October 2012 - Rocky Now

VOL.

7

/

Issue 7

O C TO B E R

2 0 1 2

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

LIFELONG LEARNER ALL ABO UT T H E S TU D EN TS

SILVER

BTBJ ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Like many Rocky Mountain College students, Dianne McDermand has a zest for learning, digs being outdoors, practices yoga, and, yes, sports a tattoo.

But, unlike most RMC students, this indefatigable 72-year-old is a tad older than them. And she isn’t in college for the credits.

“I just have always wanted to know. I want to understand the world,” she said. “Getting older hasn’t changed that. That’s how I feel.

As long as I can get out and about and am curious, I’ll always be a student.”

Dianne audits, meaning she pays a lower fee for classes, doesn’t earn credit, and must rely on a professors’ willingness to accept someone auditing their courses.

She also enrolls in online courses via ed2go.com, the largest provider of online courses for adults. By accessing via RMC, Dianne says she saves $30 off the regular $120 fee.

She prefers attending real classes on a real college campus, however, which is not easy since she also is a fulltime caregiver, tending to her 95-year-old mother and looking out

A couple with longstanding and devoted ties to Rocky Mountain College will be the Honorary Chairs for the Silver Anniversary of Black Tie Blue Jeans, the college’s annual scholarship fundraiser.

“With John and Chris Dorr, we have the privilege of having two of the most active people in the community and two of the most involved with Cliff Edwards accepted the Rocky Mountain College Philanthropist of the Year Award on behalf of the Edwards family.

RMC, pitching in to help with the 25th anniversary of our scholarship benefit,” said Vicki Davison, RMC director of advancement.

BTBJ, which will be held Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, at the Billings Hotel and Convention Photo: Dave M. Shumway Photo Presentation: Monica Forsberg Center, features a gourmet Chris and John Dorr are Honorary Chairs for the Silver Anniversary of dinner, silent and live RMC’s annual scholarship benefit. auctions, and music by the Midlife Chryslers. for St. Vincent Healthcare, Planned ParChris Dorr is the consummate commuenthood, YWCA, Billings Studio Theater, nity volunteer. Her experience as a board All City Grad Parties, United Way Day of member includes Alberta Bair Theater, Caring, Boys and Girls Club, Magic City Billings Studio Theater, YWCA, Magic Soccer, Special Olympics, and Alberta Bair City Soccer Club and the RMC Board of Theater, chairing many of these.

Trustees.

She is the creator and coordinator of the She has been involved with BTBJ since Billings Public High Schools and Middle 1998, chairing the event four times and Schools Angel Fund that, in 12 years, has serving on committees the other years. assisted over 5,000 less fortunate students.

She received the RMC Distinguished Ser“I have a passion for making a difference vice Award in 2003. and especially for less fortunate children,” Chris has worked on fundraising events

Continued on back page

Continued on page 2

Dianne McDermand has found auditing classes at RMC fits into her belief in lifelong learning.

Keeping our friends and supporters informed about what’s new and exciting at Rocky Mountain College

ROC K Y NOW

CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS INSID E R

BY M I C H A E L R . M AC E -

Most men are a little better than their circumstances give them a chance to be.

— WILLIAM FAULKNER The Nobel Prize winning American writer expressed succinctly a simple truth.

It’s a truth I appreciate as a college president because the students who experience the transformational education at Rocky Mountain College have improved their circumstances.

When they leave they are smarter, more employable, and better citizens. That’s

President what education does and it’s why education has always been such a critical component of American life. We built the best public education system in the world, supplemented by public and private higher educational opportunities.

Rocky Mountain College is committed to improving the circumstances of our students because we know it means a brighter, better future for the communities where they will live and work. It’s been the heritage of this college since the days when brothers Ernest and Lewis Eaton

Rev. Randall Hyvonen enjoys a moment with Dr. Edwin Stickney at the RMC Board of Trustees Emeriti Dinner in the Great Room at Prescott Hall.

established it as “The College of the Open Door.”

