Green & Gold Fall 2020

FALL 2020

T H E M AG A ZIN E O F R O C K Y MOUNTAI N COLLEGE

THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE: LIVING WITH A PANDEMIC

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: GOLF COACH NATE BAILEY

CONTENTS

3 CONTRIBUTORS Colter Gilbert Lea Hackey Jordan Hansen Sue Lawrence

Tim Lehman Heather Ohs Robert Seas Tyler Wiltgen

PHOTOGRAPHERS Todd Forsgren Gary Marshall Tommy Martino Chris McConnell Grace Schroeder Jon Wick

DESIGN & PRINTING Ultra Graphics

RMC EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT: Robert Wilmouth, M.D. PROVOST: Anthony R. Piltz ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT:

Erin M. Reser EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE: Brad Nason VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT:

Tyler Wiltgen CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER:

Melodie Milroy DEAN OF ENROLLMENT:

Austin Mapston CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER:

Marcella Buster Green & Gold is a publication of the Office of Marketing and Communications. For more information, please contact 406.657.1116 or media@rocky.edu.

OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

A NOTE from the PRESIDENT On August 28, we welcomed the class of 2024 to campus for orientation. This class has been through so much: most finished their senior year of high school online and graduated amid a global pandemic. From speaking with many of them, I learned how the crisis has made them stronger and prepared them to continue their educational journey at Rocky.

Despite the challenges, our faculty and staff spent the summer creating a safe and welcoming environment where we can do what we do best: educate our students in the classroom and laboratory setting, in-person. Our Safety and Executive Leadership Teams worked diligently to put necessary health and wellness precautions into place.

When classes resumed on August 31, students saw many COVID-19 precautions implemented on campus. They included wellness stations near high-traffic areas, restricted building access to limit capacity, distancing measures installed in classrooms, and staff and faculty trained in sanitation measures. Also, mask use has been mandated in all common spaces, including classrooms and hallways.

The articles in this issue highlight the challenges and opportunities this remarkable year presented.

This summer, renovation was completed on Rocky’s newest building, Conner Hall. A new virtual reality laboratory opened in the Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building, and two new active learning classrooms were created in Tech Hall.

This year has been unlike any in recent memory and has tested us in many ways. Like every year, the start of a new school year fills us with hope as we anticipate the breakthroughs and personal growth that our students will make. Thank you for your support during this challenging time, and always.

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other articles

EEPING PACE WITH NO PLACE 3 KCOVID-19 24 THERE’S LIKE HOME

Health care worker and RMC alumnus Kyle Briggs, MPAS, PA-C (‘14), reports from the front lines of the pandemic.

WITH A PANDEMIC

Robert Wilmouth, M.D. Rocky Mountain College President

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features

HE EVOLVING 13 TLANDSCAPE: LIVING

1511 Poly Drive, Billings, MT 59102 ON THE COVER: Photo by Todd Forsgren Students saw many COVID-19 precautions implemented on campus when classes resumed on August 31.

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RMC students, faculty, and staff overcame adversity through resilience, creativity and perseverance.

MSGA 2020 Champion, Nate Bailey, returns to his alma mater to coach Rocky’s golf teams.

019 GRADUATES 31 2CHART NEW CAREER PATHS AMID PANDEMIC

7 CAMPUS NEWS 19 BLACK TIE BLUE JEANS THLETICS 21 ANEWS 29 OTD RESEARCH GRANT

RMC’s 2019 graduates faced unprecedented disruptions to public health and the economy.

GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

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R

ocky Mountain College alumnus Kyle Briggs, MPAS, PA-C (‘14) knows firsthand what prolonged sleep deprivation does to one’s mind. He feels the pressure of making critical decisions for too many patients at one time. Briggs knows about stress. He is a physician assistant in one of America’s largest teaching hospitals—Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. U.S. News & World Report recently named Emory as Georgia’s top hospital for the eighth year in a row; and, in 2019, Newsweek called it a “Top 100 Global Hospital.”

Kyle Briggs has worked the night shift in the 587-bed-hospital in all their intensive care units, not just his usual Cardiac ICU, for several months now during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The predominant challenges we’ve faced have centered around three things: a shortage of resources, high stress levels, and waning stamina,” said Briggs. “Our supplies fell to critically low levels within the first few weeks as we ran short of PPE (personal protective equipment), ICU beds and staffing. We were forced to find space for hundreds of patients infected with COVID-19 in ICUs that normally run at 90 percent capacity. Then, the problem was finding enough people trained to care for patients on ventilators.”

Briggs completed RMC’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program in 2014, and a one-year post-graduate residency in critical care medicine at Emory. He moved from one ICU to another, learning how to manage the different facets of critical care. After his residency, he specialized in the Cardiac ICU, but he has always had an interest and passion for teaching. He precepts students while on the job and teaches frequent lectures for PA students, and both APP (Advanced Practice Program) and internal medicine residents at Emory. Briggs is also

KEEPING PACE WITH

C

VID-19 Alumnus Kyle Briggs

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“ ”

COVID patients have again come to our hospitals in high numbers, placing a strain on resources.

—KYLE BRIGGS MPAS, PA-C, RMC Alumnus

“ ”

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

We called it a marathon from the beginning.

—KYLE BRIGGS MPAS, PA-C, RMC Alumnus

Photos courtesy Kyle Briggs Rocky Mountain

Kyle Briggs with his wife and children.

College alumnus Kyle Briggs, MPAS, PA-C, a physician assistant in one of America’s largest teaching hospitals— Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

adjunct faculty at RMC and returns to Billings three times a year to teach PA students about emergency and critical care medicine, as well as respiratory and infectious diseases. He serves as a faculty member of the same residency program at Emory he went through in 2014. He co-directs simulation exercises for Emory’s APP residents, teaching them critical care medicine and how to function effectively during stressful situations. His expertise has been tested in recent months.

“The moment the pandemic really hit home for me,” said 39-year-old Briggs, “is one night when we admitted five patients requiring mechanical ventilation, and two of them were my age or younger. In fact, one had been healthier than me at baseline. Up to this point in early March, I’d believed this was just another flulike illness—one that was only dangerous for the old and frail. That night I learned that was not

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necessarily the case. Fortunately, both patients made it off the ventilator and out of our ICU, but it took several days, and we have no way of knowing if they’ll get back to their prior state of health.”

Stress and fear have affected Briggs and his co-workers. Fear of the COVID-19 virus that he has seen kill both old and young. Fear that he will inadvertently bring it home to his wife, Jill, and their six children. Fear that this stress will go on and on. Lack of sleep and stamina are everyday struggles for Briggs and his colleagues.

“We’ve been working relentlessly for months with no respite from the original surge in COVID cases earlier this year,” Briggs said. “We’re all getting tired and worn down. It feels like we’re at the 20-mile mark of a marathon—that space where you’ve been running a hard pace for many miles and are exhausted. The crowds that had previously lined the streets cheering you on in

the early miles have all but disappeared. Despair creeps in as you think about how much further it will be until the finish line.”

Briggs saw a brief decline in cases about two weeks after Georgia’s stay-at-home order was mandated on April 3 and was encouraged as he saw the results of the community-at-large working together to slow the spread of the virus.

Emory’s medical staff were still operating at above-normal capacity levels, but there seemed an end in sight. That changed once summer began. “COVID patients have again come to our hospitals in high numbers, placing a strain on resources,” Briggs said. “My fellow co-workers and I have been working at a furious pace: nearly all of us have been working consistent overtime for months. We’re working in circumstances that are physically, emotionally, and mentally draining.”

