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F O U N D A T I O NBILL INGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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2 Salute to Valedictorians 2013

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The EducationFoundation and Billings Gazette Communications

are proud to honorbusinesses that support

education in ourcommunity and the students who have

achieved the status of valedictorian in their

high school.

Partners Salute 2013 ...........Page 2Partnerships in action ..... Pages 3-4Partners in Education ...........Page 4Meet the Valedictorians .Pages 5-12

Salute to Valedictorians 2013 is a special advertising publication of

The Billings Gazette.

Sales and Marketing DirectorDave Worstell

Special Sections CoordinatorLinsay Duty

Section DesignerChristine Cleveland

Access Salute to Valedictorians 2013 at www.billingsgazette.com/

specialsections

What is Partners in Education?Partners in Education is a community-wide partnership be-

tween schools, businesses, and community members dedicated to ensuring the success of all K-12 students and schools in the Billings area. Partners in Education is a program of the Educa-tion Foundation for Billings Public Schools.

What is the goal of Partners in Education?The goal of Partners in Education is to build mutually benefi t-

ing partnerships between schools and businesses that result in school improvement, teaching excellence, student achievement, and appreciation of common community goals.

What kinds of partnerships are there?There are many ways that organizations and businesses can

participate in a partnership with the schools in Billings. Each partnership is unique, depending upon the capacity of the busi-ness and the needs of the school. Example activities include:

• Tutoring or mentoring students• Providing incentives for students and faculty• Speaking at a Career Day or other classroom events

• Donating in-kind services, materials, or equipment• Volunteering as contest judges, fi eld trip chaperones, or

pen pals.

What are the benefi ts of a partnership?Many schools get additional support through the partner-

ships such as tutors, mentors, and extracurricular activities for students. Students also get the chance to meet adult mentors in the community and learn about career choices. Likewise, many employees enjoy the opportunity to do something positive for the community and to be given time by their employer to do so. Businesses also benefi t from the positive image of giving back to the Billings community.

How do I start a partnership at my school or business?

To learn more about starting a partnership at your school or business, please contact Krista Hertz at (406) 245-4133 or by email at hertzk@billingsschools.org

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The Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools believes that ALL students in Billings Public Schools deserve a rigorous, well-rounded education to prepare them for successful careers. To that end, the Education Foundation has worked diligently since 1988 to enhance the educational opportunities available to students in the district.

The mission of the Education Foundation is to promote excel-lence in education by providing opportunities and resources to Billings public school students. The Foundation works in coop-

eration with the public school system, but operates indepen-dently. Through endowments, scholarships, grants, and specifi c projects, the Foundation provides opportunities and resources for students and educators in Billings Public Schools to promote excellence in education. Major activities include: Classroom Grants, Partners in Education, Reading Rocks, Saturday Live, and scholarships for students and teachers.

To support and learn more about the Education Foundation, visit our website at www.efbps.org.

3Salute to Valedictorians 2013

Find out more about MSU Billings 406-657-2888 | www.msubillings.edu | admissions@msubillings.edu

congratulationsvaledictorians!

Partnerships in ActionSee how Billings Businesses are making a difference in Billings Public Schools!Altana Federal Credit Union

and Boulder Elementary

Altana Federal Credit Union and Boulder Elementary is a partnership that Rocks! Altana FCU employees have found a variety of ways to make a positive difference at Boulder El-ementary School. Altana FCU supports the WISH program by volunteering on a weekly basis and helps connect other community members to the volunteer reading program. The WISH program focuses on connecting volunteers to work with students in primary grades in their reading fluency. Additionally, Altana FCU volunteers are present each year at the Boulder School Carnival offering support in running games, serving pizza and drinks, or helping to sell tickets. The funds raised at the carnival directly benefit the selected PTA project for the year.

Throughout the year, Altana FCU provides generous in-kind support through the donation of recycled notebooks, pens and pencils, and other office supplies. Also, Altana FCU volunteers provide financial literacy lessons in various classrooms and at different grade levels on topics such as saving, credit, and general banking.

RiverStone Health andOrchard Elementary

In their second year as a Partner in Education, RiverStone Health has made a tremendous impact on the students at Orchard Elementary School. Each week two volunteers from RiverStone Health work with students in improving reading fluency. Student artwork from Orchard Elementary decorates the halls and waiting rooms at RiverStone Health. RiverStone Health is looking forward to growing their part-nership with Orchard Elementary over the next year by pro-viding counseling service support, career awareness oppor-tunities, and speakers on health topics.

Cass Stanton of RiverStone Health shared, “RiverStone Health employees look forward to Tuesdays when we have the privilege of reading with the students. We look forward to expanding our involvement next year with Orchard El-ementary.”

THANK YOU RiverStone Health for creating opportunities for the students at Orchard Elementary.

GE Capital andWashington Elementary

Great Kids, Great Volunteers, and Great Opportunities make the partnership between the GE Capital and Wash-ington Elementary soar. This past holiday season, GE vol-unteers spent the morning in 1st grade reading books by author Jan Brett. After making crafts together, the volunteers presented students with two books to build their home li-brary. The students even invited the GE volunteers to enjoy their holiday music concert that afternoon. 