As autumn approaches, this campus explodes with fall colors and nothing makes a more compelling image than students walking to class with the radiant oranges and yellows of sunlit leaves surrounding them. Our friends and donors have created this wonderful landscape for learning. They have sacrificed to make a better place for the next generation. We are always appreciative of those gifts from those who understand what William Faulkner meant. We are as good as the opportunities afforded us to improve our circumstances. We are in large measure products of our environment.

Recently we had the privilege to honor our past board of trustees, our board emeriti, if you will. The RMC Emeriti Dinner, we hope, will be an annual tradition to show our appreciation for the service of those who are also often chief benefactors.

They recognize how improved circumstances make for better people. As I visited with many of them they told me stories of someone who helped them out. They wanted to give back in order to pay back that debt to someone who helped change their circumstances.

I hope as we head into autumn, we will all consider whether there are ways we can change a student’s circumstance by contributing to RMC’s scholarship endowment.

What better way to perpetuate the reality of Faulkner’s words?

SILVER BTBJ Continued from page 1

she said of her work with the Angel Fund.

She has been a YWCA Salute to Women Honoree and the Association of Fundraising Professional’s Outstanding Volunteer of TO SPONSOR A TABLE OR FOR TICKETS, contact Vicki Davison, RMC advancement director, (406) 657-1005 / Vicki.davison@rocky.edu.

On the web: blacktiebluejeans.com 2

the Year.

“We are honored to be associated with this wonderful college. What a jewel in our community,” she said.

Dr. John Dorr teaches RMC Physician Assistant students doing rotations at Ortho Montana where he is a board certified orthopedic surgeon. He has also lectured students on campus and Ortho Montana has provided the team physicians for RMC athletics.

Dr. Dorr has served on the board of St. Vincent Healthcare for six years and serves on two hospital committees. He is currently assistant boys soccer coach for Skyview High School and recently was the West High girls soccer coach, guiding them to two state titles.

“We love RMC,” Dr. Dorr said. “This college provides a first class education, nurtures its students, and produces caring, competent, professional graduates.”

CAREER GOES SKY HIGH AT CENTENNIAL AIRPORT FOCU S O N A LUM NI

Ian McKay didn’t miss many classes at Rocky Mountain College, but the day he skipped class to fly to Denver was time well spent.

McKay, majoring in aviation management with a minor in aeronautical science and business management, used the day to interview for a paid internship at Centennial Airport, the world’s third largest general aviation airport. After competing against 350 other applicants, McKay landed the job. Having a job in his pocket, a full seven months before graduation, was a great feeling.

“I definitely can thank Rocky for preparing me for this opportunity,” McKay said. “I think I had an edge because of the in-depth education and training I got.”

McKay said when he was a student, he and other students would joke about how much detail was included in classes taught by Dan Hargrove, RMC aviation director.

“But now I know how important those lessons about everything from how to shake hands to how important character is, whether you have ‘street smarts’ or not, really added up,” McKay said. “It definitely made the difference. I think Rocky aviation grads do better than grads from other aviation schools just because our program is designed to help you land a job. All those little things count.”

McKay has a one-year contract, split between working in airport operations and planning. It’s a big responsibility for the Whitefish, Mont. native. Centennial is a leader in private business travel as well as a center for training future flight professionals.

“I’m the operations duty officer so, in an emergency, I’m the guy who coordinates the

Photos courtesy: Ian McKay

Ian McKay, right, got the job after competing against 350 applicants for an internship at Centennial Airport, the third largest general aviation airport in the world.

response, from ATC (air traffic control) to law enforcement and emergency medical responders,” he said.

With between 750 to 1,000 flight operations a day – from landings to departures – the likelihood for a mishap is ever present.

“We have one or two every week that are usually precautions, but because it’s a general aviation airport the chance is higher that

“I DEFINITELY CAN THANK ROCKY for preparing me for this opportunity,” McKay said.

“I think I had an edge because of the in-depth education and training I got.”

3

something might go wrong,” he noted.

An alert may turn out to be nothing or it could be, as it was recently, something serious like fuel leaking into a cockpit.

“You can never be too careful,” he said.

Having the confidence to handle the challenges is important and “that’s where I am grateful for the education I got at Rocky,” he said.

