Rocky Now - October 2010

Vol. 5 Issue 8

Fresh news every day at www.rocky.edu

October 2010

All About Our Students

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC

Aaron Holt enjoyed an extraordinary internship with the University of Texas Longhorns.

For Battlin’ Bears senior wide receiver Aaron Holt, a summer internship with the Texas Longhorns may have helped him decide on his career path at Rocky Mountain College.

“I really hadn’t thought much about being a strength and conditioning coach as a career option, but after spending almost every day this summer in the University of Texas weight room, I could definitely see myself pursuing that as a career,” the Fallbrook, Calif., native said.

Holt pursued an internship with the 2005 National Champion Longhorns and his persistence paid off, according to Donnie Maib, Longhorn head assistant coach for strength and conditioning.

“He was going to be in town all summer in Austin and it was his persistence and determination that got him the position.

Even talking to him over the phone, his attitude and passion for training and football really stood out,” Maib said.

It is not faint praise when one of the coaches for the 2005 Bowl Championship Series describes you as “dependable, hard working, and a blessing to work with,” and that’s what Maib had to say about Holt after his summer-long internship.

Holt was one of 10 interns chosen to work with the Longhorns; more than 200 applied, Maib noted.

“Aaron stood out in the interviews and he stood out as an intern. Being an intern is hard work; the hours are long and we demand a lot of them. Aaron never complained, kept a great attitude, and worked well with staff and athletes,” Maib said.

For Holt, the experience was “inspiring.”

(Please see All About Our Students inside)

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC

Whitman in the Morning Christine Todd Whitman was a guest on MoJo 92.5 for an early morning interview. RMC supporter Becky Reno (far right), owner and CEO of City Brew Coffee, hosted Gov. Whitman, her husband, John, RMC President Michael Mace, and RMC Alumni Director Vicki Davison for coffee following her radio appearance. More on Gov. Whitman’s visit to RMC inside.

BTBJ 20TEN

Jim & Janet Haar Named Honorary Chairs

A strong conation with Rocky through nection to the her church and that deMethodist Church veloped into an affection in Cascade, Monthey’ve shared for the Coltana, resulted in an lege.” enduring devotion Black Tie Blue Jeans to Rocky Mountain is the annual scholarship College, according benefit for RMC. It will be to Jim and Janet held Friday, November 5, Haar, the 2010 2010, at Billings Hotel & Honorary Chairs Convention Center. The for RMC’s Black Tie evening, which begins Photo: Courtesy Janet Haar with a 6 p.m. cocktail hour, Blue Jeans scholarship benefit. features a silent and live “We’re very excited to have auction, followed by a gourmet dinner and the Haars as this year’s Honorary dancing to the music of Nye Express. TickChairs,” said Vicki Davison, Rocky ets are available from Vicki Davison, RMC Mountain College director of alumni director of alumni relations and special relations and special events. “It’s projects, (406) 657-1005 or vicki.davison@ wonderful for us that Janet was rocky.edu. aware of the United Methodist affili(Please see BTBJ 20TEN inside)

Insider

By Michael R. Mace, President

Your Support is Music to Our Ears I started my college career at the University of Montana.

Like many college students in the 70’s, I worked my way through college. I went to class in the mornings and sold shoes in a downtown shoe store in the afternoon. To make a little extra spending money, I played the piano and organ in a bar at a supper club at night. I told the manager that if he would feed me lunch and dinner, I would play for tips in the bar at night. This gave me the financial resources to pay for my college education.

One night a former high school classmate, who was a collegiate music major, stopped by to say hello. During a break in the music, he told me that one day he wanted to write a piano lullaby whose melody was inspired by the ridgeline of the Montana mountain tops. I’ve thought about that comment often throughout my life. How might that melody have sounded; how would the crescendo move through the melodic line and be influenced by the deep bass that gives the piece of music its foundation, its mood—its spirit?

