Buzzworthy Updates Summer '24

SUMMER 2024

New Foundation Newsletter

BUZZWORTHY UPDATES

INSIDE

The Recipe for Student Success

Chancellor Hicswa and student volunteers at the 2024 MSUB Wine & Food Festival

F ROM THE C EO

Thank you for making a lasting difference CEO Krista Montague, '99 & '18 CFO Jeff Clarke Director of Annual Giving and Athletic Advancement Nick Schmidt Director of Major Gifts Kelly Schrock Database And Gift Processing Coordinator Tracy McLuskie, '21 Advancement Coordinator Jodi Byrne Alumni Relations and Marketing Coordinator Luca Battistotti, '21 & '23 Accountant Drew Chenault Board of Directors Tom Potter, Chair Michael Monson, Vice Chair, ‘03 Ken Lutton, Treasurer, ‘06 Brittany Cremer. Secretary, 06 Kay L. Berry, ‘83 Tyler Elkin, ‘95 William Henry Karen Moses Dr. Donal Roberts David E. Wanzenried Buddy Windy Boy, ‘06 Janiel Begger, ‘15 & ‘17 Becky Anderson, 02 Krista Montague, Ex Officio, ‘98 & ‘18 Dr. Stefani Hicswa, Ex Officio Dr. Jessie Perius, Ex Officio, ‘12 Anne Cole, Ex Officio 8:07pm, March 21 2

Dear Friends, Summer is a bustling season filled with travel, family gatherings, and backyard barbecues, and we hope you are enjoying every moment of sunshine with your loved ones. We know many MSUB students are either attending summer classes or diligently preparing for their enrollment in Fall 2024. These students are central to our mission and providing them with access to education and ensuring their success is only possible because of your dedication. Your commitment to higher education is crucial for a brighter future and with your support, we can turn dreams into reality.

In April, we celebrated 32 years of the MSUB Wine & Food Festival, where over $600,000 was generously donated by friends, alumni, and businesses like you to support student scholarships. This event demonstrated that every contribution, no matter the size, can have a significant impact. Your support truly makes a difference. In total, the MSUB Foundation & Alumni realized a 56% rise in donation support to MSUB from FY2023 to FY2024. We are honored to be a part of your philanthropic journey.

Studies indicate that students who receive scholarships graduate at higher rates and complete their degrees more quickly than those who don’t. Scholarships alleviate financial burdens, allowing students to focus more on their studies and less on financial concerns. This support not only helps them achieve their academic goals but also empowers them to contribute positively to their communities and professions after graduation.

When our students graduate, diploma in hand, it’s a win for our entire university, the communities we serve, and most importantly, our new alumni. Their success stories are a testament to the power of education and the generosity of donors like you. Together, we are building a legacy of excellence and opportunity, one student at a time. Thank you for your ongoing support of MSUB Krista Montague CEO

UPCOMING EVENTS August 4 Jacket Scramble Golf Tournament

September 6 Classes Begin

September 6 MSUB Volleyball vs August 21 MSUB Women’s Soccer vs Minot State University Rocky Mountain College October 5 Outstanding Alumni September 4 Labor Day, Offices Closed Awards

The NEW Foundation & Alumni Newsletter We are pleased to announce updates to our newsletter. Firstly, we have revised our distribution schedule: the newsletter will now be sent out quarterly instead of every other month. This change allows us to curate more comprehensive and in-depth content, ensuring you receive the most relevant and impactful updates from the MSUB community.

In addition to the new distribution frequency, we are excited to unveil an updated format designed to enhance your reading experience. The new layout aims to be more engaging and visually appealing, providing you with a richer and more enjoyable way to stay informed about MSUB.

MSUB students celebrating during a basketball game

msubfoundation.com

We would like to inform you that the next edition of our newsletter will be delivered towards the end of October. We are confident that these enhancements will significantly improve your connection with our foundation’s work.