McKay learned to fly at a young age, getting his private pilot’s license while he was still in high school. His interest in aviation began even earlier.

“When I was a kid I knew I wanted to do something in aviation,” he said, partly motivated by his dad who also had a keen interest in aviation. “Rocky helped me focus on professional opportunities.”

The next step for McKay will be pursuing a master’s in space studies. He’s been accepted to the University of North Dakota, which offers the graduate studies online.

“I’m hoping I can continue working for Centennial and strengthen my resume with the UND degree,” he said. “Whatever I do, what I got from Rocky made a huge difference.”

Fresh news every day at

R O C K Y. E D U

RMC HALL OF FAME WELCOMES SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI F O CUS O N A LUM N I

Rocky Mountain College inducted three alumni into its Herb & Clara Klindt Athletic Hall of Fame on September 8, 2012. Ronald E. Nelson, RMC’64, Scott Kirby, RMC’93, and Trevor E. McDonald, RMC’01, were this year’s honorees.

Each year RMC inducts outstanding scholar-athletes, achievers and friends of athletics into the prestigious Hall of Fame, named for legendary RMC Coach Herb Klindt, and his supportive wife, Clara. Inductees were honored at halftime of the football game and at the annual Athletic Hall of Fame banquet in the Great Room of Prescott Hall.

The three honorees this year include a retired vice president of Nike and president of ‘Nike Japan’; an assistant director for field operations at California State University, and the superintendent of the Greenfield Union School District in Pacific Grove, California.

“We’re proud of their accomplishments when they were student athletes at Rocky, and also for their success after Rocky,” said Robert Beers, Rocky Mountain College athletic director. “It’s apparent the character and integrity that made them champions in college served them well in their careers.”

Ron Nelson came to RMC in 1960 on a basketball scholarship after helping lead Gilford, Mont. to the Montana State Class ‘C’ basketball championship. As a member of the Battlin’ Bear basketball team, Nelson was a four-year letter winner and was a starting guard for three of those seasons. In addition to his success on the hardwood, Nelson was also a four-year letter winner in baseball and was the starting shortstop for three of those seasons. On the diamond, Nelson helped lead Rocky to three conference titles and the finals of the District 12 playoffs. Nelson graduated from Rocky magna cum laude in 1964 with a degree in mathematics. He went on to receive his MBA from the University of Denver in 1965.

After completing his schooling, Nelson served in Vietnam as a second lieutenant.

When Nelson returned to civilian life in the states, he went to work for Nike and eventually became a Vice President of Nike and the President of ‘Nike Japan’. To this day, he remains a close friend and confidant to Nike CEO, Phil Knight. In 1998, RMC honored Nelson with an Honorary Doctorate of Law. Nelson continued his contributions to RMC and Battlin’ Bear athletics by providing a sizeable endowment, along with Ron Sovey,

Scott Kirby, Trevor McDonald and Ron Nelson were inducted into the RMC Hall of Fame.

RMC’64, for the Larry Pretty Weasel scholarship for American Indian scholar-athletes.

Even though Nelson retired from Nike, he has been a driving force in helping Nike provide uniforms and apparel to all Battlin’ Bear athletic teams. Nelson splits his time between homes in Oregon and Hawaii.

Scott Kirby was a 1989 graduate of Custer County District High School in Miles City.

Soon after arriving on the campus of Rocky Mountain College, Kirby made an indelible impact as a wide receiver and return specialist for the Battlin’ Bears football team. As a freshman in 1989, Kirby earned first team All-Frontier Conference honors and was named to the first team again as a junior in 1991 and as a senior in 1992. As a sophomore in 1990, he garnered second team all-conference honors. In 1992, Kirby was named to the All-District 12 team, as well as being named Honorable Mention NAIA AllAmerican in 1989 and 1991, and academic all-conference in 1991. He still ranks near the top in NAIA history and is Rocky’s alltime leader with 262 career receptions. Kirby graduated from Rocky in 1993 with a degree in fitness science. Following his career at Rocky, Kirby moved to California and earned a master’s degree in management from the University of Redlands. He is currently employed as the assistant director of operations for the fieldhouse and student union building at California State University San Marcos. Kirby and his wife, Amber, reside in Temecula, Calif. with their two children, Jett and Izabella.

