ROCKY NOW Vol. 3 Issue 6
Fresh news every day at www.rocky.edu
July 2008
Rocky Now: Keeping our friends and supporters informed about what’s new and exciting at Rocky Mountain College
It’s all about our students If you help support Rocky Mountain College, you should know whether your contribution makes a difference. Julio Freitas, our featured student this month, provides ample proof that it does. Achieving dreams is a fit description of what motivates Julio Freitas. Arriving in Billings from Uba, Brazil, in 2006, Julio Julio Freitas is achieving his experienced the autumn chill as never before and dreams at RMC. understood a little different meaning to the words “climate change.” Energetic and creative, it did not take long for Julio to adjust. The Montana Dakota Utilities Brazilian Scholarship covered his school costs and a job with Sodexho in the dining hall provided extra money and a chance to become acquainted with other students. Julio’s quick smile, easy laugh and excellent English skills resulted in new friends, participation in many extracurricular activities including writing for the college newspaper, The Top of the Rock, and performing comedic routines for student activities. Julio became interested in attending college in America after competing in a national contest sponsored by the U.S.Embassy in Brazil called “Youth Ambassadors.” The contest involved writing an essay about the importance of studying English. This led to a trip to the United States for 20 days, including going to Washington, D.C., to learn about the importance of international affairs and the opportunity to meet then Secretary of State Colin Powell. Julio’s determination to complete his education is reflected in the effort he put forth to complete the requirement of an internship. Without transportation to make personal contacts to find an internship, Julio started calling companies in the Yellow Pages. An opportunity in the motel/hotel business, something he had not considered while completing his business degree, became available at the Hilton Garden Inn. His relationship with the Hilton Garden Inn has given him a new vision of possibilities. When Julio is not studying, writing or performing, he is busy sharing Brazil’s unique culinary differences with his friends on campus, helping them learn a little Portuguese, or expressing himself on canvas. It is not surprising that Julio was honored as RMC’s Outstanding International Student for the 2007-2008 year. He has been encouraged to pursue excellence by his aunts, Sonia A. C. Mello and Ivone de Assis, and his parents, Enezio and Solange Freitas.
Fortin Family Foundation awards RMC $600,000
PHOTO: Dave Shumway, RMC
Nick Cladis presents a check for $600,000 to RMC President Michael Mace, July 11, 2008. Cladis, of Capstone Wealth Management, represented the Fortin Family Foundation. He will be accepting the annual RMC Philanthropist of the Year Award on behalf of the Fortin Family Foundation on Aug. 28, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. in the Great Room of Prescott Hall. The newest grant from the foundation to RMC paid for all new bleachers in the 2200-seat gymnasium, as well as other improvements to the Fortin Education Center.
Meet our BTBJ Benefit 2008 Honorary Chairs The word ubiquitous -- ever present, everywhere -- best describes the benevolent contribution and involvement in the life of Rocky Mountain College of Barb Skelton and Paul Gatzemeier, this year’s Black Tie Blue Jeans Scholarship Benefit Honorary Chairs.
RMC art by Margia Pretlow
The Black Tie Blue Jeans logo this year celebrates 21 years with a play on words -- “Black Jack Blue (More on BTBJ Chairs, Jeans.” Mark the first Friday in November on your please turn to back) calendar now to save the date for a full deck of fun while supporting a winning RMC hand.