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Outstanding Alumni Awards, Class of 2023 Not picured, Anna Elkins Sandeen

2024 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Lee Humphrey

Nolan Trafton

MyLinda Lovell

Darlene Hert

Jeff Cysewski

Jon Laurent

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARDS CATEG O R IES

This annual awards program honors alumni who have made exceptional contributions to society, their profession, and their alma mater and are honored with awards in six categories.

Distinguished Alumni

More than 200 MSU Billings and Eastern Montana College graduates have been recognized with Outstanding Alumni Awards since the first ceremony in 1982. We are proud to honor these exceptional members of the Yellowjacket family.

Alumni Merit Medallion

We warmly invite you to participate in this year’s event to recognize the exceptional work of the recipients.

If you are interested, please scan the QR code below.

Joseph Howell

• Honors alumni distinguished by personal, professional, and civic contributions, bringing honor, pride, and recognition to the university.

• Honors alumni dedicated to advancing education through professional expertise, philanthropy, or volunteer service to MSUB.

Ronald P. Sexton Award for Exceptional Achievement

• Honors alumni who have worked as MSUB employees for over 10 years, significantly contributing to its advancement and emulating Chancellor Sexton’s commitment to access, excellence, and student success.

Recognition for Exceptional Achievement

• Recognizes alumni for exceptional professional achievements, community impact, and commitment to advancing MSUB or higher education.

Rising Star Award • Honors recent alumni who have shown increased career responsibility, community involvement, or campus contribution within the last ten years.

Friend of MSUB

• Honors non-alumni who demonstrate commitment to MSUB through distinguished service or leadership, influencing growth and improvement, and inspiring others to support the university.

DATES:

October 5 TIME:

10:00 am LOCATION

MSUB Glacier Room J OI N US TO CE LE BRATE OUR OUTSTANDING ALUMNI 4

Support Students Today!

Greg Allard Memorial Scholarship Greg Allard, a beloved professor of Special Education at MSU Billings, discovered his passion for education early in life. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education/Special Education from MSUB (Eastern Montana College).

Over his 20-year tenure at our campus, Greg was deeply cherished and actively engaged with students, faculty, and staff.

His office was always bustling with students seeking academic guidance, a kind word, or a compassionate gesture. Greg inspired his students to pursue their passions and led by example in his own life. Those who visited his office invariably left as better individuals.

A beautiful celebration of life for Greg was held at the MSUB Foundation on June 29, 2024.

Friends, family, colleagues, and students gathered to share heartfelt stories, memories, and tributes, honoring Greg’s remarkable impact on our lives and his lasting legacy in the field of Special Education.

In honor of Greg’s profound impact, his family and friends

have established the Greg Allard Memorial Scholarship at MSUB. We warmly invite all friends, family, and colleagues to join us in contributing to this scholarship. By doing so, you will help to continue Greg’s enduring legacy and extend his positive influence on our community for generations to come. Your support will ensure that his passion for special education and dedication to students will live on through this meaningful tribute.

To make a donation, please call 406.657.2244 or send an email to jeff.clarke@msubfoundation.com

New Board of Directors

The Cultural Corner

MSUB Foundation & Alumni Board of Directors recently welcomed four new members, who began their term July 1, 2024, and will serve a three-year term. All newly appointed directors are graduates of MSUB.

YAM Exhibition by MSUB Faculty

- Becky Anderson, class of 2002 Head Basketball Coach, Shepherd High School - Janiel Begger, class of 2015 and 2017 Financial Advisor, Edward Jones - Ken Lutton, class of 2006 Owner, Technology By Design - Jessie Perius, PhD, class of 2012 Assistant Professor Management, MSUB Business Administration Internship Coordinator

Invest in MSU Billings Today!