Courtesy photo

continued on page 4

CASEY PAGE/Gazette Staff

4 Salute to Valedictorians 2013

GE Capital site leader Kevin Hanson notes that, “Volun-teerism is a key part of GE culture, and community-based projects are especially meaningful. We truly enjoy support-ing the communities where we live and work.” The connec-tion made between GE volunteers and students has contin-ued throughout the school year. 

GE Volunteers tutor students at Washington Elementary fi ve days a week in both reading and math. Principal Karen Ziegler shared, “It is so important for children to have peo-ple volunteer in our classrooms. The relationships are critical in building future student success and connections to our community.” Look for great things next fall as this partner-ship continues to grow!

Rocky Mountain College andRose Park Elementary

Connecting students in kindergarten through college is the focus of the unique partnership that has formed between Rocky Mountain College (RMC) and Rose Park Elementary. The proximity between RMC and Rose Park Elementary has created opportunities for college students to spend time vol-unteering, mentoring, and supporting student learning at the elementary school. College students and RMC faculty are often seen at the school tutoring students in math and read-ing and assisting the teaching staff with projects benefi ting student learning. In a few short minutes, students from Rose Park Elementary step onto a college campus and take part in activities such as “Suessville University”.

Jill Washburn, Rocky Mountain College Community Ser-vice Coordinator, shared, “Our partnership benefi ts our col-lege students by allowing them to make connections to the Billings community and students from Rose Park Elementary spend time on the college campus. The Rose Park Elemen-tary students spend time learning about post-secondary education and careers that can follow.”

Later this year student-athletes from RMC will be taking part in the 1st Annual Day of Champions community service event and will spend one day volunteering at several ele-mentary schools helping to clean up the school grounds and other projects that are needed at the school. THANK YOU Rocky Mountain College staff and students for making a dif-ference!

Snapshots of other partnerships. . . .

• American Medical Response employees volunteer in 1st grade classrooms to help students with improving their reading fl uency.

• CTA Architects Engineers took part in Earth Day ac-tivities with their partner school Newman Elementary.

• EBMS employees assisted the Big Sky Elementary PTA in raising funds during Saturday Live and at the school carnival.

• ExxonMobil employees participate in Career Lunch-n-Learn opportunities throughout the school year highlighting different career fi elds for students at Bench Elementary.

• Farmers Insurance Agents are seen throughout the school year volunteering in classrooms and lending a helping hand to the Sandstone Elementary PTA.

• First Interstate Bank employees and students at High-land Elementary joined together to collect warm coats for those in need.

• Phillips 66 provided funding for students from Or-chard, Newman, and Ponderosa Elementary to take part in the Audubon Conservation Education Center and funding for 21st Century Learning.

• St. Vincent Healthcare has donated $25,000 toward playground equipment, donated books and school supplies at Broadwater Elementary.

• St. Vincent Healthcare – Foster Grandparents volun-teer on a daily basis at several elementary schools and Senior High throughout the school year.

• Valley Federal Credit Union employees serve as judges at the school’s annual spelling bee and have donated.

• Wendy’s of Montana hosted Washington Elementary Night at Wendy’s to raise funds for the school.

from page 3

CASEY PAGE/Gazette Staff

• Altana Federal Credit Union and Boulder Elementary• American Appliance and the Career Center• American Medical Response and Eagle Cliffs Elementary• Berry Y&V and the Career Center• Billings Clinic and the Career Center• Billings Clinic and McKinley Elementary• Billings Federal Credit Union and the Career Center• Billings Job Service and the Career Center• Blue Dahlia Creative and the Career Center• Carpet One and the Career Center• Cellular Plus and Burlington Elementary• CenturyLink and Washington Elementary• Chefs and Cooks of Montana and the Career Center• City of Billings Fire Department and Eagle Cliffs Elementary• City of Billings Met Transit and the Career Center• ConocoPhillips and Orchard Elementary and South Side

Neighborhood Schools• CTA Architects and Engineers and Newman Elementary• Denny Menholt and the Career Center• EBMS and Big Sky Elementary• Epic Software and the Career Center• Expert Tire and the Career Center• ExxonMobil and Bench Elementary• Farmers Insurance Agents and Sandstone Elementary• Faux Smith and the Career Center• First Interstate Bank and Highland Elementary• First Interstate Bank Heights and Bitterroot Elementary • First Interstate Bank West and Meadowlark Elementary• Food Services of America and the Career Center• General Electric Center of Excellence and Washington

Elementary• H&H Ent Alternative Energy and the Career Center• H&R Block and the Career Center• Hanser’s Auto and the Career Center• Holland & Hart and Broadwater Elementary• Home Builders Association and the Career Center• HRD and the Career Center• Kampgrounds of America and Ponderosa Elementary• Kings Ace Hardware and Meadowlark Elementary• KTVQ-2 and Billings Public Schools• Local #30 Plumbers Pipefi tters and the Career Center• McDonald’s and Beartooth Elementary• MSU-Billings College of Technology and the Career Center• NAPA and the Career Center• National Restaurant Association of Billings and the Career