No stranger to multi-tasking and a hectic work life, Briggs credits the PA program at RMC with preparing him for the stress and pace of the profession from the start. Married and already a father of five at the time, he found solace within the PA program’s culture.

“With a smaller class size and regular personal attention by the faculty, it had a familial feel to it,” Briggs said. “They got to know all about me,

and they provided a platform for my strengths to shine. They encouraged us to work together as classmates and to lift each other up rather than seek competitive edges for class rank. We needed this collaboration as we were tasked every Monday with a challenging exam. It helped us move through a mountainous volume of material, but it also set the tone that we would need to work hard each and every week. There was little time for respite or weekend fun.”

Those early days trained Briggs for his work as a critical care physician assistant. Emory’s healthcare staff continue to receive a steady stream of new information and protocols change as patterns emerge that help them better understand the coronavirus pandemic. They are exhausted by the sheer number of hours they spend in the hospital, covered in layers of protective gear.

“We’re depleted. We hold iPads for patients so they can converse with their families— sometimes, for the last time. The race is not over yet and we all know it,” Briggs said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. We all called it a marathon right from the beginning. This is hard but we’re still here. We will slog through these challenging miles, doing the best we can. It’s all we can do.”

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RMC’s computer science program awarded grant for active learning classrooms In the spring of 2020, the Charles M. Bair Family Trust awarded RMC grant funds to renovate two existing classrooms in Tech Hall into computer science active learning classrooms.

Active learning is characterized by student engagement, participation, and collaboration. Rather than passively absorbing course content, students actively demonstrate, analyze, and apply course knowledge and disciplinary methods in the classroom. An increasing body of evidence indicates that active learning methods improve critical thinking skills, increase the retention and transfer of new information, increase student motivation, and improve interpersonal skills. In active learning classrooms, students work and learn together—mentoring one another, holding each other accountable, and communicating about the challenges of course content.

“Research consistently shows that when students collaborate and actively engage in learning, as opposed to lecture-only teaching, the students’ mastery of the subject matter improves at an exponential rate,” said Instructor of Computer Science, Andrew Niemantsverdriet.

“When computer science instructors encounter roadblocks and problem-solve in real time, students gain practical knowledge and develop problem-solving skills.”

The College’s first active learning classroom was established in Morledge-Kimball Hall in 2018 and is used primarily by math and English students. Adding these additional active learning spaces further supports the College’s broader commitment to transformational learning. Charles M. Bair Trust funds were used to purchase and install new electronic equipment including laser projectors, progressive

RMC professor awarded Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to study and teach in Ireland Precious McKenzie, associate professor of English at Rocky Mountain College, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award in the Innovation Research Dissemination Program. Professor McKenzie will research at University College Cork, Ireland, as part of a project to study Irish folktales and legends. She will also teach at the university.

Professor McKenzie joined Rocky Mountain College in fall 2011, after earning a doctorate in English with a specialization in NineteenthCentury British Literature from the University of South Florida-Tampa. She is a member of the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association and Montana’s regional advisor for the Society

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screens, and connectivity podiums in time for use this fall semester. One active learning classroom is being used for professor/student learning and student project presentations, and the other space is a computer science active learning lab for student use. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, this studentengaged learning approach provides RMC’s Computer Science program a competitive edge.

“We’re excited about our newlyupgraded active learning classrooms,” said Niemantsverdriet. “The ability for our students to have greater interaction in the classroom and a more ‘hands on’ approach to their learning is a huge win for both students and faculty.”

The College’s Computer Science program currently serves 19 students, with plans to expand to 40 students.

of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators.

“It’s a highly competitive process, so winning this award is a tremendous honor,” said McKenzie. “It’s also a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues in the humanities overseas so that, when I return to Montana, I can continue to deliver innovative teaching strategies and content to Rocky Mountain College students. I will be performing research at UCC, in their archives and with professors in their Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences Department. My goal is to study lesser-told Celtic folktales and share my research through various community-based channels. I’m also working on a novel for middle grade readers based on Irish legends.

The Fulbright Award in Ireland will help me complete that book project.”

Professor McKenzie is one of over 800 U.S. citizens who will teach, conduct research, and/

or provide expertise abroad for the 20202021 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

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Physician Assistant program moves into Conner Hall Last summer, renovation was completed on Rocky’s newest building, Conner Hall, which opened to our Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program in July. The facility is named in honor of Rev. Cloyd and Mrs. Pearl Conner for their service and advocacy on behalf of Rocky Mountain College. This summer, MPAS welcomed its first class of 48 students after receiving permission from accreditors to expand the program from 36 students per year.

The building, located at 2411 Village Lane, houses the entirety of the PA program including its academic, administrative, and clinical functions. With over 8,400 square feet, the facility includes a lecture hall, a conference room, eight medical exam rooms, lab spaces, a student lounge, an ER training laboratory, and faculty and administrative offices. Renovations included installing technology for advanced wireless connectivity, modernizing the facility, creating the classroom space, and updating instructional equipment.

“This is an exciting time for our program and the medical community that supports us.

Approximately 50 percent of our graduates choose to stay in the region, and the expansion should translate into more access to healthcare in our rural communities,” said Program Director, Adam Mattingly. “New technologies and innovations are rapidly changing how medical education is delivered.

This new, state-of-the-art facility will help us maintain the high standards and quality that students expect from our program.”

The College’s PA program boasts a national reputation for the exceptional quality of its faculty and graduates. And the program continues to fulfill its founding vision: To excel as a center of health care education dedicated to providing medical services to the underserved and rural populations of this intermountain region. Last summer’s virtual white coat graduation ceremony marked the 22-year anniversary of the Physician Assistant program at Rocky Mountain College.

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GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

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Brad Nason Servant Leadership Scholarship Endowment Established This summer, Rocky Mountain College surprised Brad Nason, Executive Vice President and Dean for Student Life, with an unexpected announcement over a Zoom call.

Unlike many COVID-19 Zoom calls during the pandemic, this one was decidedly upbeat.

The screen was filled by the excited faces of friends, family and colleagues who joined the call to share that they had established the Brad Nason Servant Leadership Scholarship Endowment in honor of Brad’s 40 plus years of service to the College.

“Rocky is a place that brings people together and relationships form,” said Dave Heringer, former RMC staff member, alumnus, and longtime friend. “Brad has been a big part of that for forty years. He shows up every day and believes in the mission of Rocky Mountain College with his whole heart. It was time for this fun group of people to recognize his love for Rocky and his dedication and commitment to its students, faculty, and staff.”

This scholarship will be awarded to students in financial need who, like Brad, demonstrate a commitment to service and leadership.

“During my 20 years of service to RMC, I relied on Brad’s depth of knowledge and understanding of the college to better serve the college I grew to love,” said Dr. Larry Campodonico, former RMC Board of Trustees member. “His candor, honesty, and good humor are unfailing and I’m proud to call him my friend.”

RMC Installs New Virtual Reality Lab Last summer, Rocky Mountain College completed work on a new virtual reality lab located in the Dr. Charles Morledge Science Building. This fall, faculty are being trained in the use of the VR software program and equipment so that come spring 2021, science students can begin using the state-of-the-art technology lab in their anatomy and physiology laboratory courses.

