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Issue 8
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Fresh news every day at
R O C K Y. E D U
Keeping our friends and supporters informed about what’s new and exciting at Rocky Mountain College
“GET INVOLVED,” STUDENT ADVISES ALL ABO UT T H E S TU D EN TS
“Get involved!” Those two words sum up the advice Laura Barsotti, a junior at RMC majoring in environmental science and theatre performance, would give to other students. “You learn so much about yourself when you try different things; so the more you try, the more you know,” she explained. For Laura the heart of her RMC educational experience has included taking advantage of wider opportunities. She chose RMC over the University of Montana because she could pursue a double major. “They weren’t as keen on my extremely diverse field of study, advising me to drop one of the majors by the end of my freshman year. Being such a big school, they also warned me that chances were Continued on back page Joli Carr watches as her husband, Shaun, RMC’2008, bid on a painting donated by artist Harry Koyoma. Shaun had the winning bid, and then, to increase the funds going to scholarships, donated the painting back. It was then bought by U.S. Senator Max Baucus, attending with his wife, Melodee. Shaun didn’t leave empty handed. He had the winning bid for the Las Vegas Golf Getaway.
SILVER RAINS GOLD BTBJ BENEFIT CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Laura Barsotti played a reporter in “Laramie Project” last October and is appeared in “Romeo and Juliet” this November.
The 25th Anniversary of Black Tie Blue Jeans turned silver into gold as supporters of Rocky Mountain College replenished student scholarships with an outpouring of financial support. Attendees a the annual scholarship benefit, held at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, enjoyed a gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions, and live music by the Midlife Chryslers.
“Mostly we enjoyed each other’s company and the kindred and spirited support for our students that makes this a tremendous gathering every year,” said Vicki Davison, RMC advancement director. Honorary Chairs Chris and John Dorr were delighted with the evening. “We are honored to be associated with this wonderful college. What a jewel Continued on page 2
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Keeping our friends and supporters informed about what’s new and exciting at Rocky Mountain College
MACE PRESIDENCY APPLAUDED FOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS O UR M IS S IO N
BY C A R L A . H A N S E N -
About 7 years ago the fate of Rocky Mountain College was in jeopardy. We were almost insolvent and our accreditation was at risk. We went through a leadership change and Michael Mace was named as the interim president. Because
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Rocky Mountain College
Mike’s motivation was and is what’s best for Rocky Mountain College and the students of this institution, the board decided Mike deserved to be our president. It was a wise decision. In the time since Mike became president
Karen and Mike Mace enjoyed a holiday reception in the Great Room of Prescott Hall.
RMC has experienced record enrollments with retention rates on the rise, confirmed accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, renewed accreditation for the next five years for the Physician Assistant program, and a balance sheet that has been improving and acceptable to our bankers. Mike will be the first to tell you that he is not responsible for all the good things at RMC, and that it is the result of a collaborative effort. As you know, Mike decided that he has accomplished most of his objectives at RMC and he is retiring. He has given of his time, knowledge and personal wealth for the students of Rocky Mountain College. The 25th anniversary of Black Tie Blue Jeans – the Silver Anniversary of our major scholarship benefit -- was the last Mike attended as President and he received a standing ovation. With a heart-filled thank you, I hope all of us – board members, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends – join me in expressing our appreciation for a job well done.
SILVER RAINS GOLD AT 25TH ANNUAL BTBJ ANNIVERSARY Continued from page 1
in our community,” Chris Dorr said. “It warms the heart to see how generous RMC supporters are.” The evening was also an occasion to salute the service of RMC President Michael Mace who announced his retirement in September (see Our Mission column inside). “This is, quite simply, a special college,” said RMC Vice President for Advancement Julie Seedhouse. “We see it in the magic that our faculty create in their classrooms, the life-long bonds forged through the diverse experiences we provide, the unarguable quality of the education that occurs every single day, and we see it in all of the people who came to show their support.” 2
Always grateful RMC students show their thanks at the Silver Anniversary of Black Tie Blue Jeans.