When I sit on the deck in the evening and look west to the mountaintops of the Beartooth Range at sunset and sense the smell and coolness of a Montana fall approaching, I wonder how that lullaby would have played out. How would the blue shadow of the mountain been transformed into a great piano concerto? For example, would the peaks and valleys of the mountains mimic the rise and fall of a waltz, or would the wind dancing through the trees fool around in a tango-like rhythm along the tree line, or perhaps the rugged ridges and deep valleys provoke the sounds of country western cadences so common to the Montana countryside?

I don’t know if the lullaby was ever written, but the life of a college graduate is a lot like the highs and lows that one finds

in music.

Life takes all people into the deep valleys of disappointment and to the high musical pitch of a mountaintop experience. For those who succeed, the rewards are great; for those who fall short, there are but two choices…give up or try again.

Rocky Mountain College graduates seldom give up.

I’m often asked what makes Rocky’s symphony of the liberal arts, science, and professional schools relevant and attractive to today’s career-focused students and families. My answer is that one dimensional talent won’t take you very far in the 21st century. The Rocky faculty offer students a complete package and invite them to search for the music that defines their lives. The faculty work tirelessly to develop exceptional graduates who have the competence to become organizational leaders, self-assured and adept, prepared…no matter what…with the versatile experience to thrive within the notes of the world that change at a mind-bending rate.

Students are a lot like the composer who struggles to choose which notes best follow the shape of the mountain ridges. They have limitless choices that can be overwhelming.

The only thing more disconcerting is not having any notes to play at all—to be devoid of choice.

A college education offers students a variety of notes to play, the flair to write a concerto of their own design and with a unique tempo.

Your support provides the foundation upon which students are able to begin to build their own unique symphony. When you entertain the idea of a financial investment to our mission, you help them “make the music” that becomes music to our ears.

Thank you.

BTBJ 20TEN (Continued from front)

The Haars were born, raised, and educated in Montana.

Jim Haar, who is now High Tech Construction Chairman of the Board, began his career in construction in Billings. By 1971, he was a general contractor, rising from a position in estimating and sales to corporate vice president and general manager. In 1984, Haar, with Scott Chartier and the late Dick Popelka, founded High Tech Construction. Rather than name the company after themselves, they chose a name to represent the application of advanced technological solutions to construction; they also wanted a name that continued beyond the time of the initial owners.

Janet Haar has been involved since the beginning of High Tech as CFO. Jim was president of High Tech for 25 years before being named chairman of the board.

The Haars have been energetic supporters of many community projects. Janet serves on committees for St. Vincent Healthcare, Billings Clinic, and Relay for Life with her son, Trevor. Janet previously spent twelve years helping with Billings Aquatics Swim Team and numerous years with the Walk To Emmaus Group at First United Methodist Church.

Jim Haar serves on the advisory and board for First Interstate Bank. He has been involved with the Billings Chamber of Commerce, served in Boy Scouts, the MSU College of Technology National Advisory Board, and is managing partner of JKS LLP which specializes in land development and leasing for JKS, HCP, Dirtbags, RMK and KWN construction in Sheridan, Wyoming.

“Both are committed to the success of their community and giving back what so graciously has been given to them,” said RMC President Michael Mace. “They typify the kind of friends of the College that enriches the lives of our students.”

The Haars have two children. Their eldest son, Trevor (Tammy), is owner of Pyramid Cabinet shop in Billings and their youngest, Ryan (Tavey), graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy and is now a navigator with the Navy. They have two granddaughters, Hannah and Marylin.

In 2008, High Tech was in charge of the impressive renovation and construction of Morledge–Kimball Hall on the RMC campus. In 2009, the firm was recognized as RMC’s Corporate Philanthropist of the Year.

Come Home

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC

Rocky freshmen met the Battlin’ Bears’ mascot at a special event in Fraley Lounge.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 Rocky Mountain College Homecoming: RMC hosts Montana Tech for the annual Battlin’ Bears Homecoming Game, 1 p.m., Herb Klindt Field. Contact Vicki Davison, director of alumni relations and special events, at 406-657-1005 or email: vicki.davison@rocky.edu.

