my retirement." He has two children, Devlynne and Will.

60’s
John Jones ‘69, was selected the Montana Class C Athletic Administrator of the Year for 1996-97. The Montana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators’ Association presented him with a plaque at their January meeting in Billings, Montana, for his contributions in the field of Athletic Administration at local, state and national levels.

70’s
Ramona E. "Monie" Brownson ‘78, retired from the Department of Human Resources at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in June of 1997. She was honored at a reception at the Alumni Wick Center given by personnel and at an evening program and dinner at Knolls Country Club in Lincoln, Nebraska, hosted by her children. Monie had been with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln since February 13, 1989.
Betty L. Brumley ‘72, lives in Cottonwood, Arizona. Her husband James is deceased. She has two grown children. 
Marcus Lee Wynn ‘74, is a foreman at Montana Power Company in Havre, Montana. He has two children, Darin and Shawn.

80’s
Jane Anne McDaniel Wakefield ‘85, and husband Michael Bruce reside in Omaha , Nebraska, where she is self employed and is taking time off from coaching to stay home with her family. They have one son, Spencer Patrick, age 4, and are expecting their second child in November. 
Jack V. Graham ‘85, ‘88, is employed by Empire Sand and Gravel Co. Inc. as Project Engineer and resides in Sheridan, Wyoming. He also graduated from MSU-Bozeman in May, 1997 with degree in Construction Engineering.
Robert E. Bina ‘86, is retired from the USAF. He and his wife Anne reside in Antigo, Wisconsin. They have two daughters; Jennifer, 22, and Kristen, 20.
Wade W. Whitmus ‘82, ‘84, wife Shelley, and daughter Shannon Marie reside in Madison, Wisconsin, where they relocated in September of 1997. In November he was promoted to Director, Product Management at his new job with CUNA Service Group. 
Kenneth Hill ‘87, resides with his wife Darla in Lambert, Montana. He works there at Town and Country Repair and does farming and yard work in his spare time. He collects old John Deere tractors. 
Sherilyn (Eye) Stoner ’89, & Darwin Stoner ‘88 moved to Ketchikan, Alaska in June of 1997 with their two children, Cody and Beau. Darwin is assistant Manager at Carr’s Food & Drug chain and Sherilyn is substitute teaching.

90’s
Ty Eissinger ‘95, is currently running his own mechanic business in the Brockway/Circle, Montana, area. 
Lana Dramstad ‘94, received her AS degree in Water Quality. She is living in Inverness, Montana.
Coya Walker ‘91, and husband Mickey met at Northern, married and attended college here "but one of us had to work so he did and I graduated," she says. They moved to Sandy, Utah in the spring of 1991 and she has taught at Bountiful Jr. High for six years. She earned her MA in Ed/Counseling from the University of Phoenix. Mickey is a foreman for Bonnco Steel Erectors. They have 2 children, Zachariah and Lisa. 
Lori Ewing Snyder ‘91, and husband Jason recently moved to Belgrade, Montana, from Seattle, Washington. She is employed by Strategix, ID, Inc. (Industrial Design firm) as Assistant Office Manager. Jason will be attending MSU in the fall taking classes in Range and Wildlife Management. They have been married three and one-half years. 
Carol Contway DiNatale ‘95, writes that she misses Northern and it’s wonderful people. She works for Linvatee Corporation in Dunedin, Florida, in the documentation department. The company designs and manufactures high tech surgical equipment. Her daughter lives in Tampa. Carol says hello to everyone in Montana. 
Dianne M. Tilford ‘92, and husband Jerry live in Winter Haven, Florida. They have two grown children Julia Ann and Cara Lyn.
Rhett Lamoreaut ‘96, lives in Kalispell, Montana. He is employed at Semitool as Corporate Sales Analyst.
 
 

ALUMNI PASSINGS
Patricia E. Archdale ‘73, passed away in December of 1997.
Eugene E. McGovern ‘41, passed away January 25, 1998, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Waldo N. Spangelo ’40, passed away March 4, 1998 in Havre, Montana.
Helen G. Stein ‘37, passed away March 1, 1998, in Havre, Montana.
Rosemary Watters Hamblock ’41, passed away after a long illness on April 16, 1998, in Rochester, Minnesota.
Bill Scheid ‘41, passed away February 23, 1998.