“The College is engaged in a campus-wide effort to continually improve teaching facilities to deliver transformational learning,” said Vice President of Advancement, Tyler Wiltgen.

“This new virtual reality facility allows students and faculty to participate in virtual reality activities that expand their learning horizons in health, geology, and chemistry, among other disciplines.”

The new cross-disciplinary virtual reality lab aligns with the College’s goal of fostering active learning, which is characterized by student engagement, participation, and collaboration.

Rather than passively absorbing course content in a lecture-only teaching method, students demonstrate, analyze, and apply newly acquired knowledge and methods in the classroom.

The new VR lab was made possible by generous donations from Phillips 66-Billings Refinery, The Sunderland Foundation, the Charles M. Bair Family Trust, and other RMC supporters.

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In an effort to further Brad’s legacy of service and commitment to the students and the College, the founding donors of the Brad Nason Servant Leadership Scholarship Endowment have generously offered to match the next $50,000 raised before December 31, 2020.

IN MEMORIAM

BRANDON K. HOGAN

Donor funds were used to purchase a specialized computer customized for virtual reality programs as well as monitors, monitor stands, keyboards, student headsets, and software packages for the College’s cadaver laboratory science courses. Additional virtual reality software package purchases are planned to complement chemistry and geology coursework.

Rocky Mountain College friend, RMC alumnus and trustee, Brandon Hogan, died Thursday, July 30, 2020 in a small airplane accident between Ennis Lake and Big Sky, Montana. Brandon often expressed his pride in serving the College as a trustee. He was always very supportive of Rocky Mountain College even before he joined the board. Please keep his wife Kristina and his children Reef, Jett and Evie in your prayers. Brandon was a friend and champion of the College and will be missed.

GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

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O

THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE:

LIVING WITH A PANDEMIC

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GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

n March 2, 2020, Brad Nason, Executive Vice President and Dean of Student Life, sent an unusual letter to the Rocky Mountain College community outlining the steps the College had taken to prepare for the potential impact of the looming COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, there were no reported cases in Montana. The College’s Emergency Management Task Force had met to evaluate the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local health officials. The threat was emerging and rapidly evolving. The task force continued to monitor developments and provided the campus community with regular updates.

On March 12, President Robert Wilmouth, M.D., announced that the College would shift to online instruction. While it was hoped that the shift would be short term, in fact, the remainder of the semester was conducted online.

“For more than 142 years, Rocky Mountain College has been committed to delivering our educational mission,” said President Wilmouth.

“Our College is known for its resilience. I am deeply thankful for the effort that has gone into preparing for this transition to temporary online instruction and remain grateful for all that our faculty and staff continue to do to promote the safety and success of our students.”

The College relied on strong ties with the government, business and medical communities to guide its decision making.

RMC Board of Trustees member and Yellowstone County Health Officer, John Felton, regularly briefed the College’s leadership team and task force. Felton stressed that it was a matter of when and not if the community would be affected.

One day after President Wilmouth’s announcement, Montana governor Steve Bullock announced the first four confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state, including one in Yellowstone County.

Over the weeks and months that followed, RMC students, faculty, and staff made a remarkable transition to online learning, overcoming adversity through resilience, creativity and perseverance.

In the face of obstacles, students found opportunities. For example, each year RMC’s Ryniker-Morrison Gallery hosts a show for senior art majors. The collection includes works created by the students as a capstone

GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

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NO STRANGER TO TROUBLE

By Timothy Lehman, RMC Professor of History and Political Science

to their art degree. With the gallery show cancelled, the students regrouped and approached RMC staff about moving the show to an online format. The show went on and works by seniors Amelia Buffington,Olivia Crayton, Carrie Daniels, Marina Eshelman, Jessie Novak, Isaac Petsch, and Bailey Rheaume are now displayed online for all to enjoy (rocky.edu/senior-art-show-2020).

RMC faculty worked closely with the IT department to learn new technology and adapt their curriculum on the fly in a matter of weeks. In a letter to faculty dated March 18, then Provost and Academic Vice President Stephen Germic praised the effort.

“Overall, we can, I believe, congratulate ourselves on a generally smooth transition to online delivery,” said Germic. “We also want to express our appreciation and our sympathies for everyone as we individually and collectively navigate these strange times. We simply cannot anticipate the full current or future impacts of the situation we are all inhabiting.”

RMC student life staff, under the direction

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For more than 142 years, Rocky Mountain College has been committed to delivering our educational mission. It has persevered through earthquakes, the Spanish flu, and various financial hardships. We have always met challenges with our Montana work ethic and know that any obstacle can be overcome if we stick together.

One hundred and two years ago, a flu pandemic swept the world, rattled the nation, and troubled Montana. The 1918 flu epidemic, sometimes known as the “Spanish flu,” came during the last year of World War I and killed perhaps five times more people than died in the war. Casualties reached perhaps 50 million globally, while almost 5,000 died in sparsely-populated Montana.

Especially perplexing was the fact that this flu killed young, healthy people--students and soldiers--more than other age groups. It was precisely the combination of troubles that could be devastating for a college campus.

Many colleges and schools around the state closed or were converted to temporary hospitals to help health care workers cope with the flood of patients. Small colleges in Montana had already seen numbers decrease due to the combination of war and disease. That year, the college graduated only two students, while the football team was limited to two in-town games due to flu-related travel restrictions. At Rocky, then called Billings Polytechnic Institute, the flu epidemic limited travel and kept some potential students from enrolling. According to the local newspaper, Rocky was “among the most fortunate of institutions during the flu epidemic” because it was almost free of the disease and no members of the college community died.

The truth was that Rocky did not avoid the disease so much as dealt with it wisely. The flu epidemic hit campus during the second week of the semester, which any veteran of campus life can affirm is about the time when

colds, flus, and other ailments large and small make their rounds through the student body.

In 1918, the flu spread to every dormitory and if unchecked could have temporarily closed the school. What seemed to make the difference was the full-time attention of a trained nurse who spared no expense to provide the best possible care. Just as in our pandemic, doctors at that time had no cure—a vaccine was years away—and did not fully understand the course of the illness. In 1918, patients who were fortunate enough to have constant nursing care had a better chance of survival than anything doctors could offer. Even though knowledge of influenza was limited, Rocky relied on the best medical expertise of the day (at considerable expense), which combined with some good fortune, kept everyone alive.

The college has met numerous other crises in the years since the last flu pandemic. The Great Depression made funds scarce and students had to work for tuition, as some had always done, and grow their own food.

College-owned wheat fields and the nearby granary gave the school its own brand of locally-grown bread and their school colors—green and gold. In 1935, the Helena campus experienced an earthquake that toppled several buildings. The students, still celebrating from a football victory over their local rivals, appeared unfazed by the earth’s trembling. They slept on the lawn and the next morning cooked their own breakfast in the demolished school kitchen. Eventually students and faculty found their way to Billings to become the Rocky Mountain College we know today. As the proverb says, every crisis is an opportunity.

Call it luck, providence, or simply resilience, this college has demonstrated a knack for thriving despite adversity. The last flu epidemic didn’t stop us, and it doesn’t seem likely that this one will either. It just might make us stronger and better.

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PERSPECTIVES A few recollections of students, faculty, and staff on their experience navigating the pandemic.

This year’s virtual commencement ceremony featured guest speaker, Alan Muskett, M.D.

of Brad Nason, developed new policies and defined safety protocols to keep those students who remained on campus safe. A dedicated electronic COVID-19 bulletin board was created on rocky.edu to provide updates to the College community with sections for faculty, students and families, and staff.