Center• Original Equipment and the Career Center• Optimum and Central Heights Elementary• Rimrock Lighting and the Career Center• Rimrock Plaster and the Career Center• RiverStone Health and the Career Center• RiverStone Health and Orchard Elementary• RSVP Program and Billings Public Schools• Rocky Mountain College and Rose Park Elementary• St. John’s Lutheran Ministries and Arrowhead Elementary • St. Vincent Healthcare and Broadwater Elementary• St. Vincent Healthcare and the Career Center• St. Vincent Healthcare Foster Grandparent Program and

Billings Public Schools • Sam’s Club and Ponderosa Elementary• Sign Pro and the Career Center• Stockman Bank and Orchard Elementary• Taylor Electric and the Career Center• Valley Federal Credit Union and Miles Avenue Elementary

and Skyview High School• Willard’s Garage and the Career Center• Wells Fargo Bank and Lewis and Clark Middle School• Wendy’s of Montana and Washington Elementary• Western Security Bank and Beartooth Elementary• Yellowstone Bank and Broadwater Elementary

Courtesy photo

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5Salute to Valedictorians 2013

Rocky Mountain college congRatulates

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ValedictoRiansto caMpus:Treve IcenoggleSkyview High School

Alexander HeynemanAbsarokee High School

Morgan WilliamsRyegate High School

Audrey HendersonChoteau High School

Billings Senior High SchoolParents: James & Linda BealPost high school plans: I will be attend-ing Montana State University to study physics, mathematics, and possibly ecology. I would like to use my education to pursue a career in re-search and green energy technologies, specifi -cally fuel cells and solar power.How have the past 12 years of your ed-ucation infl uenced your college plans and course of study? I struggled with math and hated it until my 8th grade math teacher changed my perspective, showing me that math is not just challenging but fun and applicable. At Senior, I have had several great teachers who have challenged me and been confi dent in my abilities, helping me to discover my interests and passions and preparing me for the future.Teacher who made the greatest posi-tive impact: There is no way to choose be-tween Mr. Scott McCulloch and Mrs. Kate Cordes. They are incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable and have wonderful personali-ties. They have gone above and beyond their responsibilities to help me succeed and reach my full potential. Without their time, confi dence and encouragement, I wouldn’t be as ready for my future.Extracurricular activities: Violin, All State and Philharmonic Orchestras, youth group

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BEALBillings Senior High SchoolParents: Ron Bray and Jackie O’NeillPost high school plans: I plan to go to college and enter the medical fi eld.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your col-lege plans and course of study? The classes I have taken have helped me decide what fi eld of study I want to enter. Also, I probably wouldn’t even be going to col-lege if it wasn’t for teachers like Mrs. Kate Cordes and Mr. Dan Bartsch. They helped me with my applications while keeping me sane through the whole process.Teacher who made the greatest pos-itive impact: The teacher who has had the greatest impact on my education has been Mrs. Bertelson, my third grade teacher. Her encouragement is what fi rst sparked my de-termination to succeed.Extracurricular activities: Varsity soft-ball, symphonic band (clarinet), senior ad-vocates, National Honor Society

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Billings West High SchoolParents: Robert and Peggy CananPost high school plans: I will be going to Boise State University to major in educa-tion.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? My past 12 years of school have educated me in ar-eas like math, English and writing. I know I will use these skills for the rest of my life. Several of my teachers and classes have in-spired me to pursue teaching.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: Mrs. Welch at Mead-owlark Elementary School. In third grade, I was new at the school and this teacher made me so welcome. She taught so many fun and unique lessons, and I still remember it being so much fun. One of my best friends and I were able to make a huge diorama of the rainforest, and it was the coolest project I ever made!Extracurricular activities: Cross coun-try, Volleyball, YSA soccer, Youth group, Youth Volunteer Corp., Tennis

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Billings West High SchoolParents: William and Anne ColePost high school plans: I’m not sure what I want to do after I graduate, but I probably won’t continue selling snow cones and cotton candy until retirement. I was recently accepted to Dart-mouth College, but I am weighing other options as well. After graduation I want to either do something with math or become a lawyer.How have the past 12 years of your edu-cation infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Over the years I learned a lot in a wide array of subjects, so my future plans have fl uctuated as I took new, interesting classes. For example, I considered studying English be-cause I’ve loved those teachers, but many other teachers have inspired me to explore their fi elds. Thanks to a great education, I have a plethora of opportunities.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: How can I possibly choose between so many great teachers? Special thanks to Mrs. Maureen Ladd and Mr. John Miller for sparking my latent interest in science (I never thought it was possible) and to Mrs. Burgess and Ms. Bach for teaching me how to write.Extracurricular activities: The most mean-ingful activities for me at West High were Varsity Tennis, Policy Debate, Spanish Club, and Kodiak.