Trevor McDonald came to Rocky on a football scholarship after a successful high school stint at West High School in Billings.

While at Rocky, McDonald was a member of the 1999 Battlin’ Bear team that won the Frontier Conference regular season championship and advanced to the post-season.

After his senior season, McDonald earned all-conference honors on the field and academic all-conference for his performance in the classroom. He was also awarded with the RMC Coach’s Award in 2000 and was a member of the Dean’s List. McDonald graduated from Rocky in 2001 with a degree in health and human performance. After leaving Rocky, McDonald played semi-pro football for one season for the Billings Outlaws, where he was selected to play in the National Indoor Football League All-Star game. After his football career came to a close, McDonald took a Special Education teaching job at Alum Rock School District in San Jose, California. Soon after, he received his master’s in educational administration from National University and became the vice principal of an elementary school in the same district. McDonald then came back to Montana to serve as the associate principal at Laurel High School before returning to California and becoming the founding principal at McEntee Academy, a transitional school in the Alum Rock district. He is currently serving as the superintendent of the Greenfield Union School District in Pacific Grove, California, where he resides with his wife, Kayleen, and their two daughters.

RMC ALUMNI DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP SKILLS F O CUS O N A LUM NI

The Rocky Mountain College Master of Educational Leadership Program received high marks after a review of the program by the Montana Office of Public Instruction in 2010, and it continues to provide quality leadership to Montana schools. The RMC Master of Educational Leadership Program was described as a “model for the state and region” which may be why so many school districts are choosing RMC graduates for leadership roles.

An example of the success of the RMC program is the Laurel School District announcement that three of its five new principals earned their master’s degree from the RMC program. Two also earned their bachelor’s degrees at RMC. The state commendations included praise for the research and evidence-based foundation for the development of the program, its leadership, academic excellence, cohort structure, and the two levels of impact that the program is providing -- the development of new leaders and the re-invigoration of veteran educators who work with the program.

“This team effort is rewarded by this praise, but more so by the success of our graduates,” said Dr. Stevie Schmitz, RMC director of educational leadership and distance learning elementary education.

Her words are validated by the three RMC graduates of the Master of Educational Leadership Program, as reported in The Laurel Outlook: ANDREA MEIERS Andrea Meiers, who was the assistant principal at the middle school since 2010, has stepped into the head principal position.

Meiers was born and raised in Miles City and graduated from Custer County

Photo: Laurel Outlook Photo Presentation: Monica Forsberg

Sarah Sheldon, Andrea Meiers, and Melissa Lee are three of five new principals hired at Laurel Schools. All three graduated from the RMC Master of Educational Leadership Program.

High School. She earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary education with an English endorsement at Rocky Mountain College and a master’s degree in educational leadership, also at Rocky. Before coming to Laurel, she taught language arts in Powell, WY, for four years.

She is married to Nate Meiers and they have a daughter named Aubrey.

SARAH SHELDON Sarah Sheldon is the new assistant principal at the Laurel Middle School.

Sheldon, who said she loves school and people, looks forward to being able to gain leadership experience while “staying close to home.”

Livingston is her hometown and she graduated from high school there. She studied at Montana State University Billings, earning her bachelor’s degree, and she

THE RMC MASTER OF EDUCATIONAL Leadership Program was described as a “model for the state and region” which may be why so many school districts are choosing RMC graduates for leadership roles.

5

earned her master’s degree at Rocky Mountain College.

Prior to her move to Laurel Middle School, she worked as an English teacher at Lewis and Clark and Castle Rock Middle Schools in Billings.

Sheldon lives with her husband and three school-age children and enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, baking, canning and being outdoors.

MELISSA LEE Melissa Lee will teach Title I this year at South Elementary School and will also serve as assistant principal.

Lee is a Laurel native who returned five years ago to teach kindergarten. She taught kindergarten three years at South Elementary School, then fourth grade two years at Graff Elementary School.

