ROCKY NOW Vol. 3 Issue 10
Fresh news every day at www.rocky.edu
November 2008
Rocky Now: Keeping our friends and supporters informed about what’s new and exciting at Rocky Mountain College
Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff
Among other records set this year for the 21st annual Black Tie Blue Jeans Scholarship Benefit -- for ticket sales and table sponsorships -- there was also a record number of Rocky Mountain College students involved. And they were grateful for another successful scholarship benefit!
BTBJ exceeds expectations
It’s all about our students Jessica Olson, this month’s fea tured student, was chosen Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff because she Jessica Olson helped organize filled a critical student support for this year’s role helping with scholarship benefit. with Black Tie Bluie Jeans. RMC does not simply have a high (99 percent) rate of graduates who find jobs or acceptance to graduate school within three months of graduation. We have a high percentage of graduates who go on to succeed in their chosen career and who are leaders in their careers and communities. Jessica Olson is a perfect example of one of those who will join those high-performance ranks. Jessica had her doubts about attending Rocky Mountain College. She grew up in Billings and her friends told her she needed to get away from home and go somewhere other than Billings to
The annual scholarship benefit defied fears that it would not attain expected fundraising goals because of the sagging economy and hit new high notes, according to RMC Director of Development Shari VanDelinder. “Judging from what other fundraisers told me about how their events went, I was pretty anxious about how ours would go,” she acknowledged. “But we surpassed our goal!” Buoyed by bigger ticket sales than ever (Shari had to juggle seating arrangements at the last minute to add tables) and a gen-
(More BTBJ, please turn to back)
Fall Phonathon setting record pace
Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff
(More Jessica, please turn to back)
erous donation of auction items from many quarters, the 21st Black Tie Blue Jeans surpassed the $250,000 raised in 2006. “We reached $265,000 this year,” a jubilant VanDelinder said. There were other successes as well. For example, more student involvement this year did not go unnoticed. “I had many people comment on how wonderful it was to be greeted by so many RMC students,” she said. The students helped with set-up, greeting
Student Ryan Newman was the top fundraiser during the RMC Fall Phonathon.
Even with an embattled economy, alumni and friends of the college proved their loyalty and generosity by donating for scholarships during the RMC Fall Phonathon. The phonathon fundraising is on a record-setting pace. “Our students learned a lesson about how much our alumni and friends are willing to help them. We raised more than $42,000 in one week of making calls during our annual phonathon,” said Vicki Davison, Rocky Mountain College annual fund director. (More Phonathon, please turn to back)
BTBJ/ from front page and seating, and with the auction receipts. “Whatever I needed help with, I had plenty of willing hands,” she said. The evening was also a success with the “fun factor,” as The Midlife Chryslers, who donated their service, again filled the dance floor from the minute they started performing to the end of the evening. “We can’t thank them enough,” Shari said. “We see many new faces every year and I think a lot of that is due to people who spread the word that this is not just a good cause but a great time!” Typical of a newcomer to the event was Tamara Smith, mother of RMC freshman Grant Melia. Tamara learned of the event from the RMC Newsworthy email sent to parents. She flew in from California to attend. Because her son loves theatre, she also bid on and won the auction item for her son to be a “movie extra” in a Paradox Pictures production. “That’s the kind of thing that makes this event so exciting. By doing something special for her son, she also helped build scholarships for others,” Shari said. Anyone who was not able to attend and would still like to contribute to the BTBJ scholarship benefit may do so by contacting Shari at vandelis@rocky.edu, 406-657-1173.
Undem named outstanding fundraiser Obert Undem, Rocky Mountain College director of planned giving, was honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Nov. 13, 2008, at a special dinner and awards ceremony at The Billings (Mont.) Depot. Undem was named a 2008 recipient of the Outstanding Professional Fundraisers Award. Five awards, including Undem’s, were presented by the AFP at the sold-out event. Undem has been at Rocky since 1995, when he retired, after twenty years, from his private estate and tax planning legal practice in Fayetteville, Ark. A native of Glendive, Mont., he received his bachelor of arts degree, cum laude, from Carleton College, Northfield, Minn., in 1955. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Harvard University School of Business Administration awarded him an master of business administration in 1957. He joined a bank in Minneapolis, receiving his juris doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St.Paul. Prior to opening his law office, he had been a bank president and senior trust officer for nearly 20 years.
Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff
Obert Undem, RMC director of planned giving, was honored as an outstanding fundraiser by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
“This Award is a highlight of my long professional life. It reflects the support enjoyed from both my associates at Rocky and the wonderful donors with whom I have been privileged to work,” he said. “Every day is a new challenge offering opportunity to meld the interests of donors with the hopes and dreams of our great College,” he concluded.
Coming Up RMC WINTER BAND CONCERT Featuring the RMC Concert Band and the RMC Jazz Band, conducted by Anthony Hammond Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 7 p.m. Losekamp Auditorium
LESSONS AND CAROLS Presented by the RMC Division of Fine Arts and Humanities, conducted by Dr. Steven Hart Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church Corner of Poly Drive and 13th Street
Phonathon/ from front page The amount raised is still growing as return calls are made and pledges come in. The donations ranged from $5 to $1,000. “Given that most pledges were in the $20-$50 range, that is a lot of phone calls!” Davison said.
“Just starting this position in September, and considering the current economic craziness, at first I was a bit nervous about the possibility of raising money when so many people are looking at uncertain futures. I completely
Jessica/ from front page college. But, after two years at Rocky, she is convinced not heeding peer advice was the best decision she has made in her young life. “The education I am receiving is top-notch. I have many diverse interests, and I love that Rocky allows me to pursue all of them,” she said. Her diverse interests include fulfilling a passion for music by singing as an alto in the RMC Concert Choir. She loves being active and involved. “During the beginning of the year, I helped with RMC’s Freshman Orientation as a Ropes Course Leader,” she said. “It was a blast!”
underestimated the commitment to Rocky of its alumni,” Davison said. That establishes a record-setting pace for the year. The Fall phonathon is one of two that RMC conducts. “If we do as well in the Spring, we’ll set new records,” Davison said. “I She works in the Admissions office am so grateful to everyone who pitched in.” as a student ambassador and enjoys Davison had high praise giving the campus tours to prospective students. This year she was the student for this year’s student representative for the annual scholar- callers. “They were very profesship benefit, Black Tie Blue Jeans. Jessica organized some 40 student vol- sional. They knew that potential donors would unteers. “She was phenomenal,” said Shari benefit from hearing from VanDelinder, RMC director of devel- those who are directly helped by their contribuopment. Jessica is no slouch when it comes tions, and they made sure they knew how much their to her studies either. She maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA and plans on a double donations are appreciated,” Davison said. major in Communications and The phonathon also Business with a minor in Geology.
served another purpose. Students making the calls told prospects of all the exciting happenings on campus, Davison noted. “They had a great time talking about all the new construction and improvements on campus,” she said. Among the Rocky students participating were Ryan Newman, Maggie Weber, Jennifer Teton, Angela Milford, Ace Olszowka, Theresa Collins, Lizzie Nordquist, Jessica Siegfield and Amanda Babich. Not only did these students use their work study hours to help, there were also cash prizes each evening. The overall highest cash prize winner for making the most calls and bringing in the most money was Ryan Newman. The phonathon also helps the college update information on its alumni and friends.