SALLY’S SUMMER CAMP INSPIRES MANY YOUNG ARTISTS FOCU S O N FACULT Y
Summer finds the Rocky Mountain College campus alive with kids. Summer camps for basketball mean the throbbing of dribbled round balls resounding along the walkways. The Institute for Peace Studies welcomes kids for its annual Peace Camp, which culminates with the kids singing for their parents. There is a trail of soggy-haired kids wrapped in towels emerging from swimming lessons in Fortin Education Center. And, one of the longest running camps – the Summer Art Academy -welcomes kids to learn about art from professionals. Popularly called “Sally’s Summer Camp” because it was begun and is still run by Sally McIntosh, the academy is a full experience of learning observation, perception, creativity, art criticism, drawing, design, problem solving, communication, discipline, the use and care of tools, and how to organize time in the studio. It’s a tall order, but every year 8-14 year olds fill up the roster. The classes are limited to 10 students and are centered around Tech Hall, where college art classes are taught and the Ryniker-Morrison Gallery is located. Much of the learning derives from studying the permanent artwork outside. “The art on the campus including Gary Bates’ “Yellowstone Caldera,” Tana Patterson’s ceramic-tiled wall mural “Enlightenment” and Dana Boussard’s stained-glass window are wonderful examples of finished work for students to see and learn about firsthand,” said
Sally McIntosh has held her summer art academy at RMC for more than a decade.
Sally McIntosh, who is camp director and also serves during the school calendar as director of the RMC Ryniker-Morrison Gallery. McIntosh said the camp was conceived over lunch at Downtown Rotary Club when John Cech, then the RMC dean of community services, suggested it (Cech is now Montana deputy commissioner for Community College Education with the state University System). At the time, McIntosh was operating McIntosh Art Co. on Montana Avenue where she offered in-house classes. “The classes were really well attended, but the prospect of a larger venue on the Rocky campus was very appealing,” McIntosh said. “We kicked off the first week-long summer camp for young artists in July 2000 for kids ages 8-14, in Tech Hall, and both John Cech and Paul Chinberg (Cech’s assistant who is now director of Family Service, Inc.) were my Rocky partners.” One of McIntosh’s favorite camp memories was the first year when Kevin Red Star was a guest artist. “In addition to professional Photo: Erica Wall, RMC artists/teachers, a guest artist Happy campers gather outside Tech Hall during this summer’s art academy at RMC. comes every day during the 3
week and talks to the kids about his or her art and brings original art to show the kids. After Kevin’s presentation and question/answer period, he personally signed a business card for each young artist. It was amazing to see how thrilled and excited each child was when Kevin handed them his card,” McIntosh said. “Kevin was their hero.” It takes a village of partners to run the camp, McIntosh said, and her partners now include Wes Keller and Dodie Rife from RMC Camps and Conferences, Gail Nutting from Fortin Center, Terry Steiner and Crystal Voss from RMC Facilities, and Mark and Rhett Moak from the RMC Art Department. This summer’s class offerings and instructors included Watercolor (Mana Lesman), 3D Sculpture (Grace Frankforter), Basic Drawing (Grace Bailey), Line Drawing (Joe Trakimas), Beginning and Advanced Kite Making (Terry Zee Lee), Ceramics (Jennifer McClure, RMC 2006), Off the Beaten Path Sculpture (Julie Atkins-Pederson), Printmaking (Adriane Becker), Pastels (Scotta Anderson), Jewelry (Susan Germer) and Fitness/Recreation (Noah Kiprono, RMC senior, majoring in computer science, and a marathon runner). “This is the second year that my son has been at the camp and both years have been great,” said Andy Wildenberg, RMC associate professor, computer science. “It’s clear that he’s working with first rate artists who love Continued on back page
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RELOCATED TREES CONTINUE THEME FOR RIMS TO RIVER FOCU S O N FACULT Y
An addition of a dozen trees to the campus landscape that will “carry the theme of the rims to the river” was hard work, but worth it, according to Dr. Jennifer Lyman, Rocky Mountain College professor of environmental science and studies. The six-foot tall ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper trees were transplanted in October from the Audubon Conservation Education Center. “I know what heavy labor was involved to get those trees dug up and I appreciate that Dr. Lyman rolled up her sleeves and got them here. They’re a great addition to the college,” said Terry Steiner, RMC director of facility services. Making the job difficult was accessing the trees in a thicket with a tree spade designed to dig down around the root ball without injuring the roots. The tree spade requires muscles and a sledge hammer to drive the spades down into the root ball of the tree, he noted. Dave Shumway, RMC collegiate photographer, was on hand to document the tree transplant. “They really had to put some muscle into digging down with the spade,” he said. “It was hard pan dirt to dig through.”
Dr. Jennifer Lyman watches as her husband, Tom, and Bo Walker wrestle a tree out of its former home to be transplanted at RMC. Bo Walker is one of the RMC students who volunteers at the Audubon Conservation Education Center. Bo also teaches there. Other environmental science majors from RMC who volunteer there are Nate Evans, Kelsey Flathers, and Heather Landsdowne, who did her internship there this summer teaching environmental classes to young kids.