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6 Salute to Valedictorians 2013

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Billings West High SchoolParents: Craig and Kristi DrakePost high school plans: I have not de-cided what college I will attend yet, but I will begin studying environmental sciences.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? The past 12 years of my education have shown me the value of knowledge and only enforced my dream of college. As I have matured, I have recognized that I love the environ-ment, and I know that I want to study this in college. Everything that I have learned has affected my course of study.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: Dr. Bruce Wendt has made the greatest positive impact on my education. He has been willing to help me not only in the classroom during class time, but outside as well. He has helped me through my college application process and has helped me with any educational issues I have encountered. He has been a positive force in my education.Extracurricular activities: Amnesty International, Speech and Debate, Drama Club, Cross Country

Billings Senior High SchoolParents: Kirt and Lisa DriscollPost high school plans: In the fall, I plan to attend Montana State University to pursue a degree in chemistry with a focus in medicine. After completing my undergradu-ate education, I plan to attend graduate school. In the coming years, I hope to be able to gain enough knowledge to discover something to change our society for the bet-ter.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Over the past 12 years, I have developed a serious affection for both math and science. My Honors Chemistry course combined both math and science with engaging experi-ments that really helped me comprehend the surrounding world. After taking this class, I knew that I wanted to pursue a chemistry degree in college.Teacher who made the greatest pos-itive impact: I feel my kindergarten teach-er, Mrs. Karen Marcotte, had the greatest positive impact on me. She greeted me with a smile every morning and provided posi-tive feedback on a job well done but made corrections when something was wrong. Overall, she made me happy to come to school to learn and I feel she has been a huge factor in my educational success.Extracurricular activities: I think my participation in golf has played a huge role in my education. Through focus, persever-ance, and integrity, my team was able to win the State Championship this past fall. As a result of this, not only did I gain con-fi dence in my golf game, but I also gained confi dence in myself which has allowed me to achieve my greatest educational goals.

Billings Skyview High SchoolParents: Ms. April English and John EnglishPost high school plans: I plan to pursue a pre-veterinary major and eventually be-come a veterinarian.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? My past twelve years of education have totally shaped the person I have become. My vari-ous science courses have enforced my love of animals and instilled my fascinations of biology and genetics. My honors courses have taught me to love a challenge and to always do my best work. Because of these last twelve years, I am excited for college.Teacher who made the greatest pos-itive impact: My most infl uential teacher was my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Niemeyer. He always challenged us and sent us off to middle school ready to succeed.Extracurricular activities: My high school cross country experience has really played a huge role in my education. It not only has taught me the work ethic to suc-ceed in high school but through the values I’ve learned and the friends I’ve made, it has prepared me for life in the real world.

Billings Central Catholic High SchoolParents: Duane and Ann GrosulakPost high school plans: I plan to at-tend the University of Notre Dame to major in Chemical Engineering and continue my studies in French and Theology.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? My college plans changed as my passions changed. When I was in competitive dance, all I want-ed to do was go to Juilliard and perform on Broadway, but now my passions do not just stop at dance. My past 12 years of educa-tion have instilled a love of math and a love of learning into my very being. Thus, I want to do everything.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: My fourth grade teach-er, Mrs. Pat Lowthian. She taught me at an early age to stand up for what I believe in and to dream big. She made a dent in my bad English habits and inspired my faith. Mrs. Lowthian formed me into the leader I would become. Plus, she let me write on the overhead projector!Extracurricular activities: Dance, Soft-ball, Wrestling, Volleyball, Academic Team, Miss Teen Montana, Youth Leadership Bill-ings, Girls’ State, Youth Group, Search, Tu-tor, Moses and the Golden Calf, Destroy-ers, Kids Connecting Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters

7Salute to Valedictorians 2013

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Billings West High SchoolParents: Doug Habermann & Therese EttelPost high school plans: This summer, I will be spending two months on a canoe trip in the Arctic Circle. After that, I plan on taking a gap year to backpack in Mon-tana, work on organic farms in Europe, and then move to Nashville to follow my love for music! Next year, I will attend either Mid-dlebury or Carleton to pursue a degree in English or environmental studies.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Through-out my education, I have had many teachers who have encouraged me, guided me, and challenged me to be the best that I can be. They have inspired me to be curious about the world around me and to love learning! Because of the support I have received, I know that I have the skills I need to be suc-cessful and to pursue my passions.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: I am so grateful to Mr. John Miller for being such an amazing role model, mentor, and friend during my high school career. I was blessed enough to have him as a teacher in biology, environ-mental science, and science seminar, and his enthusiasm for what he does is absolute-ly contagious! His love for the outdoors and endless curiosity inspire me daily.Extracurricular activities: As early as elementary school, my involvement in music has motivated me to come to school and provided a way for me to express myself, connect with others, and give back to the people who have given me so much! Work-ing with Amnesty International, volunteer-ing in the Billings community, and spending time outdoors have also been incredibly rewarding.