Focus on Alumni & Friends

RMC Provides a Second Home Absence will make the heart grow fonder, according to Upulee Dasanayake, RMC ‘04.

In Upulee’s case, the absence of peace and the pain and suffering caused by that absence, inspired Upulee to devote her life to creating and preserving peace.

A native of Sri Lanka, much of Upulee’s life was in a country ravaged by civil war.

“Sad to say, when I was living in Sri Lanka, my desire to make a difference in the world was minimal,” Upulee acknowledged. “It was later, thanks to the Institute for Peace Studies at Rocky Mountain College, that I discovered my passion.”

Seeking to escape from her homeland’s distress, she discovered Rocky Mountain College by searching the internet for a college with an aviation management program, located in a less populated area (and, therefore, she figured a safer place), and preferably in the West.

Her parents were not excited by her choice to leave Sri Lanka, but she believed in her decision, little realizing how that decision would lead to other choices that changed her life.

Serving as a work study and then an intern with the Institute developed a growing interest in how she “could change the world.”

“I remember thinking that if a small institute in a small college in Montana is making this much of an effort to make a difference in the world, I, who have lived and experienced firsthand the pain of war, have every reason in the world to make peace a mission in my life,” she said.

While she came to Rocky Mountain College with a primary interest in aviation management, her affiliation with the Institute soon moved her to pursue a second degree in international relations.

“I decided my interest in international relations, conflict resolution, and diplomacy was so powerful that I had to earn a degree in international relations. Then I went on to complete a master’s degree in international conflict analysis and resolution at George Mason University,” she said.

Upulee was the outstanding aviation management graduate and the winner of the 2004 President’s Cup -- presented by RMC President Michael Mace. Recipients are selected by the faculty based on a 3.4 or higher GPA, good citizenship, service to the College and involvement in extracurricular activities.

All that education and experience was significant in her current job as a consultant social scientist and safeguards specialist with The World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. “It is very important work to try to remedy the economic and social disadvantages in many countries that causes or worsens the strife and violence. I can make a difference in helping improve conditions in some of the worst places on the planet,” she said.

She hopes to earn a doctorate in international relations in the future.

“Whatever I do and wherever I go from here, I owe a debt of gratitude to Cindy Kunz (executive director of the Institute), Dr. Lawrence Small (a founder and former board chair of the Institute), and to Rev. David Burt (the current chair) for going above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference in the lives of every student who walks through their doors,” Upulee said.

During her time at Rocky, she met students from all over the world and the U.S. who experienced the same message of peace, unity, and understanding.

“One at a time, over time, it is comforting to know we are together working on the same issues,” she said.

For Upulee, Rocky Mountain College will always be home. It’s where she comes

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC

Upulee Dasanayake is now a consultant with The World Bank.

when she can find enough days to get here.

“We consider her family. She has spent holidays with us, gone to Red Lodge with us, learned to drive a car with us,” Cindy Kunz said. “When her father died and she was unable to return home for the service, we had one here for her. She worked with us in every program we have -- the Festival of Cultures, the Peace Village, and Cultural Diversity Outreach -- and she’s made a difference in who we are as much as she says we’ve made a difference in her.”

That “family” connection is why Heidi Sims Rasmussen, another RMC alumna and Institute staffer, drove all the way up from Cody for a one-hour lunch with Upulee -- no questions asked -- and then directly back to work, Cindy said.

“That’s family. That’s who we are,” she added.

About Our Students/Continued from front “Because the coaches were so knowledgeable with the human body and how it works, it inspired me to take human anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. If I want to coach players on how to build their bodies to the ultimate level, I had better know how the human body works,” he said.

Holt worked with some large bodies on the Longhorn team. The roster includes giants like 6’4” 305 lbs. Tray Allen and 6’8” 325 lbs. Kyle Hix, to name just two.