The trees became available when the Audubon Conservation Education Center needed to thin their trees. “Since I am retiring at the end of next year I am eager to contribute some bit of botany to the campus and it made sense to plant some of these trees,” Dr. Lyman said. Once delivered to campus, Steiner’s
crew took over to plant them. They were staked to add support and were frequently watered to help them establish root systems. In years to come they will really be beautiful because they will provide welcome diversity to the inventory of trees, Steiner said.
COMING EVENTS NOVEMBER 28 RMC’s 6th Annual Gingerbread Building Competition, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fraley Lounge, Bair Family Student Center: Come participate in this year’s unique challenge. Rocktivities plans to build the largest gingerbread house ever attempted on RMC’s campus. You are also invited to build your own unique structure – be it whimsical or realistic. Prizes awarded to best in show, most creative, most gruesome, and best representation of RMC building. For more information: Cara Lohrenz, RMC interim director of student activities, (406) 657-1093 / cara.lohrenz@ rocky.edu.
Hart, will be held at 3 p.m. and, again, at 7 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, on the corner of 13th and Poly Drive, in Billings. The program is based on an old English tradition where the Christmas story is presented through choral singing, instrumental music, and the reading of Scripture. For more information: Steven R. Hart, RMC professor, music, (406) 657-1115 / harts@rocky.edu.
NOVEMBER 29 RMC Jazz Ensemble, Babcock Theater, 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information: Tony Hammond, RMC assistant professor, music & director of bands, (406) 238-7283 / tony.hammond@ rocky.edu. DECEMBER 2 The Rocky Mountain College annual Lessons & Carols holiday concert, under the direction of Dr.
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Dr. Steven Hart directs “Lessons and Carols”.
DECEMBER 4 Rocky Mountain College’s 25th Annual Yule Log Dinner and Holiday, 5:30 p.m., Bair Family Student Center: Please bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Billings Food Bank. The traditional lighting of the Yule Log by RMC’s youngest student follows, in Fraley Lounge, 6:30 p.m. The evening festivities include: entertainment by students and staff, trolley ride and caroling with Santa, and s’mores by firelight. For more information: Teresa Rowen, (406) 657-1018 / teresa.rowen@rocky.edu. DECEMBER 14 RMC Facility Services Appreciation Lunch, noon, Bair Family Student Center Cafeteria. Please bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to Billings Food Bank. Facility Services Provides the turkey, ham, rolls and beverages. If you wish to add to the festivities, bring a favorite dish that corresponds to the first letter of your last name: A-G – Vegetable Salad or Fruit; H-P - Potato, pasta, or rice dish; R-Z - Dessert. For more information: Crystal Voss, Facility Services, (406) 657-1077 / vossc@rocky.edu
ALUMNA FINDS TRUE LOVE IN THEATRICAL PURSUITS F O CUS O N F RIE N DS
When the full house at the Billings Studio Theatre annual fund raiser showed their appreciation with a standing ovation for the performers last January, it reminded the director why she put in the long hours required to put on the show. “I try to put on shows I’d pay to see,” said Sondra Baker, RMC’85. “That applause makes me feel we succeeded.” The show, held at the Yellowstone Country Club, was the fifth annual fund raising show Baker had produced for BST in the past six years. This coming year RMC Professor Gearld Roe will shoulder that responsibility. “I’m trembling in my boots, following her,” Roe said. “Sondra is so involved in BST and has done so many shows; she’s been a wonderful contributor and she’s a hard act to follow.” Roe’s complimentary regard for Baker is shared by many in the community. She has a history producing, directing and performing in BST shows since 1987, when she directed “The Octette Bridge Club.” Since then she has directed more than 30 shows at both BST and Venture Theatres. “You don’t get to do as many shows as Sondra has done unless you’re multi-talented. People know she puts on a good show. You can count on it,” Roe added. The theme for last year’s fund raising show
was “I Got the Music in Me,” and Baker said it summed up her own feeling for musical theatre. “My day job is the School District 2 transportation director,” she said. “After that I’m totally involved in theatre. It’s just in my blood.” Theatre was not her major in college. The Choteau native majored in English, graduating magna cum laude. Some might wonder how an English major became a school district transportation manager. “It’s funny, but there is a real connection between what I learned at Rocky and my job now. It takes good analytical, writing and communication skills – all things I developed taking English courses where you have to dissect literature and interpret symbolism – you have to be able to write and communicate,” she said. “All of that is critical to my job as transportation director.” Once away from work, she’s “all about theatre,” she said. “Billings is blessed because there are two strong theatres, BST and Venture, and I’ve been involved with both.” Now Baker is involved in a third theatre, called The Prince Theatre, located in the old Cine 7 at Broadwater and 7th Ave. Partnering with Kelly Martin, who owns Prince Party Productions, Baker test marketed their first show as a holiday show at the Holiday Inn, called “Figgy Pudding.” It sold out. That
Casey Page / The Billings Gazette
Pat Schindele, left, appeared in the Baker-directed play, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” Schindele attended RMC and married an alumna, Michele (Rodier). 5
RMC alumna Sondra Baker will be presenting “Figgy Pudding” for the holiday theatre season.