BTBJ Chairs/ from front page “There is very little at Rocky that Barb and Paul have not been a part of,” said Shari VanDelinder, RMC director of development. “They have created scholarships, hosted donor events, contributed to the annual fund, and donated auction items for fundraisers. They have been great stewards of the equestrian program, have helped with the international program, and were among the first to join the Rocky 500 Club.” Barb has served on the RMC National Advisory Council and the RMC Board of Trustees since 1999. She Photo: Dave Shumway , RMC has been a member of the RMC Executive Board since Devoted to RMC: Barb Skelton and Paul Gatzemeier are this year’s BTBJ Honorary Chairs 2003. “My devotion to Rocky comes from my seeing the huge difference the College has made in everybody’s life,” Barb said. “Paul and I see something good going on at Rocky every day.” Barb’s first experience with RMC was when her daughter, Abbie, decided to attend after being recruited by several other colleges. “She had scholarship offers at several colleges, but when we visited Rocky, Arthur DeRosier (RMC’s seventh president, who died this past year), Brad Nason (RMC’s academic vice president) and Obert Undem (RMC’s director of planned giving) visited with her and personally recruited her and offered her a scholarship,” Barb said. “It was the close interest and personal touch we were looking for.” Barb and Paul decided to relocate to Billings, in 1999, and bought the Intermountain Equestrian Center, agreeing to lease the facilities to RMC to support its equestrian program. “The more I learned about Rocky while Abbie was attending, the more I appreciated that this was a tremendous college,” she said. “I wanted to be part of it.” The involvement of Barb and Paul with RMC is a great pleasure for RMC President Michael Mace. “They are great friends, great supporters of the College, and an example of commitment to the welfare and future of Rocky,” he said. “Whenever something comes across my desk showing who has contributed, whether it’s from buying a Rocky license plate or donating to help the RMC Choir travel to Bulgaria, their names are on the list.” A fifth generation Montanan, Barb’s record of community service is admirable and crosses political party lines. She was Judith Basin County’s first woman county commissioner. She was the first Democratic Party woman nominee for lieutenant governor, running with two-term Governor Tom Judge. She served as treasurer for U.S. Senator Max Baucus. For her work on the Selective Service Board, she received an award from President Ronald Reagan for Outstanding Public Service. For her work with the White House Conference on Small Business, she received an outstanding contributor award from President Bill Clinton. She served on the Montana Banking Commission, appointed by Gov. Marc Racicot and later, by Gov. Judy Martz. She currently serves on the Montana Highway Commission, appointed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. A devoted rancher and horsewoman, Barb has owned world-class champion quarter horses. Barb and Paul raise registered Angus cattle at the Hardenbrook Ranch, in her family since 1887. She serves on the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Leadership Society as well as the AQHA Scholarship Committee. She is also president of the Coal Black Cattle Co. & Consulting. Paul is a senior executive in the energy industry with 35 years experience in creating and leading environmentally sound energy production companies. He is currently senior managing director of Bicent Power, LLC, a New York private independent power and infrastructure company with expertise in development, acquisition and long-term operation of power generation and infrastructure projects. Born and raised in north central Montana, he remains involved in the family farming operations his grandfather homesteaded, and in the cattle and equestrian business. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Montana State University and has completed the executive management programs at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Harvard Business School. Paul has also served on numerous industry, business and civic boards, including Montana Chamber of Commerce; the Montana Chamber Foundation; Montana Coal Council; National Coal Council; Montana Special Olympics; and the Rimrock Foundation. He was chair of the Montana Chamber of Commerce in 1999, and president of the Montana Coal Council from 19891994.
New record set by RMC alumni golfers The Rocky Mountain College Alumni Association’s eighth annual golf scramble, held at Peter Yegen Golf Course on Friday, June 27th, raised a record $3,400 for the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship Fund. “This success was due to the participation of 59 golfers and 23 sponsors, including our premier sponsor, Carl Hansen, D.A. Davidson & Co., Hansen Wealth Management,” said Heather Nitz, RMC director of alumni and parent relations. The first place gross prize went to the team of Mike Schmitt, RMC ‘86, Justin Schmitt, Pete Thompson, RMC ‘01, and Calley (Leppink) Thompson, RMC ‘95, in photo above.
All signs point to RMC Positive comments were the order of the day when new signs were completed on campus this month (shown in photo at right with Shari Va n D e l i n d e r, RMC director of development). “They are a great addition to campus. Rocky can be so proud,” said Karen Frank, a longtime RMC friend, contributor and volunteer. “Awesome! Absolutely wonderful and another reason to be proud of all the great things going on here,” said Gail Nutting, Fortin Center operations director. The sandstone-framed signs prominently announce Rocky Mountain College with the official college seal. Two large ones are placed at the entrance to Prescott Hall on Rimrock Road, and at the Poly Avenue entrance. Smaller versions of those serve as directional signs at key locations on campus. The signs were an important project of Dr. Charles Morledge before he died almost a year ago, according to Shari VanDelinder, RMC director of development. Shari commented that the last time she saw Dr. Morledge, he and his wife, Patti, were in their home with sign sketches all over their dining room table. “Dr. Morledge’s favorite design of the sign was the one chosen by the board and is the one that was actually built. He thought it looked the most collegiate,” Shari added “Patti and her family wanted to see Dr. Morledge’s project realized and they worked very hard with me to see it through to completion.”