As the extent of the pandemic became clear, the College extended its online instruction directive for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester, which concluded on May 8. In addition, plans for the spring 2020 commencement ceremony were altered. The ceremony, scheduled for May 9, was conducted in a virtual format, complete with the conferring of degrees, a charge from President Wilmouth, and a guest commencement speaker.

“Though it saddens us to have to change plans for our 138th Commencement Ceremony, we will do everything we can to honor the achievements of the class of 2020 and their families,” said President Wilmouth. “Our mission is an important one, and I am proud of the way the Rocky community has rallied together during this challenging time.”

RMC faculty and staff took advantage of the summer break to make plans for the resumption of in-person classes for the fall 2020 term. COVID-19 precautions were implemented throughout campus.

As President Wilmouth noted in the introduction to this issue; wellness stations, including temperature checks, were located near high traffic areas. Buildings have been restricted to key card access to limit capacity to those who absolutely need to be in the buildings.

Classrooms have been reconfigured to allow six feet of physical separation between desks and Plexiglas barriers have been installed between seats. Faculty and staff have been outfitted with sanitization supplies and trained to assist in keeping our campus sanitized.

Most importantly, the College has mandated the use of masks in all common spaces, including all classrooms and hallways.

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GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

SYDNEY MEYER, RMC SENIOR I chose Rocky for a variety of reasons.

However, the main selling points were a great scholarship and the opportunity to stay close to my family. I’m majoring in psychology and sociology and minoring in literary studies. I plan on going to graduate school for clinical psychology after I graduate from Rocky.

Before COVID-19, I was highly involved in campus activities. Even though I don’t live on campus, I was on campus the majority of my time. I’m still involved in school activities, but spend a lot less time actually interacting with the people I used to see daily.

The most important thing I’ve learned has actually come out of being separated from the Rocky community. Life is extremely unpredictable and you have to do your best in those difficult times. Even if things seem impossible, you can always find a solution; you just might have to look elsewhere for that solution. You can only control what is happening in the present, and as long as you work hard now, there should be no regrets for what will happen in the future.

ASHLYNN REYNOLDS-DYK, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ENGLISH I started the Spring 2020 semester telling some of my colleagues how I had never been so well prepared for a semester after having had our first very long winter break (we did not begin classes until January 22, 2020).

Clearly, I had no idea what was in store for RMC students, faculty, and staff. The semester unfolded in a way I would have never imagined.

When faculty were notified over spring break that we needed to prepare our courses for emergency online/remote delivery, I had two primary goals: predictability and support.

I knew that with such rapid changes, students needed a predictable template for what each class session and each week would look like.

To help with this, I created a three-step “Read, Listen/Watch, and Interact” template for each class session.

In addition, I know most of my students are social creatures desiring interaction in a time of isolation. I wanted my students to know that they were supported, and as such, I checked in with each student via individual student conferences on Zoom (and similar video conferencing platforms). Many of my students went back home overseas and conferenced with me at 11:00 p.m. their time while others went home where they were expected to not only continue their schooling but help with family chores (and for those Montana kids, it was calving season!). More than anything, the semester taught me perseverance and empathy as I gained insight to the many challenging situations of students and faculty alike.

SEAN COLEMAN, DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS, 2011 RMC GRADUATE In July 2020, I completed my first year in the admissions office at RMC. During Fall 2019, our admissions counselors had traveled to high recruitment areas to meet prospective students. I had high hopes projecting the class we’d bring in for fall 2020. We came out of the holiday break with great excitement for the class we were building. The amount of energy, positive change and progress in the admissions office was exciting and exhilarating.

After March 16, a day I’ll remember for many years to come, I thought things would blow over in a week, maybe a month, tops. I struggled with what was happening and could not envision what the world of higher education and college admissions would look like going forward. As an office, we focused on new ways to maintain the personal relationships we had built with our students.

As time moved along and the light at the end of the tunnel was not the end but rather an oncoming train, we settled in to what would become a new normal of virtual meetings and more time on the phone, building and maintaining the class we were recruiting.

Recently, our new class went through new student orientation and we started recruiting the next class. While what to expect going forward is unknown, we have a great admissions staff equipped to handle anything headed our way.

My RMC education prepared me to deal with change. While there was no formal training, my time on campus taught me how to handle an evolving landscape. I became a resilient and forwardthinking student. The informal way that RMC prepared me to handle change will ensure I’m ready for any other challenges that result from COVID-19. I consider myself lucky to have attended a school like Rocky Mountain College and I am overjoyed to help others find and attend it as well.

GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE is looking forward to continuing the tradition of celebrating our students with our

Dear Friends, Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Cool, crisp weather and the beautiful colors of the trees fill our campus. Of course, this year, we continue to face many challenges, but it’s wonderful to have our students back on campus. Seeing the freshmen arrive with their cars packed full, anticipating a new beginning, and seniors returning with excitement to see their friends and embark on their final year makes life seem a bit more normal in a year where we crave normalcy.

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VIRTUAL EVENT Keeping the safety of donors, students, and staff in mind, this year's Black Tie Blue Jeans is going virtual! More than ever, scholarships are critical for our students, providing essential support in the midst of economic and social uncertainties. We invite you to join us in a week-long virtual celebration honoring our students and donors, and raising funds for scholarships.

Information at www.rocky.edu/blacktie

Fall at Rocky Mountain College also brings preparations for our largest scholarship fundraising event, Black Tie Blue Jeans. This year it will look a little different (well, a lot different). For 2020, we will host our first ever Virtual Black Tie Blue Jeans. I hope you will join us in this unique celebration of our RMC students.

From November 1-6, there will be an online auction with some wonderful items to bid on, including trips, artwork, jewelry, wine and many other great packages.

You will also be able to donate directly to the Black Tie Blue Jeans Scholarship Drive. Last year, our Scholarship Drive raised over $300,000 in scholarship support for our students and we hope to surpass that this year. Scholarships are needed now more than ever before and provide essential support in the midst of our current economic and social uncertainties.

I hope you will join us virtually and show your support for our amazing RMC students. Your gifts and support make a difference in our students’ lives every day.

Sincerely,

Tyler Wiltgen Vice President of Advancement

ATHLETICS

NEWS

This article originally appeared May 16, 2020 on 406mtsports.com and is reprinted courtesy of Jordan Hansen / 406mtsports.com.

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hey were the first triplets to ever come through Missoula Catholic Schools, so it only seems reasonable that Bridger, Bryce and Blake Danielson would also be the first triplets to ever play for the Rocky Mountain College football team.

The three Missoula Loyola football stars signed with the Battlin’ Bears earlier this year and are set to celebrate their graduation on Sunday

Danielson Excited to See

TRIPLETS

What Football at RMC Will Bring Photo courtesy Tommy Martino-Missoulian Blake Danielson, left, Bridger Danielson, center, and Bryce Danielson all exhibit different personalities despite being born just minutes apart.

Photo courtesy Christin Danielson

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afternoon. Finishing with two state title appearances and four-straight playoff appearances during their high school careers, they have left behind a legacy.

While Montana Tech and Carroll College were places the brothers had been interested in, it was a visit from special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Spencer Chamberlain that helped get them interested in playing for the Battlin’ Bears.

