The Northern Alumni Association awarded 15 scholarships at Montana State University Northern's annual Scholarship Award Convocation held on Friday, April 7th„ 2006 in the SUB Ballroom.

Jocelyn Chagnon, of Havre and Cade Blanchard of Great Falls, Montana are the two recipients of the Northern Alumni Association Keith Clawson Memorial Endowed Scholarships for incoming freshmen. Two $750 scholarships are awarded each year by the Northern Alumni Association in memory of former Northern administrator Keith Clawson.

Jocelyn will be enrolling in the Biology program at MSU-Northern with the future goal of attending the University of Montana School of Pharmacy. Jocelyn is a four year Honor Roll student and two year member of the National Honor Society. She graduates from Havre High School with a high class ranking taking college prep courses in English and Chemistry. She earned an Academic Letter, lettered in volleyball as team manager and in tennis, receiving the "Most Inspirational Tennis Player" award. Chagnon was also selected for Who's Who Among American High School Students. She participated in softball for four years, cheerleading, Key Club, Pep Club, HHS Academic Challenge, and Student Congress as a Delegate at Large. Jocelyn volunteered at school as a Teacher Aide and as a Blue Pony Mentor. Outside of school, she was an active member of 4 H throughout high school serving as Vice President in her junior year. She also volunteered in the community with the Hi Line Therapeutic Riding Association, Boys & Girls Club of the Hi Line, and the Adopt A Resident at Northern Montana Care Center. Jocelyn is the daughter of Scott and Linda Chagnon, '92, of Havre, Montana.

Cade Blanchard of Great Falls, Montana was an honor student, with plans to enroll in the Industrial Technology, Agricultural Technology and Business programs and earn a bachelor's degree. Blanchard has been an active community volunteer and is active in his church and youth group. He enjoys working on cars, with computers, and likes to fix, repair and build most anything. He was an active member of 4 H for eleven years and has been a Junior Leader, club officer, county judge and a competitor in shooting sports, demonstrations and food festivals. Blanchard volunteers as an instructor in the Community Rec Center with the after school program for kids and Special Olympics. As a member of the Golden Triangle Juniors Rifle Team, he travels the state for rifle competitions. His parents, Larry and Carla Blanchard of Great Falls, Montana, are both Northern alums.

Northern Alumni Association scholarship awardees: Front row (L to R): D'Layne Johnston, Jayla McPherson, Michelle Louise Courchene, Lisa Marie Larson, Christopher Blanchard. Back row (L to R): Michele Calvert (Alumni Association President), Jenna Heggen, Cody Gillespie, and Brandie Conway.

The Association also awarded three other Keith Clawson Memorial Scholarships. The Non-Traditional Student Scholarship was awarded to Joy Linn of Saco, Montana, the Single Parent Scholarship to Brandie Conway of Great Falls, and the Continuing Student Scholarship to Christopher Blanchard of Great Falls, Montana. The Northern Alumni Association also awards the Class of '41 Scholarship and this year the award went to Lisa Marie Larson of Havre. The Fine Arts Scholarship was presented to Michelle Louise Courchene of Kalispell, Montana. Association athletic scholarships were awarded in women's basketball to Jenna Heggem, Winifred, Montana; D'Layne Johnston, Richey, Montana; Jayla McPherson, Havre, Montana; and Mary DeVries, Chester, Montana. The football scholarship was awarded to Jared Weigel, Havre; Derek Verploegen, Havre; and Justin Lohman, Choteau, Montana. The men's basketball scholarship was awarded to Cody Gillespie, Great Falls, Montana. The awards for volleyball, golf, wrestling and rodeo will be awarded at a later date.

The deadline for all alumni scholarships is March 1st of each year. Anyone interested in the criteria and application information for any of the Northern Alumni Association scholarships can contact the MSU-Northern Financial Aid office at (406) 265-3787 or the Northern Alumni Office at (406) 265-3770 or (800) 661-6132.