Billings Skyview High SchoolParent: Ms. Tina BoonePost high school plans: After gradu-ating from Skyview, I intend on attending Rocky Mountain College where I plan on studying psychology. Also, I will be playing on Rocky’s soccer team for coach Duffy.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? My experi-ences over the last 12 years lead me to de-sire to study psychology through exposure. After phases of wanting to be a lawyer or doctor, I fi gured out I want to study psychol-ogy after learning more about the fi eld through classes and teachers. Then I de-cided to attend Rocky because of the close relationships professors have with students.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: My 5th and 6th grade teacher, Mr. Travis Niemeyer, greatly infl u-enced me to be the man I am today. He challenged me every day to be better my-self in and out of the classroom. He taught me to be proud of who I am with his con-stant support and guidance. But his great-est lesson to me was to always do what I believe is right, even if no one else agrees.Extracurricular activities: Magic City Soccer, High School soccer, Student Coun-cil, SADD, National Honors Society, Fal-coneers, Trading Cards

Billings Senior High SchoolParents: Glen and Holly BrownPost high school plans: My plans are to go to college and become an electrical engineer.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? The past twelve years of education contributed to my interest and excelling in mathematics. In my junior high school year, I realized my excellence in mathematics could result in a rewarding career in engineering.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: The one teacher who made the most positive impact on me is Mrs. Linda Auch in the 3rd grade. She made a great impact because she was kind and very helpful in all areas of my academics. She encouraged me to advance a year in mathematics and strive for achievement in all my pursuits.Extracurricular activities: Engineering Club strengthened my interest in engineer-ing, and soccer taught me to work as a team player toward shared goals.

Billings West High SchoolParents: Robert and Debra JonesPost high school plans: After high school I am looking forward to attending the University of Notre Dame! I am excited and honored to have been accepted into the Glynn Family Honors Program at Notre Dame and intend to major in biology. I hope to be involved in scientifi c research, and to continue participating in service projects and running local road races.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Throughout my education I have been blessed with in-credible teachers who have fostered my con-fi dence and curiosity. In elementary school I struggled greatly in math and science, but with the help of educators who believed in me I came to love and excel in these sub-jects. The past 12 years have instilled me with the desire to continue learning.Teacher who made the greatest pos-itive impact: My physics teacher, Mrs. Maureen Ladd, is an incredible person and a gifted educator. Her love of science and her ability to make it fun and accessible while still challenging her students has been a major infl uence on my decision to study science in college. To me Mrs. Ladd exempli-fi es all the best qualities of a physicist and a teacher.Extracurricular activities: I have greatly enjoyed representing West High as a varsity cross-country runner. I am so grateful for all the friends cross-country has introduced me to, and the coaches (Mrs. Lauren Zent and Mr. Joe Catron) are simply amazing. Being a top runner taught me a lot about teamwork, leadership, and giving of myself to benefi t others.

8 Salute to Valedictorians 2013

Billings Senior High SchoolParents: Edward and Karilee JordenPost high school plans: I am going to attend Brigham Young University in Utah for a year, and then leave to serve a mission for my church. When I return, I am going to pursue a degree in Music Education and hopefully become a music teacher.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? I am grate-ful for my music directors who have pushed me to try new things and to progress vocal-ly. They have been a major factor in my de-cision to pursue a Music Education degree.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: Ms. Leslyn Ayers, my Childhood Development teacher at the Ca-reer Center, has made a great impact on my education. She stressed the importance of caring for children and also the importance of education. I really enjoyed being in her class, and I learned the importance of being open-minded and caring for others.Extracurricular activities: Throughout high school, I have been involved in extra-curricular choir groups. In it, we work on songs that we have performed at concerts, in nursing homes, and at restaurants. It has been a great opportunity to be a part of my community, and it has increased my love of music.

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JORDENBillings Senior High SchoolParent: Mariea ReinkePost high school plans: I plan to either attend the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities or Case Western in Cleveland, and study in Electrical Engineering, possibly with a double major in Computer Science. If I go on to grad school, I’ll likely focus on a degree in physics.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Probably the greatest infl uence has been in the love of science. To understand how things work, why they do whatever it is that they may do, is extremely important, and incredibly interesting. It’s only been the past couple of years that engineering has peaked my inter-est, though, thanks in part to a couple of the wonderful teachers I’ve had.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: I doubt I could name just one teacher who greatly affected me, but I can probably limit it to three: Mr. Michael Qualls at Lewis and Clark, who fostered my interest in the physical sciences; Mr. Vince Long at Senior High, who taught me pro-gramming, and indirectly infl uenced my in-terest in engineering through drafting; and most recently, Mr. Tolton at the Career Cen-ter, who spurred my interest in electronics.Extracurricular activities: The most important extracurricular activities I have been involved in are Engineering Club, Math Club, and National Honor Society, although I’ve also been involved with the Academic Team, Technology Club, and Chess Club, and I’ve been in karate outside of school for many years now.

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Billings Senior High SchoolParents: Bill and Kim LamdinPost high school plans: I am planning on attending Pomona College in Claremont, California, where I plan on studying music and multimedia. I want my name in the mov-ie credits!How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Through-out my time as a public school student in this area, I consistently have had teachers that encouraged me to perform to the best of my abilities and expected only the best from myself and my peers. I quickly learned that “good” wasn’t good enough to my art, music, and core class teachers, and that propelled me forward.Teacher who made the greatest pos-itive impact: I know I’m breaking the rules by naming two teachers, but both Scott Mc-Culloch of Senior High and Darla Williams of Highland Elementary changed the way I view my education. Mr. McCulloch’s class prepared me for the rigor of college cours-es while Mrs. Williams inspired me to learn not for recognition from others, but for fun. Thank you two so much!Extracurricular activities: My par-ticipation in music ensembles has been the number one extracurricular activity in my education. Orchestra, jazz band, violin and bass study, and being in bands helped me decide to pursue music. With appreciation for music came a greater love for art, which led me to pursue that as well. Music has helped my right brain thrive.

