Rocky Now - December 2008

ROCKY NOW Vol. 3 Issue 11

Fresh news every day at www.rocky.edu

December 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 When John Mowell, president and CEO of Mowell Investment Group, was honored for a major gift to the aviation program that retired the debt on the Piper Seminole twin-engine aircraft, one of the most memorable and moving speeches that day was delivered by Taylor Capers, a senior aviation student.

“I never met you before, Mr. Mowell, but I am here to tell you that what you did had a direct impact on my life.” Capers explained how important the Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff aircraft is for pilot training.

Taylor Capers is already pay“This is a pretty ing his way through college plane, capable of with a summer crop dusting high perform job.During the school year, he ance. It makes a interns at Horizon Air. difference in how good a pilot I'll be.” What Taylor told Jack Mowell echoes what many RMC students could say to the College’s benefactors: Never doubt that you make a difference.

Taylor Capers said when he wondered one day about what he really wanted to become, he knew it would be a pilot. He had loved the idea of flying ever since he was a little kid on a ranch in Victor, Montana. “I asked myself, ‘why not.’” he said. “Why can’t I be a pilot?” The answer came from Rocky Mountain College. Taylor looked online, sent an email query and “the next day I got an answer.” The answer was that he could join the RMC aviation program and in less than a month, he was enrolled. Taylor is not the ordinary high school graduate who comes to Rocky. Now 26 years old and a senior, he lost some time in college when his dad was seriously injured and Taylor had to go home to run the family ranch and electronic service business. He had been attending MSU- Bozeman, but was not satisfied with his classes in his major, biology and ecology. His idea was to have a career in fish and wildlife manage(More Taylor, please turn to back)

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff

One of the highlights of the campus Christmas events is the annual RMC Yule Log dinner.

The dinner is followed by entertainment in Fraley Lounge, where (l-r) Rebecca Baken, David Keys, Olle Friberg, Isa Floden, Jennifer Teten, Megan Thees, Tyler Chandler, Jade Peterson, Fabiano Jacome, Zam DeShields, and Heather Grotbo showed it was a merry occasion.

A Very Campus Christmas This time of year at Rocky Mountain College is magical.

The campus dons its ermine winter robe.

Christmas decorations greet people at every office door. The Great Room in Prescott Hall is warm and welcoming. The look of Christmas reflects the events of Christmas. The annual Yule Log dinner heralds an advent of other holiday occasions. There is the gingerbread building contest, sponsored by the Student Activity Board. This actually precedes the Yule Log dinner so that the finished gingerbread creations may serve as centerpieces for the tables. After (More Campus Christmas, please turn to back)

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff

A Christmas tree bulb glows as it reflects the festive atmosphere in Fraley Lounge.

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

EPA awards Allyson Kelley its national ‘champion’ award Allyson Kelley, Rocky Mountain College director of Title III, has been named a 2008 Children's Environmental Health Champion by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Kelley said she represented

Rocky Mountain College, which was one of only 12 organizations across the country to be honored for its work to help protect children from environmental health hazards.

“I received the award, but I consider that it is for everyone Courtesy photo

“Allyson has demonstrated outstanding leadership in Tribal children’s environmental health.” said Ruth McCully, (right) Director, Office of Children's Health Protection and Environmental Education, as she presented the award to Allyson Kelley.

who worked with me on the effort to eliminate toxic and hazardous materials from reservation schools and facilities,” she said. “I get the money and lead the effort, but it's more about teachers and kids who make it a success.”

Kelley was recognized for her work at a banquet at the Churchill Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 22, 2008.

RMC Flight Team wins berth to national tournament The Rocky Mountain College Intercollegiate Flight Team has been invited to national competition, based on their strong performance at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) regional competition in Greeley, Colorado in October.

The team finished third overall, missing second place by the narrow margin of only five points, according to Dan Hargrove, Rocky Mountain College director of aviation. The Air Force Academy took first place, and Metro State in Denver was second.

National competition will be in St. Louis in May, 2009.

Photo: Brandon Templeton, RMC

The team was led by captains, Brandon Templeton and Lukas Johnson.

The rest of the team includes Amy Hyde, Brian Kelleher, Connor Lockwood, Dmitri Nesmeianov, Grant Gagnon, Hannah Neel, Heather Kasubowski, Jacob Keierleber, Jase Korol, Jesse Taylor, Kevin Keegan, Ryle Evanoff, and Taylor Capers.

Campus Christmas/ from front page the dinner, students, faculty, staff and friends adjourn for entertainment in Fraley Lounge, where a Christmas tree towers in the center of the room. As the hearth blazes, smiles glow.

This prelude to Christmas break followed the annual RMC Band Concert, and precedes the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, presented by the RMC Concert Choir. While the concert features mostly RMC student singers,

Taylor/ from front page ment. “I really wasn't happy with that course,” he said. That all changed at Rocky. Since he arrived he has excelled academically, maintaining a 3.7 GPA in his major and a 3.4 overall. He is in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, on the national-bound flight team, and an active member of the Aviation Student Advisory Council and a member of the president's council. He also holds down an internship with Horizon Air. “Right now I'm slinging bags and handling freight, but I've been told when I'm ready I have a job flying,” he said.

He already flies summers, as a certified crop duster. “Rocky helped me become what I really want to be,” he said. “That would not have happened anywhere else. I don't think I ever made as good a decision.”

what makes the event special is the participation of others from the Rocky family. The concert will include staff, faculty and board members reading lessons.

One board member, Ron Tjaden, RMC '64, enjoys the tradition so much that he drives down from his home on Flathead Lakes to sing. RMC President Mike Mace also joins the choir. This event, so representative of the RMC community, has become so popular that two performances, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff Rose Alfieri, Kelly Naletelich, and Kelsey Dwyer focus intenseare offered.

This time of year, as an exten- ly on their gingerbread creations. In this event, sponsored by the Student Activities Board, the best gingerbread house wins sion of Thanksgiving, also is an a prize, but all help the holiday spirit as they serve as Yule Log opportunity to express gratitude to dinner table centerpieces. those who support the College.

The annual RMC Scholarship Luncheon brings Impromptu snow sculptures are built. Students face rigorous hours to study for semester those who have endowed scholarships face-toface with students who benefit from their char- finals, but they also find willing hands helping with tutorials. Free massages are offered to ity. Coming soon after that, the President and ease the stress of long study periods. The camMrs. Mace hold a holiday reception in the pus post office is busier than ever as cards and Great Room for faculty, staff, alumni and packages go out and come in. friends.

Pervading the campus community is the Less formal expressions of the season erupt sense that this time of year could never be near the campus historic buildings, Snowball more seasoned with good will as it is at Rocky fights put sound and shape to silent snow.

Mountain College.

Students glide down the walks to class.