Mark Earnhart & Jodi Lightner: Suspended Intervals Artist Talk with Jodi Lightner: September 12, 2024 // 5pm Artist Talk with Mark Earnhart: October 10, 2024 // 5pm Northcutt Steele Gallery msubillings.edu/gallery

Jodi Lightner, MSUB Art Professor and Department Chair

Eunkang Koh - Artist in Residence Artist Talk: September 26 // 4pm MSUB Faculty Exhibition Artist Talk: October 24 // 5:30pm

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FR O M T H E C HA NCE LLOR

Thank You Dear Friends, As we reflect on the past academic year, I want to sincerely thank you for your support. This year marked our second highest retention rate in 14 years, particularly benefiting low-income, military-affiliated, and first-generation students. At MSUB, we help students with grit succeed. Our students are amazingly resilient, and they know the power of perseverance.

Thanks to the partnership of MSU Billings Foundation, the Yellowjacket Excellence Scholarship supported 307 incoming first-time students, enhancing their access to education. Completing their degree not only transforms our students’ lives, but it also enacts generational change. Your support is pivotal in their journey, and we are already seeing this profound impact.

With sincere thanks, Stefani Hicswa, PhD. Chancellor

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WI NE & FO OD FEST I VA L

Save the Date!

Mark your calendar!

See you at the 2025 festival!

April 17 & 18 at the MetraPark Pavillion.

- Thursday, April 17, 2025 Winemaster Soiree.

- Friday, April 18, 2025 Vintage Affair, featuring the eagerly awaited Live Auction.

DATES:

April 17-18, 2025 MSUBfoundation.com/ WFF

Stay tuned for more information about next year’s festival!

Check out photos from this year's festival!

Dominc Estes, student speaker

Thank you to our 2024 Festival volunteers

Vintage Affair Table

Double Your Impact?

We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Double the Donation, a company that helps maximize fundraising through employee-matching gift programs. This platform offers a user-friendly interface, making it easy for individuals to check if their employer matches their philanthropic gifts, effectively doubling their impact.

Starting September 1st, if you have recently donated, you will receive an email from us with instructions on how to verify if your current employer matches your donation. If you discover that your employer does match gifts but isn’t listed, please let us know, and we will add it to the system.

This simple process will help sig-

nificantly increase the amount of money raised to support our vision to promote higher education for a better tomorrow.

If you have questions about the program, contact Nick Schmidt, Director of Annual Giving & Asst.

AD – Athletics Advancement at 406.657.2253 or nick.schmidt@ msubfoundation.com.

Want to connect and learn more – scan here.

1500 University Drive | Billings, MT 59101-0245 406-657-2244 | info@msubfoundation.com

$16,270

City College Cost of Attendance for Montana Residents in 2023-2024 (12 or more credits)

$18,590

University Campus Cost of Attendance for Montana Residents in 2023-2024 (12 or more credits)

$18,600

Master’s Degrees Cost of Attendance for Montana Residents in 2023-2024 (9 or more credits)

$1,118,861

Scholarships awarded in 2023-2024

63%

Of students’ needs were met in 2023-2024

“

MSUB has truly been a positive force in my life, providing me with unparalleled opportunities for growth and learning! The supportive faculty and top-notch academic programs not only expanded my knowledge, but also ignited a passion for my chosen field. The campus community has fostered lifelong friendships and a sense of belonging, making my time at MSUB unforgettable. Through a variety of extracurricular activities and experiences, I developed important skills that have served me well in my career.

MSUB’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement has inspired me to be a responsible and active citizen in the Billings community. I am beyond grateful for the positive impact MSUB has had on my life and I look forward to many years of involvement as an alum. Sarah Gunn

Sarah graduated from MSUB in December of 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and a Minor in Finance. Upon graduation, she began her professional career working as a Business Support Associate for Avitus Group. Currently, Sarah is the Client Growth Project Manager at Vensure and she is also a key member of Sarah Gunn, Class of 2017 Billings Next Gen. Sarah’s biggest supporters are her family, her husband, her parents, her brother, and her dog, Clarke.

YOUR ACTIONS MATTER Scan here to make a donation.