“I worked mostly with incoming freshmen players and got to know several pretty well. I never did get to meet legendary Coach Mack Brown, but there

are about a dozen coaches and they have staffs with dozens more, so you aren’t likely to run into the head guy,” he said.

Holt’s job included taking small groups through daily workouts.

The workout stations might be “plate pushing,” where players shoved 45 pound plates from sideline to sideline, multiple times.

“It’s pretty intense,” Holt said.

On the plus side, the heavy workouts had rewards in lavishly appointed facilities where players could find refrigerators stocked with protein drinks or get drinks from the smoothies bar or the Gatorade fountain.

“If you want to have players perform at the highest level, nutrition is a key,” Holt said.

The son of Mike and Kelley Holt, Aaron said his internship “will definitely help me in my final year of college with some of the classes I will be taking.”

According to RMC Head Football Coach Brian Armstrong, Holt’s experience in Texas is bound to help the Battlin’ Bears.

“Any time one of our players gets that kind of experience, it’s bound to have a constructive impact on the team,” Armstrong said. “Aaron’s positive attitude and good nature in the classroom and on the field are definitely important to what we want in our program.”

Neighbor to Neighbor Alumna’s Passion for Education was Good for RMC

By Barb Skelton, Chairman of the Board of Rocky Mountain College For her service to the This past June, a grand friend and alumna College, she was awarded a of this College died in Fort Benton just a year Doctor of Humane Letters shy of her 100th birthday. Edna Kiehlbauch degree in 1992, and her son Nutter grew up on a ranch in the Sweet wrote that she got a big kick Grass Hills so, no matter the distance, she out of being called, “Doctor was a rancher, a good neighbor, and earned Nutter.” her college degree at Intermountain College RMC Director of Planned Giving, Obert Undem, in Helena, one of the precursors to what is and his wife, Ginny, visited Edna on her 90th now Rocky Mountain College. birthday when a dance band did its best to keep up Her son, Richard, who wrote her obituary, with her. “She danced every single dance,” Obert stated that her “great passion was said. “I danced with her once and was exhausted.” education.“ When she was raising a family Obert joked with her that he was doing calisthenics with her husband, Karl, she read to their to prepare for her 100th birthday to have another four children almost every winter evening dance. Edna was as excellent at playing cards as before they entered grade school. That she was a dancer, Obert related. He kidded her that way they would understand how important she was quite a card shark. She piped back, “You reading was and appreciate how she valued don’t need to cheat when you’re good.” a good education. Edna, while caring for Edna made sure she planned for the future, children, was a typical Montana ranch wanting to continue support of Rocky. Her planned woman, cooking great meals, working the gift annuity matured to enable the College to hayfields, and keeping the ranch’s financial provide two endowments -- one for the library and records in order. While doing all of this, Photo: Robert Hajek, RMC ‘72 one for student scholarships. Both endowments are she still managed to keep in touch with her tremendous assets to the students. friends from Intermountain and, later, Rocky In addition to her devotion to education and our College, Mountain College. By the late 1940s, her Christmas letter had she was devoted to her church, serving on the Sunburst become “The Nuttercracker” and became the official Rocky Methodist Church Board, redesigning the church interior, communication to alumni and friends. Her children remember and presiding over church gatherings at her ranch – the being recruited to fold, fasten, and stamp hundreds, later B-X Ranch. She pitched in to help Karl with Lions Club thousands, of “The Nuttercracker” to send before Christmas.

International work. She and Karl were intrepid travelers, Edna lived what she preached; she truly lived by her word. touring Europe in a VW Beetle with lay down seats for When it came to education, she sponsored students and sleeping. They also traveled to Africa, Japan, and South helped secure donations for Rocky; she served as an RMC America. After Karl died in 1995, Edna lived at the Missouri Trustee from 1951-1979.