Before returning to Laurel, she worked one year as a special education preschool coordinator and three years as a kindergarten teacher for Murphy Elementary School District in Phoenix, Ariz. She also taught kindergarten one year in Glendale, Ariz.

After graduating from Laurel High School, Lee received her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education in 2002 from Rocky Mountain College and her master of arts in educational leadership in 2008, also from Rocky.

Lee is married and the mother of four children. Lee is also the sister of Andrew Wildenberg, RMC associate professor of computer science.

-- INFORMATION FOR THIS ARTICLE PROVIDED

BY LAUREL OUTLOOK

RO CKY NOW

Fresh news every day at

R O C K Y. E D U

LIFELONG LEARNER Continued from page 1

for her cancer-stricken husband.

“Getting away to attend a class is recreation as well as education,” she said. “Being a caregiver is a lot of work and can tie you down.”

Currently she is taking a digital nature photography course taught by Dave Shumway, RMC’s web content manager, staff photographer and adjunct instructor.

“I’ve been a Dave Shumway groupie for about five years,” she jokes.

She first met Shumway when she signed up to attend one of his lectures for Rim Country Land Institute. It was in April, she explained, “just a cold, drizzly, miserable day and I almost decided not to go. But I did and when I got there everyone else had bagged it.”

Nevertheless, Dave gave a two-hour presentation that was informative and interesting.

“I was sold on Dave Shumway,” she said.

“He didn’t act like I was the only one who showed up.”

She’d always been interested in photography, but until the digital age it was too expensive to buy and have film processed.

“I was so particular about what made a good image that I could shoot a whole roll of film and not feel I had anything decent,” she said.

“When digital came along, oh my, that meant I could afford to do it.”

Her photography is what she hopes will be her legacy for her family. Raised by a dad “who shuffled from job to job” she learned to be frugal and to value education. She dreamed of college, but the family’s finances wouldn’t allow it and scholarships, even when she had excelled in high school, weren’t as

generous as today. After high school she joined the Air Force hoping she could save enough for college.

“The G.I. Bill only helped veterans during wartime and the only war when I enlisted was the Cold War,” she said.

She trained as a pharmacy technician, earning $100 a month.

“It was too lean a salary to permit much savings for college. The math didn’t work so I didn’t re-enlist. I decided I needed to get my lifeworking,” she said.

She eventually found work in airline reservations, a boom industry in the 1960s. She chose an opening in New York City rather than Seattle.

“I wanted something new and exciting and not so close to home,” she said.

Vietnam changed everything. With the country at war, vets could take advantage of the G.I. Bill. By packaging that benefit, her savings, and a small loan, she could finally afford college and earned a degree in microbiology from MSU. There she met her husband, who became president of the largest heating and air conditioning company in Montana. They had a

PHOTOS

Credit

Photographs appearing in Rocky Now are

by Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff photographer and web content manager.

daughter, and they enjoyed a life that included a lot of outdoor activities. Being a stay-athome mom didn’t mean staying indoors. She was active in a legion of organizations that preserved, promoted and protected the state’s rich wildlife and wild land heritage.

“We are outdoor people and the environment is very important, which is why I volunteered with just about any group that shared that interest,” she said. It’s also why nature photography is of such interest to me.”

RMC represents an outlet for her to pursue that interest.

“I’ve never been a real good book learner” she said. “I like to get out there and see how something is done and do it. That’s how I learn. This course at Rocky is wonderful because it fits the way I learn.”

She also brings something special to class, according to Dave Shumway. “She’s so intent on learning that she’s a motivator to the younger students. She’s not even earning a credit, but she shows up with her assignments done, and with energy to learn, and her participation makes the class better,” he said.

People auditing classes like Dianne are not a major revenue stream for the college. While many audit RMC overseas travel trips, only a handful sign up each semester for full term classes. Even so RMC values those who do because they are a link to the community.

“We want to be a resource that is of value to everyone,” said RMC President Mike Mace.

“This has always been the ‘College of the Open Door.’ Age makes no difference.”

Dianne could not agree more. Her philosophy is summed up on her favorite T-shirt: “Youth knows no age.”

1511 Poly Dr - Billings, MT 59102 OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Billings, MT Permit #591