ROCKY NOW Vol. 1 Issue 3
Fresh news every day at www.rocky.edu
May 2007
Rocky Now: Keeping our friends and supporters informed about what’s new and exciting at Rocky Mountain College
It’s all about our students Whenever you wonder about whether your contributions make a difference, it’s refreshing to read about students like David Shumway. BILLINGS — Dave Shumway was among the largest class ever graduated from Rocky Mountain College at its historic 125th Commencement, May 5. Dave, from Batavia, Illinois, was drawn to RMC by its location, Dave Shumway, shown shooting close to the photos in Yellowstone National Park, mountains, has his work displayed at Yellowstone www.DaveShumway.net and National Park www.shumwayphotography.com, and pristine including the inventory of his RMC photos. rivers. He researched college outdoor recreation programs on the Web and liked what he saw at www.rocky.edu. Dave interned in the marketing and publications department, where he provided valuable service with Web content, as well as photographing and videotaping campus events. Now, the summa cum laude graduate, who double majored in business management, and economics, will have a hand in presenting the RMC Web site to others. An award-winning photographer and accomplished videographer, Dave is so well versed in Web design and maintenance, RMC hired him. He is now working in collegiate imaging and content management, two critical needs RMC has to present a fresh look to prospective students as well as others interested in RMC. “I love this college and it’s a great opportunity to be involved as we tackle new challenges to grow the enrollment and the endowment,” he said. “I want to be part of that team effort.”
Praising Friends Former RMC presidents honored with Distinguished Legacy Awards for longtime dedication and devotion
Above, (L-R) RMC Chairman of the Board Jim Almond, Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy, Dr. Arthur DeRosier, Jr., and Rev. George Harper enjoyed the President’s Dinner, May 3. Below, Dr. Lawrence Small listens as RMC President Mike Mace reads his citation.
For a special President’s Dinner at the Crowne Plaza on May 3, 106 friends of the College gathered to “Praise Friends, Raise Funds.” Honored with Distinguished Legacy Awards were two former RMC presidents, Dr. Lawrence Small and Dr. Arthur DeRosier, Jr. The awards recognized their devoted service and ongoing commitment to the College. More than $35,000 was raised during the dinner, according to Shari VanDelinder, RMC director of special projects. Presenting the award to Dr. DeRosier, RMC Interim Academic Vice President Anthony Piltz praised Dr. DeRosier’s “building foundations,” from new buildings to new programs, and also for his advice and support on a personal level. Among other successes, “Dr. DeRosier rescued Rocky from the brink. In his 15 years at Rocky, the College more than doubled its enrollment, to 800 students; increased its endowment from $700,000 to nearly $20-million; erected a new student center and state-of-the-art library;
and renovated and brought back into service several historic buildings. Rocky erased its structural deficit in 1994, and NWCCU removed it from show-cause status in 1997,” Piltz said. The aviation, equestrian and physician assistant program all began during the DeRosier era. The ski program that now boasts a national championship began under Dr. DeRosier. Presenting the award to Dr. Small, President Mike Mace praised Dr. Small, as a “gentleman and a scholar,” who never retired from RMC, helping to found the RMC Institute for Pace Studies after serving as a professor, dean and president. Dr. Small also has written one volume on the history of the College, “Courageous Journey,” and has just completed the second volume with sections by Dr. DeRosier and President Mace.
RMC mourns one of its best: Ralph Sappington The Billings Gazette carried the sad news Sunday: “Billings lost one of its strongest creative forces last week. Ralph Sappington, noted trumpet player, composer, teacher, community volunteer and lover of jazz, died Saturday after suffering a massive stroke Monday. He was 55.” Sappington held a special place in the hearts of many at Rocky Mountain College. Among the projects he was working on when he died was collecting instruments to take to South Africa to donate to children there. He planned to accompany RMC music students on the trip. Before moving to Billings, Ralph had an impressive career performing and recording with the Righteous Brothers, The
Temptations and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Once here, he served several churches in music ministry, including a decade at American Lutheran, and was most recently a music
director at First United Methodist Church. Last fall, Ralph honored his jazz band students at Rocky Mountain College by composing a piece of music for each of them. Services for Sappington were held Wednesday at First United Methodist Church. A tribute concert will be held some time in the future to help defray medical expenses, friends said. Also a memorial fund has been established because the Sappingtons did not have medical insurance: Ralph Sappington Memorial Fund, c/o First Interstate Bank, 401 N. 31st St., Billings Mont. 59101. For the complete tribute to Sappington in The Billings Gazette, go to www.rocky.edu.
Memorial trees honor friends, colleagues and special events
equipment, new wells for watering, A tradition at Rocky Mountain College campus directional signs that comthat adds beauty to the campus and estabplement the historic buildings, and lishes a living memory for friends, colother maintenance needs, explained leagues and special events is the planting of Shari VanDelinder, RMC director trees. The greening of RMC is made possiof special projects. ble by the generosity of individuals as well “It expands and continues the traas groups who want to honor special people or commemorate special events. dition of making this the most Recently, for example, a tree was planted beautiful campus possible,” said in memory of longtime retired RMC profesVanDelinder. sor Bob Lyon, who was an avid supporter of Typical of responses was a check RMC’s speech and debate program after he for $250 from Phillip Key who retired. Family and friends of Lyon gathered wrote that “We appreciate being to celebrate his legacy, reading limericks able to walk our dogs on the beautiand sharing memories. ful campus grounds. And we do Another recent tree planting honored clean up after them.” RMC ’05 graduate Roger Ntakirutinka, 28, Juergen, Mindy, Pieter, Zander from Rwanda, who died in a plane crash in and Maddie Bach wrote “My famiOctober. The tree planting was organized by ly and I live right across the street. PHOTO/ED STICKNEY the RMC Facilities Services, where Give us a call or email us when you Alice Lyon and son, Jason, are joined by friends and colNtakirutinka worked for three years while a leagues when they planted a tree in memory of former RMC need some help with special projProfessor Bob Lyon. student. Ntakirutinka was also active with ects.” the RMC Institute for Peace Studies. Those kind of responses and the Trees are not always planted after someone has died. Current more than $4,300 in contributions in two weeks demonstrated what librarian, Bill Kehler, had a tree planted in his honor by his colgood neighbors Rocky has and that they appreciate what the campus leagues, members of the Montana Association of Librarians. And offers, Van Delinder concluded. Van Delinder said Rocky is proud trees have been planted in celebration of Earth Day. of the area it is located in where homes, lawns and gardens are well It’s all part of the campus beautification project begun in ernest maintained and show pride in the neighborhood. Realtors have menwith generous donations from Dr. Charles and Patricia Morledge. tioned that Rocky’s campus also contributes to increased property Because Rocky’s beautiful and spacious campus is used for walkvalues in the area. ing, bicycling, and jogging by many people who live nearby, and For information about how to help with the ongoing beautification because the campus requires vigilant maintenance to make it attracproject, please contact Shari VanDelinder, 657-1173 or tive to all its users, RMC recently asked for help to pay for mowing vandelis@rocky.edu.
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