River Medical Center where she was a favorite friend to many She had a fondness for foreign students and once others. “She had a 55 year-old mind trapped in a 95 year-old employed two Japanese students for summer work at the body,” the center director said, but that didn’t deter her from ranch. One, Ken Sasahara, RMC’73, is now president of Nissin helping others, joining in all social activities, and enjoying Foods USA; the second, Koki Ando, who attended Rocky in her love for dancing. Her life was one that was well lived and 1970, is the son of the inventor of instant Ramen noodles, one which helped others. Edna is one more example of what and now has replaced his father as the Japanese “noodle being a good neighbor means, reaching out and reaching king,” serving as president of Nissin Foods Ltd. Sasahara, forward to help a new generation, and I am sure she would accompanied by friend and classmate Robert Hajek, RMC’72, say she was just being neighborly. What a fine neighbor for paid a visit to Edna in 2009. This was another example of a RMC! neighbor helping neighbor, and the good that comes from it.

Whitman Visits Rocky/Continued from front Governor Christine Todd Whitman, a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Scholar, was hosted by Rocky Mountain College for three days in September, delivering lectures, visiting classes, and meeting and greeting people at receptions and dinners.

With high energy she was up at the crack of dawn to appear at 7 a.m. on local radio station MoJo 92.5, and she gave separate interviews to both KULR and KTVQ. The Billings Gazette covered her address to Downtown Rotary. Gracious with the local media, Gov. Whitman was nevertheless more interested in meeting RMC students, even enduring a long, hot afternoon at a research project at Rim Country Land Institute. While there she discussed a cheat grass research project that RMC students are conducting as part of Dr. Jennifer Lyman’s class. Gov. Whitman also visited students in Prof. Jim Baken’s art class,

where a project designed to describe civil dialogue in art work – “Crossing the Aisles” – was the topic of the day while Yellowstone Public Radio Reporter Jackie Yamanaka produced a show on the visit.

Gov. Whitman also stopped in to visit Dr. Steve Germic’s environmental policy and management class, Kathy Sabol’s Compass Class, and Assistant Professor Kayhan Ostovar’s biology class. She delivered speeches titled, “Sustainability from the Grass Roots; Leading Locally,” and “Toward a Sustainable Future – Building Environmental Consensus in a Time of Political Polarization.” Besides being known as a former director of the Environmental Policy Administration under President George W. Bush, Gov. Whitman is also noted for her efforts to reform the Republican Party, seeking a more open and diverse political agenda. Her book, “It’s My

Party, Too,” is a New York Times bestseller.

Gov. Whitman used the many platforms to address environmental issues, available to her during her visit, to urge common sense compromise to solve complicated environmental challenges. “The political leaders now have become so uncompromising that the country is veering toward gridlock,” she cautioned. Important issues -- from immigration to energy -- are not being addressed, let alone solved, she said.

Gov. Whitman’s visit was designed to help with the launching of a new major in environmental policy and management, according to RMC President Michael Mace.

“She was a terrific presence while she was here and we admired the enthusiasm she had for meeting with our students and learning about environmental issues in Montana,” Mace said.

Focus on Foreign Studies

Rocky Students Learn Irish History and Culture southwest coast of Ireland to explore Northern Ireland,” said Brynn McFerrin, Tourists from all over the world travel a piece of its Celtic past. They took an RMC student on the tour. to Ireland for the friendly atmosphere, a ferry from Galway to Inishmore, the After witnessing the 15-foot wall sepavibrant Celtic music, and breathtaking largest of the Aran Islands, to explore rating the Protestant and Catholic comlandscape.

Dun Aengus fort on the 100 foot cliff munities, they continued to the Falls Shelby Jo Long-Hammond, Rocky above the ocean, the most dramatic road where they examined IRA-member Mountain College assistant professor of site on the islands. Even though the Bobby Sands’ mural, the dedication communication studies, loves the rich Aran Islands have been inhabited for to the victims of the peaceful Bloody culture and scenery of the Irish island, thousands of years, there has only been Sunday march, and the memorial to the but traveling through the country also electricity on the islands since 1975.