“Just right off the bat, he was funny,” said Blake Danielson on a phone call with his brothers and mother, Christin, on Saturday. “Our senior class, the seven seniors that were talking to him, spent an hour and a half, just because we were so interested and invested in what he had to say.

Our teachers weren’t too happy about it, but we got a lot out of it and I thought, dang, this might be a place where I want to go.”

While they might have endured a few withering stares when they rejoined the classroom, Rocky Mountain College was firmly in their minds.

A visit in January followed and, while there was still a little skepticism as to whether or not it was going to be a fit, those worries soon vanished.

They felt like they received a tremendous amount of feedback and that both the players and coaches exceeded their expectations.

It was also going to fit them athletically. Bridger is a hard-hitting linebacker, a position that Rocky Mountain head coach Chris Stutzriem said was a massive need in this recruiting class.

Blake is a quarterback who will likely redshirt this year but also has potential as a long snapper. Bryce, meanwhile, is a receiver and can punt the ball as well.

“What we loved about Bridger was his physicalness and how big he was and was able to move like he could, but the aggression he brought in tackling people, that was huge,” Stutzriem said to 406mtsports.com.

“Bryce, what really stood out to me was what he did with the ball in his hands and to make people miss. With Blake, honestly, it was his leadership and the way he kind of did a little bit of everything and ran the team.”

It was not always a given they might end up at the same school. They had spoken about potentially playing at other places, but the idea of still playing together was a hard dream to leave behind.

For their mother, it was a relief to have her three boys all playing in one place.

“It’s just interesting how they ended up together where their goal kinda seemed like they wanted to separate after high school, which kind of freaked me out,” said Christin. “How am I going to get to three places? It’s been just these three and I for the past numerous years, so having them together is a huge blessing for us.”

Academics were a strong part of their decision-making process as well and Rocky Mountain College’s standards in that area were positive as well.

“The academics I noticed straight away that’s their number one goal,” Bridger said. “They don’t care what you do outside of school as long as you’re committed to getting your degree and keeping your grades. They help you as much as they can. They don’t let you fall behind or fall through the cracks.”

While they are not sure when they will be able to get on campus due to the coronavirus, they have been able to get on Zoom calls with other recruits and be part of virtual team meetings.

They are excited to get on campus and so is their future coach.

“The number one thing that stands out to me about them is their character,” Stutzriem said. “They come from a great mother. She’s a nurse and has done an outstanding job with those three. They’re very good kids and smart. They’re triplets, but they’re very different.”

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ATHLETICS

NEWS

The Mahlers:

BPI’S FIRST TRIPLETS 1934-36 When Clarence, Don, and Walter Mahler started playing basketball for RMC’s predecessor, BPI (Billings Polytechnic Institute) in 1934, they were hailed as the only triplet college ball players in the nation.

The Mahler freshmen played varsity basketball, intramural football (BPI had not yet joined a collegiate football conference), and track. They were also members of a new men’s society on campus, the Eatonians, named in honor of the late Lewis T. Eaton, a co-founder of the College. They helped their fellow Eatonians win the society football tournament, as well as intersociety championships in volleyball and basketball.

The triplets, who enrolled in BPI’s two-year junior college liberal arts program, were from the small rural town of Lodge Grass, Montana.

By the time they were halfway through their college program in 1935, Billings’ population had grown to 20,000 (compared to 109,000 today) and three major railroad companies operated 28 passenger trains through the city daily. Billings was a bustling hub of industrial and agricultural activity, although Interstates 90 and 94 did not yet exist.

Tuition and fees were $430.00 per year, paid in advance.

Laboratory fees, textbooks, supplies cost another $15-25 per year.

Nate Bailey in 2003-2004 when he was the Men’s Frontier Conference Golf Champion.

Photos by Chris McConnell, Staff Writer for The Laurel Outlook

There’s Nate Bailey Returns to RMC No Place S Like

HOME

ixteen years after capping a storied golf career and establishing himself as one of the best players in the history of Rocky Mountain College’s golf program, Nathan (Nate) Bailey has returned to his alma mater to write another chapter. This time as the head coach of Rocky’s Men’s and Women’s golf teams.

Bailey is one of the most decorated and accomplished athletes in the history of RMC athletics. His collection of accolades as a studentathlete is extensive, and includes induction into the Rocky Mountain College Clara Klindt Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

Bailey dominated the Frontier Conference golf scene in the early 2000s, winning the Conference Tournament individual title three out of four years, earning All-Conference honors all four years, and being

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voted Player of the Year three out of four years.

Nationally, Bailey was consistently at the top of national rankings and earned All-American honors twice.

Bailey’s success on the links has not been limited to his time at Rocky. Golf has been a lifelong passion, and some of his earliest memories revolve around golf courses. A native of Laurel, Montana, he competed in his first golf tournament when he was just eight years old. As a young golfer, Bailey had the benefit of having another elite player growing up in his neighborhood.

“A lot of my early development came from competing with my friend and neighbor, Brett Woods,” said Bailey. “We pushed each other, and in turn, made each other better players.”

Bailey’s first taste of big success came at the high school level, alongside his neighborhood buddy. Boasting a star-studded

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team led by Bailey and Woods, Laurel High dominated Montana high school golf, winning the MHSA Class A State Championship three years in a row, from 1997 through 1999. Bailey’s high school accomplishments were enough to earn him a chance to play golf at the University of Idaho right out of high school. Although this seemed like an excellent opportunity, things didn’t go quite as planned for Bailey in his time there. The coach who had recruited him left the program before Nate arrived on campus, and the big college feel just wasn’t his cup of tea.

“I remember one of the first exams I had to take at Idaho,” Bailey recalled. “It was in a big lecture hall with hundreds of students, and we had to write our ID numbers, not our names, on the exam.”

Those were some of the contributing factors to Bailey leaving the University shortly after arriving. He moved back to Laurel and spent the next few months weighing his options and looking for a new place to play. That’s when he realized the best place for him was in his own backyard.

The RMC Men’s Golf program was in its infancy when Bailey met with head coach, Randy Northrop in 2000. From there, the decision was easy.

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“I already knew a lot of my teammates from high school, and I liked the tight-knit environment Rocky provided,” Bailey said. “I loved being somewhere where everyone knew each other, and you were more than just a number.”

Bailey’s time at Rocky was a formative experience for him both on the links and in the classroom, as he came to understand the importance of academics and preparing for a future. He recalled some of his favorite professors at Rocky and credits them with pushing him to be better in the classroom and to take steps that would help carve his life’s path. One of those professors advised him to get his minor in mathematics, a decision that would lead to Bailey becoming a math teacher later in life. He has a true passion for teaching, whether in a classroom or coaching golf.

Lessons learned off the course have been some of the most impactful in Bailey’s life and that’s how he approaches coaching the game

of golf. His primary focus is leading student-athletes toward becoming productive adults, and success on the golf course is secondary.

Since graduating in 2004, Bailey has gained valuable experience on the golf course and in life. He moved to North Carolina where he taught math and coached golf and basketball. Ultimately, Montana called him back home, and he landed a teaching job in Forsyth, Montana, where he coached at the high school level.

After his return to Montana, Bailey continued to add to his list of achievements on the golf course, this time at the amateur level. He is a four-time Montana State Golf Association (MSGA) champion, winning the tournament in 2010, 2011, 2012, and most recently, in 2020. The gap in championships is mainly due to his taking time away from golf to get married and start a family. He met his wife, Callie, when he was teaching in Forsyth, and the couple have since moved back to Yellowstone County and are raising four children together. Although it was hard for Bailey to focus on golf while raising his young family, he said his children are already showing interest in the game, and he’s excited to teach them and to be able to golf with them as a family.

