As I write this note, more than eighty students from across the state of Montana are preparing to head out into the world to “see, serve, and lead.” Thanks to your generous support, the Max S. Baucus Institute has broken down barriers to help these students embark on a life of public service. We provide stipends to cover living expenses while our students serve in U.S. Senate offices, take on the toughest environmental challenges, and help their communities back home. Our scholarships empower Montana students to study abroad in China, Ireland, Singapore, and Paris. Whether they hail from Montana State University, MSU-Billings, or the University of Montana, our students have chosen to spend their summer pursuing something greater than themselves. Please join me in congratulating our Institute’s class of 2024!
Andrew
Andrew Person Executive Director, Max S. Baucus Institute
AMBASSADOR MAX BAUCUS AND MEL HANES WITH SEVERAL OF OUR 2024 BAUCUS LEADERS.
LEARNING FROM MAX AND MEL, OUR FOUNDERS
Every spring we host on-campus lunches with Ambassador Max Baucus and Mel Hanes, the founders of the Baucus Institute, and the students who will be our Baucus Leaders and Climate Scholars that summer. It’s a great opportunity for our students to learn from their deep expertise in public service, including how to make the most of an internship, how to navigate living in a big city, and how to find the best local food. Students also enjoy getting to know their cohort. We’re excited see what these future leaders accomplish!
Mel Hanes shares how her law degree led to a fulfilling career in public service.
Ambassador Max Baucus sharing stories about his career as a U.S. Senator for Montana and U.S. Ambassador to China.
Baucus Institute Director Andrew Person greets the University of Montana cohort.
Students also receive welcome packets at this orientation lunch.
BAUCUS CLIMATE SCHOLARS AROUND THE WORLD
Our Baucus Climate Scholars will work with organizations at the front lines of our world’s toughest environmental challenges. We’re excited to announce the launch of a new opportunity this summer: Jackson Mundell (MSU) and Daniel Martin (UM) have been selected for a fully-funded independent study project in Singapore. Their mission is to learn about Singapore’s climate strategy and bring back ideas about what we can do to address climate change here at home. Our other Climate Scholars will work across the nation, from California to Washington, D.C., and Tristyn Page (UM Law) will be working in Paris with the International Energy Agency. We’re thrilled to send our students all around the world.
Max Hirrill University of Montana The Climate Initiative
Kyle Schaniel Montana State University The Climate Initiative
Jackson Mundell Montana State University Independent Climate Study Singapore
Chidimma Ifeh Montana State University The Climate Reality Project
Riley Comstock University of Montana Protect the Clearwater
Daniel Martin University of Montana Independent Climate Study Singapore
Rosamarie Rocciasano Montana State University LanzaTech
Tristyn Page University of Montana International Energy Agency (Paris)
Amishi Singh University of Montana California China Climate Institute
Thomas Mooney-Rivkin University of Montana Top Golf in China
Lori Blumenthal ABIII School of Law, UM NorthWestern Energy
Garrett Wright Montana State University Big Sky Sustainability Network
SEVEN YEARS OF BAUCUS LEADERS IN D.C .
This summer, we continue our oldest program, sending eight Baucus Leaders D.C. to work as interns in U.S. Senate offices in Washington D. C. We want to give a heartfelt thank-you to Senators Bennett, Crapo, Daines, Grassley, Klobuchar, Tester, and Schumer for hosting Baucus Leaders this year. We are so grateful to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for their endowment funding, which continues to sustain this program year after year.
In addition to having the opportunity to work on the nation’s toughest problems, these Baucus Leaders will attend a series of dinner discussions led by distinguished speakers at the Hatch Center in Washington D.C.
Carter Jasper
University of Montana
Senator Crapo (R-ID)
Anisten Shute
Montana State University
Senator Daines (R-MT)
Tyler Murray
Montana State University Billings
Senator Grassley (R-IA)
Estrella Pallis-Bonadurer
Montana State University
Senator Schumer (D-NY)
Paige Mickelson
University of Montana
Senator Tester (D-MT)
Ana Salyards University of Montana
Senator Klobuchar (D-MN)
Maxwell Shaver
University of Montana
Senator Tester (D-MT)
Hudson Pullen University of Montana
Senator Bennett (D-CO)
BAUCUS LEADERS AT WORK IN MONTANA
Our Baucus Leaders MT work throughout the state of Montana in public service internships for a variety of organizations. This program continues to grow as we develop new partnerships with host offices around the state. Students have had great experiences working part-time closer to home, and the offices they work for also appreciate the increased capacity. We’ve had host organizations be so impressed by their Baucus Leader that they hired them! It’s great to see students who are passionate about serving their local communities succeed.
Mikael Heydt University of Montana Montana World Affairs Council
Lila Bennett ABIII School of Law, UM Missoula County
Ashlynn Everett University of Montana Friends of the Children
Brooke Bray University of Montana Montana League of Cities & Towns
Dennis Stock ABIII School of Law, UM U.S. Attorney’s Office
Madeline Richards-Schlarman University of Montana Am Indian Governance & Policy Institute
Jonathan Cordova University of Montana Am Indian Governance & Policy Institute
Addy Damaris Montana State University Montana Nonprofit Association
Ella Sherin Montana State University Am Indian Governance & Policy Institute
Liliana Silver University of Montana Montana Budget & Policy Center
Amerra Webster-Yaqui University of Montana Missoula Community JEDI Network
Kennedy Skinner Montana State University Billings Native American Development Corporation
SUPPORTING OUR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS
The mission of the Max Baucus Institute is to break down barriers so that Montana students can see, serve, and lead. We continue to make progress on our grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which advances our mission with a focus on increasing access for marginalized students, especially those from rural and Native communities.
Our Native American Outreach Specialist, Victoria Parker, has been invaluable in this work. Since joining the Institute in August of 2023, she has been building new relationships with Native American students and Native leaders across Montana. She has more than doubled the number of Native American students in our programs, but even more importantly, she is working to ensure that these students have positive and successful experiences.
This fall, we will celebrate the opening of the Native American Center (NAC) at the Alexander Blewett III School of Law, a place for Native American students to meet, relax, and study. Victoria is leading the process of furnishing and designing the space so that it is welcoming and inclusive—a home away from home.
All components of the NAC are based on feedback from students. A top request was a kitchen area.
There is also a small deck for enjoying nice weather and, eventually, growing plants and herbs.
The NAC is a multi-purpose space for students and their children, since many of our program participants are also parents. While construction is finished as of Spring 2023, artwork and final details are still in progress.
Victoria Parker Native American Outreach Specialist
LAW STUDENTS STUDY ABROAD IN IRELAND
This summer’s Ireland Study Abroad trip focused on comparative criminal law, government official immunity, and oral advocacy. Fourteen students from the University of Montana, the University of South Dakota, and the University College Cork took classes together in this immersion course. UM Law professors Anna Conley and Andrew King-Ries led the program, and were joined by professors from University College Cork School of Law, as well as Montana Supreme Court Justice Jim Shea.
A tasting at the Jameson Distillery.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE CHINA FIRST-HAND
Our two China Cultural Exchange programs are taking 30 students to China this summer, where they will gain first-hand experiences of Chinese culture, food, history, and modern daily life. At a time when U.S.China relations are tense, we want to encourage people-to-people diplomacy. For many of these students, it will be their first time outside of the US. This experience will help prepare them for the critical role that China will play in the world for the foreseeable future.