Catholics who died during the Troubles. exposes the controversial history and “We got a feel for traditional political climate. In May 2010, a Irish lifestyle where peat is still group of Rocky Mountain College burned to warm the homes and students joined Long-Hammond sheep roam the countryside,” for a tour of Ireland and Northern Long-Hammond said.

Ireland to discover and experience The group visited Dingle, a the many facets of Irish society. town of 1,700 on the southwest Long-Hammond organized the tip of Ireland, “which is one of my trip to Ireland for academic, as favorites,” Long-Hammond said. well as personal reasons.

“The homes are vibrantly color“My grandfather’s family is from ful, the people are welcoming and the south, near the city of Cork. I traditional Irish music is a nightly also studied at Trinity College in event. The Dingle peninsula has Dublin during my undergraduate countless ancient churches and degree. I became intrigued with stone homes and we had the Ireland’s culture and divisive past chance to visit restored villages as I traveled throughout the island. from the potato famine along our I visited castles, ruins, protest sites coastal drive.” in Dublin and the political murals The group’s journey was comon the streets of Belfast. These pleted with a tour around the historical settings are so powerful Dingle peninsula and to Blarney and educational that I developed a Castle before returning to Dublin. passion for Ireland that I wanted to They made their way through share with students,” she said. the grounds and climbed to the The students accompanying Photo: Courtesy Shelby Jo Long-Hammond Long-Hammond studied the culRMC students send a message from Ireland. The group included Patrick Stone at the top of the Castle’s ture, history, and politics of Ireland Lowe, Gereint Sis, Alex Welge, Justin Rife, Janie Rife, Rose Alferi, Natalie tallest tower. According to the Nason, Brynn McFerrin, Jessica Steikne, and Sarah Brewer, RMC assistant legend, if you kiss the Blarney and Northern Ireland during the professor, theatre arts, and Shelby Jo Long-Hammond, RMC assistant stone, you are given the “gift of spring semester and then jourprofessor, communication studies. gab.” neyed through the countries for “I thought the students were two weeks. chatty before, but now . . .”

“I’m excited that the educational tour laughed Long-Hammond.

“This was a powerful way to study the of Ireland has gained popularity beIn Dublin, Kilmainham Goal jail has division of the Protestants and Cathocause it provides experiential education been restored as a symbol of Irish indelics and their respective political posifor students,” said Rocky’s International pendence, as many of the leaders from tions about the separation of Northern Programs Director Michael West. the Easter Rising in 1916 were imprisIreland from Ireland,” Long-Hammond The trip began in Dublin where the oned and executed there. Despite the noted. group visited Trinity College, Dublin solemn mood of walking through the Derry followed Belfast. Here the Castle, St. Patrick’s and Christchurch prison, they were exposed to a signifigroup visited the historic old town cathedrals, among many other significant piece of history. that is still separated from the rest of cant sites in the city. This introduction St. Stephen’s Green and Merion the city by a thick stone wall built in to Ireland provided historical context Square Park, surrounded by striking the 1600s. Derry is one of the most before traveling to Northern Ireland to Georgian architecture in the middle of well-preserved walled cities in Europe study the more recent political conflict.

Dublin, exhibit statues of James Joyce despite the political violence that took Belfast was next. Students discovered and William Butler Yeats, among sevplace during the Troubles. The group the “Troubles” by taking the famous eral other major Irish literary figures. roamed the bogside, the Foyle river valBlack Cab tour to explore the political By now, they had seen and learned so ley and the site of the 1972 Free Derry murals in the Protestant and Catholic much of historical, political, and cultural march. From the walls of old town, they neighborhoods. This is where guides aspects of the island. viewed the murals depicting the Bloody who survived the conflict taught the Two weeks in Ireland only scratched Sunday struggle. Next, they stopped group about the religious and political the surface of the depth of Irish society, at the memorial to the 14 people who controversy sustained for generations. according to Long-Hammond. died during Bloody Sunday, where “we They visited the Ulster murals that “Learning Irish history from textbooks were all overcome by a somber feeling. display images of an independent and provides an introduction, but explorWitnessing this monument is essential Protestant Northern Ireland on the ing the foundations of Ireland offers to comprehend the political and social Shankhill road, where the infamous context,” West noted. “Students should conflict of the Northern Irish,” LongShankhill Butchers indiscriminately slit take advantage of these international Hammond said. the throats of their Catholic neighbors. experiences to truly grasp the signifiThe fourth leg of the trip took the “My favorite part about the trip was cance of a nation’s past.” group to the gorgeous, yet rugged, talking to the locals about the conflict in

