Founders’ Excellence Award

Kurt D. Johnson

He received a degree in Agricultural Business and had hopes of taking over the family farm. Instead, after college Kurt worked in the motel business for 25 years while starting his family.

Kurt is always there to lend a helping hand when it comes to Northern. He knows Northern was so good to him and he likes to give back. As a business owner he realizes the impact this college has on the community, “We help Northern get going and in return, they help us.”

Kurt Johnson, class of ’85 was born and raised in Cut Bank, MT. After high school he wanted to attend MSU-Bozeman, but a last minute decision put him at NMC.

Pam Veis, class of 1984 was born in Shelby, MT and graduated from North Toole County High School in Sunburst, MT in 1981.

The following year, she attended Northern Montana College, now MSUN, on a Presidential Scholarship where she earned her associate degree in nursing.

Following her graduation, Pam embarked on a 29-year career in community mental health as a Psychiatric RN/Adult Case Manager. She was one of the first mental health providers in Montana to be trained in the ‘strengths- based’ model of case management, which empowers individuals who suffer from serious mental illness to identify and leverage their strengths to guide their recovery.

Kurt is very active in the Havre community and a true family man. Kurt is the current owner of Vic’s Place Lounge and Casino, serves on the board of the Northern Lights Athletic Scholarship Foundation, and continues to serve on the Northern Alumni Foundation as past Chair of the Board of Trustees. He is father to five children, grandfather to 12! We appreciate his hard work and dedication to MSU-Northern.

She was instrumental in establishing the Hill County Mental Health Advisory Council and was selected by John Warner, former Montana Supreme Court Justice to serve on the Montana Mental Health Trust Board (2010-2015).

Pam’s passion and commitment toward the community are evidenced by her past and present service on various boards. From the arts to athletics, Pam and her husband, Gerry, are avid supporters of MSU-Northern.