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Billings West High SchoolParents: Jeff Lindenbaum & Joan SorensonPost high school plans: I plan to study at the Carnegie Mellon School of Com-puter Science and get involved in research as soon as possible. After college, I hope to program for some major high-tech com-pany.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Through-out school, I have had some great teachers and great experiences. The school system was also very supportive of my outside in-terests, allowing me to take time to study computer science in online classes, college classes, and independent projects.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: Dr. Andy Wildenberg, professor of Computer Science at Rocky Mountain College, has really taken me in, mentoring me and teaching me for the last four years. He takes me seriously and re-spects me enough to give me the very best opportunities to excel in Computer Science, and he has challenged and inspired me constantly along the way.Extracurricular activities: Symphonic Band and Philharmonic Orchestra, fi rst chair clarinet, Career Center FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team, Bioinformatics research group with Rocky Mountain Col-lege - identifying and characterizing MITEs in various genomes.

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9Salute to Valedictorians 2013

Billings West High SchoolParents: Keith and Pam MeierPost high school plans: I plan to attend Iowa State University to study software engineering. I as-pire to be an innovator of cutting edge technology.How have the past 12 years of your edu-cation infl uenced your college plans and course of study? I have always wanted to study computers, but my high school experience helped narrow my focus down into the fi eld of software and engineering. Before high school, I only had a vague idea of what programming and science involved at a higher level, but after focus-ing on math, science, and programming in high school, I am confi dent in my choice.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: Two teachers impacted me greatly in differing ways. Dr. Bruce Wendt was a signifi cant infl uence on my views about how to examine his-tory and humanity. On the other side, Mr. Duff Gray introduced me to programming and was the biggest help to showing me how to learn more about computer science.Extracurricular activities: When I decided to join Speech and Debate my sophomore year, I had no idea of the impact it would have on who I am. Speech and Debate was the most valuable experience throughout my high school career be-cause it taught me how to speak in front of peo-ple, helped meet some of my best friends, and the knowledge I gained helped make me who I am today.

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Billings Senior High SchoolParents: Robert and Linda MerchantPost high school plans: I plan on attend-ing Brown University, where I hope to study History.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Over the past 12 years I have had several teachers who have pushed me to work harder and taught me to enjoy learning more. In particular my fourth grade teacher, Mr. Bokum, and my sophomore year and junior year history teacher, Mr. Mc-Culloch, were both instrumental in helping me realize my love for history.Teacher who made the greatest posi-tive impact: My fourth grade teacher, Mr. Charlie Bokum at Poly Drive, was the teacher that really made me enjoy learning, especially about history. Before fourth grade, I never re-ally enjoyed reading; Mr. Bokum started me reading historical fi ction, and I became at-tached to books. Soon I was reading fantasy and science-fi ction as well, but a love of his-tory has always stuck with me.Extracurricular activities: Environmental Club, Senior Advocates, National Honors So-ciety, Youth Leadership Billings, Orchestra

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Billings Skyview High SchoolParents: Mr. and Mrs. Robert NelsonPost high school plans: I will most like-ly be attending Montana State University to study chemical engineering.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Over the years I have developed an interest in math and science. I plan to continue with those areas of study in college through an engineering program, and possibly apply to medical school after I fi nish my under-graduate degree.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: Out of all the great teachers I’ve had over the years, the one that stands out the most is Mr. Fred Michels at Skyview. I was in his chemistry class last year, and have never been pushed so hard to succeed while having a blast at the same time.Extracurricular activities: I have par-ticipated in athletics throughout my years in school. Football and Basketball are the two varsity sports I played in high school. I’m also a member of National Honors Society.

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Billings Senior High SchoolParents: David and Diana PauliPost high school plans: I plan to pursue a de-gree in either Biology or Wildlife Biology at the Uni-versity of Montana-Missoula. I hope to apply to a Veterinary School to become either a veterinarian or a wildlife rehabilitator.How have the past 12 years of your edu-cation infl uenced your college plans and course of study? I have had the gift of a won-derful education from both the catholic schools and Senior High. My teachers and family made my deci-sion to go to college easy. I chose Biology because I have always had a love for science. I enjoyed every day of my sophomore Biology class and since then have taken two other classes involving Biology and Human Anatomy.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: My Human Anatomy teacher Mr. Dan Bartsch. His class is both educational and enjoy-able. He literally made learning fun which is impor-tant during school, especially senior year. I have learned important physiological information about the body that will help my future in biology.Extracurricular activities: Counselor at Opti-mist Camp for Kids with Special Needs, Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, Tennis, National Honor Society, Senior Advocates, Summer Internship at WJH Bird Resources, Volunteer at Spay/Neuter and Animal Wellness Clinics