All of these life events led to Bailey’s return to his alma mater. He had always been interested in returning to the Rocky golf program in some capacity, so when the head coaching job became available in the summer of 2020, the timing was perfect, and he threw his name into contention right away.

Bailey takes over Rocky’s golf program at an unprecedented time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken collegiate athletics all over the country. Suddenly, everything has become an unpredictable frenzy, including schedules, travel, and managing the physical return of students. When asked about what it has been like to take over a program in these times, Bailey summed it up in one word, “crazy.”

The pandemic has made it difficult for Bailey to get to know his players, and he hasn’t had many chances to see them play in person yet. Despite this, he has found ways to adapt, citing virtual meetings as critical in helping him connect with his teams. Changing leadership at any time is hard for a program to adjust to, but through the pandemic, all of those changes have been amplified, yet Bailey remains diligent and hopeful. He credits his predecessor, Aaron Pohle, as well as Director of Athletics, Jeff Malby, for their leadership in helping him overcome obstacles during the transition.

When looking at the teams already in place, Bailey is optimistic about the upcoming season. He sees depth on the men’s team and believes they’ll be able to compete right away. On the women’s team, he’s dealt with a few unexpected departures but believes there’s a talented core in place. Bailey is excited about where the program is in terms of recruiting, and the talent that is coming into the program.

Bailey describes his coaching style as “very analytical while embracing the mental side of the game, as well.” His goals include bolstering the success of the programs in the classroom, on the links, and in the community. Shooting for team cumulative GPAs of 3.5, encouraging players to serve in the community, and working to compete on a national level are fundamental to his plan.

“It’s realistic to have both teams competing for national championships one day,” Bailey said.

If history tells us anything, we can rest assured that with Nate Bailey at the helm, the new chapter for Rocky Mountain College golf is destined to be one for the record books.

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ATHLETICS

NEWS

Photo by Jon Wick

Fall Battlin’ Bear

Photo by Gary Marshall

SPORTS UPDATE The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented changes to the Battlin’ Bears athletic schedule. While teams have faced the challenge of an early snowfall or cancelled games due to air quality in the past, this is the first time in the history of the College that soccer, volleyball, and football seasons have been moved to the spring.

The first postponement of a fall season came with men’s and women’s soccer. RMC’s soccer teams participate in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, one of the first conference schedules to be impacted due to coronavirus concerns. On July 17, the CCC Council of

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Presidents announced that it would be postponing all sports until at least November 1, with the intention to begin play in winter/spring of 2021.

The Frontier Conference joined the ranks of other NAIA conferences in delaying fall schedules on August 8, when the decision to postpone volleyball was announced. The Council of Presidents stated the decision was made to “accommodate all schools in the Frontier Conference and to further align the sport with the NAIA Championships to be held during the spring. The Frontier Conference will plan to participate in the postseason whenever the NAIA championship dates are set for next spring.”

Less than a week later, on August 13, the Frontier Conference Council of Presidents made another announcement. “At this time, the Frontier Conference has elected to move the sport of football to

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Photo by Gary Marshall the spring. The league’s administrators have diligently continued to evaluate high risk sports and have exhausted every resource available in making this decision today. The intention of the conference has always been to place the student-athletes, coaches and support staff’s safety at the very top of the priority list. This announcement today will allow for all eight teams to once again operate collectively as a conference in the spring and participate in a schedule, providing that safety standards allow for play,” said Kent Paulson, Frontier Conference Commissioner in a statement.

While Rocky Mountain College was optimistic about playing, as a member of the Frontier Conference, the College stands behind the decision to postpone the schedule. The safety of our student-athletes and staff is of the highest importance, and we are committed

to working with our Frontier Conference partners to form a plan for spring competition.

“We did everything we could to compete this fall. There are few things I want more than to see our athletes compete, in all sports,” said RMC President Robert Wilmouth, M.D. “One of the things I want more, though, is to safely provide our students with the best educational experience possible. It became clear that our attention and resources are best focused in that direction.”

Rocky Mountain College cross country and golf continue to compete this fall, with guidelines that prohibit overnight travel, include health checks, and limit fan participation, among other restrictions.

Athletic Director Jeff Malby commented, “As we move forward from the many challenges that we faced due to COVID-19, our studentathletes have embraced all the safety protocols and policies. Football, volleyball and soccer will play their contests this spring, while golf and cross country will have limited fall seasons. Despite the setbacks, Rocky Mountain College continues to flourish during the pandemic, which I attribute to our College’s leadership. Our student-athletes want to play and are doing their fair share to make that a reality.”

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GRANT AWARDED TO OTD PROGRAM

Assistant Professor and OTD Director of Research, Delisha Patel, Ph.D. and OTD Program Director, Twylla Kirchen, Ph.D., collaborated with Alexandra Adams, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for American Indian Rural Health Equity at MSU-Bozeman to conduct a single-case research study. The results of that single-participant case study will direct a longitudinal, sustainable study at an Early Head Start program in a Native American community in Montana.

Because of adverse early childhood experiences, some children respond to stimuli differently than those who were not exposed to adverse pre-birth conditions.

“Normally, a child receives all the sensory information, processes it, and generates an appropriate response,” Dr. Patel said. “Kids with behavioral conditions process sensory information differently, often generating an inappropriate response. These kids can develop behavioral issues, such as the tendency to hit other kids, scream, or throw tantrums. Occupational therapists can modulate those behavioral challenges. For example, if the process of waiting in a library line is stressful, they can do a simple jumping exercise beforehand to modulate their sensory processing, which can change the behavioral outcome and allow them to be more cohesive with other kids.”

Occupational therapy is all about meeting individuals and families where they are and then coming up with meaningful strategies and interventions to help them. The research team will partner with the community to integrate Native American culture, including song, dance, and food, into the study. A community advisory board will be formed with parents, tribal leaders, and Early Head Start administrative staff to help incorporate a culturally-appropriate sensory program into their pre-school education.

“Sensory programs are trial and error,” said Dr. Patel. “For some kids, a 10-minute walk or jumping session on a sensory pad is all it takes. Others may require different therapies. Most of the grant funds for this study will be used to purchase sensory pads, swings, and other equipment that will stay with the community, to be used by other children year after year. We hope this collaborative research pilot and longitudinal study will demonstrate how hands-on sensory therapies can benefit preschool-aged children as well as their families, teachers, and community.”

Several OTD doctoral students are participating in the study; along with Dr. Patel, Dr. Kirchen, and Aimee Roberts, MSOT, OTR/L of Blue Skies Pediatric Therapy Services, who is also RMC’s OTD pediatric adjunct faculty member. The single-case study initially scheduled to take place this past spring, delayed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, was completed in August of this year with mask and social distancing practices in place.

The OTD students involved in this research study, along with their faculty and program directors, will combine their preliminary analysis from prior visits to the Native American community, meetings with Early Head Start teachers, tribal leaders, the children and their caregivers, with the results of this single-case study to format a work plan and longitudinal, sustainable research study and occupational therapy sensory program.

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Josi Gibbs, Kristen Jensen, Aimee Roberts, Morgan Mazurkiewicz

The grant will fund a study of early childhood adversity in the Native American community

We hope this study will demonstrate how hands-on sensory therapies can benefit preschool-aged children as well as their families, teachers, and community.

