A letter from Max and Mel
When Mel and I returned from China eight years ago we decided to encourage Montana students to see the value, indeed, the joy, of public service. We believe that the most noble human endeavor is service. Whether it is service to community, church, family, or friends, it doesn’t matter. It’s that reward of service that has driven Mel and me in our careers.
We’ve been incredibly lucky. We wanted to show and encourage Montana students—tomorrow’s leaders—to find that same reward. I’ve had the best jobs in the world: serving Montana while chairing the Senate Finance Committee, the most powerful committee in the U.S. Senate, and representing our country in China. It’s not the titles that we cherish; it’s helping people. It’s finding solutions to problems. That was our motivation in setting up the Baucus Institute. It’s not a think tank. We don’t sit around discussing issues. Instead, our students get out into the world to make a difference. It’s working. Last year we placed 80 Leaders. This year over 100.
The
Max Baucus Institute Announces
The Baucus Leaders
Class of 2025
They all work in an area of service, all expenses paid. They go to congressional offices, where they learn how our government operates, to organizations working on climate change, and to China to meet top government and private sector leaders and study with their Chinese counterparts. Our students come back on fire. They’ve seen, they’ve served, they’re beginning to lead. They want to pursue the joy of service. That’s what we do. It’s as rewarding for us as it is for them. We hope you join.
About the Max Baucus Institute
The Baucus Institute has a simple but profound goal: to inspire and prepare our next generation of public servants.
Our theory of change is simple: see > serve > lead. We break down barriers so that our students can engage in the hard work of solving real-world problems, and that experience inspires them to be leaders.
Many of our students come from rural and underserved communities. In addition to stipends and scholarships, we offer info sessions, networking opportunities, and individual support.
We invite you to support this work, whether by mentoring a student, making a financial contribution, or including the Institute in your estate planning.
Please contact our Executive Director, Andrew, at andrew@baucusinstitute.org for more information.
The Max S. Baucus Institute continues to create outstanding service opportunities at home and abroad for undergraduate and graduate students from across Montana.
The Institute’s programs focus on priorities that Ambassador Baucus worked on during his career:
— Max Baucus & Mel Hanes
Baucus Climate Scholars
Our Climate Scholars program places undergraduate and graduate students as paid interns with prestigious organizations working at the forefront of climate and environmental issues.
Congratulations to these students selected to this year’s program!
Montana State University -Honors College Park City, UT
Montana State University - Honors College, Pre-Law Gymsum, CO
Samuel Phillips
University of Montana – Davidson Honors College Missoula, MT
Morgan Kerr
University of Montana Missoula, MT
Kyle Hase
Zofia Skiba
Libby Tobey
University of Montana - School of Law Missoula, MT
Shae Barber
University of Montana Bountiful, UT
Blixen Hoffman
University of Montana – Pre-Law Program Mason, TX
Daniel Martin University of Montana – Honors College, Pre-Law Dillon, MT
Natalie Baur
Montana State University Greenwood Village, CO
Gracie Caldwell
Montana State University MSU Honors College, Pre-Law Billings, MT
Vivianne Ostheimer University of Montana -Honors College Buffalo, WY
Shawn Huseby Montana State University Florence, MT
Lateefat Sanni
Montana State University Lagos, Nigeria
Teddy Montalvo University of Montana - Western Terry, MT
Silas Teasdale
University of Montana Missoula, MT
Nari Lee University of Montana Daegu, South Korea
Annie Berget University of Montana – School of Law Libby, MT
Alena Flocchini University of Montana Sandpoint, ID
Lukas Kosel
Montana State University Hilleman Scholars Program Roberts, MT
Ryan Fleetwood University of Montana -Honors College Hagerstown, MD
Michael Jump University of Montana -Honors College Missoula, MT
Clint Connors University of Montana - School of Law Butte, MT
Robby Brown
Montana State University - Honors College Billings, MT
Lian Thang University of Montana Hakha, Myanmar
Sayge Felker
Montana State University MSU Honors College, Pre-Law Sacramento, CA
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
City of Missoula Climate Team
The Nature Conservancy (MT)
Big Sky Sustainability Network
Advocates for the West
The Climate Reality Project (DC)
The Climate Reality Project (DC)
Centigrade
Singapore Independent Study
Shanghai Disneyland
City of Missoula Climate Team
Protect the Clearwater
The Climate Initiative
Henry’s Fork Foundation
The California - China Climate Institute
New Leaf Climate Partners (NYC)
International Energy Agency (Paris)
Singapore Independent Study
Shanghai Disneyland
Glacier Park USGS
The Climate Initiative
Northwestern Energy
The Nature Conservancy (MT)
New Leaf Climate Partners (NYC)
The Climate Reality Project (DC)
Baucus Leaders DC
Our Baucus Leaders DC program places undergraduate and graduate students in paid summer internships with Congressional offices in Washington, D.C., where they take part in the national legislative process first-hand.