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10 Salute to Valedictorians 2013

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Billings West High SchoolParents: Kevin and Carolee PloehnPost high school plans: After high school, I plan to go to Montana State Uni-versity Bozeman and major in Engineering.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Over the past twelve years of schooling, it became apparent that I excelled in both math and science. In addition to my enjoyment of de-signing and creating things, this information made engineering a clear choice.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: While in school, I have had many excellent teachers. For this rea-son, it would be impossible to name just one teacher who had the greatest positive impact on my education. I am without a doubt a stronger and more knowledgeable individual due to the hard work and dedica-tion of many of my teachers. I would like to sincerely thank them all.Extracurricular activities: Over my high school career, I have been involved in a variety of different extracurricular ac-tivities. These include Billings West High Basketball and Track, intramural basketball, National Honors Society, Chess Club, and Engineer’s Club. These played an important role on my education due to the many valu-able friendships they produced.

high school career, I have been involved in a variety of different extracurricular ac-tivities. These include Billings West High Basketball and Track, intramural basketball, National Honors Society, Chess Club, and Engineer’s Club. These played an important role on my education due to the many valu-able friendships they produced.

Billings Skyview High SchoolParents: Mr. and Mrs. Dean SchanzPost high school plans: My post high school plans are to attend George-town University in Washington, D.C. and study in the fi elds of biochemistry or bio-medical engineering.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? I have always excelled in math and music. However, I am most interested in the fi eld of science. Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to learn from great teachers in biology, chemistry and phys-ics. Through them, I relish the chance to continue my studies searching for a cure for debilitating diseases. My dream is for others to live a healthy life.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: I came to Skyview during my sophomore year. Struggling, one teacher, Mrs. Foley, offered me the patience and support to catch up. She knew English was my hardest subject, but she saw my willingness to work hard and was determined to help me succeed. She challenged me further by placing me into an honors class. It was an honor to be in her class.Extracurricular activities: The pro-gram that has had the biggest impact on my life is Big Brothers Big Sisters. Through my “littles”, I understand how im-portant it is for me to help those in need. But the road goes both ways. In return they have given me the friendship and love of a sister, which I do not have in my immediate family.

Billings West High SchoolParent: Holly ScheiePost high school plans: I plan on go-ing to Bozeman to earn a degree in Civil Engineering.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? The past three years of my education has had the most impact on my future. During sopho-more year, I had the opportunity to take drafting, and during the past two years I have taken construction at the Career Cen-ter. These classes have shown me I love to draft and build, thus making me want to pur-sue a civil engineering degree and career.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: The name that comes to mind is my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Janet Steinbeisser. Fifth grade was the year my dad died and without the support and en-couragement given by her, I do not believe I would have put forth the effort in school. She challenged me to do my best even in pain. As a result, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA ever since.Extracurricular activities: National Honors Society, Skills U.S.A, Chrysalis- a Christian retreat for high school students (volunteered as a team member), Clydehu-rst Christian Ranch (participated in numer-ous volunteer opportunities during the off season since eighth grade year) and Men of Great Faith- my church’s men’s outreach program

Billings West High SchoolParents: Bill and Denise SchwarzkophPost high school plans: Attend Univer-sity of Montana and study Pre-Med.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Over the course of my education I have always been the most interested in my science and math classes. This year I have been able to take classes such as Med Careers and Human Anatomy, helping me become even more interested in how the human body works and how I will be able to help people in the future.Teacher who made the greatest pos-itive impact: It is impossible to choose just one teacher who has had the most impact on me because I have been surrounded by so many incredible teachers throughout my education. They have infl uenced me through their passion and commitment to teach while pushing me to be successful.Extracurricular activities: Soccer, Stu-dent Council, Mentoring, Trading Cards, NHS

11Salute to Valedictorians 2013

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Billings Senior High SchoolParents: Robert and Karen StearsPost high school plans: I will be attend-ing college in the northeast.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Great teachers and classes in my past 12 years of education have shown me my great interest in science, and my love of writing.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: My 9th grade English teacher, Mrs. Christie Arnold. Mrs. Arnold pushed me my freshman year to become the best writer that I could be. She was an amazing teacher, who helped me become the student that I am today.Extracurricular activities: Track and Field, President of the Environmental Club, Trading Cards, Senior Advocates, Nation-al Honor Society, student volunteer at St. Vincent Healthcare and Billings Clinic and shadowed a surgeon at St. Vincent Health-care

Billings Skyview High SchoolParents: Mr. and Mrs. Dave UlrichsPost high school plans: I am going to attend Montana State University and major in engineering. I hope to become an archi-tectural engineer someday, but if God has other plans for me then I’m excited to fi nd out what they are!How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? My 12 years of education have shown me that if you want to succeed at something, you have to work for it. Because of this I allow myself to be bold in my decisions. Engineer-ing always sounded like a scary thing that was for scary smart people. But because I know that I am willing to work for it, I know that I will be able to succeed in that fi eld.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: I have been under my choir teacher Mrs. Logan for four years. Through her guidance, I have learned so much about music and who I am as a singer and a person. She has shown me how fun music can be and that education can consist of more than just numbers and words. I can’t thank her enough for the positive infl uence she has made on my life.Extracurricular activities: I have been in both Skyview’s top choir and acapella choir for three years. When sports didn’t work out for me, I dived headfi rst into our choir program. I have been very involved in everything from our Holiday Feast to State Music Festival. Singing has taught me that hard work pays off and can be fun in the meantime.