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ocky Mountain College’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program received an Montana IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Award in the spring of 2020 to initiate an occupational therapy sensory program to increase positive behaviors in children who express sensory processing and/or behavioral difficulties due to early childhood adversity. The RMC OTD program has collaborated with Montana State University, Bozeman on this pilot research project. Other sensory programs have promoted self-regulation in children, but no prior study has examined the use of sensory behavior-adjustment methodology in an American Indian community.

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—DELISHA PATEL, Ph.D. Assistant Professor and OTD Director of Research

Dr. Delisha Patel, Dr. Kalyn Briggs, Professor Aimee Roberts, Dr. Twylla Kirchen

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Profiles

2019 RMC GRADUATES

CHART NEW CAREER PATHS AMID PANDEMIC Sometimes, detours provide the most scenic routes. Backroads provide a change in pace, a different vista, and a chance to take an ideal lakeside photograph from an angle few have seen before. Often, we avoid change, other times life throws up so many roadblocks you have no choice but to alter course. It can be challenging, but can also pave the way for unexpected opportunities. Sometimes a detour is more scenic than the original route would have been. It may take longer to get to the desired destination, but the journey is more memorable in the end.

Each of the 2019 Rocky Mountain College graduates below experienced a shift in their careers during the tumultuous year that followed their graduation. Because of COVID-19, they adapted their trajectory to accomplish their career goals and earn a living. But then, Rocky alums are used to working hard, persevering through tough times, and leaving their mark.

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DARRELYN LEFTHAND

Darrelyn Lefthand wearing hand-beaded cap and jewelry showing her Crow family’s sign.

Darrelyn Lefthand was intentional in her educational career plans.

She came to Rocky for two reasons: to obtain her teacher’s certificate in order to teach Crow children and to set an example that they, too, can attend college.

“Approximately 90 percent of the teachers on the Crow Tribe’s reservation are non-native,” said Lefthand. “That’s far too high. I truly care about my people, especially the younger ones who are our future.”

Lefthand is working toward the goal of increasing the number of Crow educators on the Tribe’s 14,000-member reservation southeast of Billings, Montana. She is a direct descendant of five chiefs—Chief Crazy Head, Chief Long Hair, Chief Curley, Chief Pretty Eagle, and Chief Plenty Coups—the Apsaalooke (Crow) peoples’ highly revered last chief—and she’s a vocal advocate for higher education for everyone.

Lefthand completed her elementary education student teaching in December of 2019. Within months, COVID-19 hit the United States, changing education delivery and impacting schools across the country.

Last summer, though, she had job interviews, and has been presented with teaching options on the reservation. As she decides what to do next, she is working with the Crow Agency’s tribal daycare as a curriculum coordinator. She’s helping them develop an early childhood learning system founded on the basics of phonics and

language fluency.

“I love the environment I’m working in,” Lefthand said. “The best part of my job is integrating our Crow Language. I was fortunate enough to grow up in the same household as my great-grandmother who spoke the Crow language to me and taught me a lot of history. It’s so important to know and understand where you come from.”

Her drive to bring awareness to children and teens on the reservation that they can obtain a bachelor’s degree and still maintain their strong-knit family life has influenced others.

This fall, Lefthand’s younger brother, Famous, is attending Rocky as a freshman majoring in aeronautical science. Lefthand’s boyfriend, Jacie Hogan, is completing his final semester as an elementary education major with a focus on physical education. After Hogan completes his student teaching next semester, he plans to return to the Crow reservation as an elementary school teacher. In a short time, Lefthand’s influence and example has impacted her community.

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STEFAN ARNONE

late April with safety precautions in place. I was still being conservative, so I didn’t go back at that point,” he said.

By early May, the COVID-19 safety precautions were lifted, the mask mandate Stefan Arnone with aviation student, CJ Perry, taking COVID-19 precautions established by Nevada’s governor was often not enforced, and many people around him Stefan Arnone toured five colleges before choosing the aeronautical had let their guard down and failed to take the science program at Rocky Mountain College. Dan Hargrove, Rocky’s coronavirus seriously. Even though the flight director of aviation, made an impression on Arnone during his campus school had reopened to aviation students, visit that influenced his decision.

Arnone took a cautious approach.

“I have only good things to say about Dan Hargrove,” Arnone said.

“I require masks and currently only fly with “He was one of the reasons I chose Rocky’s aviation program; he has one student. I will only instruct those who are consistently been great at giving advice and guidance (as my academic on board with safety precautions and take the advisor), as well as running the aviation program and teaching some pandemic seriously in their personal lives,” fun and informative classes.”

Arnone said. “My After graduation, Arnone moved goal is to instruct back to his hometown of Reno, Nevada, enough to stay to pursue an opportunity to return to proficient and cover the glider flying he’d done in the past. my living expenses, The additional flight time gave him an while staying safe to opportunity to add a glider rating to his protect my parents. flight instructor certificate. He also applied I like living in Reno to a local flight school and began work as and enjoy the time a flight instructor. At the time, his goal was with my parents. to build up flight time to meet the 1,000 Although I won’t get hours required to apply for a commercial a lot of flight hours, airline pilot position. But COVID-19 building flight time changed his career goals. quickly is no longer Cockpit view showing the hand of one of Stefan Arnone’s “I am just coming off a four-month a strong motivating students. hiatus from instructing due to COVID-19. factor. So many I live at home with my parents, ages 61 and 63, one of whom has people have things worse off than I do. Keeping chronic respiratory/asthma issues, so I was very concerned about the a big-picture perspective on my life and career possibility of getting them sick,” said Arnone. “The flight school closed has been helpful in this time of uncertainty, and down mid-March for six weeks due to the pandemic, but reopened in I count myself fortunate.”

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HEATHER McCOY Heather McCoy knew from an early age she wanted to help others as she had been helped. At first, she thought about becoming a special education teacher, or a teacher in general, but that would not have allowed her to spend enough time with her favorite animals—horses.

“I was born with CP (cerebral palsy) and at six years old my physical therapist said horseback riding would help my balance. I started riding at Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding in my hometown of Bend, Oregon.

That’s when my love of horses started,” McCoy said.

The consistent horseback riding improved her sense of balance, both on and off the horse. It also increased her self-confidence. As she got older, she moved up to more advanced riding, and by age 14, began volunteering at the barn every chance she got. She met several Rocky interns there who suggested she explore Rocky’s equestrian program and followed their advice.

Riding and working the horses during the first two years of her college training were the hardest, especially the sophomore year barricade-jumping. But she got through it and, by her junior year, found success teaching children with special needs. McCoy graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in equine science with a concentration in therapeutic riding, and a minor in psychology. She obtained her PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International certification before graduation.

Her path back to Healing Reins after college graduation was indirect.

McCoy moved to Salmon, Idaho and worked as a PATH Certified

Therapeutic Riding Instructor living onsite while teaching classes, caring for the animals, and helping the other onsite instructor. She was also a school CBRS (Community Based Rehabilitation Services) worker: she accompanied a child throughout their school day, helping them cope with difficult situations as they arose.

COVID-19 affected McCoy’s Idaho jobs. She lost her therapeutic riding instructor position but continued to work one-on-one with her school CBRS client until the school year ended.

Then she moved back home to Bend, Oregon.