Focus on Faculty & Staff

RMC Chaplaincy Celebrated with Formal Ceremony Rocky Mountain College honored Reverend Kristi Foster with a formal Installation Ceremony Sept. 23, 2010, in Taylor Auditorium of Losekamp Hall.

The ceremony, which included a formal processional with faculty, staff, and clergy wearing academic and ministerial regalia, marked the official recognition of Rev. Foster’s appointment as chaplain and celebrated the College’s historic relationship with three denominations.

“The history of this College is woven very intricately and inextricably with The United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, and the Presbyterian Church USA. It always amazes me that only two years after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, pioneers from these denominations were already seeking ways to establish institutions of higher learning in what was still a territory,” said RMC President Michael Mace in his opening remarks.

President Mace noted that while they did not succeed individually, in a way, their separate failures resulted in success. By 1947, six separate colleges and those three denominations had reorganized and reformed as Rocky Mountain College.

“The fact that the three denominations resolved the issue into a college with fond ties with each is testimony to a larger desire, namely that the importance was not the denominational affiliation, but the larger measure of faith. Keeping faith is what today is about. We pledged to create a chaplaincy that would have permanency and meaning. Today we fulfill that pledge,” he said.

Featured speaker for her installation was Dr. Deborah Krause, Eden Theological Seminary (St. Louis, Missouri) academic dean. Rev. Foster received her Master of Divinity at Eden Theological Seminary. While on campus, Dr. Krause also delivered two public lectures.

Participating in the ceremony were

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC

During her formal installation as RMC chaplain, Rev. Kristi Foster, right, is flanked by Rev. Randy Hyvonen, Conference Minister, Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference, UCC and RMC Trustee, and Rev. Nan Sollo, Church and Ministry Commission of the Yellowstone Association of the Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference, UCC.

Rev. Randy Hyvonen, Conference Minister, Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference, UCC; Rev. George Goodrich, Co-General Presbyter, Presbytery of Yellowstone; Rev. David Burt, District Superintendent, Bighorn District, Yellowstone Annual Conference, UMC; Rev. Nan Sollo, Church and Ministry Commission of the Yellowstone Association of the Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference, UCC; Rev. Steven Gordon, Pastor, Mayflower Congregational UCC; Mrs. Phyllis Roberts, Chair, Church Relations Committee, Board of Trustees, Rocky Mountain College; and Rev. Dan Krebill, President, Board of Directors, Montana Association of Churches.

The RMC Choir performed several selections.

Since her arrival in Billings, Rev. Foster has served as chair of the Commission on Faith and Order for the Montana Association of Churches. She is a

member of Mayflower Congregational UCC. A native of Ohio, Foster graduated from Earlham College in Indiana, with a major in Outdoor Education. An avid traveler, Foster did mission work in Ecuador, the Solomon Islands, and Scotland. She joined the Pilgrimage for Unity to World Council of Churches to Geneva, Switzerland, and Taize, France.

She was involved in the March of Remembrance and Hope as part of the Holocaust Educational Program in 2001.

Before coming to Rocky in 2008, Rev. Foster was associate pastor in Vermilion, Ohio. While there, she was active in the youth and educational programs of the Western Reserve Association of the UCC. She served in the leadership of two clergy associations during her pastorate in Vermilion, as treasurer of the Vermillion Ministerial Association, and dean of the Firelands Clergy Cluster.