success was followed by a musical comedy sketch, “Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know” at the Prince Theatre, in March and April. “We’re different from BST and Venture because they’re non-profit. We’re the first for-profit theatre trying to carve a niche in Billings. BST and Venture proved Billings is a good theatre town so we’re feeling good about our prospects,” Baker said. The Prince Theatre’s most recent show -starring another RMC alum, Pat Schindele -- was “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” The production, according to Gazette Entertainment Editor Jaci Webb. “was wrenchingly sweet and packed a punch right to the heart. It was touching and funny.” Baker never rests on her laurels. “We’re geared up to do the holiday show – Figgy Pudding – again in December,” Baker said. Baker’s not about to give up her day job, but the promise “of future theatrics” makes for a full life. “Never a dull moment,” the RMC alumna laughs. “If I’m not coordinating the school district’s buses, I’m coordinating a theatre production, and it’s all good.”
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“GET INVOLVED,” STUDENT ADVISES Continued from page 1
I wouldn’t be able to spend any time in either field until my junior or senior year. Rocky was different; they said they’d help to make it work, that I’d be able to jump into the field right away so that I could decide early on if both majors were right for me,” she said. RMC sweetened the pot with an academic scholarship followed by an acting scholarship awarded her freshman year. “It was awarded based on a set of monologues that was performed for the theatre professors. Up until this point, I had never done a monologue before. I had less experience in theatre than I did in environmental science, so receiving this scholarship was just the kick I needed to keep with it,” she said. Seeing her name on a cast list after her first college audition “was pretty exhilarat-
ing, too,” she added. And, with that experience under her belt, she landed a summer job in her hometown with the historic Philipsburg Opera House Company. Beyond her majors, she found other opportunities for personal growth. The Outdoor Recreation program was “a quintessential part of my Rocky experience. It was through these trips and events that I met some of my best friends here at Rocky and picked up one of my most favorite hobbies, rock climbing.” Tim and Cara Lohrenz (he directs outdoor recreation; she directs student activities) were especially inspiring to Laura.
PHOTOS
“I’ve never met happier or more uplifting people,” she said, adding that she now works with Cara as an events coordinator. This coming summer, Laura hopes to find an internship in environmental science. “Life and school get to be so chaotic, especially towards the end of your college years,” she said, and she is grateful she had so many opportunities early in her college career to engage in volunteer work, oncampus events, music, intramurals, traveling, and academic clubs. “Rarely will you find more opportunities than here at Rocky, so my advice is to utilize them. It’s an active community.”
Credit
Photographs appearing in Rocky Now, unless otherwise noted, are by Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff photographer and web content manager.
SALLY’S SUMMER CAMP Continued from page 3
what they’re doing, so when he comes home he’s really motivated to keep going. In his 3D sculpting class this year they did a lot of building models out of wire, and he’s built quite a few models since he returned. He’s also done kite building both years, and it’s really refreshing to see them build these kites that look gorgeous on the ground or in the sky without spending a fortune on materials.” A total of 58 students attended from Billings, Lockwood, Alkali Creek, Canyon Creek, Blue Creek, Red Lodge, Roundup, Glasgow and Huntley. RMC provides the beautiful campus and the academic setting for the camp, which is run like
a college course, McIntosh said. “Students move from class to class, and study under three to four master teachers on a daily basis. Tech Hall provides a painting studio, a ceramics lab, a gallery space for an instructor exhibit, and classroom space for a wide range of class offerings,” she said. Sometimes a student becomes a teacher at the camp. Meghan Spielman, daughter of local painted Carol Spielman, and Valedictorian and 2009 graduate of West High, won a scholarship to Parson’s School of Design in NYC. She has returned to the camp as a guest artist and shared with the kids her experiences as a student of fashion design.
“Over the years of running the camp, the best word I can use to describe the young artist who attends the camp is ‘earnest.”’ These children love to draw and make things. When you combine those instinctive visual and hand skills with talented professional teachers, it is always a winning combination,” McIntosh said. It certainly is a winning combination for RMC. “Sometimes I run into people and when they find out I teach at Rocky, the first thing they say is ‘Oh, that’s where Sally has her wonderful camp,’” Jim Baken, RMC art professor said. “That’s how they know Rocky and it’s a great connection.”
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