She had previously sent her resume to Healing Reins, and this past May, began working at the barn where she’d started out as a rider in first grade. Now, McCoy works as a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She works closely with the physical and occupational therapists on staff, teaches therapeutic riding lessons, and will begin working with mental health clients.

“I chose Rocky due to the small class sizes and the atmosphere I experienced on a campus visit. My goal was to graduate and return as an instructor at Healing Reins,” McCoy said. “Now my goal is to keep learning and continue to love what I’m doing. I started out as a rider due to my disability and then decided to become an instructor and help others in the same way I was helped. People should chase their dreams despite the obstacles. Life isn’t always easy, but when you work hard, the reward at the end is well worth it.”

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MAX GRAY Max Gray was well known for his accomplishments on Rocky’s Battlin’ Bears football team. Less known was the literary award presented to him by Rocky’s English department for his dedication to the craft of writing.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English: literary studies, Gray played football for the Calanda Broncos, an American football team in Chur, Switzerland. The team won the national championship and placed second in the European championship, which allowed Gray to play the sport a little longer. It also allowed him to grow intellectually.

“Playing professional football overseas gave me so much insight about life,” Gray said. “I met and became friends with incredible people, was able to travel around Europe and witness things I’ve only seen in movies and textbooks, and I was able to play the game of football. Although it’s an American sport, the way teams play over there is what football is all about, and it made me realize why I love the game so much. They find the joy and fun in it.”

After a season with the Calanda Broncos, named after Switzerland’s nearby Calanda mountain, Gray returned to Billings as Rocky’s running backs coach for a year. He returned to Switzerland to play a second season but was sent back home because of the coronavirus outbreak.

He now coaches football at Arlington HS, the same Washington state high school he graduated from.

“I’m the defensive backs coach and am really eager to help the kids and the community,” Gray said. “My goal is to use my experience playing and coaching college football to help guide high school athletes through the struggles of the recruiting process.”

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KAYLA SOLIS

He is also working as a USPS postal clerk, which has turned out to be a challenging job, Gray said. And, although his night shift work hours are not conducive to a normal sleep routine, he has continued to journal every day as he keeps up his passion for writing.

“I published a story about my grandfather called “The Shop” in the Pithead Chapel (an online literary journal) my last semester of college,” Gray said, “all because of Ashley Kunsa and the ENG 319 Creative Nonfiction class. I also enjoy writing poetry now because of Steve Germic’s ability to make content intriguing without over-complicating the writing process.

He never allowed the stress of strict grammar and poetry rules to lessen the message I was trying to get across. I appreciate my teachers for allowing me to write what and how I wanted to write. They guided but never restricted me.”

Gray is eager to play another season of professional football, and feels the game awarded him opportunities he would not have had otherwise. He’s not sure he would have gone to college if not for football and plans to write a book based on his experiences.

“COVID has affected my career but I am at a point in my life where if I never play football again, I will be OK.” Gray said. “I’m happy with my experiences at Rocky and professionally in Europe. My life is good. I have a loving family and great friends and they all support me. I’m going with the flow of life. I’m excited for the future but trying to take in what I can and enjoy the present.”

Kayla Solis, 2019’s youngest graduate.

Kayla Solis was Rocky’s youngest incoming freshman when she arrived the fall of 2015 as a seventeen- year-old. She majored in English: creative writing and minored in psychology, and by her senior year, was working as a Writing Center tutor and copy editor for the College’s newspaper, The Summit.

She moved back home to California after graduation and started working at ACES (Autism Comprehensive Educational Services), offering applied behavioral analysis services as a behavioral interventionist.

“I worked with kids with special needs for a year, including during this pandemic,” said Solis. “Although I had the option of postponing working with my clients,

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I worked with kids with special needs for a year, including during this pandemic, I felt they needed my help now more than ever.

—KAYLA SOLIS Class of 2019

I chose to keep going because I felt they needed my help now more than ever. Working for ACES was a wonderful experience,” she continued. “I learned a lot about myself and my clients, which made me realize that I wanted to further my education.”

Solis worked two tutoring jobs after leaving ACES in July and continued writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in her spare time. This fall, she began Whittier College’s master of arts in education program.

“I plan to obtain my MA and become certified to teach in California,” Solis said. “In the meantime, I will work, write, and stay safe during these times.”

GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

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ALUMNI BUSINESS DIRECTORY

BANTZ & COMPANY, PC BRANDON J. BANTZ (‘01)

FROM MESS TO BLESSED SARAH KARY (‘05)

Accounting Firm 224 W. Main St., Suite 310 Lewistown, Montana 59457 Email: bbantz@bantzco.com 406.535.8080 bantzco.com

Professional Organizer 1945 Lake Hills Dr. Billings, Montana 59105 Email: frommess2blessed@gmail.com 406.855.4067

BEAVER CREEK BREWERY SANDY STINNETT (‘93)

GUESTHOUSE ON THE GREEN COREEN GLEN (‘88)

104 Orgain Ave. Wibaux, Montana 59353 Email: sandy@beavercreekbrewery.com 406.795.2337 beavercreekbrewery.com

Airbnb Bed and Breakfast 343 Glenhaven Dr. Billings, Montana 59105 Email: guesthouseonthegreen@gmail.com airbnb.com

BILECHI ENTERPRISES, PLLC BILECHI SUMAILI (‘19)

HANSEN WEALTH MANAGEMENT CARL HANSEN (‘85)

9169 W. Calico St. Boise, Idaho 83709 Email: sumailijr@rocketmail.com 208.810.8045

BLOUNT COUNTY EYE CENTER WILLIAM TANTUM (‘09) 702 S. Foothills Plaza Dr. Maryville, Tennessee 37801 Email: william.tantum@blounteye.com 865.982.6761 blounteye.com

EVERDAWN CHARLES | BOZEMAN MONTANA REAL ESTATE EVERDAWN CHARLES (‘09) 131 Pleasant View Dr. Bozeman, Montana 59718 Email: everdawncharles@gmail. com 406.600.3225 everdawncharles.com

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GREEN & GOLD The Magazine of Rocky Mountain College | FALL 2020

MONTANA VALLEY IRRIGATION CHRIS MUSIC ‘13 1 Windmill View Loop Great Falls, Montana 59401 Email: helen@montanavalleyirrigation. com Phone: 406.761.8195 montanavalleyirrigation.com

NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS SHARON & NEAL LININGER (‘61) 419 S. Wheeling Way Aurora, Colorado 80012 Email: neallininger@centurylink.net 303.343.7488

D.A. Davidson & Co. 208 N. Broadway, Suite 100 Billings, Montana 59101 Email: chansen@dadco.com 406.248.7851 carlhansencfp.com

LAW OFFICES OF P. STEPHEN AITA, PLLC P. STEPHEN AITA (‘93) 6625 Wagner Way NW, Suite 320 Gig Harbor, Washington 98335 Email: steve@aitalaw.com 253.858-5434 www.aitalaw.com

UPCOMING EVENTS NOVEMBER 1-6, 2020 Virtual Black Tie Blue Jeans rocky.edu/blacktie

SUPPORT ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE Visit rocky.edu/donate UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION Visit rocky.edu/alumni

591 1511 Poly Drive Billings, MT 59102

(l to r) Dr. Rebecca Polich, Richard Hibbs, Dr. Holly Basta, and Dr. Ivy Fortmeyer. Hibbs, who graduated in 2019 with three bachelor’s degrees, was one of two Presidential Award winners and a commencement speaker. He now works as an emergency medical technician.