Billings Senior High SchoolParents: Jay and Beth WartnowPost high school plans: Although I am awaiting acceptance to many schools, I hope to attend college in the Northeast to major in Chemical Engineering and minor in Biological Engineering. However, I realize that wherever I go and whatever I study, I will make the most of my time and accomplishments at any post-secondary institute.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Above all, it is the setting in which I fi nish my education that especially made an impact on my future goals. Being surrounded by many of my peers who are incredibly high-achieving has given me the desire to challenge myself, and this en-vironment has taught me that, no matter what fi eld I end up in, I will always push myself as much as possible.Teacher who made the greatest posi-tive impact: There’s no way I could ever choose a single teacher that has made the most impact on my 12 years of education. From my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Andra-kopoulis, to my 6th period senior calculus teacher, Mr. Terry Caekaert, each educator has impacted me so much more than a lesson in a single subject. (However, shout out to Mrs. Kate Cordes and Mr. Scott McCulloch!)Extracurricular activities: I have partici-pated in numerous activities over the years, including: Student Council, soccer, swimming, tennis, Business Professionals of America, Sym-phonic Band, drum majoring, Philharmonic Orchestra, Senior Advocates, National Honor Society, and many more out of school. With-out my activities, I think I would fi nd school to be pretty dull!

12 Salute to Valedictorians 2013

Attention allGrads, Moms,

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Billings Senior High SchoolParents: David and Kim WattersonPost high school plans: I haven’t made a fi nal decision about which college to attend, but I have many exciting offers to consider at the University of Montana’s Davidson Honors College, Willamette University, University of Puget Sound, and Lewis & Clark College. I hope to pursue a degree in Pediatric Medicine or Journal-ism and continue to be involved in music and theatre.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? Since a young age I have strived for excel-lence in a rigorous curriculum. My educa-tion has fueled my thirst for knowledge, inspired my passions for music, speech, languages and theater and energized my commitment to higher education. It has opened doors to opportunities that sup-port my desire to make a difference in the world and the lives of others.Teacher who made the great-est positive impact: Many teachers throughout the years have inspired me. Naming just one is nearly impossible. There are two teachers who have posi-tively impacted me each in their own way. Mrs. Glenda McCarthy always chal-lenged me to gain perspective and insight from those who believe differently than me. Mrs. Jennifer Fleek-Airne taught me to never stop striving to achieve my dreams.Extracurricular activities: Senior High Speech Team, Symphonic Band, Philharmonic Orchestra, Senior High Ad-vocates, Theater, National Honor Society

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Billings Senior High SchoolParents: Chris and Jaci WebbPost high school plans: At whichever college I end up attending, I hope to learn just as much about myself as my academ-ics. To do the most with my life, I need to understand who I am. I intend to major in environmental science, and fi nd a career in which I can save the world, play in the mud, and spend time outside with my dog.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? My el-ementary school, Broadwater, was so open and understanding that I could get some of my weirdness out (I still have plenty left) without any judgment. I was able to grow into who I am today--“quirks” and all--sur-rounded by people who were completely supportive of everything I did.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: Ms. Sarah Lord was my Environmental Science during my junior year at Senior. Her enthusiasm, innovation, progressive topics, and knowledge made her my most infl uential teacher and role model. Ms. Lord really opened my eyes to the environmental crises of the world, and sparked a passion in me to go forth and make a change.Extracurricular activities: Teaching and volunteering at the Audubon Center played a huge role in helping decide my career path. With National Honors Soci-ety, Senior Advocates, Student Council, and Trading Cards, I worked to better my school and community. These groups teamed up with local organizations to build a school/community bond.

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Billings West High SchoolParents: Gregory and Carolyn WilliamsPost high school plans: I plan to go to Montana State University Bozeman to study Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mechatronics and Mathematics. Aside from what I plan to study in college, I plan to travel all over the world, see breathtaking places, learn about different cultures and live my life fully.How have the past 12 years of your education infl uenced your college plans and course of study? My course of study wasn’t narrowed down until my ju-nior year when I took the engineering class-es offered at the Career Center. From there, I was able to explore different fi elds of engi-neering. Before then, my education allowed me to be creative, stay open to possibilities, and learn more about the world around me.Teacher who made the greatest positive impact: Mr. Karl Schwartz, my engineering teacher, has made the greatest positive impact on me. He helped me real-ize what I am passionate about, and has continually helped me as I try and fi gure out my future plans. His passion for teach-ing students is infectious and what I have learned from him will help me not only aca-demically, but in all aspects of my life.Extracurricular activities: Cross Coun-try, Career Center Engineering Club, FIRST Tech Challenge Team, and French Club

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