Congratulations to these students selected for this year’s program!
Maya Anderson
University of Montana – Pre-Law Program
Lake Stevens, WA
Senator
Ella Pace
Montana State University – Pre-Law Program
Battle Ground, WA
Kerrianne Kimbrell
Montana State University MSU Honors College
Vancouver, WA
Baucus Leaders Montana
Rylin Wilde
University of Montana
Kalispell, MT
Grassley Senator Schumer
Ethan Gilpin
Montana State University - Pre-Law Program
Bozeman, MT
Crapo
Mason Swenson
University of Montana Glasgow, MT
Rachel Tillman
University of Montana - School of Law
Missoula, MT
Sheehy
McKenzie Jarman
Montana State University - Honors College, Pre-Law Everett, WA
Ways and Means Committee
The Baucus Leaders Program is the core reason for getting my job after college. Without their lessons in professional development and generous financial support, I would not have even tried to work in the Senate, much less achieve my dream post-college job. For the best crash course in personal growth, professional development, and lifelong connections, I cannot recommend this program enough.
Max Shaver
Baucus Leader 2024 with Senator Tester
Our Baucus Leaders Montana program places undergraduate and graduate students with Montana-based public sector and nonprofit offices.
This program is particularly successful with rural and Native American students who want to serve their local communities.
Melisa Carter
Montana State University
Durban, South Africa
Montana Nonprofit Association
Gabe Caye
University of Montana Elmo, MT
and Policy
University of Montana
Kalispell, MT
Willow Kipp
University of Montana Missoula, MT
Fort Belknap & Tribal Natural Resources Program
Kassidy Rubel
University of Montana - School of Law
Pablo, MT
Silver Little Eagle
University of Montana Lame Deer, MT
Josiah Begay
University of Montana
Columbia Falls, MT
Ireland Program
We’re proud to help broaden Montana law students’ education through our Comparative Law Summer Abroad Program at University College Cork’s Law School in Cork, Ireland.
Seventeen American law students studied alongside Irish students, deepening their understanding of constitutional law and shared democratic values.
This opportunity is made possible in partnership with the University of Montana School of Law and the Montana State Bar.
Trey Webster
Parker Friday
University of Montana - Honors College Billings, MT
Charley
Montana State University - Honors College
Liberty Lake, WA
Connor McCauley
University of Montana - School of Law Billings, MT
Montana Nonprofit Association
CSKT Tribal Court
American Indian Governance
Institute
American Indian Governance and Policy Institute
American Indian Governance and Policy Institute
Montana World Affairs Council
Montana World Affairs Council
CSKT Tribal Court
China Programs
Ambassador Max Baucus and Mel Hanes joined 20 students from universities across Montana for immersive educational experiences in Beijing, Tangshan, and Chengdu.
Students engaged directly with top leaders in China, including U.S. Ambassador David Perdue and Mr. Robin Li, CEO of Baidu—China’s leading search engine and one of its largest private companies.
Each student was assigned one high-level meeting to introduce the group and lead the Q&A session, offering a high-pressure and fun leadership challenge.
Another twenty Montana university students will participate in a month-long study abroad program at Hangzhou Wanxiang Polytechnic, with additional educational visits to Beijing and Shanghai. This program kicks off in late June.
For media inquiries or to learn more about supporting Baucus Institute programs, please contact: